BY JENN ROWELL

Brandon Bates and Hunter Garner will live on with their classmates and teachers at Riverbend High School.

Last night, more than 200 students, faculty and staff gathered at the school to remember the two rising juniors who died from injuries sustained in a car accident Sunday night.

Bates played junior varsity soccer and Garner ran track.

The pair had been friends since they were youngsters and were well known around school.

About 30 students spoke about their friends last night, telling funny stories and sharing inside jokes.

Principal Steven Fitch switched on a microphone in the common area and students and friends were free to come up and say a few words about their friends.

"We're going to get through this," Fitch said.

Lowell Garner, Hunter's father, was with his son at INOVA Fairfax hospital until he was taken off life support early Monday.

He begged students not to run if pursued by police, and said that even if they get in trouble, their parents would rather have them safe.

"Look at my boy, look at my boy. And look at Brandon," he said as students cried and hugged each other.

"Hunter was a magnificent human being," he said.

Garner liked Chipotle restaurant and kicking around a soccer ball in flip- flops.

He was also "head over heels" for his girlfriend and kept everything she ever gave him, Garner's family said.

His track coach, Dustin Yudowitch, spoke of the day Garner decided to run the 300-meter hurdles at a meet.

"I wasn't with Hunter all the time, but I'd never seen him practice the 300-meter hurdles," he said.

Turns out, Garner made it the 174-meter hurdles and ran around a few of the barriers.

"I was so mad at Hunter. But I have never laughed so hard," he said.

Yudowitch said he was looking forward to getting to know Garner and was sad to see that time cut short.

"There's no methodology for how we're going to deal with this," he said.

Bates was known around school for his legendary hugs, according to several students. One student said he was always the loudest singer and didn't care if he was off-key. Another said he was a great photographer.

Another speaker said that whenever Bates was around, "it was gonna be a fun day."

Dave Lancaster, athletic director, told the students to stick together and to keep in touch with the Bates and Garner families.

"They need you tonight, but they're going to need you two weeks from tonight and further on down the road," he said. "You're the link."

Sheriff Howard Smith was a friend of the Garner family and spoke at the memorial last night.

"Forget about me being the sheriff and let me talk to you as a parent, as a dad," he said.

Smith told students to think about their actions.

"Look around, it doesn't just affect you," he said.

And he asked that if they're ever in trouble to call their parents for a ride, or even call him.

"Please, we've had enough," he said.

After more than an hour of tears, hugs and remembering their friends, everyone in the room held hands. Lowell Garner came to the mike and recited the Lord's Prayer.

"I love Hunter so much I can't tell you and I can't believe he's gone," he said.

Most of the students shared funny stories and said they'd rather celebrate the good times they had with Bates and Garner. Most said they'd keep the two boys in their hearts.

Several students remembered Garner's trademark phrase as the last words they heard from him.

"I love you, man," he was remembered as saying. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Jenn Rowell: 540/374-5418
Email: jrowell@freelancestar.com