Disparaging future

Chapter 21

My eyes feel like they're going to fall out. I try to open them, adjusting to the bright light in the room, my eyes open. I try to pace my breath as I look around. 

"Get away from me, you traitor," I turn to my side to avoid looking at him.  

" Only if you tell me, How're you doing?" Luke asks in a concerned voice. 

"Fine, I guess." I grab my head, "What are you doing here?"

Before, he could answer the nurse comes in.

"Oh, your wake," the nurse walks over. "How do you feel?"

"Tired," I say slowly.

"That's usually the case, " the nurse checks my vitals. "Well, you're alright. You are welcome to leave whenever you're ready."

As I get up to grab my backpack, Luke grabs it. "I'll cry it this one time."

I nod. I have no strength to argue back.

As we're headed out, the nurse says, "Thank you, young man, for bring her again."

I stop once we're outside of the nurse's office and turn to Luke, "Again?"

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There is tension in the air, as we walk toward the White's house. 

" You really, really have to stop saving me," I say

He shrugs, "What can I say? If I would see anyone on the floor passed out, I would not hesitate to help them no matter how I dislike them."

"Confirmed, so you did dislike me back then."

He stops walking, "Hey, coming from the person who hates everyone, that's mighty high coming from you. And for the record, you weren't a fan of me either."

I don't say anything.

"See, I'm not wrong. Confirmed," He says in a matter-of-fact way. 

I look away and continue to walk.

"Wait, one last thing. Why didn't say anything about-"

"Asthma," I blurt out. 

"What?" He asks confused.

"I have asthma. When I'm in a stressful or emotional situation, it triggers an asthma attack."

I open the door to the White's house. I turn to Luke, "See you at school."

"Are sure I'll be fine on your own?"

"yeah, I will. See ya, " I close the door.

I make my way to the sink, search for a towel. I'm searching on the bottom cabinet when I hear the doorbell. Trying to quickly get out, I bang my head against the top of the cabinet. 

"Ow!" I wince and rub the back of my head. I wait and listen for the doorbell. A few minutes pass when it rings again. I head to the door and open it, "Luke?"

"I know you said you're fine, but just in case, here," he hands me a piece of paper. "See ya."

I nod and close the door. I lean on the door and open the piece of paper. 

Shooting Guard

XXX-XXX-XXXX

I fold it and place it in my pocket. I resume grabbing a towel, soak it in hot water. Make your way to the living room and place the towel on my face. 

After the towel has cooled, I start to feel more relaxed. I look over at the clock. It's barely 2 pm, Jess won't be home till 4. I look around and stay silent for a while. Next thing I know I dump the towel on the sink and head to the Whites' bedroom. 

Inside, I browse through the closet, but the cabinet has been locked. I look around. There has to be something out there. I look toward the desk. It's too clean. I look over to the dresser. I find myself rumbling through each drawer until I get the last one. I find an envelope, addressed to Sarah C. Hill. 

I search through the drawer and find another envelope addressed to Peyton J. Hill.

Hill? I decide to open both envelopes and read them carefully. 

These are wills!

 My mother's name was Sarah C. Hill before she married my father. 

And Peyton......

I run to the living room and tackle the phone. I dial as fast as I can. I hear ringing until someone picks up. "Hello? Luke speaking-"

"The grind!" I practically yell.

"Excuse me?"

"It's Abby! Meet me at the Grind."

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Trying to organize everything I have told him, Luke recaps. "So, you related to her. To Peyton I mean.

"Yes, and I need out."

"Out?" Luke furrows his eyebrows.

"I can't continue living there. I just can't have my sister being there anymore either. This time they took her away, Next time I don't know what they will do. And get this, my mom was given the title of CEO, even when she was adopted and wasn't their biological daughter. This means the company should have been given back to me. But to avoid that Peyton adopted us. Look, I still have the card of my parent's lawyer. All this time I thought this was hard-earned money, but it's a direct link to the company's funds." I look at Luke to make sure he's following. "Luke, I'm the CEO."  

"Okay, Okay," he gestures to me to calm down. "We have to talk to someone."

"Who would we tell?"

Luke looks around thinking, his eyes go wide, "My mom."