Ties (Book 1)

11. Not Enough

Mondays, the treacherous day that signaled the start of a new week and was disliked by all.

The flight from New York back to Texas usually consisted of a little over three hours which meant we would be in by noon and resting at home by one o'clock. To our luck, we were sitting inside the plane for two hours not moving an inch; every time I rode an aircraft, it seemed like there was a technical difficulty. We stopped to eat after leaving the airport, so one o'clock turned into four o'clock. By the time we got home we were tired of each other, frustrated at the interaction with so many strangers, flustered from the lack of sleep, and just plain exhausted from the events. Our problems remained with us, but we never managed to sit and talk about it like a normal family. We pretended like nothing ever happened, but in reality it made us more distant from each other. My family's answer to everything was to forget about it and never mention it again for the rest of our lives.

Bruce started collecting and carrying my mother's bags; I was strong and capable, so I did not wait for him to finish with my parents' luggage. I dragged my bags up the stairs without anybody's help, slowly stomping on each wooden step; the largest suitcase made a thud every time I moved up higher. When I walked into my room, I shut the door and put the bags by my dresser. I traded my clothes for some sweatpants and a tank top. I sat on my bed and sent a text message to Levi and Mike, informing them of my arrival. I really did try to stay up and message back enthusiastically, but my eyelids could not stay open. After an hour, the vibrations coming from my phone ceased; the exhaustion took me into a deep sleep that disconnected me from the world.

After a bad night's rest, an early rise, and a tiring flight, I deserved sleep. As life would have it though, that would not last long. My head was blazing, while my nose was running, and my throat was tight. To top it off, it was time to get out of bed and attend school on the chilly Monday morning. Every step I took used up my energy, by the time I reached the shower I felt like collapsing. I eased into the shower and let the hot water relax my muscles. The water was hot, so the steam opened up my airway. After I cleaned myself and got out, I felt slightly better but still felt like a train wreck. I put on my warmest sweater, scarf, boots, and leggings.

I made it to school at an earlier time than usual. When I walked inside the classroom, it was empty except for Mrs. Randal.

"You're here early," she said as she looked up from her desk.

"It definitely is a first."

"There are a few minutes before the bell rings. You can just take a seat for now."

"Thank you," I said as I sat in my stool and laid my head on my arms. I fell asleep incredibly quickly which probably meant I was sleep deprived. The bell startled me and woke me a while later. I laid my head back on the table and waited for class to begin. Soon after, I was feeling someone rubbing their hand on my back.

"Are you feeling okay?"

I felt a stupid smile form on my face."Hey." 

"What's wrong, honey?"

I propped my chin on my hand. "Everything hurts. I think I have a cold."

Levi raised his hand to my cheeks and forehead. "I am no expert, but I think you have a fever." I felt gloomy, but looking up at my boyfriend made the atmosphere seem lighter. He was one of those people who made you smile no matter what. "Maybe you should go home." He pushed away the loose strands that escaped the ponytail holder's grip and continued to inspect my sick appearance.

"I'll manage."

"Just go home and you'll feel better."

"I don't want to miss my classes and come back tomorrow to a stack of make-up work."