All I Want • Alex Gaskarth (Adoption)

Satellite

The sound of my alarm clock scared me awake. It was already time to get up. I groan and pull my fingers through my hair. As soon as I touch my hair though, my fingers feel like they're being smashed with a hammer. I clutch my hand, remembering that they're swollen and most likely broken. I bite my lip so I won't cry. The harsh pain shoots up my hand again.

I try to ignore the sensation as I prepare for the dreaded day. I hear Alex downstairs; he got up with me again for school. Of course he's my ride to school, but he could easily wake up a few minutes before I leave.

I carefully rummage through my closet for my clothes, careful not to mess with my hand. Getting ready today was difficult to say the least.

Finally I make it down the stairs, where I'm greeted by Alex.

"Morning," he says, handing me a plate of waffles. "I'm sorry for yesterday, it's just I was worried and you never text-" I cut him off, holding my hand up.

"It's fine, I don't care." I don't realize he's more distracted by my hand than by my words.

"What the hell did you do to your hand?!" Alex yells, grabbing my wrist to get a better look.

"Ow, you ass!" I yank my hand back from him. I try to rub my hand to ease the pain.

"They look broken! Why didn't you tell me sooner?" He's still examining my hand and I think up why.

"Well you were too busy being mad at me." I turn away and look at the waffles. My appetite was gone, and I don't want to leave.

Alex's eyes fill with worry. "You should have told me anyway! This is more important than phone troubles."

I take this time to rush out what I meant to tell him yesterday. "Yesterday was hectic! I completely forgot about my phone until after school. That's why I didn't text you. I tried to explain yesterday but you were being a dick so I didn't bother. Now come on, I don't want to be late." I drag him by the arm towards the door before he stops me.

"Oh no kid, we're going to the hospital first." I groan immediately at the thought of hospitals; another place I despise.

Before we leave the house, Alex hands me back my phone.

-

It turns out that when I fell on my hand, I popped bones from my fingers out of place, which is why it got swollen. At the hospital, the bones were corrected and I got my fingers wrapped. Leaving the hospital, Alex told me to try to be careful on them now - I never told him what really happened.

"Can I just stay home today?" I ask Alex with a pout on the ride away from the hospital.

He groans. "No, Lex, you have to go to school. You need to get your education."

I stared at him for a moment before bursting out laughing. Alex looks at me, utterly confused. I held my chest from laughing so much. "Education? You didn't even go to college. Don't annoy me about my education until you go to college." I'm not sure why, but this whole idea was so funny to me that I just kept laughing.

"Fine," he huffed. "This ONE time, I'll let you stay home. Don't expect it to happen again." Alex meant to sound strict, but it's hard to ignore the small smile he tries to hide.

To Jada: hey, sorry I won't be in school today - broke some fingers but I'm good :)

I click 'send' and lock my phone. I run my fingers through my hair.

"You know, I want to dye my hair. Like... purple or blue."