Page 59 of Missed Notes (Rixon High 5)

Because today was the day.

Dr. Peters had called him yesterday. The results were back from the biopsy, and he wanted to meet sooner rather than later.

I didn’t need to read between the lines to know what that meant.

I’d barely slept. Tossing and turning all night. And when I had finally nodded off, my dreams were full of nightmares.

But thankfully, Aaron didn’t notice the dark circles under my eyes or the tension in my shoulders.

“The appointment?” he asked again.

“Just a routine thing,” Dad answered. “Dr. Peters wants to discuss treatment options.”

“I thought it was a blood transfusion.”

“That’s one option, yes. You don’t need to worry, Son, she’s in good hands.”

“Who says I’m worried?”

He stuck out his tongue at me and I mouthed, ‘Asshole.’

“You’ll text me when you’re done though, right? Let me know that everything went okay.”

God, I hated this.

The lies and secrets.

But the truth would crush Aaron and I didn’t want that for him. I didn’t want us both to suffer unnecessarily. Not when I could save him from the anguish for as long as possible.

His phone vibrated and he snatched it up. “Poppy is here. I’ll see you later.”

I nodded. “Hope practice goes okay. Say hi to Poppy for me.”

“I will. Tonight, we’re going to Cindy’s Grill. McKay invited us to hang out with him and Penny.”

“I’ll see how I feel.”

Gavin McKay was a year older than us and had graduated last year. He’d been a Rixon Raider too, but unlike most of his classmates he didn’t go off to college, choosing to stick around and help his mom out with his little sister Millie.

“I know you’re feeling like the third wheel, Sis, but I still want you to hang out with us. I’ll ask Cole. He can make up numbers.”

Mom chose that moment to appear. She was taking the morning off to come to my appointment. She gave Aaron a warm smile and said, “You need to leave if you want to make it to school on time.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m going. Good luck today, not that you need it.” Aaron winked and then disappeared down the hall, taking the air with him.

The second the front door shut, Mom turned to me. “I think whatever the outcome of today is, we should sit down as a family and talk—”

“Not now, babe.” Dad went over to her and wrapped her in his arms. “We have enough to think about.” His gaze slid to mine, full of fear and heartache.

“I left my phone upstairs. I’ll go get it before we leave.”

Another lie.

It was becoming second nature and a little too comfortable. But if it avoided hurting the people I cared about, I could live with it.

I waited it out in my bedroom for a few minutes before returning downstairs. Mom and Dad were ready to leave, so we all piled in Dad’s Jeep.

“Before we head off,” he said. “I just want to say whatever today brings, we’ll handle it together, as a family. Whatever you need, we’re here for you, sweetheart.”

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