Dedicated to En-Jae

Dedicated to En-jae

Brandon had finally calmed down and the three of us had left the room to the cafeteria, Casper had offered me a can of soda while Brandon just wanted water.

“How's her condition now?” I asked, truly concerned. Mrs cage had always been a nice lady, she knew her son was a brat but that didn't stop her from loving him. I had seen her in every of his games cheering hard, no matter the time of day she never missed one, the depth of sorrow she could imagine Brandon going through was unbearable.

“The doctor says it's getting better... I just hope it's not like those terrible movies where they cover up until her last breath”

I punched Brandon playfully on his arm. “This isn't a time to joke” I nagged him.

“I'm not” he defended. “It does happen, doesn't it Casper?” he turned his attention to his best friend expecting his full support and his full support he got.

“Well not in this case” I fired.
Brandon chuckled lightly.

“And why wouldn't you support him Casper, you boys and your big heads”

“what's funny?” I shot.

“I got to admit I missed that fierce trait of yours” he smiled and pinched my cheeks.

“Ouch” I cried. Sipping my soda as compensation.

Soon the atmosphere had returned to its cold silent nature and like me neither Casper nor Brandon knew what to say.

“But seriously, I'm really glad you guys came. Especially you Paige, I knew you wouldn't be able to survive without my roguish charms”

“Mr cage!” a nurse called.
He winked at me and rushed off before I could defend myself or beat him up and then when I thought of it I felt my cheeks flush red.

***
I had left Casper at the cafeteria, I wanted to visit Mrs cage one last time before I left, she looked so peaceful in her sleep, I hoped she truly did feel at peace.

“Em... Em” I heard someone clear his throat and I knew exactly who I was expecting.

“Well I've got to go Brandon” I smiled and walked past him but his built arm pulled me back. “Stay a bit longer... For me” he smiled and put on a puppy dog face.

“All the more reason why I need to leave” I mocked him, and we both shared a few echoes of laughter.

“I see you and Casper are getting cozy” Brandon grinned. “You're even coming over together...”

“Keep your eyes where it's meant to be Mr” I pulled his nose jokingly.

“Well I'm happy and all for you guys, who wouldn't want to be the best man” he chuckled.

“Well now can you let go of my arm?” I tried to set myself free but it was to no avail.

“First you have to swear it”

“Swear what?” I asked, really I had no idea what I needed to curse myself for.

“Swear that you'll never tell anyone you saw me cry”

I couldn't help it, I had to burst out into a hilarious laughter, there it was again, Brandon and his ego maniac character, I couldn't believe I almost forgot he had that side.

“Look your mom's waking up!” I screamed, and he immediately loosened his grip of my arm and I rushed out to freedom, it had been too late when he realized that I was just messing with him. 😂

*****
“Thanks for taking me home” I waved at Casper as we pulled to a stop in front of my house.

“It's no big deal... It's my house too” he pointed at the brown coloured building in case I hadn't noticed.

“Oh” I flushed red in embarrassment.

“Okay then, bye” I rushed for the door, I couldn't wait to sink in the ground.

“Wait! “ Casper called me back.

“About my offer, are you still interested?”

“Haven't you already given it Riley?” I questioned.

“I have but you were actually the first thought and it would help you a lot in your grades and your aspiration of beating me.”

At least now I know he noticed.

“Yes, I would love to have it back” I nodded. Even if it wasn't for my grades at least for the satisfaction of rubbing it in Riley's box shaped head.

“Thank you” I smiled and turned away.

“Oh and I'm sorry about last time, if what I said hurt you am still sorry. You don't need to act awkward around me, Brandon already explained everything to me.”
A wide smile crept on my face.

“Good night Casper” I smiled and finally walked into my house.

***
As I bounced on my fluffy bed it felt so good, it felt like the world finally decided to go my way.

In weeks, so many things had changed, I wasn't the same girl always gawking at Casper through a library book, I wasn't the same girl staring all day into his room through the window.

And as I got up to pull the curtains down I stared through the window and for the first time I couldn't help but smile, for the first time Casper had noticed me through the window and for the first time he had left me a message on a cardboard paper pasted to the window, which read. “Goodnight my charming stalker till another dawn... Till another sunrise. Your morning smile awaits me”

Yes today, this week was nothing but perfect.

***
As if last night wasn't surprising enough, I woke up to a familiar smell of bread, egg and baked beacon. A familiar scent I knew was never an invention of my mother, a scent I knew only came with one person. No! It can't be her. It couldn't be, I unconsciously said aloud.

“Well darling today you're wrong” a familiar voice answered and I knew there was no denying it, she was here, she was actually here. “Kelly!!!”
I screamed and opened my eyes immediately to the sight of my beloved and beautiful best friend Kelly Micheal.

“OMG! It's really you, you're really here!” I screamed and hugged her as tight as I could.

“Calm down... Not breathing” she cried as I almost choked her with a hug.

“I'm so sorry” I apologized and set her free. I couldn't express how much I had missed her, she had changed a lot in the past few months. She had cut her long black curly hair neck length, Gosh! I had missed her big blue eyes, they had always reminded me of the ocean, her warm charming smile that could melt the heart of anyone.

I stared at her once more and couldn't hold back my urge to hug her once again but at least this time I didn't choke her.

“So many things have happened since you were away, for a moment I even felt so lost without you” I wept on her shoulder.

“Never do that to me again!” I punched her chest softly “Never!”

“I wish I could never say but I can't” she sighed. “You're probably going to punch me again any moment from now but please don't let it be so hard.” she smiled.

“You're leaving again?” I guessed.

“Yes” she nodded. “But this time for good, my aunt only allowed me to come back to tight some loose ends and to say my goodbyes, this semester is going to be my last in Mallory high” she sobbed.

She seemed so sad about it that I couldn't bring myself to punch her, no matter how much I wanted to, I couldn't. Instead, I pulled her into a warm embrace, a long and heartfelt one. I had waited anxiously for her return and it was even harder to know that she would be gone again and this time for good.

“I promise I'll come visit you” I promised to stop her sobbing but as I tried to stop her sobs it was only the beginning of mine until we both became a sobbing mess.

“Let's just try to make the best out of the little time you have left”

“You're my best friend, no matter where you go, or how far apart we are, nothings going to change that”

“Stop making me cry will you!” Kelly cried and chuckled at the same time. Making us both cry and laugh, someone who didn't understand us would have thought two mad girls had been let loose from an asylum. 😂

A/N: I was finally able to write another chapter, please don't forget to vote and help share this book... I love u all!!!!😂😂😂