An Unbreakable Bond

Chapter 1 I thought watching her die would be the hardest thing I would ever do but it was not, not even close, watching her live the way she was leaving was worse than death. Watching her slowing burn out to change from the girl I had known my entire life was so much worse. Losing the person sitting right next to you was so much worse.     1994: Flashback It was a hot summer day; my grandparents had sent my brothers Conner, Dean, and I out to play.  Conner was the oldest by 3 years and Dean and I were twins. Conner was a handsome kid with a strong jaw and stout at 8 he toward over all the other kids in the neighborhood hood. Dean and I were not blessed with the same genes. Both of us are all bones with mousey brown hair. “Hey Conner did you hear that someone moved into the old house on the corner?” I asked in a squeaky small voice. “Yes, sis I heard, I guess it’s a boy about my age and a girl the same age as you and Dean. Let’s walk over and introduce our selves and see if they would like to come play.” “No, bub I don’t think we should let’s just play together me you and Dean like always, We could go ask Susy if she wants to come play if you really want to add someone to our group She likes you, you know.” “Why are you being Rude America? You don’t want to be friends with new people?” “Well what if they don’t like me?” I asked him. It was different for him then it was Dean and me. People always wanted to be friends with Conner He was smart, and good at sports and all the girls in my grade said he was cute. Not Dean and I. we always were picked last in gym and no one wanted to sit with us at lunch unless it was to ask us about Conner. “Why would you say that sis, you are awesome everyone would be lucky to be your friend.” Conner was always protecting me and making sure that I felt special. He was a very good brother. Before I could explain to him that he was wrong and that the only time anyone wanted to be my friend was when they wanted to be his we saw a little girl in a hot pink dress covered in daisies skip down the road followed closely by an old boy who look board and slightly annoyed.                 The girl bounced up to us with her pretty blond hair swinging behind her she came to a halt in front of us “ HI, my name is  Austin and I’m five, this is my brother his name is Alex ignore him he doesn’t like to go outside and play but our mom said he had to”                 “Hi, I’m Conner and this is my brother Dean and my sister America. Do you want to play?”                 “America? That a stupid name” the boy with the sour face replied. 2017 : present It feel like I’ve been sitting in the waiting room of the er for hours. I take a look at the clock and it’s only be 20 minutes. I try to sit still and calm my nerves. I looked at my phone to see if either of my brothers have answered my text but my phone still shows zero messages. I send another one   “Will one of you answer me please?” I begged.   I know they are sick of these late night phone calls, hell I’m sick of these late night phone calls. This is the 6th er visit in the past year. However, something about this one feels different.   “Are you America?” a man in a white cote asks as he approaches I stand to greet him and he extends his hand “I’m Dr. Clark, I’ve been taking care of your friend Austin tonight. Do you want to follow me so we can chat?” I nod my head and began to follow him throw the ER door and down a cold white hallway. “Are we going to see Austin now?” I nervously question him my stomach turning as I talk.   “America, Does Austin have parents you can contact?” He asks not brothering to answer my question. “No, I mean yes she has parents but I normally hand this, I don’t want to be to blunt with you Dr. but Austin does this, it’s not our first rodeo hell it’s not even my 10th Rodeo, I’m pretty much the Rodeo queen at this point just give her a banana bag and send her on her way. I’ll take care of her from my house.” I explain annoyed. I mean did he even take the time to read her chart? This is what she does, she disappears for a few days to hook up with some loser and then she calls when he’s overdone it and I pick her up at whatever hospital was closest to her.   “America, I have looked over your friends chart and I understand that she seems to have a bit of a drinking issue that has caused her minor inconvenience in the past but this time is a little different. You friend was found unconscious in Evans Park. She has twice the lethal amount of crystal meth in her systems. We have done all we can for her but he has still not woken up. I think you might want to call her family and tell them to arrive as soon as possible.” We stop in front of a door marked ICU. When he cracks it I see my best friend laying on the bed eyes closed tubes coming out all over her body. I can feel my legs shake and my body go numb I start to fall but Dr. Clark catches me. I look up at him for the first time. He’s a beautiful man Dark Blue eyes like the ocean, the stubble on him sharp chin shows he’s been at work for quite some time without being able to shave. He leads me slowly to the chair in the corner and sits me down “Are you all right America? Would you like some water?” “No, No, I’m fine” I reply not wanting to be a brother to him or his staff but then I remember I need to make some difficult phone calls I would prefer to do in private “ you know yes please I would love some water” He nods and moves towards the door exiting with a sad smile on his face.   My text is to Dean “Dean, this time is different. Please come home.” He replies instantly “I’ll come but for you not her” I knew Dean would come if I asked, He will pretend be annoyed but he cares for Austin as much as I do we have been tree parts of a whole since that summer day in 94.   Conner on the other hand will not be as easy. I pick up my cell and dial my older brother’s number. The phone rings a few times and a sleepy female voice answers “Don’t you think it’s a little late to be calling America? Conner has a job ya know.” I see red, I hate this new hussy he’s been seeing the past couple of Months. Holding back tears I whisper, “Listen Connie put my brother on the phone right now this is an emergrcy” “Let me guess you’re little slut friend is at it again and needs Conner to come clean up her mess well you know what I’m sick of him cleaning up after your nasty little friend.” Before I have a chance to come undone I hear Conner’s booming voice “Connie Give me my damn phone and get out of my apartment I will not have you speak to my sister that way” I hear some rustling and Connie yelling then “ America what’s wrong? Has something happened to Austin” Hearing the sound of my brother my protector I let go and began to sob. “Conner, she’s really bad this time. She won’t wake up and I don’t know what to do please come.” “Where are you?” “County Memorial on Penn.” “I’ll be there in an hour don’t worry” He hangs up   Now I have to make the call I’m really dreading. I dial the home phone number of my best friends parents. It’s been the same number since I was five and I could remember it in my sleep. I wait as the phone rings.   The ringing stops and a voice I prayed I would never hear again answers, “Alex oh wow I thought you were still in Boston?” My shocked and my stomach starts to do that awful thing like when you are on a roller coaster. “Well hello,” his smug voice replies “it’s 2:45 in the morning don’t you think it’s a little early for social calls Jelly Bean? Plus Austin isn’t here mom and dad said they haven’t heard from her in over a week.” “It’s not a social call Alex,” I answer torn between anger and hearing him call me that awful nick name and anguish over my best friend. “Austin is here with me at County Memorial. I need to speak to your parents she’s in trouble.”   “Of course she is Jelly Bean when is she not?” “No, Alex it’s not like that this time. Alex your sister is in a coma, now please go get your parents.”      POV ALEX  I don't know why I keep coming back to this town that I've never fit into. I keep telling myself that it's my parents or even Austin but I know that's a lie I know she's what draws me to this desolate waste land. When we moved here from the city when I was 7 I was beyond pissed. I wasn't anything like the other kids with my shaggy black hair and awful blue eyes that looked fake. When I meet America and her brothers I instantly wanted to hate them with their smug faces.  Conner was the all American kid that I knew that my parents wished I was. He played football and baseball and keep himself neat and tidy, it made me sick. Dean was a small kid with glasses to big for his face they he constantly had to push up, and then there was America. I mean her name says enough right, who the hell names their kid America? I can still pitcher her at five smiling up at me with kind eyes, I can also remember the day she stopped looking at me like that. 2006: FLASHBACK It was a sunny day in the Spring time. I was 19 and life had been pretty sucky. I didn't really have any friends no one wanted to hang out with the "goth" kid. I spent most of my days locked up in my room listing to Power Man 5000 or Korn. My sister had just turned 17 and had already been in trouble with the law a few times. Out parents had got divorced a few years back and mom had to work two jobs to keep a roof over out heads. Austin had discovered dads bottles of Vodka he left behind and started drinking to deal. Mom was to busy to notice and I was to depressed to care. On this particular day Austin was mopping around complaining out her hang over. The door bell rang and when I opened the door America stood there looking up at me. She had changed alot over the winter. She let her hair grow out and it fell in long waves down her back the color of hot coco.  She wasn't all bones anymore, I knew she was upset about gaining weight but I thought the curves fit her nicely.  Conner and I would both me graduating in the next month and I couldn't get out of this town fast enough. The girls where sitting at the kitchen table giggling and talking about the big graduation party that was going to take place tonight. I had no intention of going.  "So are you going to make a move on Bradley tonight?" Austin asked America? Bradley who I wondered to myself. Surely she wasn't talking about Bradley Smith. He was Conner's best friend and the biggest jock in school. I knew my sister and Conner had a fling but who didn't have a fling with Austin. Bradley wasn't right for America. She was sweet and soft and he burned throw cheerleaders at an alarming rate.  "No, of course I won't" America whispered eyeing me from across the room.  Good answer America I thought to myself you are a smart girl.  "Why? You could totally nail him tonight. You're hott girl and you never go out with anyone. Is there someone you're not telling me about because if there is tell me and we will go after him instead." Austin went on  White hot anger bubbled up inside thinking of any loser from out school touching America but then I could of swore I saw her eyes shift in my direction. I have loved her since I can remember. She was always sweet to me even when she shouldn't of been but I pray she doesn't feel the same way. I will never been good enough for her.  "No, there's not anyone. I'll talk to Bradley," she agreed to pacify my sister. Oh no I can't let her talk to Bradley he will ruin her, " Don't you think he's a little out of you league Jelly Bean," I asked her with a hard look.  The look on her face broke my heart. I hated hurting her but I would rather hurt her feelings then let that d-bag break her heart.  "Shut the f**k up Alex!" Austin screamed at me and pegged me with an apple "and stop calling her that you know she hates it." "it's okay Austin he's right," America whispered "I'm gonna go home I'll pick you up at 9. Alex you should go I bet you would have fun"  "Yeah f*****g right," Austin huffed " that would involve him acting like a human." America gave me a small smile as she walked out of the house. I wanted to tell her that she was to good for him, that she was to good for any of them but I didn't I just looked at the floor and let her walk out to the door thinking that I thought so little of her. I wanted to grab her and hold her close but I knew I would just end up being a disappointment to her like I am to everyone else. "If you are not going to tell her how you feel why don't you at least let her date other people?" questioned my sister, "I know you've been scaring off guys since middle school." "I don't know what the hell you are talking about," I lied "Yeah okay whatever Alex. Bradley asked me yesterday when I was with Conner if she was coming tonight. He's totally into her."  "What time is this party?" I questioned as i took a big bite out of the apple my sitter pegged me with.  "9pm why?" "I'm going," I replied as I walked off leaving her with her mouth half open. I almost backed out at least 20 times before 9pm but I had to protect America. I pulled on a pair of  old ripped skinny jeans and a black t-shirt that showed off the snake tattoo I had just gotten last week on my four arm.