The Girl in Cleats

⚽️Chapter 46⚽️

Previously:
She looks at me now, and her face softens. "Asher, what's wrong?"

I realize that I have been crying too.

"What...What was his name?" I choke out.

"Aiden... Do you know him...?"
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I run out the door, unsure of what to do next. My eyes are of no help as to where I'm going because they're swimming in my tears. I run blindly, not caring that I probably look like a wounded animal trying to escape from is predator.

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{Kiera POV}
I'm playing the Wii with Alexis and Dustin when I hear my phone ring from upstairs.

"Got it!" Dustin yells, jumping up.

"Dustin!" I yell back, chasing after him. I hear Alexis laugh menacingly behind me as she passes both of us in Mario Kart.

When I reach Dustin, he's already answered the phone. I walk into my room, breathless, and hold my hand out for him to put the phone there.

His jaw slowly drops.

"What?" I ask.

He stares at me, trying to form words but to no avail.

"Dustin what is it?" I ask, walking closer and taking the phone from him.

"Hello?" I say into the phone.

"Kiera?"

"Asher? Is that you?"

"Yeah."

"What's wrong? Why is Dustin acting so weird?"

"Because I found out what happened to your brother..." Asher says quietly.

"Wha-What are you talking about?" My heartbeat quickens and I'm afraid.

Alexis walks in and waves a hand in front of Dustin's unblinking face.

"I think you should sit down." Asher says gently.

"Just tell me, Asher."

"He's gone, Kiera. He died a long time ago." Silence.

I collapse on my bed. All that work to find him. For nothing.

And then it hits me. Like a wave of sadness, I'm knocked over in a second, unable to breathe.

"Kiera, it's gonna be okay." Alexis tells me. She sits on the bed next to me and rubs my back. Dustin finally snaps out of it and realizes what has happened. He walks out the door and I hear him dial a number.

I don't know what to do.

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{Cameron POV}
"Cameron, you should come as fast as you can."

I stop coloring with my little sister and say, "Why? What's happened?"

"It's Kiera-"

"I'm on my way." I set my phone down and tell my mom I'm leaving.

"Bring a coat!" She yells from the living room.

I step into the cold air. Spring needs to be warmer.

I start my car and drive as fast as I can to Kiera's house.

I'm there within a matter of minutes, and I walk in, without knocking.

Alexis and Dustin are pacing in the living room. When I walk in, they stop and give sighs of relief.

"Where is she?" I ask.

They both point upstairs.

"She won't talk. She's just staring out the window." Alexis says.

"It's her brother. Asher called, claiming he was dead. We don't know if it's true or not. We haven't been able to get a hold of him." Dustin says with crossed arms.

"No one should believe anything that jerk says." I say coldly, walking up the stairs. Except, he's probably telling the truth. And that pains me the most, for Kiera.

I knock on Kiera's door before opening it. I walk in and find her where they said she'd be- on her bed and staring out the window. She has her head on her knees and arms wrapped around them. She looks completely hopeless.

"Kiera?" I say quietly.

She turns around and jumps up, running into my arms. In a matter of seconds, my shirt is soaked from her warm tears.

I walk her over to the bed and we just sit there in silence. She's in my arms, quietly sobbing.

"It's gonna be okay. It's gonna be okay." I say over and over again.

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