Happier

Chapter 14

It's Friday when Lacey finds herself waking up next to Cole. They're tangled up together on her bed, her head on his chest. He's softly snoring beneath her, fast asleep. Her mind is still in a daze, as if she's still dreaming. About him. About how they're together somewhere on a deserted island. No reputation, no judgmental people. Just the two of them, together. It's only when she hears the grossest sound echoing throughout the house that she completely wakes up. She freezes and focuses on the sound. It's almost like someone's vomiting. No, not almost. It is someone vomiting. Very carefully, and without waking up the boy next to her, she gets up and follows the sound. In the bathroom is where she finds her sister, kneeling next to the toilet, holding her hair back and emptying her stomach. Without a doubt, she rushes over and takes her hair in her hands to hold it back whilst rubbing her back.
"Ssh- it's okay, sis," she whispers, trying to calm her sister down. After a few moments, her sister sits back up and sighs deeply. "Done?" Lacey asks and the sick girl nods. The two get up so Stacey can clean herself up and brush her teeth.
"Everything okay in here?" Cole's voice sounds behind them. Lacey turns her head and smiles, giving him a brief nod.
"I don't think Stacey is going to school today," Lacey tells him the obvious.
"I think that's for the better," Cole says with a small chuckle. His girlfriend gives him a knowing look, but then turns to her sister again.
"Will you be fine by yourself today, sweetie?" she asks worriedly, grabbing her hand and taking her to her bedroom again. The older sister tucks the sixteen-year-old into bed and wipes the sweat of her forehead. The younger Goldberg nods a little weakly.
"I can stay with her today," Cole suggests, making both the sisters look up at him, "I don't mind staying here with her to keep her company," Stacey's face lights up, loving the idea of having Cole as company on her sick day.
"You're not going to school?" Lacey asks, fear flashing through her eyes. If he doesn't go to school today and neither does Stacey, she'll be all by herself. She'll have to get through classes alone, walk through hallways by herself, and get bullied by the jocks without him. Without anyone. She doesn't stand a chance on her own. Not anymore.
"No, I'm not. I can skip a day," Cole tells his girlfriend. He tries to look for an answer as to why she's so nervous all of a sudden. But then he knows. She's scared. Scared of Archie and Violet. Maybe even of Melanie. He suddenly feels bad for her.
"Right, yeah..." Lacey mumbles, shaking her head to try and get rid of the fear that's building up inside of her. "I'm going to go get ready for school then," she states and leaves the two in Stacey's bedroom. The boy gives the youngest sibling a questioning look, and with one more look from her, he knows what to do. So, he turns on his heel and follows Lacey to her bedroom. She's standing in only her underwear with a white dress in hands. He freezes for a second when he sees her like that, but then shakes himself awake again when her dress falls over her body.
"Are you okay?" he asks, now nonchalantly as if her appearance didn't just catch him off guard for a moment. Lacey looks at him whilst slipping on a black and white striped cardigan.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she replies with an obvious fake smile on her face. She walks over to her cupboard and turns on her record player. Fleetwood Mac's vinyl of Rumours starts spinning, 'I don't want to know' sounding through the room only seconds later.
"Lacey," Cole tries again, his voice a little sterner than before. He watches her take a pair of white socks from her drawer and sit down on the bed to put them on. "What's wrong?" he asks again, now walking towards her. She doesn't even look him in the eyes, not even when her socks are on her feet. She only tries to occupy herself. Now by putting some makeup on and putting a hairclip in her bangs to keep them out of her face. Cole starts getting a little annoyed by his girlfriend avoiding his questions. Why doesn't she just reply to him? It's not that hard. Before she can walk away from him again, he grabs her by the wrist. The girl turns her head to look at him. Her lips are pursed, brows furrowed and her hand on her hip.
"What is it?" he asks again, giving her a stern, piercing look.
"I-..." she starts, but stops to take a breath, "I don't think I can go to school by myself," Cole sighs. He knew it was something along those lines. He now grabs her other hand and kisses her knuckles softly, not taking his eyes off her.
"You'll have to at some point, LaceyLay," Cole's voice is soft, comforting. It almost sounds like a lullaby. "And I'm sure you can do this. You went to school after your mother died and that's an accomplishment. I know this is hard, but that was hard too. And you just went and did it. So now you can do this too," Lacey's eyes are glazed, looking up at her speeching boyfriend, "You can always come home if it doesn't work out and I'll be here, okay?" She now nods and the corners of her mouth curl up into a weak smile. "It's just one day and then we'll leave for a beautiful weekend at the beach with your sister," he tries to motivate her. The girl bites her bottom lip, staring at his. She has to do this. Whether she wants it or not. She'll be fine. She has to be fine.
"I'm going to need a little more motivation," she says very softly. Her eyes glance over to his lips again and without expecting it so soon, he attaches his lips to hers in a sweet, beautiful kiss. Her hands go up to his cheeks and she turns her head a little to deepen the kiss, making it more passionate, more motivating.
"Text me if you need me," he whispers when he pulls away. Lacey nods before stepping away from him and walking towards her closet to grab her favorite pair of wedges to put on her feet. Cole just stands there and watches her. He could watch her for hours. Whatever she's doing, wherever she is, she always looks beautiful. Nearly breathtaking.
"I'll see you after school," Lacey then says, grabbing her purse. Cole nods briefly, a smile tugging at his lips. He's still in a daze from watching her. "Take good care of my sister," she demands sweetly and pecks him on the cheek.
"I will. See you tonight," he says and turns around to watch her leave the room. A sigh leaves his body. He's so whipped for this girl, it's crazy. Not even a month ago, they were complete strangers to each other. Now it's like they've known each other forever. It's weird. To him, it always feels that when he's with her, everything's alright. It's like they're just Lacey and Cole and not fallen-cheerleader and Roosevelt high's weirdo. They're LaceyAndCole. Cacey, like Stacey likes to call them. There's nothing more he wants to be. Just Cacey.