Page 51 of Missed Notes (Rixon High 5)

I’d wanted one night of normalcy. I’d wanted to experience the teenage girl dream.

And for as much as I tried to fight it, I wanted it with Cole.

A tear slipped free, but I wiped it away as I entered the house and went straight up to my room.

“Sweetheart, is that you?” Mom called.

“Yeah, Mom.” I paused, waiting for the third degree she was no doubt about to unleash on me.

“Did you guys have fun?”

“Yeah, but I’m tired, Mom. So I’m going to head up and get some rest.”

“Okay, sweetheart. I’m down here if you need anything.”

I traipsed up to my room, trying my hardest to stuff down the ball of emotion lodged in my throat.

I still couldn’t believe things had gone so badly. Well, I could. I wasn’t a naïve foolish girl with dreams of a white knight swooping in to save me. Life didn’t work like that.

But it was Cole. I’d thought—

Ugh.

Get a grip, Sofia.

Stripping out of my clothes, I pulled on some clean pajamas and went into my bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. But I couldn’t get the stupid kiss out of my head. How confident he’d been, taking the decision out of my hands as if he knew I wouldn’t take that step.

Then everything had gone to shit.

I guess that was my life now.

One shit day after another.

I didn’t want to be the girl who let her illness get the better of her. I didn’t. But the truth was, I was scared.

And I had never felt more alone than I did now.

* * *

“Good morn— what’s wrong?”Aaron frowned.

“Nothing. Just tired,” I said, helping myself to a mug of coffee. I was surprised Mom hadn’t insisted I switch to green tea or something yet. But I needed caffeine or there was no way I would make it through the day without it.

I’d barely slept. Tossing and turning all night, replaying things over in my head, wondering if I should have done anything differently.

But every time, I came to the same conclusion. Cole deserved to know the truth. What he did with it was on him.

At least, no one could say I trapped him into a relationship knowing I was sick. Knowing that I might not…

Don’t go there. Don’t even think it.

I inhaled a deep breath and pasted on the best smile I could muster.

“What did you get up to yesterday? Mom said you went out?”

“Nothing exciting. How was West Chester?” He and Poppy had driven down there to check out the campus together.

“Amazing. I can’t wait until next summer.”

---