Page 25 of Missed Notes (Rixon High 5)

Ashleigh had her own reasons for wanting to seize the moment. After all, she’d lost ten months of her life after the car accident, and it was looking like she might never get them back. She was all about making new memories to replace her missing ones.

But it was different for me.

My clock was ticking.

Ever since Dr. Peters had dropped the leukemia bombshell, my life felt like it was flashing before my eyes. And it had only been days.

Days.

It still felt like a dream.

“Hey, babe.” Poppy nudged my shoulder. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” I forced a smile.

I did that a lot lately. Plastered over the cracks with a smile or a strangled laugh.

Aaron bought it easily. A little too easily. Poppy and Ashleigh had more questions. What was the plan? Would the transfusion work? What happened if it didn’t?

But Cole… well, I couldn’t even look at Cole.

Things were too weird between us. And being crammed in the Uber with him and our friends was almost too much to bear. But the truth was, I needed to get out. I needed to do something—anything—to try and get out of my own head.

So here I was, off to some college football party, trying to pretend I was just a normal senior, and that my life wasn’t falling apart.

“I guess we’re here?” Ashleigh chuckled as we pulled up outside a big house. People were already gathered outside, and the front door was open, music blaring from inside.

“Fuck yeah, let’s go.” Aaron pushed the door open and helped the girls out. Me and Ezra climbed out last, thanking our driver.

“This is… wow.”

“How does it feel, man, knowing you might have been here next year?”

“Nah,” Aaron said, slinging his arm over Poppy’s shoulder. “Pittsburgh was always a long shot. I’ve made my peace with it. Besides, West Chester is going to be epic. Right, babe?” He gazed down at Poppy and my heart clinched.

They had it all planned out. College. The future. Their future together. So had I until recently.

God, I couldn’t even wrap my head around that. Would I have to withdraw from college or could I—

“Sofe?” Everyone stared at me while I blinked at them, trying to figure out what I’d missed.

“Ready to go in?”

I nodded. “Of course.”

Aaron glanced up at the front door and back again. “We came together, we leave together.” His gaze flicked between me and Cole.

“What?” Cole asked.

“You and Sofia are the only single ones. If you hook up with anyone—”

“Seriously? We didn’t come here to hook up, asshole.”

“Might help remove that stick out of your ass.” Aaron shrugged.

Poppy and Leigh snickered. But I wasn’t laughing. I was too hung up on the idea of Cole hooking up with somebody.

“What about you, Sofe? Ready to meet some college hotties?” my brother teased, and I rolled my eyes at him.

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