Page 3 of Missed Notes (Rixon High 5)

Jerk Face: Any news yet?

I texted my brother back.

Me: Still waiting for Dr. Peters.

Jerk Face: You’re going to be okay, Sofe. You know that, right?

I didn’t.But I didn’t want to worry him anymore than he already was.

Me: I know.

Jerk Face: Poppy says hey.

Me: Hey, Poppy.

I smiled.My best friend and my brother had finally gotten over themselves and declared their feelings for one another. Some people might have found it weird to watch their best friend and twin brother making out—and to a certain degree, I did—but I was also happy for them.

I’d spend years watching Poppy pine after Aaron. Spent the same amount of time watching him pretend he didn’t feel the same. Not that it was any surprise. Guys were kind of clueless that way.

My cell vibrated again, but this time it wasn’t Aaron.

Cole: I said I’m sorry.

Indignation burned through me.

Cole Kandon.

My brother’s best friend.

A perpetual thorn in my side.

It was his fault I was here. Stupid boy couldn’t keep his mouth shut; couldn’t keep the secret I’d trusted him with.

You see, I had fainted enough times to be concerned since the first time it happened.

I just hadn’t told anyone that.

I didn’t want people to worry—I didn’t want to acknowledge what was happening to me.

So I lied.

Only Cole found out. He’d found out and he’d promised not to tell anyone. But he’d called me out in front of our friends. In front of Aaron. And of course, Aaron had told our parents and they’d totally freaked out, leading us to Dr. Peters’s office today. He wasn’t my original doctor. No, Dad had ruled that we needed a second opinion. So here we were at University Hospital in Allentown.

My cell vibrated again.

Cole: You can’t ignore me forever.

I could and I would.

For a second, I’d stupidly hoped that sharing my secret with Cole, trusting him with it, meant something. That he was choosing me over Aaron.

Stupid. Foolish girl.

The second he had the chance; he’d sold me out.

Cole:Sofia, please…

I switchedoff my phone and stuffed it in my pocket, dropping my head back against the wall and exhaling a weary sigh.

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