�Yes, she didn�t sustain any head injuries. It does look as if she�s broken her ankle and will need a few stitches, though.� he explained.
Tara and Madison looked at each other, worried. Alyson�s greatest fear was needles, so having stitches was not going to sit well with Ally.
Madison looked down at Alyson�s legs for the first time, and noticed they were pretty cut up and her ankle did indeed look broken. She looked away, over at Siobhan, who seemed lost in thought, �Siobhan, you okay?� she asked, putting her hand on her friend�s knee.
Sirens. They were the same. So was the ambulance. All the same, although it was two and a half years later. Siobhan desperately tried to hold back the tears as she remembered. It had been a sunny April day in the 7th grade. Annie and Siobhan had been roller blading to the Dairy Queen in the small town of Bedford, near New York City. That�s where Siobhan had lived until the summer before high school. They�d never made it to the ice cream shop. A car had come screeching around the corner and before Siobhan could react, she couldn�t find Annie. She�d begun screaming her best friend of five years� name, but couldn�t find her. Annie had been pinned underneath the car, and had died instantly. Siobhan had been in the ambulance with her the whole way, and had heard them pronounce her best friend dead.
�Siobhan, sweetie? We�re almost there.� Tara�s voice broke through her thoughts. She and Madison were looking at Siobhan with worried eyes. Siobhan�s eyes filled with tears, and Madison immediately pulled her into her arms.
�It�s okay, Ally will be fine, I promise.� Madison soothed, as she rocked Siobhan, �Let it out.� she encouraged her friend.
Siobhan pulled away, wiped her eyes, and shook her head, �Not now. Now Ally needs me.� she said, putting on the face her friends had come to call �Syvanni�s Resolve Face.� She put it on every time she almost burst into tears, but didn�t.
There had been so much pain. Pain in the building, being carried out, being with her friends. Getting to the hospital, and the worst part, getting her ankle set and the stitches. Tara had to hold her pretty tight for those. For some reason, no one could reach her mom and her dad was out of town. But Tara, sweet Tara was there for all of it. She had promised to always be with her, and she had. Sweet best friend, she was so lucky to have her. Madison and Siobhan weren�t allowed to go in, but they�d hugged her tight beforehand.
There was no pain now. She stirred and moaned, feeling a hand in hers.
�Alyson, honey?� a voice said, �Mommy�s here.�
�Mom? Tari?� Alyson asked, cracking open her eyes to see her mother looking down at her.
�Tara went down to the cafeteria for a late lunch with your other two friends. They�ll be right back. They didn�t want to leave, but I made them. How are you feeling, honey?� Lorelai Wyatt asked her daughter.
�Tired and achy a little bit. Where�s Lissi, Ari, and Peytie?� Alyson inquired, wondering where her little siblings went after school.
�Alyssa went to Brighten�s and Leo picked up Arielle and Peyton from school.� Lorelai explained.
�Mom...what happened to my school?� Alyson asked, just as her friends walked in.
�Ally Piper, you�re awake!� Tara squealed, and in a few moments Ally found herself underneath a stack of joyful friends.
�I love you guys, but oxygen is becoming an issue.� Alyson said, straining to push her friends off.
�Sorry, sweetie.� Tara said, quietly, as they got off their friend and sat next to her on the bed.
�Mom, what happened?� Alyson asked, still a bit confused.
She and her friends looked at Alyson�s mom, who sighed, �A large delivery truck rolled over outside the cafeteria, crashed into the auditorium, and caught fire. Six students, the drama teacher, and the truck driver died.�
Alyson�s eyes filled with tears, �Oh, God.� she whispered.
�Come here, sweetie.� Tara whispered, and Alyson leaned over and melted into Tara�s arms. Madison and Siobhan wrapped their arms around their friends, too, and they sat that way until the doctor gave Alyson the go-ahead to leave.
The four girls walked to the car, holding onto each other, but not saying a word, helping Alyson navigate the stairs on her crutches. In the car, Siobhan and Alyson both fell asleep, leaning on their friends for support.
THE END, THANK YOU FOR READING