Youngblood

Chapter 19

Dianne's POV

I wake up in Joe's spare bed. I must've fell asleep downstairs as I'm still in my school uniform, and now it's all crinkled and messy. It's sweet of Joe to bring me up though.

I climb out of bed and brush my hair. It's only half six, so I've got a bit of time to kill. I plug my phone in, as it's dead as always, and put on some make-up, before returning to bed and scrolling through Instagram for a bit. I smile when I reach Andrew's post about his latest dancing achievement. Maybe in the end, moving here and letting him and Dad stay wasn't a bad idea.

Mum may not care much about what I do, but at least Joe, Zoe, Tracey and all of our friends at school seem to care.

"Di, you awake?" Joe asks, popping his head around the door. He sees me on my phone and comes in. "I'm sure Zoe's got some old uniform that you can borrow."

"Thanks," I say. Joe sits next to me and he spots Andrew's post.

"Would you ever want to do something like that?" Joe asks. "Go to some dance school, I mean."

"I'd like to compete I guess," I shrug. It's never really been at the top of my mind, but I suppose it really is something I'd like to do. I'd love to win awards, and when I'm older maybe even compete on shows like Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars.

"I'm sure my mum could do some research and find you a place," Joe says. I would love that, but I don't want to cause the Suggs any more hassle, especially as they've done so much for me already.

"It's fine," I say. "You've done enough for me already."

"Seriously," Joe says, kissing my forehead. "I'll speak to Mum about it. Now let's go and get you some uniform.

-TIME SKIP-

We arrive to school, and see Conor and Anna there without Jack.

"He didn't want to come in today," Conor says. "He hasn't spoken much."

"Yeah. When he came back from hospital he just went up to his room and didn't want to see any of us," Anna adds. "How're the rest of you?"

"Good," Byron says. "I just hope that Jack and AJ will be alright."

"AJ will be fine," Josh says. "The doctors sorted me out."

Caspar then arrives and comes over to us.

"Wow Casp. Not late for once," Joe jokes.

"Ha ha. I wanted to see if Jack was alright, but I guess he's not here," Caspar says.

"He didn't want to come in," Conor says.

"Fair enough," Caspar says.

We head to our first lessons when the bell goes, and at break meet each other again. It doesn't feel right without Jack here, and we're all just so worried.

Hopefully he's ok.

Jack's POV

When I was younger, I thought the day that I stayed off school even when I wasn't ill would be exciting, filled with movie marathons and eating the entire contents of the kitchen.

Never did I think it was this.

Sitting on my bed.

Fiddling with my phone.

Worrying over my male crush.

Yep. I never thought I'd say the last part.

My parents are at work and Conor and Anna are at school, so I'm by myself. Usually I like to use this as an opportunity to eat food that Mum usually saves for special occasions, but I'm just not hungry.

I really should be doing something with my life right now.

And it's with that thought that I decide to go to the hospital.

I enter the passcode to my phone and book a taxi, then gather everything I need and wait for it to arrive.

I get in the taxi and sit in silence the entire way to the hospital. I pay the taxi driver and head out and make my way towards AJ's ward. His mum is there, but all the doctors are treating other patients.

"Jack! I would've thought you'd be at school," AJ's mum says.

"Didn't feel like it," I sigh, sinking into the chair next to her. "How is he?"

"Better. He's just sleeping now. He's woken up," AJ's mum says. "Jack, is it ok if I ask you something? It's rather personal, and you don't have to answer."

"Of course," I say.

"Do you like AJ?"

I swallow, but it's hard as my throats gone all dry. This is it. I could say it. Here and now.

"Yes."