Tender Kisses and Gentle Hearts

chapter 8-Bad News.

"You'll understand why storms are named after people."

- Caitlyn Siehl

outfit:

chapter 8-Bad News.

Amy

I looked at my outfit in the mirror. I looked different. Not me. I couldn't quite figure out if that was a bad thing or a good thing. I pulled the hem of my dress down a little lower. There was a reason why I had never asked Scarlett for clothes. This was one of them. All of her dresses were short.

"I don't know how I feel about it," I said. "It's way too short."

"Nonsense," Scarlett said appearing next to my reflection. "Oh my gosh Amy, you look stunning!"

My reflection blushed. "I don't know..."

"You're wearing it," Scarlett smiled. "No excuses."

"It just feels so plain," I hesitated. "I'm not so sure I can wear this in front of the whole school."

Scarlett disappeared and came back five minutes later. She was carrying a pair of black heels with gold detailing. In her other hand, she had a gold necklace, some gold earrings, and a gold bracelet.

"Gold goes perfectly with black." She shrugged and got to work. She took the necklace and hung it around my neck. I slipped my feet into the black heels and put on the earrings. Lastly, I slipped on the gold bracelet. Turning around I looked at myself one more time. Scarlett, as much as I hated to admit it, was right. The outfit did look better with accessories. I sighed in defeat and turned to Scarlett, who had a smirk on her face.

"Okay, you win," I say. "Now we can get going, we still need to pick Annie up."

"Oh, but honey, I haven't even done your makeup or hair yet!" She exclaimed. "You're going to look so pretty!"

An hour later we finally got out of the dorms. We were now sitting in Scarlett's car. She was driving and I was looking out the window. It was weird how she and I were becoming more than just the occasional snide remark. We were definitely less than friends, though. Scarlett was just... weird. One moment she leads me to believe that I'm the worst person on the planet and the next she's offering to drive me and Annie to the party.

"I'm not an airhead, you know." She spoke suddenly.

"What?" I asked, confused.

"I know you think I am. But I'm not." She shrugged, keeping her eyes on the road. "I just have different interests from yours, but that doesn't mean I'm stupid."

"I never said you were stupid.," I muttered. "Okay, maybe I thought so, but can you blame me?"

"I guess not." She smiled. "Look, let's make a deal. From now on, we will be friendly to each other. Me, especially. I'll be friendlier to you."

"What's the condition?" I asked looking at her now.

"You have to promise to trust me." She reached up and rubbed her nose. "That's it."

"That's it?" I tilted my head. "Just my trust, that's all you need for us to become friends?"

She turned to look at me for only a second and winked. "Of course, after all, friendship is based on trust. So do we have a deal, Amy?"

I sighed. "We do, Scarlett."

After picking Annie up, we headed straight for the party. My palms started to get a little bit sweaty and I started to shake. Scarlett was the first one to get out of the car, then went Annie.

"Come on Amy, we're not waiting for you forever," Scarlett said impatiently.

"I think she's having a meltdown," Annie whispered to her.

Meanwhile, I was just staring at my intertwined hands. I heard them both sigh and then Scarlett told Annie she was going to go for a drink. After she left, Annie tried to get me to move.

"Amy, this was your idea, you dragged me into this so now you have to move,"

She was right. I knew she was right. I took a deep breath and got out of the car. Annie gave me a wide grin and we entered the party, which was in full swing.

Annie reached for my hand and squeezed it.

"I'm going to go look for Scarlett," She shouted over the loud music. "I do want a coke."

She let go of our hands once I nodded and left.

And once again, I was left alone.

I decided to go sit on a couch while waiting for Annie to be back. She knew how much I hated parties and then she just goes and leaves me here alone. I shake my head and frown.

"Why so upset?" A voice asks from beside me.

I quickly turned to my right and was greeted with Luca. Great. Just great.

"Nothing. I just- nothing." I gave him a small smile.

He sighed and his face took on a more serious expression. "Look, Amy, I am sorry about the other day. I was really upset about some things going on and I just, snapped at you. The thing is, I was really devastated about you leaving, but it's okay. I'm over it now."

"It's okay Luca I deserved it," I was about to say more when my phone rang. "I'm sorry, I have to take this."

"Yeah, no worries." Then before I could leave, he grabbed my arm to make me look at him. "I just want you to know that, even if we are not together anymore, I am still here for you. Okay?"

"Okay." I smiled at him and went outside, where the noise wasn't so loud.

"Hello?"

"Hello, is this Amelia Frail?"

"Yes, this is she speaking."

"Well, we're calling from Lockview Hospital. We were told that you visit Mr. Levi Wiliams quite a lot."

"Yes, I do ma'am, is there something wrong?"

"Actually, there is. Mr. Williams was doing great these past few days, but since yesterday, he's been having vision problems and changes in his mental ability."

"What do you mean?" I ask, my heart racing.

"He has begun to lose some of his memory and he's having a hard time concentrating. Today, in fact, he got a seizure."

"I'm sorry but, does this add up to anything serious?" I ask, afraid of the answer.

"I'm afraid it does, Ms. Frail. We believe that Mr. Williams has a brain tumor."

After hearing those words my heart stops and my phone falls to the ground. My knees give in and I fall on them. My best friend. Of all people, him. The person who was light in my world. The only person I could trust nowadays. The person who I loved and who loved me back, had cancer. And one of the worst kinds. My eyes started watering and I could no longer stop the tears from coming.

Just like I couldn't stop his brain tumor from spreading.