The day started with me and Alex just chilling until we had to get ready for the amusement park. Xavier wanted to give me a ride but Alex interjected that we were carpooling buddies therefore we wouldn't be separated. I found it funny while Xavier just frowned but agreed none the less. So Alex and I drove to the park and met with our friends. After submitting our tickets we got in but couldn't decide what to try first so we decided to separate and meet some time later.
I went with Xavier, Ryan with Alex and Miguel, Max and Taylor and Lily and Brandon.
After our separation Xavier and I decided to check out the spooky house that wasn't spooky at all.
After that we went to play a game to win a stuff penguin.
Xavier however had the audacity to state that I won't shoot any of the balloons and I took the challenge.
" You are gonna regret ever saying that" I said cracking my knuckles and taking the bow and arrow in hand.
10 arrows later I found out that Xavier spoke of what he was sure of but my pride won't let me admit it.
" You sure you don't want to give up?" Xav asked with a smirk.
" No " I stated throwing him a glare and shooting only to miss...again.
At this rate I was about to cry how is this possible?
" Okay I'm going to get some corn dogs, want some?" He asked and I shook my head then he left.
On my right side, someone shoot all the balloons without even trying.
" Why can't I be like that?" I groaned frustrated.
" Awww not everyone can be like me babygirl" he said and I raised my head to see Alex with a smirk.
" Thank God for that, we don't want overpopulation of ego filled jerks" I said turning back to my failure.
" And here I was about to teach you how to shoot?" He taunted with pity.
" Please teach me, I will do anything just help me shoot those damn balloons." I pleaded only to regret what I had said.
" Anything?" Alex asked smiling deviously and I groaned then nodded.
" Okay" he said coming behind me repositioning my arms and taking hold of my hands.
" Now relax" he whispered in my ear causing goosebumps to erupt on my arms.
I did as he said just as I was about to let the arrow go we heard a shout and turned towards it.
" What the fuck man?" Xavier asked fuming as he saw us and dropped his corn dogs.
That's when I saw the position we were in and I stepped away from Alex as Xavier pulled me into him.
" It isn't-" I was cut off by an equally pissed Alex.
" What are you always doing that you have to leave your girlfriend alone?" He asked making Xavier let go of me and step in front of Alex and glare at him.
" It's none of your business" he practically spat in his face.
" It is when it concerns babygirl" Alex barked back.
" Is that why you are trying to steal her from me?" Xavier asked with a sneer.
" I don't see who to steal her from when there isn't anyone to steal her from" Alex smirked making Xavier raise his fist about to punch him but I stopped them.
" Stop" I shouted getting their attention.
" Quit acting childish and I'm not a property for anyone to steal" I said as I glared at them both who had an apologetic face.
" Can I talk to you, Alex?" I said then walked away before he could answer. I stopped at secluded area and he joined.
" Alex I appreciate you caring, I really do but that's none of your business" I said watching his face but it was blank but I continued anyway " you don't get to be defensive and angry at him when you don't know why he did it, when I-his girlfriend I'm not mad at him" I scolded.
" Understood is that all?" He asked still with a blank face and that worried me that I had been too harsh.
" Don't be like that Al" I said softening my voice.
" No no I understand and I'm sorry for worrying about you getting hurt." He said then stormed off.
God I wish Xavier had told everyone why he wasn't at school. I sighed then walked back to where Xavier was, hoping I didn't ruin my friendship with Alex.
I found Xavier on the phone with a worried and after hanging up I was worried as well.
" Everything okay?" I asked with concern.
" I have to go " he said kissing my forehead " the relative I told you about is back at the hospital."
" Will you be okay?" He asked with a frown.
" Don't worry about me just go" I assured.
" You sure?" He asked and I simply nodded. He pecked my lips then left. After his retreating figure disappeared I turned back to the balloons suddenly feeling sad.
I did what Alex had said and three arrows later I got my penguin but was still sad so I decided to get some cotton candy. I turned around walking away with my cotton candy only to bump into a wall.
" What the hell?" I said rubbing my forehead and lifting my eyes to see Ryan.
" Care to tell me why you are by yourself and Alex is PMSing?" He asked raising his eyebrow.
" Well Xavier had an emergency and I kinda fought with Alex" I told him suddenly finding the ground interesting.
" I don't care who was wrong or what the fight was about just fix yourselves" he said irritated.
" What do you mean fix ourselves? I'm doing quite fine thank you " I defended.
" Yeah that's what the sad look on your face says" he said rolling his eyes.
" What s-" I was cut off by a pissed off Alex with a trailing Miguel.
" what are you doing standing there without our food?" Alex asked and Ryan stepped away so that I could see Alex.
When Alex saw me he immediately covered his emotions with a blank face.
" Miguel let's go get food" Ryan told Miguel who nodded quickly sensing the tension.
" And you two don't show me your faces before you are back to yourselves." He said then walked away leaving me with Alex.
" Where is your boyfriend?" Alex asked.
" He had an emergency" I said and expected an ' I told you so' but he just nodded his head making me feel horrible.
" I'm so sorry Al" I said stepping closer " I didn't mean for us to fight I just hope I didn't ruin us" I said looking anywhere but him.
I heard him sigh " it's okay, I was out of line to question your relationship, can you forgive me?" He said stepping closer as I lifted my face.
" Only if you forgive me" I said with a smile that I got in return.
" Friends?" He asked holding out his arms to which I threw myself in hugging him.
" No " I said then looked at him as he looked back at me " best friends" I said grinning as he chuckled.
" Good " he said " now what rides haven't you checked out yet?"
We went on the rest of the rides and lastly the ferris wheel.
" Wow just wow" I said as I saw the view of our town at the top of the ferris wheel.
" Who would have thought it would be so beautiful?" I asked then turned to Alex to find him already looking at me with a smile.
" Yeah who would have thought" he said not taking his eyes off me and for some reason I blushed.
We met with everyone else after the ride and Ryan was happy to see us back to normal since he was too young to have wrinkles from stress, his words not mine.
We decided to pass by McDonald's before heading home.
I was tired from all the rides that when I got home I immediately fell asleep.
The next day I couldn't get hold of Xavier so around noon I decided to go see if he was alright.
I got ready and drove to his house. I knocked and a middle aged woman opened the door.
" How can I help you dear?" She asked in a gentle voice.
" Hi ma'am I was just looking for Xavier" I said.
" Oh dear you didn't know?" She asked
" Know what?" I asked worriedly.
" He went to the hospital" she said.
" Do you know which one?" I asked
" Yes it's st. Bernadette" she said and I was bolting for my car.
" Thank you ma'am" I said getting in my car.
" You are welcome dear" I heard the lady say before I drove off.
When I got at the hospital I was in full panic mode thinking something happened to Xavier that's when I realized I cared about him a lot scratch that I liked him a lot.
I was about to ask the receptionist if they had a patient called Xavier when I saw something that broke my heart into two.
There he was walking to the elevator with a bag of chips and coke but what broke my heart was his tired and defeated look. So I run up to him and hugged him from behind. He went stiff not knowing who it was but when he turned around his head and saw me he relaxed.
" Hey" he said with a forced smile.
" Hi " I said and I'm sure that he heard the worry in my voice.
" What are you doing here?" He asked.
" I was worried cause I couldn't reach you" I explained looking at him.
" I'm sorry my battery died and I haven't got a chance to charge it" he said apologetically rubbing his neck.
As I was about to speak the elevator door opened.
" Wanna come?" He asked pointing to the elevator and I nodded and walked inside.
Once inside he pressed the button for the second floor and we started moving.
The ride was silent but short thankfully.
When we reached the second floor we walked out and I just followed Xavier to the third room on the left.
Before he entered he turned to me " you don't have to be here you know" he said
" I know but I still want to" I said firmly.
With one last deep breath he opened the door and behind I saw his mother paler than usual with many of machines attached to her.
" Sit " Xavier said and walked to where he sat and sat next to him on the couch.
" I'm sure you want to know about what happened " he said and it wasn't a question.
" You don't have to tell me if you aren't ready to talk about it" I assured as I grabbed his hand on the couch and he looked at me with an emotion I couldn't understand.
" It's fine I have to talk about it sooner or later, it is better if the person I tell is you" he said and I nodded.
" My parents have always been happy as far as I can remember or at least that's what I thought until things started to change. My father's business started to grow and though it's a good thing we started to see him lesser and lesser until we would see him once a month or sometimes two months." He turned and stared at his mother as he continued.
" I would complain saying that I missed him but she never complained in fact he would defend him saying he is only doing what's best for us"
He took a deep breath " The defending could do so much when he came home one day after a month saying he cheated on my mom"
" My mom was devastated, I remember thinking at least he had the guts to tell her I was around 14 then" he said then laughed humourlessly.
" My mother forgave him saying he will change for her...for us." He was quiet.
" He never did" he whispered.
" If anything he brought his cheating A game. My mother would always forgive him until one week ago he told her he got his mistress pregnant." By now he was clenching his fists with anger.
" That's when it happened...mom had a heart attack" I managed to hold back a gasp when he said this but I could feel the tears gathering in the corner of my eyes.
" That time when I was absent was because she was in the hospital because of him." He turned to me with his own unshed tears.
" She had to convince me saying the nurse at home will take care of her that's why I went back to school." He swallowed.
" I should have known that nothing was going to be how it was before." He said as he hung his head.
" She somehow convinced the nurse to let her go and see him."
" I don't know what he told her but she had another attack this one worse and was operated on twice." He said as a tear slipped down his cheek followed by my own.
I didn't know what to say so I hugged him.
" I hate him so much" he said as I felt a tear fall on my shoulder as I rubbed his back.
We sat there in silence and somehow we ended up with him resting his head on my thighs as he slept.
I don't think he had slept even a wink last night.
It was after half an hour when I heard a voice.
" He is a nice kid " Mrs. Smith said and I was about to stand up when she just shook her head.
" I'm fine" she said.
"But-"
" Let me be" she said with a weak smile.
After a moment of silence she spoke again.
" Has he told you about what happened?" She asked still laying in the bed and I nodded.
She chuckled " it was bound to happen anyway" she said.
" You know at some point you are going to have to choose who is worth it" I said.
" I know" she sighed and all humor left her.
" And I don't mean you any disrespect or anything but you can't keep doing this to Xavier" she kept quiet so I continued " he is already hurting because of his father and the thought of losing you because of him makes the pain worse. He may say that he hates him-and maybe he does- but he is mostly hurt " I finished and saw her staring at me.
" Xavier is lucky to have someone like you" she said with a faint smile.
" I think it's the other way around actually" I said gazing at a sleeping Xavier.
The rest of the visit was mostly quiet until I had to leave and Xavier had woken up.
The next day Xavier wouldn't come to school and I dreaded not having him around. However I didn't know that what awaited me was far worse.