Friends With Benefits

8) Follow Up News Report

(Jordan's P.O.V)

Without thinking I ran out to the parking lot and got in my car and drove back to Claire's house.

I am her best friend, and I need to be there for her. I always have been and I'm not gonna stop now. I love her but if we were anything more I would still have to be there for her.

I was pulling up in the drive way and barged inside. Claire was calming Sasha, she was on a rampage, I didn't know what for but I rushed over to help her. We seated Sasha on the couch and I gave her a glass of water.

Then the phone rang. Claire nervously got up to get the phone. I don't know who it was or what they wanted but Claire started to bite her nails. She only did that in some cases when she was nervous or excited. In this case she was the complete opposite of excited.

We all watched as she picked up the phone and said hello?

There was silence as she received information from the other line.

Then all signs of nervousness, fright and tension turned into relief.

Then she quickly thanked the other person on the line and hung up the phone.

Once again there was silence, you could hear a pin drop.

Then out of nowhere she collapsed on the side of the wall as everything she heard on the phone registered in her mind.

Time froze as she quietly said "He's alright...Dad's alright".

Then everything moved once again. The person Claire was talking to must have been a reporter that called the families, who's fathers worked in office to tell them either good news or bad ones.

Cassidy let out some sort of cry of joy. Sasha smiled and let herself relax on the couch. As for me I ran to Claire and carried her to the couch.

I could tell she was really stressed about her fathers well being so I massaged her shoulders and back.

30 minutes has passed when Mr.Santiago (Claire's Dad) walked through the front door. Dust flew every time he walked but they all ran and hugged him knocking him over.

Mr.Santiago was like a father to me so was his wife until she died.

We were all relived to actually see him alive and well. After they released him he filled us in of what happened at work this morning. Turns out 4 men were hurt and rushed to the hospital.

I thought about those men who got hurt. They were fathers, uncles, and cousins to some students in our school. I felt sympathy for their families.

After telling us this we could tell Mr. Santiago needed some rest, so we helped him to his bed.

Sasha fell asleep on the couch. I carried Cassidy to her room, and laid down next to Claire on her bed.

I know we were skipping school but I wouldn't leave her for the world. She needed someone right now.

"Thanks for being here Jordy, her old childhood nickname for me," she said.

"I will always be here for you" I told her back

After awhile we both just hugged each other tightly then she said "you should probably get back to school".

"Probably...but I'll go back during lunch so I still have an another hour and a half".

She smiled and I kissed her forehead down to her nose then both cheeks.

She laughed into my chest as I held her then she fell asleep.