Protect Me Forever

Jack?

I was extremely tempted to ask about the girl, but he continued driving. I knew he was mad at me, and there was nothing I could do about it. I could accept the fact that he was mad at me; in fact he could be mad at me for a while and I could handle it.

Breaking the silence, "So, where are we going?" I asked, and he just ignored me. Okay, I can live with this. I don't know for how long, but I can. He has a right to be mad at me.

Finally answering me, he said, "We're going to go get food." As if that wasn't obvious. I shot him a confused look, but he shrugged it off, saying as if, it's no big deal.

Ashton continued to drive, obviously so mad, but my attention was brought somewhere else. On the left side of the street, there sat a car in a ditch. Why do I know that car from somewhere?

Someone inside the car had on a baseball cap, and everything was coming together now. In my freshman year of high school my family bought tickets to this really cool baseball game. I didn't care too much. I sat in the stands scrolling down on facebook and messaging my friends. At the end of the game, the players were offering to sign any hats. Of course, my brother being the fan girl he is, just had to get his signed. I don't know who signed it, but all I remember was when he got it signed, I recognized a little yellow duck threading, outlined right below the signature.

Every memory of that day came to mind when I saw the baseball hat. There sat the duck, right below the player's signature. I knew it was Jack's.

"Pull over!" I said, pointing to the left side of the street. Ashton could tell this was a big deal, so he pulled over, obviously confused. Once he had stopped, I pulled on the door, but it was locked.

I shot daggers at him with my eyes, but he plastered a smirk to his face. "Oh, it looks like you'll have to come unlock it yourself." He said matter of a factly. I crawled over his lap, not so elegantly reaching my hand out to unlock my door.

Finally getting it, I lunged back towards my side in an effort to save my brother. I heard sirens all around me, and I peeked inside the car. There, my brother sat, unconscious, and blood splattered all over him.

Realization hitting me, I screamed the only thing I knew to do. "NO!" I said, over and over and over again. My eyes instantly become watery, and I freely let them fall. I reached my hands out, but someone grabbed me.

I turned around to see who it was, and then I realized that Ashton had been here the whole time. I hugged him so tight, thinking that maybe Jack would become better if I did.

In response, he told me everything would be okay, and ran his hands through my hair. I sobbed in his shirt, thinking how much more messed up my life just became.

"Is he dead?" I asked, hoping Ashton would tell me that everything will be okay for eternity.

"I don't know, but they're taking him to the hospital. It looks like he hit his head pretty hard. I'm so sorry, Sid."

I had no reaction to what he said. I wanted to hug him, and punch him. I wanted to kiss him, and I wanted to kill him.

I looked back up at him, realizing just how much he's been there for me. How's he everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

I gave him a smile smile, in which he returned.

"Your brother will be fine. Let me drive you to the hospital." Ashton was always there for me. But what does he want to do with me? There are so many other prettier, smarter girls than me.

I didn't have time to respond before he grabbed my hand, and dragged me back to the car.

"I'm sorry." I told him, probably only saying it because of my brother.