Page 5 of Missed Notes (Rixon High 5)

“Headaches?”

“Sometimes. I find it hard to concentrate in class now and again.”

“What are you thinking, Doc?” Dad asked, a slight inflection in his voice.

“I want to run some more tests, make sure nothing was missed on the blood work they ran last time.”

“You don’t think it’s anemia?”

“Sofia has a low red blood cell count which is indicative of anemia, but she also has a raised white blood cell count,” he said, tapping the keys on his keyboard. “I’d like to get a full picture before we jump to any conclusions.”

“How long will it take?”

“We should be able to get the tests organized immediately. We’ll have the blood work back within twenty-four hours and go from there.”

Mom and Dad shared an apprehensive look. “Whatever you think is best,” Dad said.

“How does that sound, Sofia? Do you have any questions?”

I shook my head, unsure what he wanted me to say.

“We’ll get you all booked in, and we can find out exactly what we’re dealing with.”

“Thank you, Dr. Peters, we appreciate it.” Dad rose to shake his hand.

“That’s what I’m here for. We’ll talk again tomorrow when I have the results. It was nice meeting you all.”

“Thank you,” Mom said, and I murmured my own farewell.

I didn’t want to be poked and prodded with a needle again. I didn’t want any of this.

But here I was.

Barely eighteen, in my senior year of high school, my world on the precipice of being ripped apart.

I just knew it.

* * *

“Hey, how are you feeling?”Poppy plopped down beside me on the couch.

“Okay.” I shrugged, picking at the zipper of my Rixon High hoodie. After getting back from the hospital, Aaron had asked—okay, dragged—me to join him in his beloved man cave at the bottom of our yard.

He’d promised me a night of candy, snacks, and some of our favorite movies. He’d obviously forgotten to tell me the part about Poppy, Cole, and our brother Ezra and his girlfriend Ashleigh joining us.

“You’ve been quiet.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say.” My eyes flicked over to the guys playing pool while Ashleigh cheered them on from her stool.

“I thought Dr. Peters said it was a precaution?”

No, that’s what Mom and Dad had told Aaron. They didn’t want to worry him unnecessarily and I was inclined to agree. He needed to focus on school, on the team and their bid to get to the playoffs and defend their football championship.

“He did.” The lie rattled through me.

“Hey, Sofe.” Poppy touched my arm and I looked at her. Her lips curved in a soft smile. “You know everything will be okay, right?”

Ah, that little lie people told themselves when the truth was simply too hard to imagine.

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