Salient Secret

Chapter 1

Maya lives down the street from me in a picture perfect, picket fence home and we've been going to school together for as long as I can remember - her mom gives us a ride every single morning because she passes the school on her way to work.

"Hey pretty lady," I greeted my best friend who looks unrealistically beautiful with her curly hair and glowing, caramel skin.

"Someone's in a good mood," she answered with raised brows and a grin. Okay so I forgot to mention I am not a morning person – and no it's not a girl with lung cancer thing, it's an Avery Shaw thing.

"Well, no one pissed me off this morning by trying to talk to me, so yes, I'm happy," I said laughing as I slid into the backseat with her after greeting her mom. If her mom ever minded us sitting in the back and leaving the front seat open, she never showed it.

"I'll take it, did you see what Peyton posted last night?" she asked me with a smug look on her face.

Maya and I could come off a tad bit judgmental from time to time, but that's how we became best friends, it's always been something we've had in common. I blame our parents; they were no better. I'm not promoting being a total bitch but sometimes it's nice to be around someone you don't have to filter your intrusive thoughts for.

"Yes, I did, it's ummmm...interesting," I said chuckling.

"It is, isn't it," she answered with her lips pursed, trying to hold back her laugh.

"Be nice ladies," we giggled as Maya's mom, Mrs Henley, said turning her head slightly so that we could hear her in the back.

We arrived at school just on time for the first period, unfortunately we're not in any of the same classes except for Computer science, which was only at the end of the day, but we made it work.

My first period was History, don't get me wrong, I loved history, but I do not love history in the morning. My teacher, Mr Lincoln is so boring, he talks slowly and in a monotone. Most mornings I wish I could sleep through this class.

Mr Lincoln was busy rambling on about the 1920s when I looked to my left and saw the passing of notes then I looked to my right and saw some kid drawing on the desk. I sighed and slumped down in my chair. It was going to be a long day.

I didn't hesitate when the bell rang, I got up with my things and walked straight out the door and into the hall ready to go meet Maya at my locker. It wasn't until I was half way down the hall that I noticed there was someone in front of me asking if I'm okay.

I nodded my head and shot them a confused look as I carried on walking, stumbling, wondering why people were staring at me.

Eventually I heard the sound of liquid dripping on the floor and realized my nose was bleeding, and there was a lot of blood running down my body...

I got a glimpse of Maya before the walls started spinning and everything seemed to be getting closer and closer, especially the ground.

*****

"Will she be okay?" I heard a familiar voice whispering.

"Yes Ms Shaw, she'll be fine, she just fainted due to-" my ears started ringing while another voice spoke and I hissed in pain.

"Oh honey, what's wrong?" my mom asked worriedly.

She looked so worried. Too worried. I was ready for her to look at me that way, not yet. "Nothing mom I'm fine, what happened?"

"You fainted sweetie, at school, something about the oxygen not being processed properly through your body, but you're going to be okay."

"Oh, thank goodness you're awake," Maya walked into the room rushing to give me a hug.

"I'm fineee Maya, I just want to get out of here." I hated hospitals, it's where people came to feel pain before they die, there were dying people as we spoke. How does that not freak people out?

"You are free to go, your mom just needs to fill out some paperwork for us. We've prescribed pills that ensure this is less likely to happen again," the nurse explained in an annoyingly chipper voice like I'm a toddler.

Thankfully it didn't take long before my mom left the room with the nurse.

"Maya..." I trailed, making an effort to be extra sensitive. "I appreciate you coming but you do not need to come with me every single time something like this happens, I'm okay and you have school."

"Don't flatter yourself, what if I just came here as an excuse to get out of school. It's been a long day," she wasn't a good liar. I shot her an 'Oh-really' look before she continued, "Okay fine, I worry about you, is that a bad thing?" she answered with a sincerity that chipped at my heart. I wasn't ready for her to look at me this way either.

"No, it's not, it's sweet, but it's unnecessary. I'm always okay at the end of the day," I motioned for her to come sit next to me on the bed.

"Yeah Ave, until one day when you're not." I think that came out a lot more serious than she intended it to, I could see it on her face. I always forget to think about how it must be for her to have a best friend who might not wake up one day. She never knows when it's going to be the last day, the last conversation, the last hug...

"Well, if I do kick the bucket one of these days, no matter where I am, you'll always be my best friend, and I will always love you Maya," I reached for her hand, and she let me hold it for a second before she pulled it away.

"No. Don't you dare do that. I'm not ready for you to talk like you're not going to be around, I can't imagine my life without you Ave, you've been there for me for 7 years, how the hell am I supposed to cope with you just being...gone?" she asked with tears pooling in her eyes.

"Hey," I swiped the tear running down her cheek, "I'm here now, and that's because of you, I fight to stay every single time, for you, for my parents, for my siblings," I said honestly. It was true, if there was anyone to fight for in this world, it would be her.

She didn't say anything, instead she scooted closer and held me tight.