Sisters [book one]

Chapter Six

Dedicated to @Cheezycookie because she's voted and commented on this story and believes it has potential. So thank you.

Chapter Six

The weekend passes and nothing changes. Auntie Pamela drives down from Boston and Grandma and Granddad take the train up from Kentucky. Friends and other relatives come and go but I'm in a state of numbness, shock. There's still a part of me saying she isn't really gone and at any moment, she'll walk through the door and I'll collapse into her arms. Then everything will be good again.

She lies in the hospital bed in more or less the same position, her chest moving up and down and the machine steadily beeping. The only difference being the pattern on Michele's gown and the heaviness of my heart.

It's a struggle getting up Monday morning but it's even worse walking past Michele's closed bedroom door. It takes all I have to not poke my head in and see all her things, untouched since she left for the nightclub. If I go in, I'll burst into tears and won't be able to leave.

Esmee picks me up but she's alone, even though I don't want to talk. I climb in and the hot air blasts my cheeks and nose.

"Hey," she says. "Have you slept?"

She's already noticed the huge bags under my eyes and I subconsciously touch my face. I wish I'd bothered to put some makeup on this morning but at the time it didn't seem important. "Not really," I say. I've been waking up every half hour, Michele's face popping into my head instantly.

"You look terrible."

"Thanks."

Esmee puts the car into gear and pulls away from the curb, "Do you want to talk about it? How's she doing?"

I stare out the window. "The same."

We come up to a red light, the same red light that confirmed we were going to be late to school the first time Esmee had given me a lift. I'm guessing we're not stopping off at Starbucks today for a coffee even though I want one. It's not the taste I enjoy but the kick it gives. I've digested more of it these past two days than most people do in a week.

"I'm really sorry about what happened," Esmee says, eyes on the road even though we're not moving. "These things only happen once in five lifetimes."

"I know." It just had to happen in mine.

"Michele and I hadn't seen each other in ages," Esmee continues, talking as if my sister were dead. "We'd never really spoken except for the occasional hi when we crossed paths during get together. We're not really close but...I want you to know that I understand. If something like that were to happen to Jennifer..." Esmee breaks her gaze from the road to look at me. "I'm sorry," she whispers. The red light goes green and she puts her foot on the pedal. "I'll be quiet."

"Thank you," I say.

We don't talk for the rest of the car journey. We pull into the school's parking lot in plenty of time but we're met with the same hysteria Michele and I experienced on my first day. Esmee leads the charge, my shield against the crowds of students. Someone bumps into me. A girl, a freshman I think. She stares up at me, mumbles an apology and scurries away.

It's easier to breathe when we're inside. Jake's waiting for Esmee by the lockers and they exchange a long-lasting kiss.

"Thanks for ditching me," Jake teases.

"It's just for today," Esmee says, and she opens her locker. "Tomorrow's back to normal."

Jake's eyes land on me and my face heats up. He pulls an encouraging half-smile. "I told him, Haley," Esmee says.