On Three (EDITED)

Before Anne's Death

It took two months to save up enough money for the pistols. They were two-hundred dollars each from an old friend that graduated three years earlier. He tried to pry about why I needed them and why two. He didn't ask many more questions after I tipped him off an extra fifty.

I returned home to find my sister in tears. She hugged me without saying a word and I didn't press for her to talk. I just sroked her back with my free hand and whispered, "Anne, It's going to be alright."

She mumbled in response, and even though I didn't hear what she said, I knew the words that came from her lips. She'd said it much too often and only more as the day approached. "I don't want to live today." It was heartbreaking to hear her say this, and even more so when I knew where she was coming from.

I lifted her chin up. "What are you going to do today?" I whispered this so that she had to hang onto every word I said.

She sniffled and said in a very wet voice, "I'm going to tidy up. Tell Mom and Dad I love them. Make everything easier for them."

I nodded and squeezed her tightly. "Yes, that's what you're going to do." I paused a moment. "Also, do whatever you want. This is the day you can live how you want for once." She smiled weakly and returned the tight squeeze before letting go.

"You have the...the stuff, right?" She was hesitant to say it.

I nodded and waved the paper bag a little bit. "That's what I've got in the bag. I'll hold onto them until tomorrow."

Her face contorted slightly. "You don't trust me?"

"I trust you to the moon and back, lovely. I'm holding onto them so it's less likely we're caught."

She shrugged her shoulders and walked into the kitchen. "Do you think they'll miss us?"

I've thought about this before, and I'd be stupid to think they wouldn't. Of course they would, but they'll be fine in time. Their grievances will pass and everything will be fine in a matter of months. "For a bit."

Her face held an emotion I couldn't read. It reminded me of of anger, sadness, and...relief, but I couldn't tell. Maybe I was just seeing what I felt.

"I wish Chloe was here still."

Chloe. She was Anne's girlfriend of eleven months, but things ended rather roughly about two months ago. Chloe's parents found out about their relationship and threatened to tell our parents if Anne saw Chloe anymore.
Chloe got a boyfriend a couple days later to make everyone think she was straight--or straight enough-- to stop the rumors.

Anne got really upset about that and tried talking toher about it, but Chloe called her a dyke and stopped all communication.

I felt bad for Anne because I had no idea how to even helo her. I never knew just how bad it hurt whenever Mom would ask about the boys in class or when she'd finally get a boyfriend.

"I know, Anne."

We told Mom and Dad we loved them later that day and wrote our notes. We all watched Juno together and had ice cream. When the credits started to roll, I got up and told everybody goodnight and went to bed.

Anne woke me up in the late morning. We talked and spent time with each other and she laughed. She laughed and she was happy, but after a while she started to get quiet. She started to cry, and I cried with her because even though we didn't want to live so badly, death was still scary. I told her it was time. We got our notes and put them on the counter by the bathroom sink.

She got in the tub first and I followed. We faced each other with bent knees and a gun in our hands.

"We're going to shoot on three, okay?" I said. She nodded. "Anne, I love you, okay?"

Tears slipped down her cheeks and she choked out a laugh. "Okay, I love you too."

"Say anything you want right now." I exhaled heavily. "We're going to be dead in only a few minutes."

"I'm really happy we're doing this together. I love you more than anything in the world." She smiled tightly.

"I can't live without you Anne. That's why we're doing this together. It will all be over soon." I leaned over and gave her a peck because what else was there to give in a world full of hate? "That's it then?"

She nodded and pressed the gun to her temple. A pained smile was fixated on her face.

I brought the gun to my temple as well. "One." I tightened my jaw and felt a wave of anxiety and anticipation surge through my body. I was finally going to do it. I was going to get rid of the pain for once. "Two." I licked my lips and felt my hands start to shake and thoughts bubbled to the surface of my mind. Death is scary. I'm only fifteen. Why am I letting Anne do this? I'm an awful sister. "Three." It came out as an involuntary whisper. A gunshot exploded in front me so unbelievably loud and quiet at the same time; while my finger remained tightened over the trigger, not moving.

A/N: Hey, thank you so much for reading! How was it? I'd love to hear your input! Remember to vote and comment! :)

This part was the most heavily edited, and I'm hoping it turned out better!