Leticia [The ADAMS Family]

09

WHEN WE arrive at the school, I jump out of the car–the rest hot on my heels and head to the school infirmary. They said that she fell while hurrying to class and sprained her wrist and that only means one thing.

The hallways are empty as we pass because the students are still in class and I open the door to the infirmary and meet with the school's medical officer–a woman in her thirties. She stands up when she sees us and lifts her arms in the air. "Excuse me? You can't just barge in her-

"Where is she?" I rudely interrupt, and her brows furrow. "Astrid. Astrid Adams,"

"And who are you?"

"I'm her sister,"

Her eyes widen and she starts apologising. "Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't kn-

"Cia?"

My head turns to see Astrid sitting on the bed and I rush over to her, grabbing her shoulders and looking over her body to see if there are other injuries. "Astrid! What happened? Are you okay?"

She smiles and removes my hands from her shoulders. "I'm fi-

"ASTRID!" Mum's voice resonates in the room and Astrid turns to look at our mother with wide eyes.

"Mum! I-

Her words are cut off when Mum hugs her and I step aside to look at the doctor with my hands on my waist. "What the hell happened?"

"She said that she fell when she was hurrying to class," she answers and I turn to Astrid with a hard stare.

"Is it true?" I question and Cia nods but I already saw the hesitation she had tried so hard to display. "I know you're lying,"

She shakes her head. "I'm not,"

My grandmother and Bale finally arrive and he walks over to me and cups my elbow, looking over at Astrid who has a confused face. "Is she okay?" he asks, and I nod.

"That's what she's saying but I know that she's lying," I tell him and Astrid rolls her eyes.

"I only told them to call Mum. Why are you all here?" she asks.

"We had joined Trishy on her dress fitting," Granny replies, and Astrid's eyes widen before she springs up.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she cries out, and I frown.

"Because you had school,"

She tries to cross her arms but releases a sharp hiss when she's too rough on her hand and my eyes find the bandaged wrist on her right hand. My eyes widen. "You hurt your right hand?"

She looks down and nods. "A bummer, right?"

"Did you finish your painting?" I ask, and she looks down at her feet, shaking her head.

"Painting? For what?" Bale asks.

"For the exhibition," I reply, then look at Astrid. "It's this weekend, right?"