Chapter Four

I wake up to yelling and decide it's not a good day to go to work before school. I text Lucas and ask him to tell Roxy that I can’t come in because I’m sick. I know she gave me yesterday and today off, but I obviously hate being home. I check my phone to see a text from Adrian.

Adrian: Good morning, I have football practice tonight, so if we can go anytime before 6, that would be amazing.

Me: Yeah sure, we can go right after school if it works for you and Skye.

Adrian: Perfect, I’ll pick you up. Address?

Me: It’s alright, I like to drive.

That was close

I don’t want Adrian knowing where I live just in case. I don’t want my secret getting out to anyone. Plus, Adrian and I just became friends. He may not even be my friend. Maybe he feels bad, or it was a dare. I wouldn’t doubt it.

With these thoughts running through my head, I sluggishly make my way over to the closet and choose a navy blue hoodie and a pair of black skinny jeans with my Converse. I curl my hair and throw it into a little updo. My makeup is my signature, and I cover any bruises on my neck.

Once I get ready, I sit down feeling a little winded.

That’s never happened before; I only got dressed and ready. Must be from yesterday.

I finish getting ready and sneak out of the house, making sure I have money just in case things go well today.

Gym is my first class, of course, so I quickly faked a sick note from my parents since I could barely walk up the stairs without getting winded.

“Alright, Vale, work on your homework or something. I don’t care.” That’s all Mr. Todd said before he left me in the dust.

I try to hop onto the bleachers but don’t end up getting too far.

“What are you doing, Celeste? ”I hear from behind me and turn to see Skye.

“Oh, hey Skye. “I didn’t know you were in this class,” I say, playing with my ring.

“I just got switched into here. Are you alright? “You look really pale,” she says, feeling my forehead.

“Oh yeah, I’m fine, just sick,” I say, getting a little lightheaded. “I just need to sit down.” I stumble and quickly feel a hand grab my arm while Skye calls for her brother.

“What happened? ” Adrian says, hurrying over to us and sitting me down on the bleachers to look at me.

“I don’t know. I was talking to her and told her she didn’t look good, and then she started stumbling, like she was going to pass out,” Skye says, nervously playing with the hem of her shirt.

“I’m fine, guys. I just got a little lightheaded,” I say, unsure and hoping Adrian doesn’t make me go to the nurse.

“Stay here,” Adrian says, and he jogs over to Mr. Todd. I see them talking, and Adrian runs into the locker room and soon walks out with a rag. He gets stopped by someone from the football team and exchanges some words until he runs back over to me.

“Okay Skye, I have it from here. Thanks. Come on Celeste” Adrian says picking me up bridal style and placing the rag on my forehead. His hand lightly brushes against my bruise and I wince. “Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself when you fell?” Adrian says worried and I shake my head. “Something like that” I mumble making sure he wouldn’t hear. 

“I can walk” I say getting uncomfortable. “Celeste” Adrian says and I cut him off. “Adrian, please” I say and he gives in placing me on my feet. I take the rag away from my forehead and we walk to the nurses office. I hate this place.

“I need water” I say a few minutes after Adrian placed me down. I was now out of breath from walking up two flights of stairs and a couple hallways. My school is huge and the gym and nurses office is on different sides of the school.

“Are you alright?” Adrian says seeing I’m out of breath” I nod answering him. “Yeah, just really out of shape” I giggle ignoring the sharp pains. “I can help with that”Adrian says winking and me causing a little blush to creep up my face. What? I can’t help it, he’s hot.

“Hi Aunt Cheska” Adrian says as we walk into Mrs.  Whitmore office. I never put two and two together. “Hi Adrian, now what did you do now? Don’t tell me you got into another fight? Did you hurt this girl? Adrian-“ She starts blabbering causing me to giggle. “No Aunt Cheska, this is my friend Celeste. She is sick and almost passed out today in gym. Mr. Todd told me to bring her here” Adrian says and Mrs. Whitmore stands up and feels my forehead. “Alright, go back to class Adrian” She says and he just sits down on the chair next to mine. Mrs. Whitmore rolls her eyes and tells me to go into a separate room.

“Okay, so what seems to be the problem?” Mrs. Whitmore says and I make up some bullshit lie about how I fell and have a bruise on my side, also that I’m sick. “Alright, let me take a look” She says and stiffen up. “Um, its okay. I feel better now. I think I’m just going to go back to class” I say and she gives me a stern look causing me to give in.

Mrs. Whitmore gently pulls up my shirt and grimaces when she sees the big black and blue covering most of my side. “Yup, that’ll do that. You might have a couple of broken ribs with a bruise this big. We should put some ice on that. Adrian, get me ice please” She says and turns around getting an ace bandage while Adrian walks into the room with a bag of ice. His eyes widen when he sees the bruise on my side and I mentally slap myself for the future questions I’m going to get. “Out” Is all Mrs. Whitmore says once she takes the bag and Adrian slowly backs out of the room, his eyes still on my side.

“We are going to put the bag of ice wrapped in a paper towel here and secure it with this ace bandage. Come back so I can give you more ice and redo the bandage during lunch. I think Daniel is still outside so he’ll walk you to class. I’ll have him give you one of your sweatshirts since you will definitely be cold with the ice and air conditioning” Mrs. Green says and I quickly thank her. Daniel and I head off to his locker and he hands me a sweatshirt which I slip on. He turns to me and says three words.

“What the fuck”

“I walked into the corner of my island yesterday” I say trying to explain why there’s a huge bruise on my side. “bullshit” He says and grabs my hand dragging me to his car.

“That’s why when I touched your side you winced. And got out of breath so easily, along with almost passing out” Daniel says sitting in his trunk and I nod.

“Its not a big deal Daniel. We are still on for tonight” I say and he nods handing me a bottle of water.

“Drink this, Scarlet said you’re also dehydrated” Daniel says and I quickly chug the water ignoring the sharp pains.

“Lets go to class” Daniel says and we slowly make our way to class so I don’t get out of breath.

“Can I ask you a question?” I say and Daniel turns looking at me while leaning against a wall. “Is this whole being friends thing a dare?” I say wanting to know the real reason the Daniel Green, the quarterback all girls fawn over. The ‘it boy’ who gets girls to fall at his feet is talking to me. “Not at all, I know I’m known as a jock but I’m nothing like the guys on the football team. They only care about the popularity. Me? I couldn’t give two f?cks about that. I care about my favorite sport. When we bumped into each other and I got to speak to you a little, I realized how nice you are. You’re the type of person my mom told me to surround myself with. I want to be friends with you for you” He says and my jaw drops. “Oh, well in that case Mr. Green. I guess we are friends now” I say smiling and we continue to class.

Class went on like usual until lunch came around. I found Daniel waiting for me outside my class as I tried to slip past him to go to my table and not go back to the nurses office. “Not so fast Jackson” Daniel says grabbing my arm and I turn to see Kylie walking up to us.

“Hey guys, Kisses you alright?” Kylie says and I smile. “Yup, I’m gonna be perfectly fine” I say lying through my teeth.

Who knows how I’m gonna be a week from now. For all I know I could be dead or dying. But its not like anyone cares.

“I’ll meet you at the table Kylie. I’m bringing Kisses to Aunt Scarlet so she can get checked again” Daniel says and Kylie nods as she walks away.

We go to the nurse and Mrs. Green changes my bandage and gives me more ice and we go to lunch.

We walk in and I remember I told Christine I would sit with her today. “Hey Dan, I told Christine I would sit with her today” I say and Daniel nods and points over to a table.

I turn to look that Christine is sitting and talking to Kylie. That’s right, Kylie and Christine are both cheerleaders. They are actually the captains.

“You’re not getting away from me that easily” Daniel jokes slugging an arm around my shoulders causing me to laugh. “Dam nit, I guess not” I say joking back and we sit down at the table.

“Oh, did someone forget to throw out their garbage?” Kurt says as soon as I sit down. “Yeah, I thought I smelt something. Oh wait, it’s you” Christine says as everyone oohs. “Hey Kisses” Christine says and I smile at her. I’m seated between Kylie and Daniel and Daniel still has his arm around me.

“I’m going to get some food. You want anything Kiss?” Daniel says and I shake my head quietly thanking him. I don’t want him spending his money on me.

“I’m getting you something” He says standing up and walking away.

“So, are you Daniel’s fuck and dump?” Another guy says and Kurt fist bumps him. “She’s our friend dick” Kylie says and I quickly stand getting light headed. I run out of the cafeteria ignoring the pain and my name being called.

I find myself going to the last place I would ever go, Mrs. Green office.

“Kisses? What’s wrong?” Mrs. Green says as I rush into her office. “Can I stay here till the end of school? I don’t feel good” The words slip out before I can stop myself. “Yeah of course. I’ll email your teachers and tell them you’re sick. Do you want me to tell Daniel ?” She says and I shake my head no.

I’ve never done anything like this before.

“Go lay down sweetie. I’ll get you some water” Mrs. Green says and soon I am surrounded in darkness.