ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀꜱ : ᴛʜᴇ ᴜᴘʀɪꜱɪɴɢ

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"What an attention-whore you were. Pretending you were passed out so the school hottie could take you to the nurse. Did he at least give you mouth to mouth?"

"What a way to wake up. You're just jealous, babe." Alicia laughed and helped me sit up. My head was still spinning, and I felt a little dizzy, but I was better than before.

"It's a fact. What a great gift. Mine looks silly next to it. Freaking Raiden Levin just carried you bridal-style on your birthday. Lord, pinch me, I'm dreaming." She winked and handed me a small present.

"Yeah, Lord, pinch me too." She pinched me, and I slapped her arm while she laughed. "Ali, you know we said no gifts." I shook my head as she smiled tenderly at me.

"And like every year, we both broke that promise by giving each other a gift on our anniversary. Now open it, Wills." She studied me with an affectionate smile and a caring gaze, bouncing lightly on the bed, her hands clasped, excitement swaying in her light brown eyes.

"Thank you so, so much. That's... whoa. I have no word." It was a simple little necklace with two small intertwined rings. It was discreet and totally my type.

"I wanted you to have something to remind you of us. You know, the two little interlocking rings are supposed to be us. Whatever happens, I will always be by your side, either physically or mentally... I have the same... look." She showed me her identical necklace, and I hugged her like crazy.

"Now, now. Don't waste my beautiful tank top by spraying your mascara on it. Besides, you don't want Raiden to see you like this if, in any way, he decided to stop by to check on you."

She wiped away the little tears that managed to escape my eyes. Yes, I was sensitive. Besides, I felt much more vulnerable that day, probably because of what had happened earlier.

We chatted for a while, and she told me that I had slept all morning. My parents were coming to pick me up, to which she complained that she had to spend the day without me. She also mentioned that Raiden's group had been weird all morning; they weren't in class for the second period.

Of course, I didn't tell her they were, in fact, there with me. She added that Aria seemed really angry. She and Raiden left school right after the others got back from whatever they were doing, which was also to be with me.

I didn't know what the deal was with Aria. Everyone had always thought there was probably something going on between the two of them. I hoped not, but it was just because I had a huge crush on him. Who wouldn't?

I got that I had nothing like her. She was beautiful, strong, confident, and all. Of course, he would choose her. Yet, I always hoped that maybe, just maybe someday, he would finally notice me.

I was desperate, I knew.

The bell rang, and Alicia was forced to go back to class. She asked me to be in better shape the next day and promised to take my homework. Soon after, my parents arrived to pick me up.

"If you wanted to spend the day with us, you could've just asked. You know we would have said yes, honey," my mom said, coming to hug me while my dad smiled and grabbed my things.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that," Mrs. Plods said, smiling at my mom, who was now laughing.

"Thanks, Mrs. Plods. Have a good day." I stood up, and we made our way outside.

"I hope you'll feel better tomorrow. Goodbye, Willow." She talked a bit with my mom while my dad helped me walk since I still felt slightly weak.

"You want a piggyback?" I laughed and shook my head in disapproval. Even though I didn't want to walk, I also didn't want anyone to see me on my dad's back that day.