ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀꜱ : ᴛʜᴇ ᴜᴘʀɪꜱɪɴɢ

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My head freaking hurt.

I had been stuck in bed for at least thirty minutes. It felt like my head had been smashed under a ton of stuff and that I was constantly being hit with a hammer. I didn't even have a fever, and my mom had given me some medicine, but it didn't seem to work in the slightest. I still wanted to rip my head off.

"So, you're not coming today too? Damn, I feel so lonely," Alicia told me on the phone. She was at school while I was awake too early.

"You know, everyone's talking about you today. From the fact that they've started following you on social media, but also today, Raiden isn't here. He isn't at your house, is he?" She winked at me as I flipped her the bird, making her snicker.

"You know I feel like shit today, so much so that I would rather be well and in class with you." She looked at me with horrified eyes as I smiled.

"Damn, you're probably really sick. Trading your house and your mother's delicious meals for school? Maybe you should go to the hospital; you seem really sick to me." She smiled, and we kept talking about nothing as always.

After some time, something caught my attention behind her. "Ali? What happened to Ethan's hand?" She looked at me, disconcerted, so I motioned for her to turn around and look at him behind her.

"I don't know, it looks like a little bandage, maybe for a little cut or something. I'm sure it's not something for a sprain or strain anyway. Trust me, my mom specializes in this area. Whatever, why are you worried? I thought you liked Raiden?" She winked, but I didn't focus on that. Something was strange about him. I didn't know why, but I had an odd feeling. This thing about his hand was more than just a little cut. But yeah, why did I care?

"Hum, yeah... never mind. I don't know, I was simply curious." She looked at me suspiciously but didn't say anything afterward. The bell rang, and she hung up, telling me that she would call me later after school.

Why was this bothering me so much? He could have fallen and torn his hand badly. That wouldn't change a single thing for me. So why did it trouble me like this? I didn't even know him. Yet, something inside me told me I should care. Except that I didn't know if I should care about him in a caring way or be cautious because it gave me bad vibes.

"Willow, are you feeling better, honey?" Dad asked, bringing me my meal along with some medicine.

"I feel really exhausted, but I'm better. Thank you. I think I can go to school tomorrow." I was definitely lying, but maybe I'd be really better tomorrow.

"Are you sure? You know, if this is about a test or whatever, you can skip and we won't say anything. Your health always comes first." I knew he was just trying to get me to admit that I wasn't doing well, but I wouldn't. I really needed to go to school tomorrow.

"I'm fine, really. I just need to sleep, and it will be okay like nothing has happened." He hugged me and left me alone in my room. Not quite alone, because Alfred was there too, but strangely he was rather calm today. He usually didn't stay still for very long.

I slept all day, literally all day. I did absolutely nothing. My head was still spinning a bit. It was better, but I was still not at my best. I didn't admit it. I didn't want my parents to stop me from going to school. I was getting ready for tomorrow. I had my bag and my things, my outfit, plus Alicia had given me the schoolwork and everything related to school. So, I was ready for tomorrow.

Ready in appearance, but inside, I wasn't.

I needed to talk to Raiden and hoped I wouldn't humiliate myself. Also, something was going on in my head. I had been sleeping all day and having all kinds of weird dreams. Some where he was there in my room, but it was like he wasn't alone; Ethan was there, and his hand was bitten by Alfred.