Downward Spiral

“So just decide!” Spencer’s anguished voice shouted, the tone causing Ashley to inwardly cringe, and the pained expression on the blonde’s face making the brunette feel worse than she could ever remember having felt in her life.

Ashley was about to reply, when there was a scream, followed by a shout of “Gun!”  Mere seconds later, the sound of gunshots rang out, bullets slicing the still night air and shattering any illusion of a happy prom night.

Nearly tripping over her own feet, Ashley reached out toward Spencer, managing to grab her wrist.  She placed her body in front of the blonde’s, attempting to shield it, as she tried to pull the girl down to safety.  “Spence!” she managed to get out before the breath was knocked from her body by Aiden’s muscular form striking into her, forcing her toward the ground.  Her fingers still gripping Spencer’s arm tightly, Ashley went down hard and face-first, smacking her head hard against the concrete, causing her vision to blur momentarily as her head spun and stars danced across her eyelids.  She felt Spencer falling with her, the girl landing mostly across the back of Ashley’s legs, the brunette’s body softening the blow of the fall, and then Ashley felt a sudden pressure and pain as Aiden came down across her back, completely covering both girls.  With a low groan, Ashley shifted position to try and shield a shocked Spencer.  Her hand found the blonde’s own hand, grasping it tightly.

The gunshots seemed to go on forever, and the screams lasted an eternity, when in reality, the whole thing was over in less than a minute and a half.  Lying there, feeling wetness dripping down her cheek and smeared across her forehead, Ashley groggily tried to get her bearings, struggling to breathe with Aiden’s weight crushing against her back.  “Spence,” she murmured, rolling over with a loud grunt, forcing Aiden off of her.  “Are you okay?  Spencer!” she shouted frantically, seeing the silent blonde lying there on the sidewalk, her eyes closed.  When Ashley noticed the smear of crimson on the girl’s blue dress, she nearly began to hyperventilate.  “No, no, no,” she breathed, the world spinning slightly as she brushed Spencer’s flaxen locks away from her face.