Lower- Ed novel

7. distant

A new week of school starts, and I haven't ever felt as dizzy as today, nor sad. I wanted to set things right with Leo but I didn't know how.
I go into math class but late, and spot Maggie at her desk, but completely zoned out. She didn't even notice I came in.
I waited until the class finished to speak to her and see what's wrong.

"Hey maggie", "oh heyy", "how is it going?" I ask, she looks at me and tears start forming in her eyes!, "oh heyy..tell me what's wrong, it's okay sweetheart" I rub her back as I comfort her about something I actually already know about.
I know we haven't been the best lately, now was our friendship, but we always welcome one another.

" he has a girlfriend" she says, "did you know? You knew right?" She continues, I reply with the truth " yes but-", " I can't believe you!" She shouts as she stands up, then storms off not letting me finish my sentence of me intending to tell her when I finally saw her today.

I stand up to take my things, and notice Jacob walking in the class although it was empty, but it was only to pick up something he forgot after he said hi to me. I was going to talk to him, but he was gone.

I enter English class at end of the day, waited and waited for Leo to show up, but he didn't show up at all.. neither the next two days, which i thought was really odd, especially that the year is coming to an end, alot of events are going to happen too, like prom and the basketball match that they're going to play in, I couldn't help but remember that he looked off that day in the rain, but what can I do? He probably hates me for walking off then and me avoiding him every time he sees me.

Leo's pov:

Alot has been going on recently.
After our mom passed away years ago, Dad only started to work overseas more and more. His career was going weak, and it stopped paying off the medical bills for Alexis, so going overseas was his only option.
Alexis has had Leukemia for some while now, but this week she has gotten really, really sick, therefore I couldn't leave the hospital. My aunt often comes, and tells me to get my butt to class, and that she would watch her over while I'm gone, but I end up staying each time, making me the one that's avoiding Winter.

I see Alexis waking up, and she looks as always happy to see me. I give her a little big brother hug, not helping my eyes but to look sad for the fact of many things, that my sister in which I'm very close with is fighting for her life, that Winter is fighting me, that even I am fighting that foolish kid I once was.

"Dude you're not allowed to be sad when you see me" Alexis laughs to me, "I know" I say, "don't tell me a girl broke your heart lol" she teases," hhhhhhh what?" I laugh nervously being caught off guard, but she was just joking around since she has been binge watching romance movies ever since she got hospitalized, and I mean she is now a teenager, in that phase lol.

" you should get a girlfriend to cheer up that sad face of yours" she "advices me", " Why? You want a boyfriend?" I laugh saying, "maybe I should find you one ;)", but she suddenly screams out " ohhh I would DIE to go to prom with prince charming", although she is obviously being playful, it hurt me even more when she used the word die, she's too soft, too innocent, too young to have her light go out already...

" would you go for me if I don't make it?" She asks me seriously before she continues "I heared Aunt Krissy saying  you're going to skip prom to stay with me, but it would kill me to know that you're not living your high-school days Mr. Famous guy", I gaze at her in deep silence, then draw a smile on my sad face for her, as I playfully pinch her cheeks and I say "anything for you".
Afterwards, we just binge ate good junk food in secret, and watched one of her romance high-school movies.

End of pov

It has been almost a week since Leo last showed up, and more rumors started to spread, about him possibly moving to a new school, and some about him being at the hospital, making me only want to go mad! For the fact that I might never ever see him again, even though I countlessly have avoided him I only yarn to see him even more with each time.
I can't even focus at all anymore, I just follow my boring routine of walk to school, classes, skip Lunch, classes, work and have a bite if any, go home, weigh myself workout, sleep, repeat, with him on my mind in every one of them. I weigh now 108lbs meaning that I lost already 2lbs this week.

Maggie also started avoiding me, even tho I have sent her multiple messages to talk things out, but never opens them, and I almost never see her in the library anymore.

I go to math class, and sit at my usual spot, noticing both Maggie and Jacob are desks apart, her in her thoughts, and him talking to his current girlfriend, and that got me thinking, how sad life can be, how unfortunate hearts can lay.

Class finishes and I spot Maggie greeting Jacob as she leaves class for the fact that they're still after all "family friends", then Lily rushes out giving him a fast kiss saying she has no time and her friends need her ASAP, which leaves Jacob alone with me in the classroom, both picking up our stuff to go.  I walk up to him without thinking and greet him asking" oh you know Maggie?" to find something that can help me out, and he's like "yeaaaaa ofc! We basically grow up togather, very sweet girl" he replies, I ask him if he knows anything that she loves, a type of flower perhaps, or a certain food item, in hopes of making it up to her. "Well she has always loved that pink wrapped dark chocolate bars, but why?", " oh she's mad at me lol" I say to the person that was the subject of the fight.

Silence falls in, and we kinda sort of just finish packing to leave, he steps out the door before I suddenly stop him again to ask him " how's Leo??", "oh Leo? Ahh he's alright, but things have been going bad for him lately", " how's so?" I ask with eyes that speak concern, he takes a look at my expression for a slight second, and says" he'll be back soon". I thank him then we both leave.

Later that day at night:

Leo's pov:

I go out after my sister falls asleep to get some fresh air and sit on one of the hospital outdoor benches. Although this place screams death (aka the hospital), it has alot of living trees planted in, it almost looks like a park. My father is going to land Tommorow as well, which  helps me be able to go back to school and catch up before the semester ends.

I stargaze at the sky before being interrupted with a familiar voice.
"Jacob?" I question as I look to my side, " heyyyyyy fella.." he says, " how is she doing?".
"Not the best, but better" I say, " she'll be okay, this is one of the best hospitals in the country" he comforts me, "I hope so" is all I reply then go quite and zon out again.
" you know Winter asked me about you today" suddenly i was at my full attention and that was easily noticed, "What did she say?" I ask, looking back at the floor, " she's worried about you.".
I stay silent making it even more obvious that there was something going on between me and her, something bad? Something good? I do not know.
" what's going on?" He asks me, " you know I got your back no matter the problem" he states, making me spill the tea.