Disclaimer: I'm not British or a guy

Warning: This is really sad and it might make some people mad

Inspired by the Fray's How to Save A Life

"Why'd you become a medic?" Cub asked him, head cocked to the side.

Snake shrugged, eyes cold. "To learn how to save a life."

"But sometimes you can't save someone." Cub stated, sounding way to wise for his age.

"Yeah, Cub, I know." He mumbled, thankful Cub had already turned to Fox.

Later that night twenty-three year old Jacob O'Riley laid in his barrack at two hundred hours. He had to be up in four hundred, but their was no way he was going to sleep. Yesterday he had been spacey, but today would be worse. Today was the anniversary of an event that changed his life forever.

SIX YEARS EARLIER

Duncan Hollis and Jake O'Riley had been best mates since primary school. The two had been through hell and back with each other. When Jake's two year girlfriend had cheated on him, Duncan had been the one to cheer him up. When Duncan's parents divorced, Jake had been there for him.

Yet, those were the good old days.

Lately, after the death of Duncan's little brother, Duncan hadn't been the same. Jake had tried everything to be there for him, but Duncan kept pushing him away. Duncan's little brother had died almost a year ago. It was tragic, but Jake couldn't figure out why Duncan hadn't picked up or moved on yet.

Sighing, he laid down on his bed and turned up his CD player.

After a short catnap, Jake's oldest sister knocked on his door, waking him up. "Hey little brother, there's a party out in the backwoods. Wanna go?"

Pausing his CD player, he shrugged. "Where at, Jewels?"

Julian O'Riley smirked. "Farmhouse out by McCreery's."

"Are we bringing Jasmine?" He asked, referring to their younger sister, the oldest of four younger sisters.

"Hell no. Beer, loud music, make out sessions. Jasmine's only a sophomore." She said, flinging a piece of blond hair out of her massacred eyes. "Duncan will be there."

"Then I should probably go." Jake said, jumping up.

"We leave at ten."

"Alright." He said, changing out of his school friends.

Jake, or Snake as some people knew him, shook his head. Where did I go wrong? He wondered for the billionth time. That party, it had been nuts, but since Jewels made him designated driver, he hadn't drank. Duncan, who had never touched a beer in his life, was the most drunk.

I should have known. I should have seen it coming. Snake thought, eyes haunted.

The night after that party he had decided enough was enough and it was time to talk to Duncan. Yet, talking didn't do a damn thing to stop the tragedy unfolding.

"We need to talk." Jake said, sitting by his best mate in homeroom.

Duncan smiled sadly at him and stood up to leave. "About what? My head is killing me."

"Sit down, it's just a talk." Jake insisted, glancing at the window to his right. Why did he feel like he was getting nowhere? Why did he feel like he should be blaming himself for Duncan's bad mood?

Why did I come? Jake thought as Duncan stared straight through him.

"Look mate, what's been wrong with you lately?" Jake asked.

Duncan shrugged. "Nothing."

"Mate, I know something's wrong. I know you better than you know yourself." Jake stated, expecting Duncan to laugh.

Instead, he growled. "Look Jake, leave it alone."

"Mate, you've been quiet, closed off, and you got drunker than shit last night. Something's wrong?" Jake said quietly.

"It was a party, Jake!" Duncan yelled, standing up.

He's not hearing me. Jake thought, panicking. "Mate, you have never even drank a sip of alcohol."

"I'm just not the same." Duncan whispered, walking away.

Jake squeezed his eyes shut. He should have ran after him. He should have stayed up all night, listening to his closest friend. He should have prayed to God Duncan heard him. He could have saved his friend.

Half of the people blamed him for Duncan's suicide.

He remembered his parents making him go to the funeral.

He also remembered tearing his knuckle after punching the window.

And he remembered what caused him to lose his temper.

The funeral was depressing. Obviously. Mr. O'Riley squeezed Jake's shoulder, and Julian laid her head on his other shoulder. Jasmine, Jenna, Jessica, and Jolene all sat by his mother.

"Mr. Hollis was a young life. He will be missed." The preacher finished.

"Go talk to his parents." Mr. O'Riley ordered his only son of six.

Jake sighed before walking over to Mr. Hollis and Ms. McCarthy.

"Ms. McCarthy, Mr. Hollis?" Jake began, feeling lighted head and nauseous.

Ms. McCarthy's eyes were blazing. "You." She hissed. "This is all you're fault! You were suppose to be there for him! You should have stopped this!"

"Catherine." Mr. Hollis began.

"You killed him!" She yelled.

Everyone flipped around to watch the scene. Jake's dad began to walk over, while his whole school stared at him.

"I-I-I tried." Jake began pathetically.

"Not hard enough!" She yelled.

"He-he would-wouldn't-talk." Jake stuttered.

"You could have made him!"

"Ma'am," Jake's dad began.

"Catherine!" Mr. Hollis yelled.

"You did this." She hissed, turning around on her heels and walking out.

Jake turned to his dad with tears in his eyes. "Dad, did I-"

"No." His father stated, grabbing his shoulders.

"But- but she's right. I could've stopped him." Jake said desperately.

"Jacob, his mind was made up."

"But-"

"Jake, you didn't do this. There's nothing you could have done." His father said, hugging him and shaking his head.

Jake cried for the first time in his life.

Later that night, Jake had punched the window out of frustration. He could never shake the feeling of guilt. Forgetting the window wasn't plastic, Jake had shattered the glass, and cut his knuckles to shreds. His dad had been livid, and the two wouldn't speak for weeks.

That's when he decided to leave Scotland and go to Whales.

Words from his past echoed in his head. "Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend. Somewhere along in the bitterness. And I would have stayed up with you all night. Had I known how to save a life"

Had I known how to save a life. Jake thought, closing his eyes and falling asleep.