A/N: I know I need to update my other stories, but I am stuck on this one. This story has been running through my mind for a while now and I just can't stop writing it or bring myself to write for any other stories. Just bear with me and I will try my hardest to update my other stories. Now, with that being said I bring you chapter three.

Chapter Three: Ashleigh

So, being true to his word, Kendall ended up dropping out of school. He told me the real reason why he wanted to was because he was so far behind on classes that even though we were in our junior year he was considered a sophomore. I couldn't blame him for wanting to drop out, but then again he shouldn't have been stupid enough to skip classes daily until the school counselor and principal sit down with you and talk about why you haven't been in class.

After Kendall and I talked that night on Facebook it was months before I ever saw or heard from him again. I had mainly forgotten about him. There were some days though where I would miss him sitting behind me, poking my sides trying to get me to squeak because I jump when something startles me. I also miss joking with him and being able to tell him things that most people didn't know. I even told him some things that Carlos didn't even know. Even though I was sad I was also glad. Jett and Kendall had broken up again, but I wasn't going to go for it. I didn't want to be in a relationship with a guy I'm almost over.

Like most poets or old fashioned people say, tragedy brings us closer. In my eyes that's not always true. Tragedy brings you closer to the people who are there to support you, and even then sometimes people drift off into the world of depression and are stuck there until they pass away.

Death, in my eyes, in one tricky person. Death needs to happen so that the life cycle can continue and sometimes it's for the better and sometimes death just likes to emotionally screw people over. I have experienced death from when my grandparents passed away, but it never hurt me as badly until I heard the news about Ashleigh.

Ashleigh was one of the kids I had worked with in the mentally handicapped room. She had graduated two years ago, and was the first person like her to ever do so. She was also one of the people who Kendall and I bonded over. Ashleigh was in a vegetative state and could only make some sounds with her mouth, move her head and eyes. She couldn't even eat on her own but yet I was there almost every day talking to her, making her feel like she was a part of the world and not some retarded kid.

I was currently in Lizzy's classroom, working with my favorite student. His name was Jordan and I had been working with him since my freshman year of high school. Seeing now how it was senior year, Jordan and I bonded like nobody in that classroom had. If I was in the classroom nobody else could be by him or even touch him. I was Jordan's and Jordan was mine. While working with Jordan, Lizzy came up behind me and leaned over so she could whisper in my ear.

"I am whispering so Amanda doesn't hear" Amanda was Ashleigh's younger sister who had the same disease as Ashleigh but it was progressing slower. Amanda could still walk, talk, eat and a bunch of other things. It was sad how Amanda was going to slowly end up like her sister. "Ashleigh died last night in her sleep. I know that you were close to her, so I decided to tell you." Lizzy then stood up and looked at my face. I was in shock; I didn't know what to feel. To be honest, I felt numb.

"That's terrible. At least she went peacefully." I whispered to Lizzy. One of the hardest parts about all this was the fact that Amanda probably would never truly understand that Ashleigh will no longer be around.

Lizzy just shook her head and walked away. I just sat there, my hand in Jordan's because he refused to let it be anywhere else. I started thinking about Ashleigh and all the times I had with her. All the times that Kendall and I had spent with her, just laughing and doing anything to get her to smile. I then looked at Jordan, who was my true best friend. Sure I had Carlos and even my brother, Sam, were my best friends but none of them compared to Jordan. With Jordan, he knew everything. He knew whatever I was feeling and if I was mad or sad he knew how to cheer me up. I don't know what I would do if I ever lost him.

That was the thought that finally let the thought that Ashleigh was gone sink into my mind. "Hey, buddy, I need to go. Ok?" Jordan just gave me a look. He couldn't talk but I knew exactly what that look meant. He was telling me to stay there or he was going to kill me. I just shook my head, tears building up in my eyes. "I'll be back in a couple minutes." Jordan slowly let go of my hand and just smiled at me. I loved that smile but nothing could really calm me down at the moment.

Sure I was sad that Ashleigh was gone but the main reason why I was now crying on my way to the bathroom was the whole thought of losing Jordan. Out of everything else, it was that thought that was unbearable.

When I had reached the bathroom I looked myself in the mirror. I suddenly grew angry and next thing I realized the trash can was halfway across the bathroom floor. I had pulled out my phone and called my mom. Out of all other people I knew that she was the one who would understand the most. As I was talking to her, she kept asking me what I wanted to do. I didn't know what to do or what to say but all I know was that I couldn't be at school anymore.

-After All That We've Been Through-

A couple of days had passed by and I was feeling a little better then I felt the day I found out about Ashleigh. I ended up hanging out with my brother and my friend, Shane. They cheered me up a lot and I ended up staying there for the weekend. My mother didn't even care if I didn't come home which I was extremely thankful for. No longer would I have her constantly down my throat with the list of chores she needed me to do before she went to bed.

Now it was Monday and here I was, back in Lizzy's classroom holding Jordan's hand. He was supposed to be shredding paper but like always he just wanted to play. I then turn around because I heard the door open and there steps in was the person I had not seen in a long time, Kendall. I didn't know if he knew about Ashleigh or not, but Kendall was so much closer to her then I ever was. I also found it a little funny at the time but Ashleigh had this huge crush on him, but hey who could blame her?

I walked away from Jordan, and I could already tell that he was upset with me. "Hey Kendall."

"Oh hey!" He sounded happy, like always.

"Haven't talked to you in forever." He nodded his head. "Hey, did you hear about Ashleigh?"

"What about her?" I take that as a no.

"She died last week." Kendall froze, and ended up dropped his phone. He now had a blank expression on his face. He just stood there for a minute before he grabbed my hand and his phone and pulled me out into the hallway.

"How?"

"She died in her sleep. Her heart gave out on her." Kendall never cried in front of anybody but yet I saw water build up in his eyes.

"I need to call my sister. Do you know when the funeral is?"

"Yeah, it's on the tenth" which was just two days away. "Lizzy has all the information on that." He nodded his head. I then stood out in the hallway as he called his sister. Even though I know he was sad, Kendall never really had a sad tone of voice. I didn't know how he was handling it so well, but then again I only saw what was on the outside.

Once he hung up with his sister Kendall came over to me and pulled me in a hug. "I missed you," he said and my world stood still. Why did he have to tell me this? Why couldn't he just ever let me get over him? All sorts of thoughts were running in my head but the most common one that I was thinking I decided to say.

"I missed you too." He pulled away and I instantly missed the contact.

"So, I need to go talk to Lizzy and then I'm going to go see some of my friends. I'll try and talk to you later." I just nodded my head. I knew that it was an empty promise. People like Kendall no longer had the need to keep in touch with people like me. I should have known from the beginning that him dropping out would cause me to never speak to him again.

"Oh wait." Kendall turned around. "When do you leave for the army?"

"In April" I was happy that it was months away.

"So will I be able to see you again before you leave."

"I promise I'll say goodbye to you." That right there was the best thing I had heard in such a long time and I had no idea why. Kendall was saying goodbye; it wasn't something to be happy about.

"You better"

A/N: So there was chapter three. I know that it wasn't the greatest chapter out there but in two chapters that is when everything really starts to happen so look out for that.