Photo by MelDaMelon
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I remember waking up with a splitting headache and my legs feeling wobbly. I know it had to be early seeing as the sun hadn't come through yet.

I glanced at the clock.

4:27AM.

How nice of me to wake up this early.

I walked out the door and down the steps to the kitchen. I yawned, outstretching my arms. Luckily I had woke up early, because it was my first day back to school and now I would be fully awake in three hours.

I went over to the fridge and opened it. I grabbed some milk and shut the door. When I turned around, I was not expecting to see Becca's face in my personal space.

"Are you okay?" She asked me, taking the stuff from my hands and putting it on the table. She grabbed my hands and we both sat down in chairs.

No, no I'm really not.

"Yeah, I'm okay Bec, just a little mad." I reassured her, squeezing her hands o show I was okay, even though I wasn't.

"Remember you can always talk to me if you need to! I'm your friend an-" She started, but was cut off my Mel's loud footsteps on the stairs.

"Could you be any louder? I can hear you from upstairs!" She shouted at us from the mid-step.

I groaned and went to make my cereal. Cocoa Pebbles and milk never failed to satisfy me, and still don't.

"Give." Mel ordered me, grasping for the milk.

"Here, you big baby." I responded grinning

"I did not know you were capable of grinning."

"I didn't either." I laughed, my smile getting the best of me. I felt so happy, and I just didn't know why. My brother is in a coma, and one of my best friends has just gotten a prosthetic arm, so why am I giggling with joy.

"You okay?" Becca asked, tilting her head in a joking matter. I wiped my eyes, knowing tears were coming.

"I-I don't know! I have two of my best friends here, who are from England and Australia! My brother and his fiancé are here from London...." I cried, the tears now pouring down my face.

"Hey, I got an idea! Let's go watch some anime!" Becca yelled, not too loud, but loud enough to wake the pet bird next door.

"Bec..."

---

After watching about nine episodes, Becca and I realized it was 6AM and jumped up, going to grab our clothes.

We ran up the steps, probably doing the most exercise that I've ever done in my entire life. When I reached the rooms, I grabbed my new plaid backpack and jumped over the railing, down about 5ft.

Ow.

I grabbed my leg for a second, but I was fine so I ran to the door. I think Mel realized she had school too, so she had to do the same run as up.

"Ha! That teaches you for laughing at us!" Becca yelled when Mel entered her room. I laughed again, grabbing my phone from the table.

"Shut up or I'm only driving Andre."

---

Hopping out of the car, Bec and I barely made it to the school. Mel rolled her eyes since we left the door wide open, yet again. I heard her drive away, but when I stopped in front of the gates, something was off.

"Andre, you coming? We have to go!" Becca yelled already halfway across the yard from me. I snapped out of it and ran after her.

"Sorry, just...thinking..."

---

School sucks.

I hope everyone was aware of this.

"Hey! Andre!" I heard a higher pitched voice say. I spun around to be met with Emma herself. She engulfed me in her arms, and my back hurt even more than when I had to carry two high school backpacks.

"Where the hell have you been? I've been worried sick! I called you multiple times, no answer, you have to have at least a hundred texts from me, but still no answer, and don't even get me started on the voicemails!" She yelled holding my shoulders and shaking me back and forth.

"Em! I'm perfectly fine! Relax!" I responded to the act, pulling her hands off my shoulders slowly. Her breathing that had quickened due to the lack of air slowed once again and she took a breath.

"Sorry. I was just...really worried..." She whispered. Her hands fell limp and hung her head low. I put my hand on her shoulder and her eyes were soon looking at mine.

"The thought counts, Em. It really does."

----

I heard the bell ring again, but the click of heels caught my attention instead.

"Andrea Lexington!" I heard the familiar Spanish voice yell. Angie appeared, her white heeled ankle boots still clicking. Her ivory white skirt matching the lavender tank top and white jean jacket.

This is Angie Smith, my fashion loving friend. I really don't know how we became friends, we're complete opposites. She loves pink, and I despise it. All she ever wears is skirts and I wear jeans and sweatpants. Its a hard relationship, but we make it work.

"Yes mummy dearest?" I answer and she rolls her eyes at the sarcasm.

"YOU did not contact me or Alexis, or anyone as a matter of fact, as to where you were going!" She proclaimed, not minding the children who were running to get to class.

"Look, we can talk later! I gotta get to class!" I yelled down the hall, her shaking her head furiously and stomping on after me.

She finally caught up to me, and for some reason, her heels stopped clanking.

"Andre! You had us all worried sick! We thought something happened to you!" She said in a whisper yell.

"Look, Ange, I would love to talk, but its my first day back, and I kinda have to get to class so..." I explained rubbing my hand up against my arm.

"Fine, but you better talk to us about this at lunch." Angie said, storming away as the last bell rang to get to class.

Shoot.

I sprinted down the hallway and saw my classroom. I slowed down and opened the door.

"Ms. Lexington, please take a seat." Mrs. Appro said calmly and I stepped over to Becca.

I felt all eyes on me as soon as I sat down till he time I got up. When I stood up to leave the room, I felt everyone's breath behind me. My anxiety kicked in and I went back into the classroom, the teacher still there.

"Ms. Lexington, are you okay?" Mrs. Appro asked, motioning for me to sit down in the seat next to her. She down and placed her hands on my shoulders, "I know it may be a little hard on you walking through crowds and not seeing your friend Kyle, b-"

"Excuse me, I have to get to class." I said, standing up, the chair flying behind me. I kept my head held high and walked out that door.

Bam.

I walked straight into a another student. Books were knocked to the ground, as well as papers.

"I am, so, so sorry!" I apologized to the Junior in front of me. I bent down and began picking up papers.

"It's okay! You're Andre.. right?" She asked picking up the books.

"Yeah, are you going to question me too?" I snapped at her.

"N-no! I wanted to ask about your friend Emma! She's tutoring my brother, and my parents want the to talk to her!" She acclaimed. I smiled at her and motioned for her to follow.

"So what's your name, Reed?" I asked, knowing her last name. Emma does tutor her brother, and his last name is Reed.

Duh.

"Huh? Oh! It's Brianna! A lot of people call me Bri, but Anna is also a choice!" She stated as we walked to Emma, Amelia, and I's lockers. I saw her lavender hair from a mile away.

"Cool!" I replied, finally taking in Brianna's look. Her hair was a blonde auburn, matching her shining pearl blue eyes. Her hair was shoulder length and the black frame glasses went with her sarcastic T-Shirt.

"Andre?" I heard Emma call, from the lockers. I grabbed Bri's hand and dragged her through.

"Emma! This is Brianna! She's Joey's older sister!" I announced, "Now you guys can talk, but I have to get to class!"

I sprinted through the halls to find my ELA classroom. I stopped running to check my phone and bump into someone again.

Oh no.

"Well, well!!! Look who we have here!" I hear Kayla say from behind Nexa, the annoying pest.

"Shut up, Kayla." I say confidently. I try not to show fear, fear makes you look weak.

"Say that to me one more time yo-"

"Hey! Eff of my friend!" I hear Jamie shout from down the hall, the voice getting louder.

Hallelujah.

"Guys, guys...can we do this at lunch? Yes? Thank You!!!" I yell grabbing Jamie's hand and running down the halls, dodging children and teachers.

WAM.

I just can't stop running into people.

"Sorry!" I yell back taking off again, Jamie quick by my side. I ran to the closest classroom possible and pulled Jamie inside.

"What the hell was that!?" She yelled, her voice echoing through the empty classroom, her hands dramatically flying into the air.

"Me saving our damn butts!" I yelled back, angry that she was trying to accuse me. I walked around the room, running my hands through my hair.

"We can't hide in here forever!"

"Go get the food and water than because I'm not leaving this room till lunch is over!"I screamed, pointing at the door, face red with anger.

Jamie looked at me one last time, and ran out the door. The slam echoed through the walls, leaving me alone with thoughts. I ran into the wall and put my hands out.

"AH!" I yelled, throwing a hard punch at the wall. As soon as my hand hits the wall it starts to bleed. I do it about ten more times.

"Kill me now for I all I care! I'm just some person who is gonna get bullied! Just some lost soul! A soul that has lost a lot and gained so much more! I swear! I swear on Phil's life, that I'm just someone who will commit suicide and no one will notice!!!" I yelled the tears streaming down my face life a river, the bun my hair is in falling out, releasing my hair.

"Dammit." I say pulling my sleeve and wiping my tears, "Could I be anymore emotional?"

And I laugh.

----

When Jamie finally returns, she doesn't ask why my hair is fallen on my shoulders, not in it's usual style. She doesn't ask why there are tear stains on my cheeks. She doesn't ask why I'm laughing at every little thing.

"Andre, will you please eat something?" She begs my head face down at the table. I look straight down, neglecting her.

"No."

"Andre."

"No."

"An-"

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I knew what that meant. A text. I pulled down and realized it was from Dan. I went to do the passcode, but the phone rang instead.

Dan.

I hit and were and right away I heard the blood curling scream of joy.

"Andre you need to come home, I'm on my way right now!" He exclaimed into the phone.

"Dan?! What the hell! It's the middle of my first day back!" I yelled back.

"Andre this is very important!" He screamed back, excitement in his voice.

"What could be so important!?!?"

"They have good news about Phil!"

I relaxed my shoulders and felt tears coming back to me. I felt emotion coming back. I felt alive again.

I felt like me again.

I jumped up and out of the classroom, Jamie after me, but I couldn't wait for her.

Phil.

Just thinking about my older brother made me smile. I love him so much, but it's my fault he's in a coma, and no one can deny that.

I ran towards the Principal's office, as fast as I ever could.

Boy, this was gonna be a long day.

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yayyyyyyyyyyy

-k