Prompt used:
She shook her head. "I can't believe he's really gone . . ."

Maxxeen Rodgers narrowed her eyes, watching the raindrops drip down the clouded bus window. She had her hands deep in the pockets of her dark fur coat.

Maxie's phone buzzed again and she just silenced it, not even glancing at the screen anymore. She didn't want to see the many messages her parents and friends had left. They could try all they wanted but she was never going back, they didn't want her there anyway.

When Maxie decided she was far enough away, she got off at the next stop and continued on foot. Everyone hated her, her sister criticized her, and her parents never paid attention to her. Why would she want to stay surrounded by people who didn't care about her.

The girl had walked about two blocks when she heard hurried footsteps behind her. She didn't bother to turn around, but she did walk a bit faster. She knew she should've brought her pepper spray.

"Maxie!" A familiar voice called.

Maxie turned around, surprised. "Kieron?" She answered, confused. Why would he be here? She had gotten into a fight with him earlier which made up her decision to leave. The auburn haired boy had been her crush for a while, she couldn't stand to see him so upset like he had been earlier that afternoon.

Kieron smiled with relief and slowed to a stop. "Max, I am so sorry about what I said. I overreacted, and shouldn't have sided with Dina." He said sincerely, looking relieved that he's found Maxie but still worried.

Maxie sighed. "No, I should be the one apologizing. I was the one who got into the fight with Dina. I was just jealous, I should be happy for you two."

Kieron shook his head. "Max, listen. I'm not going to Prom with Dina." He said.

Maxie looked up in surprise, confusion lacing her face. "Wait, you're not?" She asked.

"No. There was someone else I wanted to ask." Kieron said with a small smile.

Maxie smiled and looked down, a slight blush on her face. It couldn't be her, Kieron had never showed that he liked her more than a friend.

"Maxxeen Rodgers, will you be my date to senior prom?" Kieron asked.

Maxie moved some of her soaked chestnut hair out of her face and nodded. "Yes, of course." She answered.

Kieron seemed pleased at this. He then took a step forward and leaned in close for a kiss.

Right before their lips touched, Maxie heard the screeching of tires against asphalt. She stiffened and her eyes widened as many things happened at once.

She recognized that grey SUV anywhere, it was her Mom's car. The driver wasn't her mom though, the person was smaller?

Kieron didn't hesitate to shove Maxie hard and she stumbled into a streetlight. When the eighteen year old girl hit the pole, she landed in a puddle which immediately soaked her.

Maxie rubbed her head and the back of her neck, wondering what had just happened. Her eyes then widened once again in horror as she saw the scene before her.

The grey SUV was halfway on the sidewalk where Maxie and Kieron had just been standing a few moments ago. It had crashed into another streetlight, and the pole had actually been knocked over so it was laying at Maxie's feet. A young girl about thirteen stumbled out of the wreckage, looking dazed. That wasn't what chilled Maxie to the bone though. None of it was compared to what her eyes were glued to: a dark figure wedged between the car and the sidewalk.

When he groaned, Maxie immediately rushed over to him. "Kieron!" She called. It took  two seconds for her to reach him. She bent down beside him and gasped as she saw the pool of dark liquid staining the pavement below him.

Kieron half opened his eyes. "Maxie . . . ?" He whispered and groaned. "You're . . . okay, right?"

Maxie shook her head. "That doesn't matter, we have to get you to a hospital, now. " She said and looked up. "Zara, dial 911." She said hurriedly.

Kieron rested his hand on Maxie's and she looked back down at him. "Why did you do it?" She asked, her voice breaking at the end.

"Max . . . I couldn't let you . . . get crushed . ." Kieron whispered.

Maxie shook her head. "Kieron, I can't lose you. You're the only one who cares about me here." She said, tears forming in her blue-grey eyes.

Kieron smiled. "You are . . . loved, here . ." He managed to say. "I . . will always . . . protect you . . ." His breathing became shallower with every word.

The tears finally fell from Maxie's eyes as she bent to press her lips to Kieron's for the first and final time. The boy kissed her back and when she leaned back, she let out a sob to see that his eyes had closed and his breathing had slowed to a stop. Maxie wrapped her arms around him, not caring about the blood that would stain her clothes. The tears flowed relentlessly as she hugged him.

Footsteps slowly approached them and Maxie heard someone sit down. "Max . . ?" Her sister, Zara, asked slowly.

Maxie ignored her. She was the reason why her lover was dead. The thought of the word brought on another wave of tears.

"Max, I'm really sorry. Everyone was worried that they couldn't find you and I thought I could help. I know I shouldn't have taken the car but—"

"No, you shouldn't have." A new voice said. Maxie recognized this voice all too well.

"Mom!" Zara stood up to wrap her arms around the woman who had approached the wreckage.

Maxie blocked them all out, holding onto Kieron. She couldn't let go, because that would be admitting that he was truly gone. Kieron had always been the only one there for her, the only one she could talk to. Maxie couldn't believe she had almost left him behind. Now it was her fault he was . . . why he wasn't here anymore.

Zera let go of their mom and the woman bent down beside her daughter. She put a hand on the teenage girl's shoulder. "Sweetie . . ." She started, not knowing what else to say.

Maxie slapped her hand away. "Go away! I don't want you here!" She exclaimed in anger, not opening her eyes. The tears were still coming.

Her mom then sat beside her on the sidewalk. "Maxie, let's just go home. Then we can call Kieron's Aunt and Uncle to arrange a funeral." She said gently.

"I said no! Just go away and take that stupid murderer with you!" Maxie yelled, opening her eyes now and glaring at her thirteen years old sister.

Her mom sighed and stood up. Maxie heard her mumbling something to someone over the phone but she didn't pay attention to the conversation. Now that she had opened her eyes, Maxie could really see all of Kieron's wounds and how much of the dark liquid was surrounding them. That brought on another wave of hysteria as she threw her arms around the guy again.

Zera looked from her mom to Maxie, not knowing what to do. She then seemed to get an idea, and disappeared into the backseat of the damaged SUV. She came out with what looked like a small wolf stuffed animal. She slowly approached Maxie and sat down beside her. Zera wordlessly touched her sister's shoulder and held out the stuffed animal.

Maxie looked up, tears in her eyes. When she saw the animal, those tears fell. She knew it wasn't Zera's fault, she was only trying to help as she always did. The chestnut haired girl took the stuffed animal, letting go of the limp body and throwing her arms around her sister.

Zera hugged Maxie back, closing her eyes. As many times as the two of them had fought, Zera truly loved Maxie. She looked up to her older sister, and just wanted to bring her back home. She thought she could've convinced her to return. Apparently all she did though was mess everything up.

Maxie sniffed. "I love you, Zera." She whispered the words she hadn't spoken to anyone in years.

Zera smiled. "I love you too, Maxie."