As Summer drove away from Ashlyn’s, she mumbled the first prayer she’d offered since Mom died. “Please, please let them work it out.”
Chapter Thirty
To cut down on her confrontations with all the people who now hated and mocked her, Summer normally arrived at school last minute these days, with barely enough time to grab her books and get to class. But first thing this morning, Ashlyn had sent a text saying she wanted a few minutes to chat before school. After Summer’s mad dash to get ready, she buzzed to the school—obeying all traffic laws, of course. She pulled into the parking lot with twenty minutes to spare.
The sight of Ashlyn sitting on the hood of her car made Summer smile. Even though they’d spent most of yesterday afternoon together, she couldn’t wait to talk to her again. She got out of her car and hiked her bag up on her shoulder. “Hola, chica! What’s up?”
“I’ll tell you what’s up.” Ashlyn grinned, her whole face lighting up. “You have to talk to Troy.”
For a moment, Summer could only blink. Excitement started to take hold as what that meant sunk in. “Really?”
Ashlyn slid off the hood. “Yep. I did it. I talked to my mom yesterday after you left, and we ended up talking until midnight. I laid it all out, how much her words cut me, and instead of getting mad, she apologized. Then we started talking, like really talking, all the subjects we usually avoid. I feel like I finally understand her. And learning more about her life made me understand why she is the way she is.”
A calm, peaceful feeling washed over Summer. She’d figured out a way to help. She even noticed that Ashlyn was calling Pamela mom. Usually she spat out the word mother like it was a disease.
“I guess both of her parents died young,” Ashlyn said. “Her dad had a heart attack, and her mom was diabetic. After they died, she was determined to always live healthy, and when she had me, she wanted me to be healthy, too. When I explained that I tried, but it was harder for me, she started crying—I’ve never seen her cry before. She told me she wanted me to feel good about myself. She told me she thinks I’m beautiful, inside and out.”
Ashlyn’s voice got a little shaky, then she took a deep breath and smiled at Summer. “In fact, after school we’re going to the mall to buy some clothes that fit and flatter. No losing weight required. I tossed those stupid diet pills this morning.”
“Rock on!” Warmth spread through Summer’s chest, and she couldn’t stop smiling. This story was getting better and better by the second.
“Mom also said that lately she’s noticed how hollow and empty some of the people she works with are. She said the qualities she saw in me were much more important than weight—that’s a compliment coming from my mother. She even mentioned you, stating she could see what a good friend you were. I swear, we just talked and talked. I’ve never had more fun. And I was hanging out with my mom.”
“I’m so happy for you. I really am.”
“I don’t even know how to thank you.” Ashlyn threw her arms around Summer and pulled her into a giant hug. “I don’t even care if this starts more lesbian rumors.”
“Bring ‘em on,” Summer said as she squeezed back.
Ashlyn’s on a stretcher, oxygen mask over her face.
A paramedic shouts, “Okay, clear!” He uses the paddles to shock Ashlyn. Her body jerks wildly, then nothing. The paramedic tries again. No response. The small heart rate monitor flat lines, echoing through the back of the ambulance as the paramedics drop everything.
Ashlyn lies there, motionless, her face drained of color.
“She’s gone,” he says.
“No, no, no, no.” Panic dug its claws into Summer’s chest. This couldn’t be happening. She wouldn’t let it.
Ashlyn pulled back and studied Summer’s face. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m really happy for you.” Summer frantically looked around, making sure no cars were coming to mow Ashlyn down. “I never dreamed it would happen so fast. I thought it would take you guys days, weeks even, to reconcile.”
“Who knows how long it will last, but things are really good right now. So you want to go to the mall with us when we go? I can’t wait to get some new clothes that fit right. Real shopping without the side of guilt.”
Just give them time to go shopping. Let them enjoy their time now. Another week. Another day.
“Seriously, Summer, you look like you’re going to cry.”
Maybe they’d have time to do it. Just because she’d seen Ashlyn dying didn’t mean it was close. Just because the others had happened soon after didn’t mean they always did.
“Hey, girls,” Darren said, raising his signature-covered blue cast.
Aaron stuck out his lower lip and gave them the nod. “’Sup?”
“We’re getting amped for a fabulous day of learning,” Ashlyn said, pouring on the sarcasm.
See, she’s fine. She’s joking; her color’s good. It’s going to be okay. Still, Summer couldn’t relax. Hysteria coursed through her veins, and she glanced around like a paranoid lunatic, watching, waiting. Preparing to change it somehow.
“You know, knowledge is power,” Darren said.
“GI Joe, right?” Summer asked, having a hard time focusing.
“That’s, ‘Knowing is half the battle,’” Aaron said.
Darren pushed his glasses up his nose. “I was quoting Sir Francis Bacon, actually.”
“Mmm. Bacon sounds good.” Summer nudged Ashlyn. “What do you think, Ash?”
Ashlyn clutched her chest. “Ouch. That was weird.” She shook her head and continued toward the school. “I don’t think I’ve had real bacon for years. Mom prefers the turkey kind. You know what we should do tonight? We should all get together and—” Her hand shot to her chest again.
Summer watched in horror as Ashlyn’s face contorted in pain. She bent over to catch her breath like she’d done back on the beach. Her breathing slowed.
Then she fell to the ground.
Summer dropped to her knees. She heard Darren and Aaron talking about getting a nurse or calling 911, but it was all fuzzy and detached. She shook Ashlyn’s shoulder. “Ashlyn, come on. Take a deep breath. Do something.” She wasn’t going to let this happen. If there were a God, Angels, Ciphers, there could be miracles. Ashlyn deserved a miracle.
“Please don’t go yet. There’s so much I want to do with you. We can change this.” Despair twisted around her heart, and tears stung her eyes. “You fight like hell, I’ll fight like hell, and we won’t let this happen.”
Ashlyn only groaned in response.
People started to gather, staring at Ashlyn crumpled on the sidewalk. Summer wanted to scream at them to all get away. This can’t be happening, this can’t be happening.
Summer focused on Ashlyn, trying to figure out what she needed to do to help her. She watched her chest slowly rise and fall…
Rise and fall…
Nothing.
“Ashlyn!”
She wasn’t breathing, and Summer’s mind spun as she tried to remember the CPR training Dad had forced her to take a couple years before. What were those steps? Think, Summer, think. You know how to do this.
“Tilt the head back,” she whispered to herself as she tilted Ashlyn’s head. “Pinch the nose and cover their mouth with yours.” Summer blew two long breaths in. She rocked back onto her feet. Now thirty pumps.
Positioning her hands over Ashlyn’s chest, she started the compressions, counting in her head.