Not My Life | gxg

Chapter Twenty-One

Bethany was told to sit in a plastic chair outside the office. Her legs jiggled with unspent energy. She felt like she was being torn in two; she wanted nothing more than to run back to that room, but then she also wanted to see Alex. It felt like an eternity, but eventually, her mum waved at her from the other side of the glass doors that buzzed open.

'Thanks,' Kelly waved at the receptionists, all of whom smiled or waved back, as Bethany sprinted over to her mum.

'How is he?' Bethany asked.

'Tired, but relieved to be out of hospital. And he's looking forward to seeing Raph.'

'You picked him up already?' Bethany asked.

'Jack dropped him off for me earlier today after he'd been fed and walked,' Kelly said. 'Remind me to get them something to thank them, it's really been a weight off my mind knowing you and Raph were both safe.'

Kelly led the way out of the school doors, and Bethany slipped her arm through her mum's. It was something she hadn't done in a long time, but she needed that reassurance that her mum was there. She was anxious to see Alex but also scared about what she would see. Would she actually see him as he was, or would she only be able to see the him she'd found, grey-faced and half-dead?

Alex was sitting in the front seat, and he waved at her when they came into view. Relief flooded through her. She didn't need to be nervous—her brother looked very much alive. Bethany sped up and wrenched the door open.

'Sorry, I know this is your seat, but—oh,' Alex began but was surprised when she enveloped him in a hug.

Bethany stepped back to take him in. He was pale, but he looked better than the last time she'd seen him. Kelly was smiling at them both when Bethany stepped back and shut his door. When they arrived home, Raph greeted him like he hadn't seen him in years, which made the first laugh escape Alex's mouth. They'd picked up burgers on the way home, and they ate them in the living room together with a movie playing that they didn't watch.

Alex and Raph went to bed first, and Kelly went to do the dishes and make Bethany and her a cup of tea. School was just getting out, and Bethany wasn't surprised when her phone buzzed with an incoming text from Kita.

Love you. If you need me, I'm here. Always xxx

And she was; she had always been there when Bethany needed her. But the same couldn't be said the other way around. Bethany hadn't been the best friend, and she already hadn't been a very good girlfriend. She knew Kita believed she didn't have anything to apologise for, but Bethany disagreed. This might be Bethany's first experience with being in a relationship, but it seemed important to not forget the other person, even if your life felt like it was falling apart. Because theirs might also be falling apart.

'You want some biscuits?' Kelly asked, taking her vacated seat on the sofa beside Bethany. She placed the tin of biscuits between them without waiting for an answer. 'The white chocolate ones are really good. I may have eaten two in the kitchen already.'

'Kita's my girlfriend,' Bethany blurted out.

Kelly's hand had been on its way to her mouth, and it froze. Her mouth was open, either still waiting for the biscuit that hadn't come or in surprise—Bethany wasn't sure.

'I didn't even know I liked girls. I mean, I'm not even sure I do, like girls in general, I mean. But I like Kita in that way. Well, I love her in that way. But I've been so wrapped up in everything going on with me that I didn't even realise today was the anniversary of Isabelle's death. She says I don't have anything to be sorry for, but I think I do. Just because I've got something going on, that isn't an excuse, right? Like, I should have noticed something was bothering her. I feel like since dad left, I've become so self-centred, I didn't notice something was going on with Alex and now—'