Duet: an Avi Kaplan fanfic

Sean

Everyone in the band had promised that someone would text all of us at home when they made it to their first destination, so when Mel, Livvie and I’s phones all went off, we all yelled, “They’re there!” in three part harmony.

But what I see on my phone screen is not anything that says, “We’re here. You can stop freaking out now,” or anything of that nature. Instead, this is what I saw.

MOM: We were in a car accident. I’m fine, Carissa only has a broken leg, thank god. Sean didn’t get so lucky. He’s getting surgery as I type this. He needs more later, even then, they say that he won’t be able to swim competitively anymore. He wants you all to come soon. I will take care of everything, please come.

Livvie is bawling her eyes out. She and Sean were just as close as she and I. He trusted her more than anyone else. She was the first to know about Jacob, his first boyfriend. If she had been able, she would have protected him from the assholes that bullied him. He was as good as her own kid.

I am sitting cross legged on the floor, not moving from the shock. Mel’s the only one with enough sense to call my mom and find out what exactly what happened. 

After she gets shit sorted out, I call the school to let them know I won’t be around for the next week.

“Arya, why aren’t you going to be there?” my boss asked me.

“Family emergency, I have to go to Chicago. I’m sure you understand,” I say into the phone.

“What exactly is this emergency?”

“My brother was in a car wreck. He needs some pretty heavy surgery. He said he needed us there, so my twin and my best friend and I are going to Chicago to see him.” I explain.

“Okay. Fine, you take your week,” he allows and I feel so relieved.

It’s about 8:00 when I realize I haven’t called Avi like I promised I would. “Hey, sorry about that babe. I sort of forgot to call with everything that’s going on right now.”

“What’s wrong, you don’t sound too great. Is everything okay? Is everyone okay?” he asks.

“No, well, all of us here in LA are fine. Sean got himself busted up pretty bad in a car wreck. Mom and Carissa were in the car too, but they were fine. The girls and I are flying up to Chicago to see him. I don’t know what to think. I want to see him, but not all broken and bandaged like he is. They told him he can’t swim anymore, you’ve heard him talk about swimming. It’s his life, and now it’s gone.

“I can’t lose him, I can’t. Not after Daddy. And it would kill Livvie, we just can’t lose him.” I fight the tears choking my eyes and voice.

“Arya, that’s terrible. Is there anything I can do? Hold on, Mitch, turn off the goddamn camera. Okay, what can I do?”