That's just life

4.

When we came back home, the next day I decided to tell all my friends about my well, sickness.

I called Ava when Audrey came over. She had the same reaction as Audrey.

"wha- no way - Sash - you're kidding right?" she stuttered. See what I mean about her being messed up at so few times? when she does freak out, though, it's bad then.

Next up I called Trish. She was sobbing so hard it was kinda hard to get what she was saying. 

Oh, God. I hated seeing everyone like this, 'coz hey, mind you I do NOT do well in such situations.

I dialed up Cole next.After a few rings, his breathy and soothing voice came by.

"What's up, Sash?"

Cole had been one of my best friends since 3 years. He'd been there for me so many times, I've kinda lost count. We've done the stupidest things together, one of them being toilet papering Rose Kein's house on New Year's.

Telling Cole wasn't easy. He genuinely thought I was joking. But hey, I wasn't.

"What? Oh, come on, Sasha Conrad.That's no thing to joke about, not that I fell for it," he said. He got the hint when I didn't let out a laugh or sniggered.

"Oh."

Shit. I hated this.

"Look, Sasha I honestly don't know what to say, I-" his voice cut off and wasn't so breathy now.

I thought I heard a sob from his side.

if Cole thought it was bad, it was bad. now I was starting to get really flustered.

"Cole I- no don't - " I let out a sigh and closed my eyes. "Cole, I need you to be strong for me. I need you, all of you the most right now. Please, C. Please," I chocked out.

"But how, Sasha? how can I be strong when I know I my best friend is in trouble?" he said, and I bit my lips, trying to blink back tears.

We talked a bit more for 15 minutes and then I hung up.

I called him last.

I dialed his cell and after a single ring, he picked up.

"Alex here. Hey Sasha. How are you?" his husky voice reached my ears.

"Alex, I'm sick. For real." I say in a small voice.

There's a long pause at his side.

"Sasha, I'm coming over in 5 minutes," he says and hangs up.

Audrey already left before I called Alex.  

The doorbell rang and I saw him standing there, wearing a black hoodie and grey tracks. His soft black hair was rumpled, like he hadn't even cared to brush it. Strands of it fell over his blue eyes lined with streaks of grey, which were full of hurt and concern. His soft features caught the light coming from inside my house and his dark eyelashes stood out completely against his snow skin and the scar on his brows was highlighted more than ever.

"Sasha,"  he whispered in his husky voice.

I rushed towards him as he spread his arms to hug him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and his hands went around my waist, and everything that had happened to me in the past few days came rushing back to me. The white hot pain I had felt, how alone had I felt in that hospital room, how hurt my mum and dad's faces had been when they came to see me in my room, Audrey crying on my shoulder, and Cole looking so flustered. Everything came back and I let go of my control over me.

Tears rolled down my face and I started shaking uncontrollably. He just held me closer and hug his face into the room of my neck.

Finally he let go.

"Ssshhhh-sshh. Hey, look at me."

He held my face in his palms and brushed away the tears on my cheeks.

"It's gonna be okay," he whispered.

And I believed him.

We had been best friends since longer than I could remember. Alex was like no other guy I had ever met.

I was surprised to see his striking eyes wet. Those same eyes which were soft yet piercing. Those same eyes which were distant but sharp, which could cut through my heart.

Those same eyes I had fallen in love with since forever. 

                                                          ***