Without looking back, I held my phone to my chest with my free hand, my entire body shuddering to the point my teeth began to chatter.
“Maybe you should see a doctor,” he muttered when we got to the student parking lot.Opening the passenger door, he had to untangle my fingers from his shirt before I got into the Range Rover.“Fasten your seat belt.”
As I did, I chanced a glance at my phone screen and nearly emptied my stomach when I saw more texts from Unknown.I gulped, deleting them without reading a single word and putting my phone back on Do Not Disturb.I’d clicked the option off earlier that morning because I wasn’t sure who might need to reach me with Abi’s surprise return home.
Thankfully, the drive to my house was quick.Evan pulled into the driveway, his kind eyes skimming over me with concern.“You want me to stay?”
I kinda did, but I knew that would only cause more trouble.My parents would already have questions about my being home early.And Sixx was on his way.There was no way I could handle them growling at each other with how sick and vulnerable I felt.
“Abi’s here.So is Hayat,” I reminded him, forcing a grim smile.“It’s probably just a virus.I’ll be fine by tomorrow.Don’t risk getting yourself sick more than you already have.Th-thanks for the ride, Ev.”
“Feel better.Call if you need anything.”
All I could do was nod as I hurried out and then up to the front door.Using my key, I let myself in.Dad wasn’t home, but Mom was.She took one look at me and sent me to bed.
“Is there something going around school?”she asked, following me up the stairs.
“Probably.”It was school.Something was always making the rounds.
“I have some anti-nausea meds from last time.Get comfortable while I grab them.”
I paused at my bedroom door, glancing at my sister’s shut door.“How is Abi?”
Mom’s shoulders dropped.“She says she was stressed and homesick and everything built until she imploded.But I don’t know… It feels like I’m missing something.”
You are, Mom.You are.I’m right here and I’m not okay.I’m not okay.I’m sick from the stress.From the fear.See me.Please.See it and ask all the questions.Please, I need you.
Blinking back tears, I shoved that voice deeper, blocking out the scared little girl who needed her mom so desperately, and gave her a tired shrug.
She reached out, brushing a few locks of hair away from my face.Her blue eyes searched, her brow puckering.“I’m glad you came home.You need some rest.I’ll be right back with the meds, sweetheart.”
“Thanks, Mom.”I took a step into my room.“And heads up, Sixx might show up.I told him I wasn’t feeling well.”
Her snort of amusement almost made me smile.“Baby, I would be more shocked if he didn’t show up.Now, get to bed.You look like you’re going to pass out.”
Sixx
I was grabbingthe textbook I needed for my next class when I got Ali’s text.As I pulled my phone from my pocket at the sound of her special alert, everything went still inside me when I read her message.
Ali: Not feeling well.Going home early.I miss you so much.
The world around me disappeared, my focus narrowing to those words on my screen as my brain went blank and my heart began to pound.Tossing the book back into my locker, I grabbed my bag and was already moving toward the exit as I typed a reply.
Me: I’m leaving now.
“You’re going the wrong way to Trig,” Caprice said as she fell into step beside me.
“Not going to class.”I increased my pace, not in a good headspace to deal with her.Ali felt sick enough to miss her afternoon classes.I didn’t know what was wrong with her, but my mind was running through every worst-case scenario.Did she need a doctor?Hospital?Was she sick or hurt?What would I do if something happened to her, if she was taken away from me permanently?No one could outrun death.
Clenching my hand around the strap of my bag, I shook those thoughts away.It was probably just a bug, some kind of virus.She wasn’t leaving me, not today or ever.Not even death would keep us apart.
“Oh, we’re skipping?Yay!”
“Don’t know what you’re doing, but I’m going to check on Ali.”I pushed through the exit to the student parking lot, my gaze on my car.“She’s sick.”
“Eww.I don’t want to hang out with her if she’s contagious.Let’s go to the movies instead.”
“No.”I unlocked my door and tossed my bag in.“You’re not invited.”
