" NOOO," Chele screamed falling to her knees, letting her tears of loss stream down her cheeks as she rested her face in the palms of her hands. It couldn't be real, nothing like that ever happened in Tulsa, and not Johnny. Why Johnny? It was just yesterday that she had talked to him in 1st period, waved in the hall, ate lunch with him, and walked home with him. It couldn't be real. How could someone be here one day and then the next they're gone so far away leaving so many with pain, hurt, guilt, promises never promised, words that were meant to be spoken never spoken, and smiles that were never exchanged. Chele sat in the middle of the yard on her knees crying. Her best friend was just snatched away from her, and her heart wasn't there, it was nothing, just a whole it seemed. Johnny was her best friend, and everyday they did something together. But after this morning, they would never do another thing again. Not after Johnny's short, young life was taken, and it wasn't fair in Chele's mind. He was a wonderful person, and not everyone saw that in him. Some said he was 'weird', others said he was a psychopathic killer, and some people were just plain out mean, but to Chele he was all that she had in life. Now there was nothing. She sobbed; tears tumbling down her face, over her plams and between her fingers finally finding its resting place on her jeans. Her mother patted her on the back, kneeling and kissing her head softly she said, "Everything happens for a reason baby. Johnny's gone but that doesn't mean his memory can't live on inside of you. Remembering him and his life is something you'll have forever, and that's the best thing anyone could ever do." Her mother always had a kind word to say about Johnny and his 'weird' ways. She loved him like her own son, and knew that this was something God had planned. What was going to come of this, she didn't know, but she knew Johnny and it was all planned. "Momma, why Johnny? Why couldn't it have been someone else, anyone else? Not Johnny," she mumbled between the tears. "God works in misterious ways baby," her mother spoke so tenderlly. Chele looked out onto the open road, watching each car pass quickly and remembering when her and Johnny were little. They rode thier bikes up and down the road, competeing and seeing who was the fastest. Then as they got older, and grew faster they seemed to have lost interest in their bikes and took long walks. She remembered the one incident when Johnny stood up for her, to protect her from the school stud or school 'jerk'. "Listen man, she said no and she means it. If she wanted to go out with you, she would. Now take off before I throw you the rest of the way down the road," Johnny said angrily after Chele had repeatidly said no. The tears fell harder and the memories only seemed to be daggers stabbing her heart one by one. "Momma," Chele cried harder turning quickly and hugging her mother tight. "It's all gonna be ok, baby. I'm sure of it. Come on into the house. I'll fix you some hot tea, and we'll sit and talk," Barbara, her mother, suggested. She nodded and stood following her mother into the house and to the small country style kitchen. She waited patiently watching Barbara set the teapot ontop of the stove and grab the Tea bags from the top shelf of the cabinet. "Momma, can I ask you something," Chele said softly wanting to know every bit of information about Johnny's last moments alive. "Sure baby," Barbara said rubbing the back of her head and sitting next to her. "How did he die, I mean why," she asked softly as warm salty tears filled her eyes. "Well, baby, it's hard to explain. You knew that Johnny had been worn down for a while now. He was always tired, and feeling sick. Well, his mother took him to the doctors Monday, to get some medication and vitamins. The medicine they perscribed, well, baby, Johnny was allergic to it. They didn't know baby, and after taking only 8 pills, his heart exploded in his chest early this morning. Baby, it was a complete accident. There's no one to blame, but I know that he's here with you. He always will be," she explained sympathetically. "I have been telling Johnny to slow down with everything and stop trying to take everything on. I knew that one day he would get sick and learn but I never thought of this momma! I'm so scared. I don't know what I'm gonna do without him. Momma, where's sis," Chele asked looking around and not seeing her little sister, Jessy. "She's upstairs in her room crying baby. Maybe you should go up and talk to her. It might help. She needs some support and you do too, maybe you two can help eachother. Go on up, and I'll bring your tea up right after I answer the phone," Barbara smiled kissing her forehead and sending her up the stairs. "Hello," she answered sulenly. "Ms. Pursley," a older womans voice said. "Yes, this is Ms. Pursley. Can I help you," she asked politley. "Ms. Pursley, I know you probably don't know me, but then again you might. See, my sons were good friends of Johnny's too, and they had meet your daughters quite a few times. They knew the oldest girl was Johnny's best friend, and we were wondering maybe we should get them together. My boys seem to be taking it pretty bad," the woman, who still hadn't given her name, said. "My girls are taking it pretty bad. Chele just found out and is taking it pretty badly. I"m sorry to hear about your boys. And I think it would be a great idea to get our children together. Maybe they can help eachother more than we can help them. Can I get your name," Barbara asked. "Diana..Diana Hanson," the woman finally said. "Oh, Diana Hanson. My girls have spoken of your sons since 97 and they have said something about Johnny and them being quite good friends. I'm sure they'd love to get together. Yes. That would be great. 7 is fine. Ok, no, Thank you. Ok. Bye bye," Barbara said hanging the phone up. She sighed and headed back into the kitchen for Chele's cup of hot tea. She slowly walked up the stairs, hearing the soft whimpers coming from the room, and dreading the pain that they were going through. "Girls," Barbara knocked. "Come in Momma," Jessy said softly. "Oh, my, girls everything will be ok," she sighed and held back the tears. Chele was holding Jessy tight and they were both crying from the depths of them. 'Please, God, I don't know what you're doing, but just keep my daughters with me,' she pleaded inside of her heart. "Girls, we're having company tonight," Barbara began. "I don't want to see anyone from school," Jessy blurted out. "They're not from school, baby. They were just as close to Johnny as you two were. They said you have met them quite a few times. Their mother just called and seems to think like me. Maybe you can be helpful to eachother and remembering is the most hurtful things, but it'll help to remember together," Barbara said softly. "Ok Momma. We'll be ready by seven," Chele said still crying. 'God, please let the Hanson's help," Barbara pleaded walking out of the room and downstairs to prepare for their visitors.
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