A/N: I feel that Thayer should know by now what happened to Sutton; I find it too heartbreaking how he has no idea. So I wrote this small oneshot where Emma finally tells him. I hope you enjoy it, please review if you do!
Dead.
Sutton was dead.
The words echoed in his ears as Thayer Vega fought to hold down his lunch. His stomach rolled, and he clutched at it, grabbing for a nearby tree to hold himself up as nausea and dizziness consumed him. Sutton Mercer, the girl he believed to be the love of his life, the girl he realized he wished to spend the rest of his life with, even at this young age, was gone forever. And there was no bringing her back.
"Thayer?" Emma asked, a look of concern across her face. "Thayer, are you alright?"
"Yeah, just… just go away," he gasped through the waves of nausea. He could not stand to look at the girl who was so identical to his dead love. It hurt him so much it affected him physically, knowing the truth; seeing Emma look exactly like Sutton, making him believe for all this time that she was the real Sutton. It was like reaching for something and almost being able to wrap his fingers around it, but only being able to brush the tips of his fingers across it.
Emma helplessly took a few small steps back. "I just thought you deserved to know. You know where to find me if you need me, Thayer. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." Tears began to stream down her face as she backed away, turning and running for her car. Thayer kept his back turned to the retreating car, staring unseeingly down at the desert ground beneath his feet. His mind was numb.
"I'm sorry, Thayer," Sutton whispered, placing a hand on his shoulder. She knew that he could not feel her hand, nor could he hear her. But she felt that she needed to try something; she wanted, more than anything, to comfort him. She felt a deep longing for him, a longing that felt as if a giant were wrapping his fist around her insides. She, too, felt sick to her stomach as she watched the boy she loved so dearly suffer because of her mistake. She should have stayed in the car with her father; she should have gone to the hospital with Laurel and Thayer. If she had done either of those, then she would not have been murdered. She would still be here today, and she and Thayer would be hiking up into Sabino Canyon at this moment, holding hands and laughing. She would feel butterflies in her stomach every time he smiled that smile that lit up her world. She would feel something. Anything other than this constant pain.
"Sutton? Can you hear me?" Thayer asked, his voice sounding strained as though he were about to cry.
"Yes, baby, I can," she said, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and hugging him tightly.
"I hope you can," he said, not hearing her reply, nor feeling her arms wrapped around his strong shoulders.
"Help my sister," she whispered to him. "Protect her."
"I promise you, Sutton," he choked through sobs. "I will help Emma find your killer. I will avenge your death."
"I love you," she whispered as he wiped the tears from his face, attempting to pull himself together as he climbed into his car.
"I love you, Sutton," he answered as though he could hear her, wiping the last remaining tears from his eyes. He smiled weakly. "I always will."