Page 53 of Missed Notes (Rixon High 5)

“Come on, Sis, it’ll be fun. And I know Leigh and Poppy would love it if we all hung out together more.”

Because obviously I needed a guy for that.

“What about—”

My cell pinged and I dug it out of my pocket, tensing at the sight of Cole’s name.

“Who is it?” Aaron asked.

“My lab partner. No big deal.” I shoved it back, praying to God that my expression didn’t betray me.

I’d thought Cole might text last night, but he hadn’t.

I should have known he would eventually, once he figured out a way to let me down gently.

He could save his breath. I didn’t want to hear his excuses, and I sure as hell didn’t want to look him in the eye when he gave them to me.

“So what do you think?” Aaron said, and I blinked at him.

“Sorry, what?”

“About Simon? He’s a good guy. I think you two would get on—”

“No.”

“No? But you didn’t even let me get to the good bit.”

“There’s a good bit? I don’t need your pity, Aaron. Nor do I want it.” I grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and headed for the door. “I’ll see you at school.”

“Sofe, come on. You don’t need to lea—”

But I was already gone.

CHAPTERTEN

Cole

Leukemia.

Fuck, I hated that word.

Hated it so much I never wanted to hear it again as long as I lived.

But there was no escaping it. Every time I stopped, every time I gave myself a second to catch my breath, it infiltrated my mind like poison.

Leukemia.

Cancer.

Sofia hadcancer.

I’d known something more was going on with her, but even I hadn’t expected this. Or maybe part of me had, but it was one of those scenarios where thinking it and knowing it were two entirely different things. Because the second she’d blurted out the words—the truth—I’d gone into complete denial.

She couldn’t have cancer.

Not Sofia. Beautiful, funny, smart Sofia.

And what had I done?

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