Notice

Chapter 5

The flowers that Channing brought me are gently placed in a sparkly vase. The stems are dipped into a few inches of water. The vase is sitting on my bookshelf, along with all of my other prized possessions.

It really is the perfect place for it, because when I open the curtains in my room and it's a perfect sunny day like today, the sun shines right by it. The crystal of the vase glitters with every beam of light that jumps into my room and the flowers grow more colourful every day.

I've been home for exactly three days. These three days have been absolute torture.

Dr. Naro instructed that I stay away from books and homework. The two things I enjoy doing when I'm bored out of my mind.

I tried taking naps but my brain pounded every time I closed my eyes. I tried going over my homework, from the few days I missed, but my mother stopped and yanked the sheets out of my hands so quickly, I'm surprised I don't have one long paper cut going down the center of my palm.

So, for the past three days, I haven't done anything. I scrolled down Facebook, reading all the messages from people at school, who asked how I was doing. Or I looked up news on the fourth book in the I am Number Four series. I tried to distract myself, but nothing worked.

My mother stayed home from work most days, something about not wanting to leave me alone when I have a concussion and honestly, I kind of liked knowing that she was downstairs, for me. It was a huge leap from the usual day.

I desperately miss Liz, Liam and Jude. The joys of my days. They called me every day after school, begging for me to come back and every time I huge smile would spread across my face. I think Liz is the one who misses me the most.  She had revealed to me before I passed out that she was being bullied. She hadn't told anybody else but me, and I wonder if she told her principal or even her parents since our little chat.

My phone buzzes under my thigh. I pull it out from under my thin leg and I stare at the lit up screen. A background of my bookshelf covers the entire screen, and right in the center is the text message that I received from Channing.

              I'm leaving school. Be there in 10.

I smile widely as I press my hands into the mattress of my bed. I stand up and walk over to my closet to pick out one of my favourite dresses.

I'm only going to his house so he can review a few things from English. Maybe even read for me.

I pick out a small red dress. It flows down to my mid thigh and the entire dress is made out of lace. The sleeves are the only part that have no underlay to it, exposing my skin under the flowery lace.

I slip on the dress and then fix my hair into a ponytail. Usually I would leave it down, but I didn't have time to wash it today.

I walk over to my vanity counter, and stare at the makeup bag in front of me. I've never put make up on before and the longer I stare at it, the more I really don't want to put any on.

I find a pair of black boots that rise up to my ankles and I slip them on. Then I scurry down the stairs, the book Channing gave me pressed tightly against my chest.

"Mom ? I'm going over to Channing's in a bit. He's going to review a few things from class for me." I explain. She looks up from her laptop, her glasses placed on the edge of her nose and her hair pinned back so it's out of her face.  Papers are scattered everywhere, on my black wooden dinner table and a tall glass of ice water sits far enough from the computer.

"Alright." She looks back to her computer and at that moment I feel my phone buzz.

Channing is here.