"Wake up, wake up."
"C'mon, wake up."
The annoying voice kept saying and soon the person was poking me in a very painful manner.
"Wake up before you're late for your first day back at school," the voice said once more.
I groaned and pulled the covers over my head. "Leave me alone," I whined.
The poking seized and soon I was drifting off to dreamland as though I hadn't just been disturbed a few minutes ago.
I was abruptly pulled from my sleep when I felt cold water sipping through my duvet and soaking me immensely, leaving me shaking uncontrollably.
"What the hell!" I exclaimed as I hurriedly ripped off the duvet and tossed it to the floor.
Who pours icy cold water on someone early this morning?
The person was laughing uncontrollably and I turned to find none other than James, my annoying older brother.
He was bent over clutching his knees as he doubled over with laughter, "I told you to get up, didn't I?" he said in between laughs.
I glared at him so hard that if looks could kill then I'm pretty sure we'd all be attending his funeral in a couple of seconds.
"Get out! I want to change," I said through chattering teeth.
But he continued laughing even as he walked out of my room. "You have twenty-five minutes to get ready and head to school before you're late Alexis," he shouted over his shoulder as he closed my bedroom door.
I hate him.
I quickly got up from my comfortable bed and made my way to the bathroom for a quick shower. The shower mostly consisted of me chattering my teeth as the water was unbelievably cold. After that, I wrapped a towel around my body and proceeded to brush my teeth and quickly tried to ran a brush through my messy curly brown hair to no avail.
I rushed to my room and got dressed in a plain white V-neck with blue wash jeans and put on some shoes and my glasses before grabbing my phone from the charger and stuffing my books into my school bag. I did I quick evaluation making sure I had everything before dashing downstairs.
James was seated by the island in the kitchen scuffing down a plate full of pancakes with a glass of orange juice. "There's some left if you want," he said through a mouthful of pancakes.
This boy eats like an animal, I thought to myself. "No, I'll pass."
"Suit yourself," he said as he placed another forkful of pancakes into his mouth, "you only have ten minutes to get to school."
I walked to the fridge and grabbed myself an apple and a water bottle before making my way out of the kitchen.
"Oh, and Alexis," James shouted as I was about to close the front door, "mum said to have fun and try and make friends this year okay?"
I rolled my eyes at him because that's what mum always tells me each year. "Bye James," I shouted back and closed the door.
The school was about a ten minutes’ walk and since I had less than that, I had to run for my dear life like a mad man being chased by a pack of wild dogs. I kept on praying to God to at least help me get there on time. By the time I reached the school parking lot, I was already panting and breathing heavily.
I need to get into shape. I thought to myself.
I checked the time and I had made it with four minutes to spare. Thank God!
The hallway was crowded with students as they chatted away with their friends about their winter holidays and what not. I made my way to my locker where my bestfriend, Asher was already waiting for me.
"Woah! for the first time little Ms. punctual is late for school," Asher teased as I reached him.
His once long dirt blond hair was cut short and neatly swept behind and he wore a white t-shirt with some dark jeans underneath his football team Jersey.
"Yeah, yeah rub it in Ash," I said as I rolled my eyes and punched in my locker combination.
Asher ruffled my hair and smiled at me with that charming smile of his but there was something else in his turquoise blue eyes. "I mean I'm usually the late one between the both of us and here I was fifteen minutes earlier," he said.
"I don't even know why I'm friends with you."
"That's because Al, you love me and cannot, by any means, live without me in your little miserable life," he said with a cheeky grin and pulled me into his side as we began walking to class. "You need to start living a little and stop being so introverted. This is your senior year and you only get one of that for the rest of your life."
We stopped by my Physics class and only then did I realise that I had switched my physics textbook with my history one. "No, no, no."
"What's wrong?"
"I need to go and get my physics textbook."
Asher looked at me for a long while before he burst into laughter. "Gosh, this is gold," he said, "first you come late and then you forget your textbook."
He was doubled over with laughter as tears brimmed in turquoise blue eyes. Just then the bell rang. "See ya at lunch Al."
I turned around and hurried back to my locker. The hallway was deserted as everyone was in class while I, on the other hand, was too busy searching for my textbook. I can't believe this is happening to me on my first day of senior year.
Finally finding it buried among my tonnes of books, I turned around ready to head back to class when I saw three really hot looking guys strolling through the front door of the school. I stood there and just stared at them speechless. They all wore black leather jackets with dark jeans and had this sort of a mysterious aura and bad boy look.
Before they could see me swoon over them from where I stood, I turned and made my way to class which no doubt I was extremely late.
Just great!
----☆----
Civic Education class was one of my favourite classes besides Physics and Math. Ms. Thompson, our Civic Ed teacher was talking about some assignment we had to do for the term that was worth thirty percent of our final grade.
"Alright class, I'll now assign you your partners and please make sure you both do the work as I will be evaluating you individually as well, " she said and then started calling out the names from her list. "Casey, Michelle, Steve and Nate," She called out.
She kept calling everyone's name and when she finally got to mine did she realise that I was the only one left. "Oh my Alexis, it looks like you're on your own," Ms. Thompson said apologetically.
"It's okay Ms. I can do-" I was cut off as the door opened and in walked the three guys I saw earlier in the hallway.
All eyes turned to them and I swear I saw some girls drool over them from where I sat at the front of the classroom while some of the guys looked at them with awe.
"Ah, you must be the new students," Ms. Thompson said. "Please have a seat as I have something important to tell you," she said.
Ms. Thompson looked at me, "well Alexis, you're in luck because you'll be working with these three young men and I do hope you can show them around school as well."
I gaped at her, I can't work with them. What if they make me do all the work and then just take credit for it? I thought but I was interrupted by Ms. Thompson's voice.
"You are all required to write a report on the processes of a trial and you must have valid proof and reasoning," she said. "Alright you may go to your respective groups now and start working for the rest of the class," she said and went back to her table and took a seat.
I stood up and all eyes fell on me as I made my way to the back of the class where the three guys sat. Please let this go well.
I pulled up a chair and sat down facing the guy with light brown hair and hazel eyes who extended his hand to me. I reluctantly shook his hand.
"Hey! I'm Jake," he said and smiled showing off a set of dimples, "this is Kai," Jake introduced pointing to the guy with brunette hair and oceanic blue eyes, "and Nick", he finished pointing to the dark haired boy with forest green eyes."
I returned the smile, "and I'm Alexis, nice to meet you all."
Well this is going to be a very long assignment.
WE SPENT THE rest of the time in class trying to get to know each other better before we delved into our assignment which was due in a month's time.I learnt that Jake was an only child whose parents didn't really seem to care much about him. They spent their time going from one business trip to the other and would just pay him off as a means to get him out of their hair."Your parents seem umm.... interesting," I said as I chewed on the inside of my cheek.Jake scoffed, "if by interesting you mean rude, never there and uncaring, then yes, that's exactly what they are."In the short time we had left I also learnt that Kai had a little brother, Connor who was about fourteen and they lived with their father who, apparently was just as rich as Jake's parents. That had me wondering if Nick's parents we also well-off, though I wouldn't know for sure considering his lack of interaction.Through the whole time we talked, I hadn't heard Nick utter one single wo
THE NEXT DAY I was early for school and made my way to the school library where I sat and did a bit of studying, you can never study enough trust me.When the bell rang signalling the start of first period, I quickly grabbed my things and hurried to my first morning class, Math. Don't get me wrong. I neither like nor hate it, it's just simply a coexistence.I took my usual seat at the front of the class and watched as the other students filed in quickly and took their seats as well."Alright class," Mr. Finn spoke with his scratchy voice. "We have a new student joining us but I'm not quite sure where he is.""Moving on, today we shall look at the basic principles of Calculus and I hope you are all familiar with those concepts as I told you to go through chapter 3 yesterday," he said and received groans from the rest of the class while I just sat there smiling to myself.Mr. Finn went on to explain about the first principle and how we should u
THE WEEK PASSED by in a blur and still, there was no sign of Kai, Jake and Nick. I was starting to get worried and not for them, it was the mere thought that I would be stuck doing the Civic Ed assignment all on my own. Not that I couldn't do it, but still.The hallways were abuzz with student chit-chat as I made my way to the school library. I heard my phone vibrate through my jean pocket and I took it out to see who would text me whilst at school.It was a text from Mum saying I had a doctor's appointment later in the afternoon.Sighing, I typed a quick okay before stashing my phone back into my pocket.I spent the rest of my morning in the library studying as I waited for lunch to roll up. And when it finally did, I packed my things and went to the school parking lot to wait for her to come pick me up."Alexis," I heard Asher's voice a few metres from where I stood.I turned to see him jogging toward me all sweaty. "Where are
SATURDAY WAS THE earliest I'd ever woken up before as the excitement was overwhelming. I couldn't sleep the whole night as I kept tossing and turning-trying to push the thoughts away from my mind but I couldn't.I got up and took a warm shower before throwing on a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt with some sneakers. I pulled my hair into a quick braid and quickly texted Asher finding out if he was still coming before going downstairs where I heard chatter."Morning," I chirped taking a seat next to James."Someone's happy," he commented from his seat at the kitchen island while mum was busy making breakfast."Can't I be happy for no particular reason?"James pierced his bottom lip in thought. "Nope. Knowing you then there's obviously a catch," he said smugly.I rolled my eyes at him, "you're just jealous."James laughed, "me? Jealous of my kid sister? Oh please.""Enough," mum said smile plastered on her face. "Can you two just quit
SPENDING MY SUNDAY holed up in my room wasn't something I wanted to do. After my confession yesterday, I tried texting Asher multiple times apologising and asking him to hear me out but I got no reply. And James on the other hand hadn't come out of his room the entire time which was something I didn't expect from him considering how the boy loved food.I sighed, this was my own doing and I had to fix it immediately. I couldn't have both my brother and best friend mad at me simply because I made my choice about my life-which I knew they just wouldn't understand why I did it in the first place."Honey you need to come out of your room and eat something," dad's voice sounded outside my door.I groaned and pulled the duvet further up my head. "I'm not hungry," I shouted.I heard dad sigh before there was a soft click and then a creek as the door opened. I still didn't pull the duvet off even when I felt the bed dip as dad sat down."I know you don't wan
MONDAY IS USUALLY one of the days that I look forward to the most as it's always the start of a new school day, but not today. Today I was anxious about seeing Asher again and wondering if he would even talk to me considering I left him countless voicemails and texts asking him to talk but all went answered.I walked to my locker with the hopes of spotting Asher there but I was only disappointed when I didn't see him standing there waiting for me. I sucked it in, grabbed my books and made my way to Physics class. At least learning about Gravity, Momentum and Kinematics would help distract me from my thoughts.The morning classes went by in a blur with me mostly spacing out of each and every class I had. I could not, by the life of me stop thinking about Asher. And no, it wasn't because I was secretly in love with my childhood best friend, but more so the fact that I had potentially pushed away the only friend I had."Alexis what is the answer here?" Mrs. Briggs ask
TODAY WAS GOING to be different. I didn't why or how, but I just knew something was going to happen that broke my usual everyday boring routine.I didn't know what it was but something felt different. I got to my Math class and took my usual seat at the front. Yes, I wear spectacles and sit at the front of all my classes, that doesn't mean anything. It just simply means that I prefer being in front so I can actually see what's happening.Mr. Finn was sitted at his desk going over some papers. "Good morning Alexis!" he said as he looked up from his papers. I smiled in return and took out my notebook and textbook.The other pupils began filing in and the last one to walk in was Nick. What, Nick?Mr. Finn clasped his hands together, "ah yes the new student I was talking about last week is here, care to introduce yourself young man?"All the girls were already beginning to swoon over him and I wouldn't blame them. He was dressed in black wash jeans, a g
THE WIND WAS blowing my hair in every direction and the adrenaline that was pumping through my blood was amazing. I don't remember the last time that James took me riding because it almost feels like a life time ago. But now, as I sat behind Jake tightly clutching onto his torso-I felt like the whole world was moving too fast, like nanobots and before I knew it, we were pulling up into the very familiar driveway.I hopped off and took the helmet off, making sure to give it back to Jake as I slung my rucksack over my left shoulder.Kai and Nick pulled up beside us and took off their helmets before placing them on their motorcycles and finally walking up to Jake and I."Come on let's go," I said before turning around and walking to the front door. I pulled my keys out of my jean pocket and unlocked it."Dad are you home?" I shouted as I passed over the threshold."In the kitchen pumpkin," dad shouted back.I looked back at the three guys stand
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