Danger II // J.N

Chapter 9

Anna's POV.

It's Monday, and I'm finally back to school. I walk up to my school locker, grabbing my clarinet for band practice. I open the locker, and notes fall out. I bend down and pick them up, reading each one throughly.

feel better Anna! ILYSM! - Kaliyah

i miss you! feel better soon! - Genesis

tbh I was happy when I heard you got diagnosed with CF. we don't need you here you anymore. just choke. - Alexia

My eyes widen. My stomach churns. I look up, watching the crowds of people move in the halls. I nearly stack the notes on the shelf, and grab my clarinet case. I close my locker and hurry to band practice.

I finally arrive at band practice. I sit at my spot and set up my clarinet. I sigh as I grab my phone, quickly texting Jace.

Anna: Alexia fucking threatened me.

I wait patiently for him to answer, but he doesn't.

Jace's POV.

Anna may not know it, but what happened Friday at the hospital really got to me. I love her, and I'm afraid of losing her at any sudden moment. I'd hate that. I'd hate losing her in general. But this is different.

Anna could just choke or cough or just collapse dead, and I wouldn't be able to say goodbye. I wouldn't be able to say anything.

She'd be gone.

My entire heart, wouldn't be here.

It kills just thinking about it.

I sit in Corey's basement, taking a hard swallow of the cold whiskey.

"Jace, don't drink too much. You're already on your second bottle," Corey states.

I roll my eyes. "What part of the "drinking and numbing" technique do you not get, Cor?"

Corey bites his lip. "You've done this before. It got ugly, remember?"

I smirk and look up, shaking. "Just let me drink my little heart away, okay?"

Corey shakes his head. "You're already drunk, I can tell."

I bite my lip.

The basement door opens, and there's footsteps coming down. I look over to the stairs. Anna comes down, and looks straight at me. She smiles.

"Hey!" She says. She walks over. Corey smiles. She hugs me. "I missed you," She says softly.

"I missed you too," I say.

She lets go of me, and eyes the whiskey bottle. Her lips part.

"W-W-Why are you drinking?" She asks.

I look at her soft face. "Just, because. I've had a kinda shitty day,-"

"I've had a shitty week, babe. I'm not drinking my pain away."

"Good for you, Anna. Congrats!" I snap.

Anna looks at me. "Is this because of my illness?" She asks.

I slowly nod. Corey sits up.

"Don't kill yourself, Jace. It's not fair. If I die, I'll be dead. But that doesn't mean you have to go as well," She says.

Corey's eyes widen.

"Don't say you're gonna die, Anna," I shake my head.

Anna sits next to me. "We don't know what will happen, but we know what could. Honestly, I expect to die."