A/N: Thank you Xiowolfe for the review. :)
A/N#2: The song Vindicated by Dashboard Confessional is not owned by me.
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It wasn't supposed to be like this, he should've gone with them to the Lake. He should've… Why did things like this always have to happen…
Hope dangles on a string
Like slow spinning redemption
Winding in and winding out
The shine of it has caught my eye
And roped me in
So mesmerized and I'm so hypnotized
And I am vindicated
He could just see the kids standing on the beach and someone hanging on a rope.
"Dawson!" Blake screamed pointing up at Jennifer, "She fell! The rope's choking her!"
Somehow the rope had managed to get tangled around her neck and catch on a jutting branch when she fell.
"Go get help!" Dawson screamed jumping into the river.
Blake turned and ran, Cane and Tommy right behind him. Dawson managed to get to the tree and began to climb, she was so high up, why had she chosen to tie the rope way up there? Her eyes met his as she struggled against loosing consciousness.
"Hold on Jennie!" He called to her, "I'm coming!"
Dawson inched his way out onto a branch just underneath Jennifer's motionless feet, she had lost the struggle. He reached for her and lost his footing falling, out of reflex he managed to snag the branch he had been standing on.
"Dawson!" Help was here.
"Oh my God."
"Jennifer!!"
Dawson climbed back onto the branch glancing down at the three adults, Logan, Piotr, and Rogue. He then quickly grabbed Jennifer's feet and lifted her up so that she could breath.
"I can't get her down!" He shouted, "I need a knife or something!" Just then something flew threw the air cutting the rope releasing Jennifer into Dawson's arms.
"What the hell happened?" It was Bruce.
"Some one help me get her down!" Dawson shouted, "She's not breathing!" To Dawson and everyone's shock, Jennifer suddenly disappeared in a cloud of blue smoke and reappeared on the ground by their feet.
Logan, Rogue, and Piotr all exchanged a look then set to work trying to revive the girl. Dawson climbed down the trunk of the tree and swam back across the river as fast as he could. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion; nothing seemed real anymore, not even the tears running down his own cheeks. Jennifer's lips had taken on a blue tone, her face was pale and a nasty purple and red bruise circled around her neck. Dawson stood back by Logan who had allowed Bruce to try and revive Jennifer. Rogue had buried her face into Piotr's chest and refused to look as she cried.
Logan's hand came to rest on Dawson's shoulder as they watched the tragedy unfold before them. Dawson swallowed thickly brushing strands of his wet hair out of his eyes.
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Shirt.
Pants.
Pants.
Don't think, be numb.
Shirt.
Socks.
Socks.
"Dawson," Blake hiccupped sitting on the bed as Dawson packed his things, "It's my fault… I wanted the rope swing."
Shirt.
Shirt.
Blake wiped the tears from his eyes and too in a shuddered breath, "I didn't know, I-I didn't know sh-she'd fall!" He sobbed pulling his knees up to his chest.
Dawson picked up his suitcase and threw it to the floor angrily, "Damn it!" He screamed over the crash.
Blake jumped his eyes growing wide. Dawson stood seething glaring at the clothes that laid scattered all over the floor. After a moment, Blake slid down off the bed and started picking up the clothes.
"W-why'd you d-do that?" He cried dropping a pair of socks into the suitcase, "You didn't have t-to…" Blake began babbling incoherently as he picked up the clothes.
He suddenly stopped and stood up kicking over the suitcase, "It's not fair." He cried turning to Dawson and wrapped his arms around his waist.
Dawson dropped to his knees pulling Blake to him in a hug, "It's not your fault," He whispered, "It's mine."
Slight hope
It dangles on a string
Like slow spinning redemption
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A/N: Please Review!!