I Can't Keep a Secret

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 <Maddie's Point of View>

Chloe and I laugh and laugh as we have a wonderful last day of summer.  Then, out of nowhere Chloe gets serious.  She gives me an intense stare and seems to be thinking deeply.

"Chlo?" I say, concerned.

"Mads, I have to tell you something," Chloe says, tucking a piece of her long blonde hair behind her ear.  "I was diagnosed with HIV a few years ago."

My mouth gapes open wide and my mind buzzes with questions.  Why didn't she tell me?  I thought we shared everything!  Why to Chloe?  This can't be happening!  She never did anything wrong!

"Maddie?" Chloe squeaks, her eyes watering like crazy.  She bites her lip to keep them from falling.

"I'm so sorry Chlo," I say, putting a hand on her shoulder.  "You don't deserve this."

"It's nothing, really.  The doctors say it's not that serious."

I smile.  "See, Chlo?  Everything will be fine!  You've got me, ok?"

She wipes away some stray tears and smiles weakly.  "Thanks, Mads.  Do you promise not to tell anyone?"

I don't hesitate to answer.  "Promise."

We hug.  She cries into my shoulder for a bit, then we decide to go to bed since we have to get up early in the morning.  As I lay in bed, I think about what Chloe said.  She has HIV, and probably only her family and I know.  This was the biggest secret she's ever told me.  I knew I had to keep it.  Making a promise to keep it, I drift off into sleep.

Hey, promises were made to be broken.

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Beep!  Beep!  Beep!

I groan and slam my hand onto my alarm clock, the annoying beeping noise finally disappearing.  Butterflies fill me as I think about the day ahead.

My first day of high school.

I smile and hop out of bed.  My outfit for the day is laid out in front of me; a white lace dress, a pink bow for my hair, my pink Toms, and a curling iron to curl my hair.  I slip on the dress, curl my hair, place the bow in it, put on my Toms, grab my iPhone from its charger, and fly down the stairs.

"You look so grown-up," my mom says, her eyes watering.  "Stay here, I have to go get my camera and take a picture."

I sigh.  "Really, mom?"

She finally comes back, then snaps a picture.  "Oh, honey, I can't believe you're going in to high school!"

"Neither can I," I say with a giggle.  "Well I have to go."  I give my mom a kiss, grab a pop tart, my backpack, and my iPhone, then tumble out the door to the bus stop.

"Hey best friend," Chloe says, giving me a hug.  "Ready for our first day of high school?"

"Totes!" I say with a smile, but something doesn't feel right.  I feel a little awkward around Chloe now, and I'm hoping it's not because of the whole HIV thing.

"You look gorgeous," Chloe says, a big smile wiped across her face.  She leans in closer and whispers in my ear, "There's no way Josh can't fall for you."

I giggle and give her a playful shove.  "You look so much better than me!"  She is wearing a black pencil skirt with a purple lace top, black sandals, and straightened hair that has a purple bow in it.  We both agreed yesterday to wear bows in our hair that were are favorite colors for good luck.  Chloe blushes at my compliment.

"No, I could never," she says, elbowing me playfully.  We start talking for a while, then the bus pulls up.  We board it and sit in the first empty seat we see.  I smiled and look at Chloe as the bus pulls away from our bus stop.

"This is it, Chlo," I say, bouncing up and down with excitement.  "Our first day of-" I stopped as I saw something that made me gasp.

Sitting directly across from us in the direction I'm facing in is Josh Hyland, the one I'm going to make mine.

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End of chapter.

Ohhhhhh snappppp someone's caught the lovebug.