Zoey's Storm

Disease.

"Alzheimer's is a radical disease that over a given period of time affects most, if not all of the brain's functions. The disease begins in the hippocampus, killing brain cells, and it steadily progresses into other areas of the brain.

"As it progresses into different parts of the brain, those functions are impaired or loss completely. Alzheimer's can be present in your brain many years before it's diagnosed. The time frame of Alzheimer's can range from two to twelve or to even twenty-five years. The speed that the disease progresses at from early to later stages depends on that individual."

Deep breaths, Zoey. This lecture will be over soon and then you can go home.

"Now moving on to the two models of Alzheimer's we will learn about the different stages and what they represent..."

Just block the professor out. Out of all the freaking diseases he just had to choose Alzheimer's.

Covering my ears with my hands and closing my eyes I rest my head on my desk in an attempt to block the professor out.

"The easiest to understand is the three-stage model; early-stage, middle-stage, late-stage or...."

It's not working Zoey.

"Hey, you should wake up," the guy next to me whispers, poking my cheek. "The professor will call you out if he sees you sleeping."

"Whatever," I roll my eyes. "I'm leaving." He watches intently as I grab my messenger bag and slide my laptop in it before speedily walking out of the classroom.

"Is there a reason you're leaving?" One of the teachers asks me in the hallway.

"I don't feel good," I lie, before pushing past her and walking down the long corridor. I quickly exit the school and walk away down the cracked sidewalk. I step on every crack.

Thirty minutes later I find myself knocking on his front door without a second thought.

"Zoey, aren't you supposed to be at school?"

I nod.

"Then go. You can come back later," he replies, shooing me off.

"I can't, Justin. They're talking about it again. I'm not going to sit there and just listen to them explain Alzheimer's when I already know what it is. Mom was our lesson, Justin."

"Okay, sis. I get it," Justin says, swinging the door open all the way.

"Thank you," I sigh. "How's your leg?" I ask as I plop down onto the couch.

"It's good. I'm used to it and Jessica is treating me like a normal person now. Thank the Lord too, it was so awkward when she treated me like a vase. She even spooned m-"

I cut him off. "Alright! That's great and just a question. Where is your leg?"

"Oh, right! Jessica hid it from me," he smiles. "All she left was riddles for me to figure out."

"Goodness, I love Jessica already," I gush. "When do I get to meet her? I need to- I have to- meet her!"

The fact that my brother has found a girl that treats him normal is great, and the fact that she doesn't think as his leg as gross or anything is also amazing.

His ex-girlfriend dumped him whenever he got out of the hospital. He showed her his prosthetic leg that goes from his right knee down and she basically freaked out about it. I never liked Maurice anyways, she was a...lets just stop there.

"Well we're having dinner tonight at The Sunset Cafe. You want to come?" He offers.

"Only if Jessica doesn't mind."

"She doesn't mind, Zoey. She's been wanting to meet you too," he smiles, hopping towards a chair.

The doorbell sounds throughout the house. "I'll get it," I yell, jumping up off of the couch and running to the door.

"Justin! It's one of your buddies!" I yell after I open the door and see a guy.

"What? Who's Justin?" The guy asks.

"He's my brother...wait! You're that guy?" I ask, narrowing my eyes at him.

He holds his hands up in defense. "Yes. I'm the guy who told you to wake up in class."

"Um...obvious question. Why are you here?" I ask.

"To check on you...? You left the classroom kind of fast."

"So you followed me?" I ask, feigning annoyance.

"No. Yes. Just to check on you," he blurts out as if I was going to kill him.

"Well, that's kind of-"

"Zoey, who's here?" Justin yells, hobbling towards us.

The classroom guy smiles at Justin and invited himself into the house, closing the door behind him.

They shake hands. "My name is Ian Wesley."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Justin Graham."

"Good to meet you."

"So you guys know each other?" Justin questions, his eyes flicking back and forth between Ian and I.

"Not really..." Ian replies. "We're in the same class though."

"Okay. Well then, since you both barely know each other, here you go," Justin hands me a sticky note. "I need it found by four o'clock. Have fun and... get to know each other." He shrugs and then hobbles off leaving Ian and I alone.

"What are we looking for?" Ian asks.

"His leg," I shrug casually. "His girlfriend hid it from him."

"She sounds lovely," Ian nods. "So what does it say?"

I hold up the green sticky note up to read. "Um, what turns everything around, but does not move?"

"Damn it," Ian mutters.

"What?"

He rubs his eyes in frustration. "My mind is blank now."

"Oh," I laugh.

"Are you laughing at me?" He asks in fake shock. I nearly snort as I burst out in laughter.

"Zoey Graham," he gasps, snatching the sticky note out of my hand, "how dare you laugh at me."

I compose myself quickly and playfully roll my eyes at him.

"Wait," he blurts out, as his eyes read over the words again.

"What?"

"A mirror," Ian grins, "it turns everything around but doesn't move."

"Ian you're a freaking genius. Let's go check all the mirrors. There's probably more clues."

I grab onto his wrist and drag him to the nearest bathroom. "There's no sticky note on the mirror," Ian states.

"There's a mirror in the guest bedroom. So let's go," I pull him along towards the room.

"Zoey, we just met," he smirks.

"Shut the hell up, Ian," I scold him as we enter the guest bedroom.

Sure enough, on the mirror is a pink sticky note.

Note-

Picture is of what I imagine Justin to look like. Thanks for reading. Comment. Vote. Something. Please and thank you.