(Bianca)
We rushed into the emergency room.
I was both panicked and mad.
This was supposed to be a happy day, and now this?
I ran to the receptionist, "Excuse me?"
The receptionist looked up from her book, "Can I hel…" Her voice trailed off. She had short blonde hair, a skinny body, and a pointed nose.
"Rach.. Rachelle!" I gasped.
Rachelle gave the same expression. But her face of shock turned to delight. "How are you?"
I looked over to Sydney. "Well I'm in kind of a rush," I said.
"Of course you are, but you can at least tell me where Jay is!" Rachelle said. "How is he?"
"He's here, I need to find him," I told her.
"Did he run away again?" Rachelle asked.
"No, he's a patient, can you tell me where he is!?" I asked.
"Yes of course," Rachelle pulled up a schedule on her computer. "Room five-two-six, down the hall, to the right."
"Thanks!" I said and turned around.
"Wait, there's something you should know," Rachelle said.
"What, you're sorry for everything?" I asked.
"No, I mean I am sorry for all the pain I caused, but that room," Rachelle said.
"What?" I demanded, "What is it?"
"You'll find out from the doctor, never mind," Rachelle said and sat back down.
I nodded and grabbed Vienna, "Found him, come on!"
Sydney hurried behind us as we ran down the hall carrying Sterling.
I saw a sign on the door. "Room five-two-six, come on!"
We knocked on the door, no response.
I pounded on the door and it finally opened.
"Are you Bianca Davis?" said the man.
"Yes, I am," I said.
"My name is Doctor Edwards, can you come with me," The doctor said. He wore a white lab coat and had a wrinkled face.
"What's wrong with him Doctor?" I asked.
"You might want to sit down," Doctor Edwards recommended.
"I don't want to sit down, just tell me!" I demanded.
Doctor Edwards sighed, "As you know, Jayden Davis has had a past."
"Yeah, of course!" I said.
"A past on the streets when he was a child," Said Sydney.
"This is an educated guess, but he has a sickness he may have contracted from that," Doctor Edwards said.
"A sickness?" I asked.
"It's something I've never seen, and it's spreading," Doctor Edwards explained.
"Why haven't we heard anything about this before?" I asked.
"It moved extremely slowly and was hidden by something," Said Doctor Edwards.
"Will he be alright, isn't there some kind of treatment?" I asked.
Doctor Edwards sighed, "I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do for him.
The sudden realization hit me, "He's dying?" I asked.
Doctor Edwards nodded, "I'm sorry Mrs Davis, there's nothing, and I mean nothing that can cure him."
Vienna began to sob.
Sydney kept the same regal face, but I knew on the inside that she was crying as well.
"There has to be something," I cried. "Something that can save my Jayden."
Doctor Edwards opened the door to the room, "Do you wish to see him?"
I walked into the room where Jay lay.
"Hey Bianca," He said weakly.
"Jayden, I'm so sorry," I said.
"Hey, it's alright," Jay said and smiled. His face was pale and he had a blank expression on his face.
"I'm scared, I don't know if I can go on without you," I told him.
"It's alright, at least we had a good few years together," Jay smiled.
"Yeah, at least we did," I said, still sobbing.
"You don't need to be worried about me, I don't fear death," Jay said with a reassuring look.
"You don't?" I asked as I wiped my tears.
"After what I've been through, death seems just like having a long sleep," Jay laughed.
"But what about me, what am I going to do without you?" I asked him.
"Go, live your life, find somebody else who can care for you and Sterling," Jay said.
"Find a replacement, for you?" I gasped.
"Not a replacement, just a closer friend than anyone else," Jay said.
"That doesn't make any sense," I told him.
"Yeah, I didn't know what to say," Jay laughed. He immediately coughed. "I'm going to miss playing tennis with you."
"You mean losing to me in tennis?" I asked him.
Jay chuckled, "Whatever you want to call it."
"You know Rachelle works here, right?" I asked him.
"Yeah, I'm aware," Jay said. "The doctor told me."
"Did he?" I asked.
"He told me that she would talk about me quite a bit," Jay said.
"That's probably why he knew about your past," I noted.
"If you don't mind, would you call her in for me?" Jay asked. His eyes were getting heavier by the minute. "I want to talk with her."
I looked at the door, "Of course," I walked out the door where I was stopped by Vienna and Sydney.
"Hey guys," I said.
"Are you alright?" Vienna asked. She herself was crying.
"I'll be fine, it's just so heartbreaking," I told her.
Sydney placed her hand on my shoulder, "You'll be fine, you have me and Vienna."
"I don't want to go back to Liverpool," I told them. "But that's my home, and that's where he wanted to live."
"Liverpool?" Said a voice.
"Good god!" Sydney gasped. "Rachelle Turner?"
"Hey Sydney, good to see you," Rachelle said.
"When did you get so polite?" Sydney asked.
Rachelle raised an eyebrow, "What are you talking about?"
Sydney stuttered but took a deep breath, "Oh never mind."
"Uh huh," Rachelle said unconvinced. "So I'm guessing by your faces the doctor told you."
"Yeah, and Rachelle, thanks," I said.
"Thanks for what?" Rachelle asked.
"For telling the doctor about Jay's past, at least he tried," I told her,
Rachelle nodded, "Don't worry about it."
There was an awkwards silence for a split second but I broke it,
"Jay wants to see you," I told Rachelle.
Rachelle seemed surprised, "Why would he want to see me?" she asked.
"No clue, he just said he wanted to talk with you," I said.
"Well then I will," Rachelle said. She walked into the room and the others followed.
I didn't know what to do so I too followed.
"Well look at you," Rachelle said to Jay.
"Hey Rachelle," Jay said then coughed.
"How are you feeling?" Rachelle asked.
"Fine, I'm doing amazing," Jay said sarcastically.
"Look, I know we've had our small differences that lead to a little conflict-"
"A little?" Vienna asked.
"Ok, a lot of conflict, but I just want you to know, I admired you for most of our childhood," Rachelle explained.
"Did you though?" Jay asked.
"I did, you know that," Rachelle said.
"Do I, or are you just saying this to make me feel better?" Jay asked with a stern look.
"My god, you haven't changed," Rachelle shouted.
"Calm down, I'm kidding," Jay laughed.
Rachelle took a deep breath, "You shouldn't do those kinds of things."
I looked at Jay, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm just having some fun," Jay said. "Don't worry about me Bianca."
Sydney tapped me on the back. "Sterling," She said.
"Oh that's right," I looked down to see Sydney carrying Sterling in his baby carrier.
I grabbed the baby and lifted him into the air.
Jay's eyes filled with joy, "I'm so glad I lived to see this," Jay smiled.
Everyone huddled around him.
"We are too," Vienna said.
"You know what we're missing?" Sydney said.
"What?" Everyone asked.
"Chloe!" Sydney declared, "Rachelle can you get her down here?"
"I can't, she lives in Berlin now," Rachelle said.
"So that's why I couldn't find her," Sydney said. "She always talked about moving to Berlin, I feel so stupid."
"I could try to ask her mother to get her though," Rachelle said.
"Her mother?" I asked.
"Yeah, she still lives here, but it may take a while," Rachelle sighed.
"That's fine, I didn't really want to see her anyways," Jay said.
Rachelle frowned, "She's still my friend!"
"Sorry sorry," Jay laughed. "Didn't mean to offend you!"
"It's fine, just don't do it again," Rachelle said.
We all shared a laugh, but I knew it may be one of our last.
(Jayden)
27 years ago…
"Come here you little bastard!"
I could feel the belt coming down on my back hard. It hurt so much. I screamed for help, but nobody came. The same question kept repeating in my head every time I was hit. Did anyone actually love me? If somebody did love me, then why was I getting beat all the time. "STOP!" I shouted.
However the belt kept coming, harder and harder. Every strike hurting more than the last.
"Come 'ere squirt!" My father yelled. He continued to beat me. The pain was unbearable.
I had been beaten before, but this was more than that. It hurt so much. The pain, god the pain it was the most painful experience.
Every single time he hit I would flinch.
"Please papa, stop!" I cried.
There was a slight pause and I opened my eyes. I heard a loud bang and pain erupted in my leg. I knew exactly what this was. My father had shot me with his pistol. I had been shot multiple times before, this was nothing compared to that, but it still hurt.
"Oh husband!" My mother called.
My father dropped the gun next to me, "What is it honey?" He called.
Slowly, I reached for the gun.
"The baby is crying again!" My mother said from up the stairs.
My father walked past me making sure to stop on my back. "Well what's wrong?"
I snatched the gun and aimed it at my father's head. One press of the trigger and it would be over. I would be free of this. I was three though, I had no idea how to operate this thing. I pulled the trigger and was thrown backwards.
The bullet flew through the air and into my dad's leg. He screamed in pain as I stood up.
My leg still hurt but the rush of adrenaline was enough to keep me going. I grabbed my father's laptop and stuffed it into a bag. I was quite a resourceful child. I opened the door and limped into the suburbs of Massachutuss. I continued until I couldn't see my house. I didn't want to go back there, never again. I continued down the street not making eye contact with anyone.
I could hear civilians talking about me but I completely ignored them.
"Hey kid, stop!" One shouted.
I kept on limping down the street. I wasn't going to stop and I didn't plan to let anyone stop me.
Finally I found a homeless shelter. I walked inside and looked around at all the homeless people.
I sat in a corner on my own and pulled out the laptop. I knew my father's password so I could access it. I looked through his files and saw a whole bunch of things. But none of them were interesting.
Suddenly, somebody dropped a ten dollar bill on my lap.
I looked up to find a homeless man smiling at me.
"For the road," He said.
I nodded and put the money in my pocket.The man left, leaving me alone again. I got a weird feeling from him.
"Um, hey kid," Said somebody.
"Yes?" I answered.
This was one of the staff members, I could tell because she wore a shirt that had the homeless shelter's name on it.
"How old are you?" said the staff member.
"I'm thwee years old," I told her (Yes I spelt that wrong on porpoise. Don't like my puns, sorry just trying to lift the mood, I'll get back to the story.)
"Young man, shouldn't you be at home, with your family?"
"I can take care of myself, thank you very much!" I shouted. "I know how to survive."
"I'm just suggesting you go into the foster system, or an orphanage," Said the staff member.
"Maybe you should!" I shouted.
The staff member looked offended. "Ok, I'm sorry for bothering you." She walked off.
I crossed my arms trying to look tough.
"Excuse me," Said one of the homeless men.
I turned to him, "Yes?"
"You know, I could teach you how to survive on the streets," He said.
I looked out the window, "That would be rather helpful."
The man smiled, "Then come with me and I'll show you!"
(Vienna)
Whenever I thought of Jay, I thought of that young boy who I had taken in. The boy that came to me for help, and now, he was leaving. That young boy who I would write with all the time. That boy who would make my mother so happy. He was leaving, forever.
I didn't want him to die, I wanted him to stay alive. Even if he went back to Liverpool, at least I could see him again. But if he passed, he would be gone and I would never get to see his beautiful brown eyes. Never again stroke his soft hair and never again have that hope in my life.
Jayden had replaced my older brother in some way. I remember it like yesterday. We got a phone call from the police one night.
My older brother was on his way home with his best friend when somebody attacked them. My brother had saved his friend's life by jumping in front of a bullet that would've killed his friend. The police arrived a few seconds after.
If the police were just a bit faster, my brother would still be alive. He died a hero, but what about his poor family.
My mother and father were devastated.
I was only eight at the time, I had no idea what had happened. I could still remember the funeral and how depressing it was. Everyone was wearing black and the casket had been left open.
My brother's lifeless body lay inside.
My parents had taken me up to say goodbye and I just remember crying. That was the only thing I could remember.
My mother swore that she would never let the same thing happen to me. Once I was old enough, she placed a tracker on my phone so she could see me at all times. She didn't want me dying on her like my brother had.
Now I was older, and it was happening again. My brother was dying.
Jayden (Though not blood related) was my brother. I loved him and he loved me. We were always there for each other, even if we couldn't be together all the time he would come back every few months to say hi but would leave a few minutes after. I never got the chance to hug him, he would be there, then gone.
Now that I was here, inside of his room next to his wife I could feel the pain. The pain of losing a loved one again.
"How long did the doctor say he had?" Sydney asked.
I looked out the door into what seemed like an endless void. "I believe he said a few hours," I said. "That was two hours ago."
"So that means," Bianca gasped.
Jayden smiled, "That means that I can finally be at rest."
"How can you say that and be so calm?" I asked.
Jay laughed, "Oh Vienna, it'll be ok," He said.
But I couldn't help but feel sorry for myself. "No, it won't be ok, you'll be gone and I won't have anyone."
"You have your parents," Jay said.
"I moved out a long time ago," I told him. "I've been lonely for a long time."
"Sydney, can you pass me a piece of paper?" Jay asked.
"Why?" Sydney asked as she handed him the paper.
"And a pencil," Jay said, raising his right hand.
"Of course," Sydney said as she looked around for a pencil.
"You know, I might die any second now," Jay commented.
"This isn't a time to make jokes Jay," Sydney said.
"Here!" Rachelle handed Jay a pencil.
Jay thanked her and started writing.
"Wonder what he's up to," Sydney said.
"You'll see," Jay said. He kept on writing and when he was finished he gave back the pencil. "Now listen carefully, when I pass on, read this and give it to whoever sets up my will or whatever," Jay said. "And Bianca, take care of Sterling."
Sterling reached for his father and Jay embraced him. "Listen little guy, don't cause your mother problems, I know you may not understand me, but just don't."
Sterling nodded like he understood.
"Good boy," Jay started coughing more and more. His heart monitor started beeping like crazy.
"Jay, JAY!" Bianca gasped.
Was it happening, now?
Doctors ran into the room as fast as they could.
"I'm going to have to ask you to leave," Doctor Edwards said.
"What but he's my husband!" Bianca said.
Doctor Edwards gave Sterling back to his mother. "It won't be pretty."
Sydney grabbed Rachelle and I, "Come on guys, let's go."
How could she be so calm?
Jay might be dying and she was extremely calm.
"How do you do it?" I asked her.
"Do what?" Sydney asked.
"Stay so calm in these situations," I responded.
"Oh that," Sydney said. "I think I'm just desensitized to all this stuff."
"You are?" I asked. "Did something like this happen?"
"No, it's just that I've watched so many TV shows that it's kind of a normal thing now," Sydney explained. "I mean it'll happen to everyone eventually."
"That's morbid," Rachelle said.
"I guess you can put it that way, now I guess we should wait," Sydney said. "Would hate to start a proper conversation and get rudely interrupted by the sounds of crying."
"Why are you so moody?" I asked.
"It's her way of expressing her feelings," Rachelle whispered, "Just give her a minute."
Sydney let out a long sigh then grabbed a book from a shelf and threw it across the hall.
"Hey!" Rachelle shouted. "Just because you're upset doesn't give you the right to throw things around!"
Sydney sat down, "I'm sorry, I just wish that we could do something."
I stared at Jay's room door. What was going on in there? I hoped that Jay would be alright, even if he were to die soon, I didn't want it to be now. I could hear crying from inside the room.
Was it Sterling or Bianca.
Personally, I had no idea but it was probably Sterling.
The doctors exited the room,
"Are you Vienna Bauer?" Doctor Edwards asked.
"I am," I answered. "Is he alright?"
Doctor Edwards sighed, "Mrs Davis wanted me to give you this."
I looked down at his hand.
It was the slip of paper Jay had written just a few seconds earlier.
"That means," Sydney gasped.
Doctor Edwards lowered his head, "I'm sorry to tell you this, Jayden Davis just passed."
Tears formed in my eyes, "He's dead?"
Doctor Edwards led me into the room.
Bianca held Jayden's lifeless hand as she too sobbed.
"Bianca, I-"
"Don't say it, I know," Bianca said.
I looked down at the paper. I slowly opened it.
"Dear Bianca, Sterling, Sydney, Vienna, Sean, Ito, Rachelle and maybe Chloe
Though my life may be short, I just wanted you all to know that it was a good life.
I enjoyed every second of it, especially when I was with all of you.
I will miss seeing all of you, but nothing lasts forever.
The joy you all brought to my depressing existence was such a phenomenal thing that I had to thank all of you. I have only a few requests for you to carry out. Rachelle, I want you to know that I've let go of my grudge and have forgiven you, continue doing what you do but save room for writing, I've left some characters behind for you. Chloe, you were the second person I met properly, I want you to help Rachelle with my stories. Ito and Sean, I want you to raise healthy children and make sure that they are successful. I'll be watching over them from the stars.
Sydney, Bianca and I never told you this, but we would like you to be Sterling's godmother. It would mean the world to me. Bianca and Sterling, I want both of you to carry on in Liverpool, there are great opportunities there. Finally Vienna, when I visited the U.S, I did some digging about my family. Something came up that I thought you would find interesting. Remember how I had that sister, turns out she was taken from my parents after social services found out about me. She was only a baby when it happened. She had been shipped to Manchester and was adopted by two loving parents. Those loving parents were the Bauers. My first reaction was that it was impossible because we were in the same grade, but I remembered you telling me that you skipped a few grades. Remember when I said that you were like a sister to me, well that wasn't a lie apparently, you really are my sister. Your real name was Amanda Hodges, but listen Vienna, you will always be my dearest friend, no matter what.
Now then, I would love to thank everyone in my life, until next time.
Jayden (Chris) Davis.