Bex

Chapter 13:

  Staring in my mirror, I frowned. I had a nasty looking bruise on the side of my stomach that resembled the continent of Australia. I sighed and tugged my black tank top down to cover my skin.

  Another cancer perk. They just keep coming.

  I knew I should tell Dr. Jackson I was having symptoms, but if I admitted it I would basically be accepting that I have leukemia- which I didn't. I shouldn't have to at seventeen; maybe at sixty, but not now.

  I made a frustrated noise as I started to walk downstairs to get some breakfast. My white socked feet almost slipped on the marble staircase that spirals down to the foyer. I looked to my right in the den when I heard exclamations of defeat. I found Tyler and three of his baseball friends sitting on the couch with video game controllers in their hands.

  I recognized them all immediately. Lake was banging on the controller like his life depended on it, Michael was smirking at the tv screen, and Drew was quietly sitting on the couch looking uninterested with everyone. Tyler laughed as Lake lost.

  "Oh come on!" Lake wailed. "Is there no more mercy left in this cruel world!"

  Michael smiled triumphantly. "You owe me twenty bucks!"

  Lake was murmuring something under his breath that I couldn't quite hear. Micheal and Tyler laughed, and Drew rolled his eyes.

  "Having fun, boys?" I spoke up for the first time entering the room.

  They all whipped their heads in my direction, a little startled. They were too busy with their game to notice I was there- well Drew was too busy brooding to notice anything. All of their eyes rake me up and down with surprise and wanting, except Tyler who just looked at me like I was an annoying fly.

  "Woah, dude, when did your sister get hot?" Michael asked, not taking his eyes off of me. I rolled my eyes.

  Classy.

  "That's my baby sister you're talking about." Tyler's voiced dripped with venom. Michael muttered 'sorry' and slumped down in the couch.

  "I'm not a baby anymore, Tyler." I crossed my arms, chiding.

  "No you certainly are not." Lake murmured loud enough for us to all hear. His eyes went wide when he realized what he said. "Did I say that out loud?" Tyler nodded his head angrily, turning red. "Whoops?" He laughed nervously.

  "So are you up for another round?" Micheal asked Lake.

  "Yes!" Lake exclaimed, turning away from Tyler's murderous gaze.

  I stifled a laugh as I walked out of the room, across the foyer, and into the kitchen. I shivered as cold air hit my bare legs. My blue shorts only came to about the middle of my thigh. I would have covered up more if I thought Tyler was having company over, but oh well. I'm already in the kitchen, no point in going back upstairs when I'm only going to be down here for a few minutes.

  Christin had the day off, so I searched the cabinets for anything to eat for breakfast. I found a box of blueberry pop tarts, and I did a happy dance all the way to the toaster. After I put a pop tart in the toaster, someone started to clap from behind me.

  "Nice moves." Drew smirked from the doorframe.

"Thanks," I could feel my cheeks starting to heat up.