This story was written while listening to the song Somebody Told Me, by The Killers.

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‘A wild party’; that’s what the papers called it. ‘A fucking good time’ was what all the boys called it. Figures, the boys never had any common sense. They loved to challenge themselves and others. They love to push the limits, because they consider themselves invincible. But then, at sixteen, we all thought we were invincible. We were free spirits. We lived for our selves, for the joy of the chase, the adrenaline.

It was at the party that I met Travis. I will never forget how he looked that night. His hair, his body, and the clothes he was wearing, they all called out to me. But it was his eyes that drew me in; they were so blue, so full of life. They were innocent, but I didn’t know that then. So I went over to him, I’d had a few drinks by then, so I was tipsy enough to feel the blur, the energy, the beat of the music pulsing through my veins, reaching my soul. I smiled at him, and we danced, our bodies’ close. I could feel the heat from his body heating mine. But as I said, he was innocent, so he made no move on me; he was a perfect gentleman, if a boy could be such a thing. I was no lady, I made the move. I took him by the hand, around the corner, where the party was quieter, but the music was still pulsing through me. I leant forward and kissed him gently. He pulled back, his eyes fearful. I knew he was afraid of what would happen. He didn’t want to do it at some wild party surrounded by drunks, all partying like there’s no tomorrow. So I assured him nothing would happen beyond a kiss. I promised him.

His kiss rocked me to the core. It was sweet, gentle and loving. But it deepened as I returned the passion. That was my first real kiss. The first kiss that had meant anything to me and I knew at that moment there was no one whose kiss could ever compare. Everything else would be second best.

The only reason the papers referred to it as ‘a wild party’ was because the police came and broke it up sometime around two in the morning. I think the party was on page eight or nine of the paper, but I don’t know, because I didn’t read it. In the grand scheme of things I suppose a little out of hand party isn’t really that important. I saw the front page of the paper though, and if they had known that these people, featured on the front page, had been at the party it would have seemed more important. But they’d left the party before it was broken up. Hell, I’d left the party before it was broken up.

I had left with Travis, he said he was leaving and took me with him because I was a bit drunk and he didn’t want anyone to take advantage of me. I could have taken care of myself, but he was sweet so I went with him.

A group of my friends, a group of boys from the party were mindlessly speeding around the town, all drunk, just having fun. Staying in the spirit of things…

Jaime was in his room; he’d left the party earlier than most. His friends, who had insisted of going to his house, as it was more private than the party. He knew they’d go anyway, so he didn’t fight them. He reached under the bed and pulled out a pistol…

I walked over to Travis, and leant against his chest, running my fingers through his thick brown hair. I felt his arms wrap around me, and my arms tingled where our skin met. I tilted my face up, and he grinned a lop-sided smile. Our eyes met, and we both began to move closer…

The music was up loud, the driver was drunk, and they were all laughing. He went tightly round a corner, giving them all a thrill, and the driver took his eyes off the road. By the time he looked back, it was too late…

Jaime held the gun up, numbly looking at it. He slowly brought it up so it rested against his temple. His fingers on the trigger, just about to pull it, when the door opened. Laura looked at him, her eyes wide, and came forward, to get the gun off him, which knocked his fingers against the trigger…

I could feel his breath against my cheeks, I could almost taste him now, and almost smiled as our lips were coming closer, my heart racing…

A car crash. A gunshot. A passionate kiss.

Silence.

It was all followed by silence. Then there were sirens, screaming, ambulances. Headlines.

Attempted suicide goes wrong.

Drunken joyride ends in death.

Our kiss wasn’t in the paper; it had no effect on anyone except us.

Jaime didn’t die, and neither did Laura. The gun has slipped from his temple, and the bullet hit Laura, but she didn’t die. This brought the others in, and they called an ambulance, so Laura will be okay. She isn’t pressing charges Jaime either, because she realizes he must hate his life to attempt such a thing. They’ll both be okay, they’ll help each other through this.

The boys in the car survived that night, all of them survived. They were badly injured, but they survived. The people in the other car were a couple. She’s in intensive care, but he’s all right. Their daughter was in the backseat. She didn’t survive. Maybe the boys aren’t all right after all. They are going to have to live with this their whole lives. That’s why I don’t hate them; we were all stupid and did things we regret. This was the night, they learnt, I learnt, that we are not invincible. We are all mortal. They came to the funeral, I saw them there. I couldn’t speak to them though, as I was numb, too numb to even cry. I’m not numb about it anymore. The tears flowing down my cheeks are proof of that, as I stand here. I’m at the cemetery, standing in front of the grave of the girl killed in that accident. My tears trailing down my cheeks, my chest feeling as though it’s being ripped apart. I can’t believe that night, our stupidity, took her away. Dad says mum’s going to come out of intensive care soon. He said she’s going to be all right. I’m glad. I don’t think I could have lost mum as well as Lucy. My sister.

Her gravestone reads

Lucy, Your death proves we all have mortality. No one is invincible.