A small, yet strong hand gripped my arm pulling the gun away from me.

"Jason! don't do it!" Ashley cried. There were pools of tears beneath her large eyes and her brown pupils sparkled with all the tears that had not yet escaped. "Please," she cried, "Jason, I'm so sorry. I love you too! I never told you..."

"Give me one reason not to," my voice came out raspy, my heart beating a million a minute.

"I told you I love you! I do! I'm so sorry." She choked, the tears blinded her and her firm grip began to tremble. "Please..." Ashley looked deep into my eyes and gave me this most pathetic look. She tired to explain everything through that look, but it wasn't enough for me.

"Prove it."

"Jason! Ever since I've known you practically! Remember when I asked if you were gay? I was frightened that all the rumors were true..if they were then I wouldn't even have a chance..." She sobbed some more. All those unsaid things came tumbling out. "And then when they kept hurting you, I could feel it hurt me too. What ever they did to you, I lived through too. Everything was so painful, but I loved you and took it upon myself to protect you from it. I wanted to shelter you so much because of my love for you. But I knew you'd only think of me as friend, so I never did more. I stood by you and stood up for you even though then I'd be hated too. And the times you'd make me hold my silence...those were the worst...I heard people laugh at you so much and I had to stand by and not be able to defend you. That just ripped me apart inside.

"Jason, listen to me, I love you. I always will. Randie....well he was a diversion, I thought I had no chance with you. I thought that because I was so sure you just regarded me as a friend, and if I was just the one helping you out it wouldn't be right for me to be in love with you. Would it have been...? But now I know better. I'm so sorry. I love you! I love you! It feels so good to get those words out!" She gazed up at me, still holding my arm. She was slowly becoming entwined in my arms and I could feel her against my chest.

"Ashy, I love you so much..." I whispered.

"I know.." she lifted her face closer to mine and my shoulders relaxed, my head lowering down do hers.

As my lips reached to gently kiss hers, the gun dropped from my hand.

It happened before I knew it. With a loud bang the gun went off as it hit the paved street. Ashy dropped from my arms and landed on the street. Blood was streaming from the back of her head and she wasn't moving. With one look at her glassy eyes I knew she was dead. A scream ripped through me, pain like a hot lance burned through every part of my body.

I grabbed the gun and ran back into my house and called for an ambulance. I was shaking and full of panic. What had I just done????!?!?!?!?

Then a feeling of calm came over me, there was nothing left for me on this earth.

I walked back out into the street and looked down at her body. "Now I'm sorry," I whispered.

I don't have much time until the paramedics and police come.

Only one thought enters my head now as I load the gun.

I'm fine.

A/N: I know you're going to hate me for this ending. But the truth is, not all suicide cases have a happy ending (the case I was working from was lucky) and I wanted to also stress the truth behind the fact that the people -friends, family, etc.- who work with suicidal teens end up putting themselves at risk as well. This was supposed to be emotionally wrenching because that's exactly what these situations are like. I cried myself as I was writing this story, especially the ending....don't hate me! ^_~