Chapter One

His hands held onto my wrists as he looked down at me trying to read my thoughts. My breath was still as I tried to figure out what he was telling me. Why did I feel so confused hearing him talking to me like this?

"Alright I will walk away from this…from you…if you can honestly tell me that you don't love me…that you're not in love with me…"

What was he talking about? Why was he giving me an ultimatum about something that to this very moment I wasn't even sure was an issue. Sure we had flirted but that was just the way Aiden and I were with one another. If this was how he felt about me then why was he with Kyla? Why would he tell me this now?

I looked at him still trying to figure out what it was that he wanted me to say in return. He obviously thought that I would profess my undying love back to him. Sure I loved him but not as more than a brother…right?

I was so lost in thought that I didn't hear Spencer walk up to us. Aiden's hands were still covering my own and I barely noticed that his fingers were caressing mine.

"Ms. Davies…May I please have this last dance? That is if Aiden will let you…" I saw her face crease out of the corner of my eye as she looked at Aiden, our hands, and then at me. I didn't know what to say as a look of concern took over her features. "Wait…What's…What's Wrong?"

I still couldn't speak and kept looking at Aiden until he finally spoke.

"Spencer, I'm sorry. I know you told me to back off…" He said in a frustrated tone towards Spencer.

I looked at Spencer in disbelief not knowing why she would tell Aiden to back off. How could she go behind my back and tell my best friend to back off from our friendship?

"You did what?" I said feeling betrayed. "You had no right to do that…"

I watched as her eyes looked back and forth at Aiden and I worry building and building. She turned and began to run to the front of the school. I turned my eyes to Aiden who had a bewildered expression on his face. I glanced back at Spencer and decided to run after her to find out what was going on.

She ran through the crowd and I chased her trying not to fall over in my heels. I could hear Aiden's heavy footsteps following us as I tried to catch up to Spencer.

"Spencer…would you slow down!" I cried as she weaved in and out between the couples walking along the sidewalk.

She refused to slow down and kept running. "What!?!" She screamed back at me as we approached the front of the school.

I had almost fully caught up with her. "Would you at least talk to me please?" I cried as she finally slowed and turned to me.

Aiden caught up to where we were. "Spencer, I'm sorry ok…if I could be with Kyla I would…but I…I just can't."

I felt a feeling of shock go through my body as Spencer turned on Aiden. "You already had your chance with Ashley!"

I looked at her and Aiden as they fought between themselves over me. This was not how this night was supposed to go.

"It doesn't work that way…alright? You can't just cut off who you love…"

I lowered my head and couldn't believe what was going on. I saw as Kyla came up to where we were standing with a confused look on her face trying to figure out what was happening.

"You love?" Spencer said in disbelief. She turned her watery blue eyes to me and shook her head as her body began to shake. "Oh please don't do this…"

I had heard enough of this back and forth between my best friend and girlfriend.

"No…ok…just stop it." I said looking at both of them. "Both of you…I decide who I love…" I told them as the situation was overwhelming me.

My heart broke as I saw the emotion rise in Spencer after the words left my mouth.

"Then just decide!" She screamed at me with tears in her eyes.

I looked into her pain-filled eyes trying to find the right words to say. My heart was beating a mile a minute and my whole world felt like it had come crashing down all around me.

Before I had a chance to finally speak a voice rang out in the crowd. "GUN!"

I looked around as people began to duck and run in every which direction they could. I tried to move Spencer closer to me as Aiden looked around. I heard the gun shots as screams erupted all around us.

"Aiden!" I cried trying to get my hand on Spencer's wrist to pull her down to the ground with me.

I saw Clay covering Chelsea's body as they fell to the ground. I also saw Glen pulling Madison to the ground as the gun fire continued. I had a hold on Spencer's wrist for a split second but couldn't hold on as Aiden's body moved down to cover my own. I saw Spencer falling next to Aiden and it was like I couldn't reach her.

"Aiden, help!" I cried as he pulled Spencer under him.

I heard the tires of a car peel out quickly as the gun fire ended. I was crushed underneath Aiden's body and my only thoughts were of Spencer. I pushed on Aiden's chest trying to lift him off of me.

He rolled off of me and looked around at the aftermath of the drive by. I noticed Kyla to the side of us covered in dirt but seemingly ok. I turned my head around to find Spencer and noticed that she hadn't moved. My heart began to beat faster and faster as the thought of her being shot hit me hard.

"Spencer…" I cried as I turned her body over so that she was facing me. I could see scratches on her face from where her face had struck the pavement but she still hadn't opened her eyes. "Spencer…baby…please…open your eyes." I said as tears fell down my face. I brushed strands of blonde hairs out of her face hoping that she was alright.

I turned my head trying to figure out what I was going to do when I felt a soft hand on my arm. I looked at her and found her sad blue eyes looking back into my own.

"Oh god Spence…are you ok?" I said pulling her body into my chest.

"I…I think so…" She said still in shock.

I held onto her tightly and kissed her forehead. I could feel her arms tighten around my body and I turned my head around. I saw Aiden looking at the two of us and I shook my head and squeezed Spencer tighter.

"Nooo…" I heard coming from Chelsea and Clay's direction. Spencer and I jumped to our feet and quickly made our way over to Chelsea. I looked down and saw that Clay was lying motionless on top of Chelsea's body. Glen rushed over and lightly turned his brother over to lie on his back.

I gasped as I saw the red stain covering the front of Chelsea's white dress and I heard a sob escape Spencer's mouth. I turned my head and saw Spencer shaking her head from side to side as she watched Glen check Clay's pulse.

"Clay…come on…Clay" Glen said over and over as the tears fell down his face.

I stood and watched unable to move as Glen continued to keep his brother alive. I could see Clay's labored breaths as he tried to breathe. Chelsea was still screaming as she watched him dying before her eyes.

"Why are you all just standing around!" Kyla cried at all of us. She reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. She pounded the keys on her phone and placed the phone to her ear. Her hand was running through her hair as she waited for an answer on the other end.

I saw Madison as she snapped out of her daze and moved closer to Glen placing a hand on his sobbing shoulders. Glen shrugged her hand off and continued to work on his brother's body. She stood and our eyes locked as I saw the pain and sadness that had taken over her.

"Hello?...Hello!...Yes this is an emergency…there's been a shooting…yes a shooting…at King High School…King!...Please we need an ambulance…people are hurt…hurry!" She yelled into the phone before slamming it shut.

Aiden moved towards Glen and tried to offer a hand but Glen shot him a death stare and he backed off with his hands raised in defeat. He looked at me and I could tell that even though Spencer's brother lay dying on the ground he still wanted to know what my answer was. I couldn't believe that this was the only thing on his mind and turned away.

I turned towards Spencer and saw the crazed look that was looking down at her two brothers. I walked closer and pulled her in for a hug stroking her soft hair with my hand.

"Get off me…" She cried pushing me off. I refused to let go of her and felt her struggle against me. "Don't touch me!" She screamed again this time dislodging herself out of my arms.

I looked at her and had no idea what to do. She pushed me to the ground and made her way over to her brothers.

"Clay! You can't leave me…please…I need you…Clay…" She said sobbing into his chest.

Glen wrapped his arms around Spencer's shoulders as the sound of sirens broke through the silence that had fallen over the entire crowd. She held onto Glen tightly as sob after sob took over her body.

I wanted to reach out to her at that moment but Spencer had already pushed me away from her. I should be the one holding her in my arms trying to calm her and telling her that it would be ok; but I wasn't.

The lights of the ambulance and police cars came into view as they came to a stop to our side. The men and women jumped out of the cars frantically looking around for those who had been seriously injured. One of the paramedics saw Clay and rushed over with his medical bag lightly shoving Glen and Spencer back away from Clay's body.

I watched as he checked Clay's pulse and started the life-saving techniques. After repeated efforts, the man stood up with his shoulders hanging down. He looked towards Spencer and Glen and shook his head. A scream came from Spencer's mouth as her body fell to the ground. Glen stood in shock as the paramedic rushed over to Chelsea to see if she needed any help.

"Clay!!!" Spencer screamed into the ground with all her might.

I watched her break down in front of me and I threw aside my feelings of rejection and stepped forward to try to comfort her. She didn't pull away this time and I wrapped my arms around her shoulders. She pounded her fists into my back continuing to scream for the loss of her brother.

"Kids." An older policeman's voice said to us. "We are going to need you to clear the scene. You should try calling your parents and let them know that you are ok." He turned his eyes to Spencer and looked at her with a concerned look. "Miss…I'm very sorry for your loss."

Spencer fell limp in my arms as the policeman left. I looked over at Glen and saw he was still standing motionless as he stared down at his brother's body. I motioned over to Kyla who was on the phone telling whoever it was on the other end about the shooting and that she was alright.

She rushed over to Spencer and me and looked down with concern. "Are you ok? Did you get hit?"

I shook my head as I held Spencer tighter to my chest. "Kyla…I need you to call the Carlins. Please…" I said stroking Spencer's hair.

"Is Clay…?" She asked as other paramedics were pulling up to the school.

I glanced over at Clay's lifeless body and felt the pain hit my chest as I choked back a sob. I nodded my head slowly and heard Kyla cry as she found out the news. "Please…Kyla…call them." I choked out.

She nodded as the tears flowed down her face. She picked up her phone and quickly dialed Spencer's parents. She looked at me with a growing concern as she hung up and redialed.

"Ashley…there's no answer…" She said redialing once more.

"Give me that." I said holding out my hand. She placed the phone in my hand and I dialed the number.

I could hear ring after ring on the other end; no one picking up the phone. Where are they?