The Journey

Chapter 6

After lunch we decided to stay in Vegas for the night, just hang out because none of us could legally gamble.

We all got into the car and Harry drove around to find a hotel nearby where we could drop our stuff off.

We settled on a simple Holiday Inn.

"One room two king sized beds please.", Liam asked.

I reached into my bag to pull out my credit card, but just as I was about to hand it to the man Liam handed him his credit card.

"Don't worry Marley, when all your hard work in school pays off and you become this rich successful person in life you can pay me back.", Liam gave me a warm smile,"I'm sorry for all the shit we've put you through.

I think it's amazing how dedicated you are to school."

I smiled at Liam. "Don't worry about it Liam, and keep up that singing and you'll be successful one day too!" I patted his back and took the room key from the man and we all walked into the hotel room.

After settling all of our things Liam and Danielle decided they both wanted to go watch the new Catching Fire movie at a near by theater but me and Harry stayed back at the hotel.

I was on my phone going through twitter and Instagram and Harry was strumming my guitar.

"Be careful with Ed! He's been autographed and touched by Ed Sheeran!", I yelled at Harry.

He chuckled. "You really love Ed Sheeran don't you?" I nodded,"And one day when you're a famous singer with Liam you're gonna help me meet him and write music with him!"

Harry started laughing, "You got it babe." I rolled my eyes at him calling me babe.

"Play me something?" I hesitated at first but then took my guitar from him and started strumming the chords to the song  Autumn Leaves by Ed Sheeran obviously.

After I finished Harry just stared at me.

"It's rude to stare." I laughed.

"You-you're like, ho-holy crap, Marley you're amazing at singing. Why don't you ever sing in front of our singing class?" I sighed. "It reminds me of my brother, he and I used to sing together all the time and he was really the only person I ever sang to."

Harry came closer to me and rubbed my back.

"I'm ready.", I stated.

Harry scrunched his eyebrows together in confusion, "Ready for what?"

"To tell you about my brother.", I said softy.

"Mars it's ok. You don't-",Harry started.

"I want to. I haven't talked about it with anyone and if talking about it will make me feel better then i will."

I took a deep breath in.

"Star quarterback and captain of Ridgeview's football team. Beautiful girlfriend, loving family, amazing friends, good grades, an amazing band. Jaron had it all. He was the polar opposite of me. He was social and I simply wasn't. He was the one that helped me become friends with Rico. I told him about how we were the only two in an 8th grade math class and Jaron told me I should befriend him."

 Jaron was the best older brother a girl could have. He was 3 years older than me but he was hands down my best friend."

I looked up at Harry and saw him looking at me a way i've never been looked at by him before.

His eyes showed care. 

"Jaron and I would play soccer together and he's the one who taught me how to play the guitar. He won me 'Ed' when I was in 9th grade. He had stayed up countless hours entering a contest to win me that guitar. My parents never used to ditch out on holidays. They'd always try to spend every possible moment with us. But that changed after Jaron died. Now every chance they get to leave the state or leave the country on a business meeting they take it because they want to get away from the reason their son is dead. Me."

"Marley don't say that. It's definitely not true.", Harry protested.

"December 22, 2012 I was in 10th grade. My parents had to fly out to Chicago for a big meeting and it was unpredictable whether they would be back in time Christmas. I was so angry that I decided to ditch family game night that night because I couldn't stand to look at my parents. I texted Rico and told him to meet me at the movies. I stormed out of my house and I didn't tell my parents where I was going."

I body tensed up knowing my story was nearing to the worst part. Harry took my hand in his and rubbed his thumb across my hand comfortingly.

"You don't have to continue if you're not ready.", Harry said softly.

I shook my head 'no'.

"Jaron kept calling me nonstop. But eventually the calls stopped. Part of me figured he had given up on trying to contact me but the other half worried that something had happened. Soon enough phone calls and texts piled up from my parents. I was still too angry to answer their calls but when i opened the first text message  my heart dropped."

A tear rolled down my cheek. The memories flashed through my mind.

My stupid phone would not stop buzzing. 

"Marley shouldn't you just forgive them.", Rico said to me.

I groaned. I clicked on the messages app on my IPhone and clicked on the messages from my mom.

"CHARLOTTE COME TO THE HOSPITAL NOW. JARONS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. HONEY PLEASE"

That moment in time my heart stopped.

"Rico we need to go! Jaron's been in an accident.", I yelled.

Rico and I ran outside the theater and he started dialing his moms number to come pick us up.

"Rico i don't have time to wait for her. I'll meet you there!"

I began running as fast as i could run. Too bad i had quit the track team on the second day. 

I ran straight to the near by hospital and ran to the front desk. 

"What room is Jaron Rivers in?!"

"Hm, 423A. Down the hall and to your left.", The old lady spoke.

I ran down there and saw my parents in tears in the chairs.

"Mommy!", I yelled running toward my mother. She looked up and looked back down at her lap.

"I'm so sorry Mommy this is all my fault.", I cried.

My mother placed her hand on my back rubbing it soothingly not even denying what i had just stated.

The doctor came out of the room and his eyes showed sorrow.

"I'm so sorry. We couldn't save him."

My whole world came crashing down at that moment.

I turned to look at Harry.

"Two years ago today my brother Jaron died  in a car accident. A truck came crashing into his car. And it was because he was coming to find me."