Always and Forever (27 page)

In fact, there was really only one tense moment during those few days, and that came on Sunday afternoon.

We were all gathered in the living room. Mom was in her chair, reading, while I sacked out on the sofa, buried beneath six feet of thick blankets, my feet propped up in Dad's lap as he looked over one of the many documents he'd brought home from the office.

Ben and Kal sat on the floor, controllers in hand as they battled each other in the newest NHL game. Normally, Ben didn't care for hockey video games, but when Kal brought it over that morning in a thinly-veiled attempt at getting me to talk to him, Ben had grudgingly popped it into the gaming console. Kal dropped down onto the floor right in front of the sofa and stationed himself so close to me that I could smell his cologne, practically taste his skin. It was all I could do not to reach out and run my fingers through his hair, graze my knuckles across the back of his neck.

He didn't say anything more than a softly uttered,
‘hey’
before he and Ben were consumed by the game. Kal, having grabbed the player one controller, snatched up the Red Wings and left Ben to grumble about having to choose the Blackhawks, his second favorite team.
They battled each other, traded scores, and generally kept the game interesting enough to have me fighting sleep in order to see the outcome. It was almost like they'd planned it.

Third period had just started when someone knocked on the door. When none of us moved, Mom slowly put down her book and levered herself out of the chair. She opened the door just as Brad brought down his closed fist to pound again.

“Hey, Mrs. Gordon.” He grinned sheepishly as he snatched his fist back just inches before his knuckles connected with her nose. “Mia up for company?” It had come to be his standard greeting in the past week because, of course, we both knew I wouldn't be anywhere else but home, at least until Mom and Dad quit hovering so much.

“Right here.” I waved a hand through the air as I shoved the covers aside to sit up. Dad caught hold of my elbow, steadying me, while I righted myself, his eyes not once leaving the document he'd been reading over. “Thanks,” I mumbled before turning a bright smile on Brad and Dave, now lumbering into the room.

“Anytime, princess.” He slid an arm around my waist to pull me in close while simultaneously keeping me balanced and the world from spinning out from under me.

Brad dropped down onto the sofa beside me, pulled the pillows out from beneath him, and settled them into his lap. When he was done, he tugged on my arm, indicating that I should stretch back out. I didn't hesitate to take him up on that offer. I'd found that the dizziness lessened when I was lying down.

Dave took a seat between Ben and Kal and eyed the paused game curiously. “Who's winning?”

“No one,” Ben grumbled. “We're tied. Come on, dude. Unpause the game.” He leaned around Dave and made a grab for the controller in Kal's hand. Ben caught hold of the controller, tapped a button, and then tossed it to the floor beside Kal as the players on the screen jumped into action.

Kal didn't seem to notice Ben or care about the game. He was too busy glaring daggers at Brad.

Dave, not willing to let Ben just walk away with the game, grabbed Kal's forgotten controller. Within moments, the two were trading
insults as their players beat the snot out of each other on the screen, only to both be called out on a penalty.

“So what's the verdict?” Brad asked, conversationally. “We going to school tomorrow?”

“Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm going.” I yawned loudly. “Dave, what are you doing? You're giving my Wings a bad name.”

“Sorry, Mia,” he groaned in exasperation. “But this kid's got game. I'm lucky he's only beating me by two points.”

“Need a ride?” Brad asked, ignoring his boyfriend's distress. “I could pick you up. It's no problem.”

“A little out of your way, isn't it?” Kal snapped. If looks could kill or seriously maim, Brad would've went up in flames by now, Kal was glaring at him so hotly. “Besides, I'm driving Mia to school.”

“That's news to me,” I said stiffly.

“I've always driven you to school,” he ground out. His eyes never left Brad's.

“Not lately, you haven't,” Brad threw out, venom laced over his every syllable. “And, I'd think it's up to Mia who takes her to school.”

They both swung around to pin me with expectant stares. This was exactly what I needed at the moment. I pushed off Brad's lap, swung my feet to the floor, and pushed upright. Thankfully, I was able to do so without swaying noticeably.

“You two want to fight, do it outside and far away from me,” I growled out. “I don't need a ride from either of you. Mom or Dad can take me, and if they can't, I'd rather walk.”

“You're not walking to school, princess.” Dad slowly set his paperwork aside and rose to his feet. “And, can I ask where you think you're going?” His hand cupped my elbow, kept me rooted to the spot.

“I'm thirsty,” I bit out, which wasn't exactly a lie. Really, I just needed a moment to myself, where I wasn't being constantly watched. They all meant well. I knew that, but their worry was heavy, oppressive, and I was dying from the suffocation of it all.

“I'll get you something,” he offered. “What were you thirsty for? Water? Hot chocolate?”

“I can get it my own damned self.” I jerked my arm out of his grasp. “I'm not a cripple.” At least, not yet. I took no more than two steps before I whirled on him. “And, I don't need any help. I'm just going to the kitchen. If I'm not back in five minutes, then you can send out a search party.”

I turned on my heel, leaving behind such stunned and absolute silence that you could've heard a pin drop in there. I'd gotten all the way into the kitchen and was rummaging through the cupboards when the first of the raised voices drifted to me.

“Asshole,” Brad growled. “What the hell do you think you're doing?”

“What am I doing?” Kal thundered. “I could ask you the exact same thing. And, not that I need to explain myself to you, but Mia is my best friend—”

“Yeah, you're a really great friend, all right,” Brad cut in with a loud snort.

“That's enough,” Dad shouted over the both of them. “My daughter is sick, and all you two can do is argue? That is not how Mia is going to spend her last days.”

Both boys mumbled out apologies and fervent promises that it'd never happen again.

“You're damned right it won't,” Dad agreed, angrily. A beat of tense silence as his words sunk in, and then he spoke again, still loud enough for me to hear, but not a full-on shout. “I think it's time you boys left. All of you. We'd like to have a quiet evening with our daughter.”

Some grumbling, a slight scuffle, and then they shuffled out of the house, the door closing firmly behind them. The minute they were outside, their voices rose again, but the words were too muffled for me to hear. I briefly entertained the notion of easing the back door open and stepping outside so that I could make out what they were saying to each other, but that idea jumped out the window when Dad stepped into the kitchen.

“You're a very lucky girl,” he said, quietly. “To have so many people care so much about you.”

My shoulders drooped under the weighted truth of his words. “I know,” I whispered, tears threatening once again.

Dad's arms folded down around me, closing me into a warm protective bubble I never, ever wanted to leave. How much longer would I have this sense of safety? How much longer before I was dead and gone and he'd never hold his daughter in his arms again?

“I know,” I repeated and pressed my face against his chest, burying myself way down deep to where the monsters couldn't find me. At least not yet. “I know.”

*   *   *

Dad walked me into school the next morning. Curious eyes drilled holes into my back as we made our way into the administration office for yet another meeting with the principal, the guidance counselor, and school nurse. I knew they were all wondering what was up with me. I'd missed so much school lately, and even when I'd been there, I hadn't really been there. Now, I was coming in after an unexplained week away.

I'd be curious, too, if I was them.

Dad made quick work of explaining my medications and the side effects should the nurse ever need to give them to me during school hours. Within minutes, I was released to go to class, still with plenty of time to get there without being late.

I trudged toward my locker, ignoring everyone who called out to me. I just wasn't ready to answer their questions, and they'd definitely have them.

I'd just pulled my English book out of my locker and closed the door when familiar arms looped around me. Relief flooded through me, and a smile tipped up the corners of my lips. I turned and hooked my arms around her.

“Ricki,” I gasped as she squeezed me tight enough to cut off my oxygen supply. “You're killing me, Rick.”

A loud sob burst out of her, shattering my eardrum, and she hugged me tighter. “Oh, Mia,” she wailed. “I'm so sorry. About everything.”

“No,” I whispered in her ear. “I'm sorry. I should have told you a whole lot sooner. I just didn't know how, and then, it was too late. You came over, looking for help from your best friend, and I shot you down. I guess I'm not a very good friend, am I?” A low chuckle floated out of me. “I hope you can forgive me.”

“Forgive you?” She pulled back, stared at me blankly. “Forgive you for what? Mia, if anyone should be begging for forgiveness, it should be me. If I wasn't so wrapped up in my drama with Adam I would've seen—” She shook her head, disgust with herself plainly stamped across her face. “That's no excuse. I should have known something was wrong with you. I mean, all the signs were there. I was just too blind to see them, and then when you needed me the most, I turned my back on you. Mia, I'm just so sorry!”

Tears sprang up, flooded her eyes, and she tugged me back to her, clutching at me like I was the only thing that could save her when the truth was the exact opposite.

I needed her to save me.

“But I kissed Adam,” I couldn't stop myself from saying. I cringed as soon as the words fell out, closed my eyes, and waited for her to remember my betrayal and leave me.

“I don't care about that, Mia. You were right. Losing Adam was all on me,” she admitted on a heavy sigh. “Whatever happened after that doesn't matter. Not anymore.”

I slid away from her, hoping that she did forgive me for everything that happened between us. “So, we're okay now?”

“Yeah, we're good.” Smiling sadly, she looped her arm through mine and started steering us toward my class. “You don't have a lot of time left, do you?” she asked just as we got to the classroom door. Ricki still had to turn around and high-tail it back to the other side of the school for History.

I lifted my shoulders in what I hoped was a careless shrug. “I'm not sure. The doctors say a few more months, but…” I pulled my arm free of hers and turned to go into the class, letting the rest of that conjecture float away.

With another ear-splitting keen, she yanked me back into her arms, a move that knocked the wind right out of me. The only thing
that could tear her away from me in that moment was the shrill ring of the tardy bell. Heaving out a mournful sigh, she reluctantly released me and promised to catch me at lunch.

Then, she was gone.

Dragging in a deep breath, I stepped into the classroom and slammed right into Kal, another dark ring circling his eye. His hands immediately fell to my waist to steady me, which was a good thing, for I whirled around, my gaze seeking out Brad's guilty one.

A bright, cheery laugh leaped out of me as I took in his slumped figure. Two black eyes, crooked—most likely broken—nose, and a swollen bottom lip. I really shouldn't have been happy that they'd been fighting again, but there was some small part of me that rejoiced in the knowledge that this time, Kal came out the clear victor.

Although I'd still be reading them both the riot act later. Like Dad had told them last night, I definitely was not going to spend my last days watching them dismantle each other.

T
HIRTY
-T
WO

I SLAMMED MY ELBOW
into Brad's ribs the minute I sat down next to him.

“Ow, Mia!” His fork clanged against his tray after he'd dropped it to rub at his side. “That hurt,” he grumbled, sourly.

“Good,” I snapped. “No more than you deserve for picking a fight with Kal. I thought we'd talked—”

“I didn't pick a fight with him,” he cut in. “I didn't even raise a hand to defend myself.” He swirled his hand in front of his bruised and battered face. “As you can see.”

“He's got a black eye,” I pointed out.

“Which I gave him,” Dave piped up, dropping his tray next to Brad's. “Look at what he did to my boy's face. Only I get to knock him around. Isn't that right, babe?”

Brad just muttered something about domestic violence and grabbed up his fork to start shoveling food in again. Dave grinned and slid caressing fingers along the nape of his neck.

“You really didn't fight back,” I asked, stunned. “You just stood there and let Kal beat on you?”

“He sure did,” Kal said as he scooted in on my other side. “It wasn't very satisfying either.” He turned a smirk on Brad. “Dude, next time, use those hammers you call fists. It's what they're there for.”

“Really? I didn't know that,” Brad deadpanned. “Thanks for the info.”

“Anytime,” Kal grinned.

My mouth dropped open, my eyes rounding as I took in Brad's relaxed, joking manner. Like he was perfectly fine, eating lunch with the guy who'd pummeled him only yesterday afternoon. Well, I wasn't. I whirled on Kal, intending to give him a piece of my mind, but as my motion stopped, everything around me just kept moving, blurring in a kaleidoscope of faces and colors, a nauseating parade of sensation.

“Mia!” Three sets of hands shot out all at once, anchors to keep me grounded.

“I'm fine,” I groaned, shaking off their hands. “I just got a little-”

“Swoony,” they all finished for me, which earned them each a frigid glare.

“I'm fine,” I repeated and rubbed absently at my throbbing temple. “Really.” None of them looked like they believed me. With a small sigh, I turned to Kal—slowly this time. “What are you doing here?” It wasn't asked in a mean tone, but his back stiffened at my question.