The five panicked teenagers parked the car in the Emergency Room parking lot and ran through the double doors.  Upon seeing the sight in front of them they halted to a stop as they stood; mouths ajar and trembling. 

There were students and parents scattered everywhere throughout the ER.  Word had gone around that several students had been shot but the identity and condition of the students had not been confirmed. 

Several student’s dresses and tuxedos were stained red, while other’s faces and hands were streaked with dried blood. 

Spencer could not tell if the blood on them was their own or of ones they loved or had possibly tried to help.  Until now Spencer had not absorbed the fact that her hands and dress were dyed red with Ashley’s blood.  Looking down at the palms of her hands she began to sob harder.

“Come on, lets see if we can find out where she is” Kyla choked ouy to Specer as she took her hand.

Spencer just nodded as her tears ran down her cheeks.  The others followed quietly and cautiously afraid of what they might see or hear.

As the group approached the receptionists desk which was already swarmed with hysterical parents and students, Paula came tearing aroud the corner from the connecting hallway.  Hey eyes were filled with more fear, care and sincerety that Spencer had ever seen in her mom. Paula ran towards Spencer with open arms as she engulfed her daughter in a tight hug of relief, pain and concern.  While keeping one arm wrapped around Spencers back, she reached out and motioned for the others to join. 

The group of best friends and Paula stood embraced with blood shot eyes as they shook and sobbed in silence afraid of what they would hear if someone asked about Ashley.

“Mo…” Spencer’s first attempt to speak failed.  The emotional state that she was in was not making the anticipated discussion easy to begin. There was a pause.  She tried again.

“Mom…Mom Ash… Ashley was shot” was all Spencer managed to choke out before she buried her face back in her mothers shoulder becoming hysterical. 
Spencer knew that her mothere knew Ashley was there.  She just couldn’t bring herself to ask if she was ok. 

Paula knew that she needed to tell Spencer.  Looking down at her daughter, whose face was nuzzled into her tear soaked shoulder blade,  Paula gently brushed Spencers hair behind her ear.

“Spencer” Paula spoke gently and quietly, barely above a whisper.  The blonde looked up at her mother. The look in her daughter’s eyes broke Paula’s heart.

Paula pulled her arm from around Spencer’s back and placed it on the side of her daughter’s face.

“She…she..” Paula began, but found herself not being able to continue while looking into her daughter’s pain filled eyes.  As she looked down to the floor Paula continued “Ashley was the first one brought in and they’re trying… they really are… but… honey… I don’t think…”
“NO!” Paula was cut off by Spencer.  “No! She is not going anywhere! I need her… do you understand how much I need her?!” Spencer was now yelling frantically. 

The rest of the group had backed up giving Spencer and her mom room.  They, having heard the news on Ashley’s condition, stood with their heads hanging down as tears rolled off the tips of their noses and down their cheeks.

Paula looked down at her daughter and moved forward in an attempt to hug her but Spencer swatted her hands away and jumped back.

“She can’t… she can’t not make it!  Its not an option!  Help her please!” Spencer desperatley pleaded with her mother as she collapsed to a sobbing heap on the ground.  Chelsea dropped to her knees next to Spencer.

“Spence…” Chelsea began trying to make her voice comforting even though she was choking on her own tears.

“No Chels” Spencer pleaded hoping her friend was not going to ask her to get up, or talk, or move or  do anything other than sit there and cry.  She needed to.  Her body wouldn’t let her do anything else.

Chelsea began again with sympathy and concern painted all over her face.  “We all love Ashely… we have to believe… we can’t lost hope” Chelsea spoke softly to Spencer after embracing the girl in a warm hug on the ground.