Together forever and ever

Chapter 16: Your not okay

After the final bell rang, signaling the end of another day at school, I eagerly made my way to the front of the building.

As I stepped outside, the warm afternoon sun greeted me, casting a golden glow over the scene. And there, amidst the bustling chaos of cars and people, I spotted Felix's driver, standing beside a sleek black car.

My heart skipped a beat as I approached, not knowing what to expect. Then, to my surprise, the driver motioned for me to get inside. Curiosity piqued, I opened the car door and there, sitting next to the driver's seat, was my sister. Her face lit up with a mischievous grin as she greeted me.

"Hi! How was school?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine excitement. I couldn't help but feel a rush of warmth and affection for her.

I glanced down, feeling my cheeks flush at the question. "Good," I whispered, my voice barely audible. Then, lifting my gaze to meet hers, I mustered up the courage to ask, "And you?"

Her eyes sparkled with joy as she exclaimed, "Amazing! The teacher asked us what we wanted to be when we grow up."

I couldn't help but be intrigued. "And what did you say?" I questioned, genuinely curious about her answer.

A radiant smile spread across her face as she threw her arms up in the air. "An astronaut!" she declared triumphantly. With a gleam of pride in her eyes, she reached into her Doc McStuffins backpack and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. Unfolding it carefully, she revealed a picture she had drawn, depicting herself floating among the stars in outer space.

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" she asked, her voice filled with anticipation.

Caught off guard, I hesitated for a moment, searching for an answer that would match her enthusiasm. "I..." I began, my voice wavering slightly. "I want to be with you," I confessed, hoping she would understand the depth of my longing.

She paused for a moment, processing my words, before gently shaking her head. "No, like...a dream. What's your dream?" she clarified, her eyes full of encouragement.

I averted my gaze, feeling a surge of emotions welling up within me. Thoughts raced through my mind as I pondered my future aspirations. Then, finally, I found my voice. "A...a teacher," I explained, my tone filled with newfound determination. "I want to be a teacher."

The driver skillfully maneuvered us to Felix's mansion once again, the familiarity of the place washing over me like a comforting embrace. As Rachael eagerly bounded out of the car, her laughter mingling with the excited barks of the dogs,

I made my way upstairs in search of Felix. Something felt off; he had been absent from school for half of the day, and I couldn't shake the worry that gnawed at the pit of my stomach.

Turning the doorknob to his room, I was immediately assaulted by a pungent combination of smoke and weed that hung heavy in the air. The room was a chaotic mess, strewn with empty whiskey bottles and delicate rose petals scattered haphazardly across the floor.

Before I could fully comprehend the scene before me, something whizzed past my head, embedding itself into the wall with a menacing thud. A knife...too close for comfort.

Felix stood there, his gaze piercing through the haze of smoke that enveloped the room. Despite the foggy atmosphere, his eyes remained clear and focused, untouched by the intoxication that permeated the air.

"What's with the smell in here?" I managed to choke out, quickly shutting the door behind me and gingerly removing the knife from the wall. Determined to clear the suffocating smoke, I headed towards the balcony, flinging the doors open to invite a breath of fresh air.