WHEN I WOKE up the next morning, the first thing I knew I was definitely going to do was avoid Nick at all costs. I couldn't be around him knowing full well what my mum did and how she had embarrassed me in front of him and his little sister.
So here I am, standing by my locker with Asher as I constantly kept looking over my shoulder so I could spot him and then make a mad dash for it.
"Why do you keep looking over your shoulder as if you're expecting someone?" Ash asked as he leaned on the locker next to mine.
"That's because I am trying to spot someone and make sure he doesn't see me," I replied as I continued to arrange my books according to my class schedule.
"Who? and why?"
"Nick," I said. I didn't want to retell the story over again but knowing Asher, he was not going to have it so I told him the shorter version. "When you ditched me on Saturday which by the way I have not forgotten, mum had a few plans up her sleeve and thought it would be fun to
I DON'T KNOW when it all started, but I found myself noticing the little things about Nick. From how his forest-green eyes turned a darker shade of green when he was happy or how amazing his hair looked whenever he ran his hand through it."Hey Alexis, what's the answer to question seven?" Asher asked biting the tip of his pen."Which one?" I replied back absentmindedly tapping my pen on my English textbook.Asher moved closer and shoved his Physics textbook right in front of my face. "This one," he said pointing to the question marked seven, "I don't know why the school makes us take this subject. It's just pointless considering I don't care about some random dude who got hit in the head with an apple and then decided it'd be fun to torture people with his stupid theories."I chuckled and shook my head at his stupidity. "You do know Physics is essential to everyday life right?" I asked arching my eyebrow at him."Doesn't mean I need it in my life
I COULDN'T SEEM to shake off what Brianna and Jenna said to me. Did I really like Nick and I didn't even know it myself? Or were they just trying to gauge a reaction from me? These were the questions that kept running through my head as I aimlessly walked in the school hallways the next day.I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn't notice Asher approaching until he slung his hand over my shoulder and pulled me into his side."You scared me," I shrieked."Where was your mind at?" Ash asked as he led me to my first class, Civic Ed."I was just thinking," I replied. "Can I ask you something?" I asked.Asher stopped walking and so did I. He turned me so I was fully facing him. "Sure, what's it? Does it have to do with what's bothering you?" he asked looking concerned."Well technically yes," I replied. "It's just that yesterday when I left you with Kai in the library to look for Jake and Nick, these two girls stopped me and asked whether I knew
BY THE TIME the last school bell resounded, I was already waiting in the student parking lot for any of my three school partners to come strolling out of the main school doors.For some reason, I was a bit excited and antsy at the same time. The thought of finally getting the assignment done used to seem like a fantasy but now, as I stood outside in the parking lot waiting-I couldn't be more eager to get it done and finished off and see what next life had install for me.The first thing I noticed was Jake coming from the Art Studio which was located only a few feet away from the main school building with a canvas in hand and his bag slung over his other shoulder.He walked towards me and pulled me in for a side hug whilst balancing the canvas in his other hand."Gosh I've missed you," he breathed as he pulled me even further into him.I pushed away from him and looked him in his brown eyes, "you just saw me not more than two hours ago," I replied.
FRIDAY COULDN'T ARRIVE any earlier. Ever since Nick asked me if we could hangout, I've been overly excited and nervous about it. For one, I couldn't wait for it and the other was because I couldn't understand why he wanted to personally hangout with me of all people.As I walked in the school hallway for the last time this week, I didn't know how or what to feel."Yo Alexis, it's been so long since I last saw you," Asher said as he fell into step with me. "I've got great news by the way.""What is it?""Aren't you at least going to ask me how my day was?" he asked but I could detect a bit of a smile in his words.I stopped walking and looked at my so called best friend. "Hey Asher! How was your day? I hope you had an amazing one," I said sarcastically as I rolled my eyes.Asher laughed, "it was actually horrible, coach wants us to stay back and train but my body can't take more torture," he whined.I glared at him, "nice way to be a j
ALEXIS ARE YOU LISTENING?" Asher snapped his fingers in front of me and I snapped out of my thoughts."Sorry, but what did you say?" I asked.I felt bad for zoning out on him but I just couldn't help it. My mind had been wandering about that almost kiss that Nick and I nearly shared. But the real was did I want him to kiss? I wasn't so sure anymore."I asked where you went on Friday after school," he said once more. "I came to your place after practice but your mum said you weren't home so I called James and he, apparently, didn't know hence I ended up calling you but you also didn't pick up.""Oh, I went out," I replied as we maneuverer our way in the school hallways."With who?""A friend.""Which friend?" he asked as he pulled me to a stop by his locker. "Because as far as I know, I'm your only friend.""Why do you want to know?" I smirked. It was fun messing with him at times.Asher shoved his Math book in his locker and slam
THE WEEK FLEW by quicker than I expected. Each day after school, Nick and I would meet up in the library or coffee shop to study for the decathlon.We were growing more closer to each other than I thought possible and I felt this strange feeling each time I was around him or whenever he would smile at me or gaze at me when we studied.I didn't know what the feeling was but I liked it-not in a weird sense. But it made me feel good.It was finally time for the decathlon and I was beyond terrified and nervous. For starters, I didn't want to make us lose by answering a question wrong or worse still-failing to answer a question all together."Alexis look at me," Nick said as he placed his hands on my shoulders and used his index finger to tip my chin up. "Breath."I didn't realise I was holding my breath the entire time and I took a huge breath of air."Now listen to me, you don't need to over think anything. We prepared well enough and all I need you
HIS LIPS WERE so soft and warm and I froze. Nick immediately pulled back."I'm so so sorry," he apologised. "Alex-"I don't know what I was thinking, heck I don't think I was thinking at all. I cut him off by placing my lips on his and kissing him. He froze as well but soon began kissing me back. I didn't know what to do or how to move my lips but he seemed to know what he was doing as I let him lead the way. For whatever reason, my hands instantly found themselves in his silky black hair.He pulled back and placed his forehead on mine. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that," he said breathlessly."And how long is that?" I asked breathless as well."Three weeks ago," he replied. "If someone told me I'd be here kissing you, I'd have laughed at them and dismissed them as being delusional.""Why?""When I first met you five weeks ago, I actually didn't quite like you because you reminded me so much of someone I lost. And each time I
WHEN ASHER AND I pulled up in the school parking lot, Jake was by his car as he casually swung his car keys on his finger.I got out of the car with Asher following suit and we began to make our way to the school main doors."Alexis!" Jake shouted and he sprinted towards us. "Can we talk?" he asked then looked over at Asher, "in private?"I looked over at Asher who only shrugged. "Be my guest, I'll be inside with the football guys if you need me," he said and left the two of us."What do you want to talk about?" I asked as I adjusted my bag on my shoulder.Jake ran a hand through his hair, "I don't really know how to ask this but do you know what's up with Nick?" he said after a while of silence."What do you mean?" I asked. "Is he sick or something?""No!" Jake exclaimed, "he's just been acting a lot differently. He's smiling a lot and he actually seems happy after so long," he said. "Do you happen to know why?"I shook my head, "no b
N I C KSIX WHOLE MONTHS, that was long how it had been since Alexis passed and each day hurt more than the last. I felt utterly lost without her."Nick hurry up, Kai and Jake are already here and you don't want to be late for your own graduation," mum shouted from the kitchen.I sighed as I took one last look at myself in the bathroom mirror before I made my way to the kitchen."You look so handsome and grown up," mum cooed as I entered the kitchen.I rolled my eyes and joined everyone at the kitchen table and sat down next to Leah. I poured myself some orange juice and placed a few chocolate chip pancakes on my plate."I'm wearing the same outfit I always wear each day except for this stupid cap and gown.""Which I'm totally rocking by the way," Kai beamed as he stuffed mum's chocolate chip pancakes into his mouth and moaned. "I love your cooking Hailee, maybe I should think of moving in with you guys."Jake and I rolled our eyes whi
N I C KAFTER I LEFT, Alexis was dragged on a gurney to the operating room and I prayed-tried to anyway, that all would go well and I'd be able to hold her again in my arms and kiss her once again.Everyone was sitted in the hospital waiting room with gloomy expressions waiting for any type of news-news that wouldn't break them even more than they already were from not knowing."Dude relax," Kai said as he placed a hand on my shoulder. "Pacing like that won't do anything other than tire you out."I didn't realise that I had been pacing back and forth until he pointed it out. I sighed and took a seat next to Asher who had his head hung low in his hands."How are you holding up?" I asked him.I honestly need to find something to distract myself otherwise I might just barge in there and see what the hell was happening to her.Asher raised his head and stared at me blankly. "My best friend is in there and I can't do anything but sit here and wai
N I C KI HAD BEEN dreading this moment ever since I knew it was a possibility. I didn't want anything to happen to Leah, she was the only sibling I had left after Kayla passed and she was all mum had. But more importantly, I did not want to have to lose Alexis after I just got her.I had spent a huge amount of time researching SCD and how to treat it but each time it always led to a negative finding. The older you are, the riskier it is to have a successful bone marrow transplant. The odds were against her and that, that just broke me because I loved her. And to make matters worse, I didn't tell her I loved her when she said it to me.Sighing, I opened the door Dr. Dave had pointed me to and saw mum sat next to Leah who was stretched out on the small hospital bed."Hey!""Hey!" Leah smiled, "how's your girlfriend holding up?" she asked.My mum rolled her eyes at her statement. "Stop trying to rail your brother up," she chastised her."Gee I
THERE WAS A loud beeping sound that I kept hearing and I wasn't sure what it was. I tried opening my eyes but I couldn't, it felt like they were glued together with superglue or sewed shut.I tried lifting my hand to rub my eyes but there was someone holding on to it with an iron like grip.Am I dead already? Is this how being dead feels like? This is not the way I wanted to go, my subconscious said.No of course I'm not dead. Because if I was, then I wouldn't be talking to my subconscious right? Right.I pushed myself harder until my eyes finally opened and I looked around to see that I was still in my hospital room. The thing making the beeping noises was the heart monitor I was plugged to. A sigh of relief fell from lips because I wasn't died....yet.I rolled around and saw Nick sleeping on one of the chairs in a very uncomfortable position as he clutched onto my hand with a firm grip. His usually perfect hair looked dishellved and my heart clutched
FOUR MORE DAYS, that was how much time I had until the surgery. I dreaded each passing moment because the pessimistic side of me kept telling me that I wouldn't make it and I was only fooling myself by believing.Asher came over whenever he didn't have football practice or a football match and we hung out a lot. He would bring some of my school work and we'd do it together. Sometimes, he would even tell me how his relationship with Steph was going and how sometimes he just couldn't stand her clinginess. He also told me how the football guys missed me a lot and sent their well wishes.James moved back home full time and spent his mornings with me before he would drive back to his lectures which was a sweet gesture. But I hated the fact that he had to drive four hours to and from school each day. Each time he came over I would tell him he didn't have to move back but he only dismissed me with a wave of the hand and he would tell me it was no big deal.On the othe
WE SPENT THE next few minutes in silence just wrapped up in each other and not saying anything. I was glad that we didn't need words in order to know what exactly each was feeling or wanted to say."Do you think we should read now?" I asked. "Or maybe later?"Nick shrugged but nodded nevertheless. "Yeah I think we should do that otherwise I might not be able to keep my hands to myself any longer," he said with a smirk as I got out of his hold."Seriously!" I exclaimed."I'm a growing hormonal teenage boy, it's not so hard to believe I have such thoughts," he replied with a casual shrug and ran a hand through his hair.I couldn't believe he just said that and he had no remorse whatsoever. I shook my head and grabbed my book from the ground as I opened it up to the first page."Do you even like reading?" I asked as he picked up his book and began reading."I'm not obsessed with it like you are, but, I do enjoy a good book once in a while," he
"RISE AND SHINE sleeping beauty," Nick's voice said waking me up from my peaceful slumber."Get up, get up," he continued and opened the hospital curtains allowing the sunlight to stream through the entire room and nearly blind me.I quickly covered my eyes with my hands. "Leave me alone and close those bloody curtains, it burns," I whined."Stop whining and get up," he pestered. "You've been asleep for two days and I've missed you like crazy."At that, my eyes snapped open just to have me quickly shut them again. "Hand me my glasses."Instead of handing me the glasses like I assumed he would, he gently put them on my face for me. "There you go love," he said with a fake British accent.I rolled my eyes as I sat up and leant my back on the wall. "Before I say anything about what you just said, let's rewind a little shall we?""Whatever you say love.""I was out for two whole days?" I asked. "Explain."Nick took off his boots and
THERE STOOD NICK with a huge I'm Sorry banner hung above his head and another one that read You've Got A Donor beside it. There were different coloured balloons that were hung on the tree branches."Surprise!" James and Asher whispered in my ear as they went over and joined everyone else.I couldn't believe my eyes. Was I dreaming? Because it sure felt like it and the worst thing was that I didn't want to ever wake up if it turned out to be a dream.Everyone was gathered there: my parents, Dr. Dave, Sara, Lisa, Hailee, Leah, Riley, Kai and Jake. I couldn't really believe that they all went out of their way to tell me I had found a donor."Alexis!" Nick muttered as he walked up to me and stood a considerable amount away. "I'm sorry I didn't return any of your calls or texts but this," he said as he gestured to everything around, "was what James and I were busy planning for you and I know it's not an excuse but we got Asher, Kai and Jake to be there for you whe
I WAS OFFICIALLY back on chemo and I felt better, or as better as someone on chemo felt. I felt more relieved than I ever thought I'd be to be back on it. I honestly thought I'd hate it and call quits but I didn't.My parents were very happy to find out I was going back on treatment and mum cried for hours. I hoped James would have come along with them but he didn't and that hurt. Though I knew I deserved it and had to work hard to earn his forgiveness.It had been three days since Nick left and I tried calling him but his phone always went straight to voicemail. I even left him countless text messages asking him to come over so I could explain myself and tell him the good news but he never once answered any of them. I was beginning to lose hope but I knew better."Stop over-thinking things," Asher said as he leant on the doorframe with his hands and legs crossed. "They'll both come around. Plus, you've got visitors so be nice or try for them anyway," he said and t