Learning to Live (The Infinite Love Series Book 1) (12 page)

It’s as if he is reading my mind. “Topher told me.”

“Topher?” I ask, incredulously.

He nods. “He was worried about you. Since when have you guys been friends?”

Since never?
“We aren’t,” I answer dismissively. “He was just there when it happened.”

“Well, I still don’t trust him…but I’m thankful he was there.”

I smile slightly. “Yeah, me too.” And for once, I actually mean it.

Mack pulls his backpack around and unzips it, reaching inside, pulling out a stack of papers. He proceeds to hand them to me. “I thought you might like your homework from the past two days.”

This is why you’re my best friend.
He knows me too well. “Thank you.”

“Well, I guess I’ll see you at school?” He zips his bag back up, and slips it over one shoulder.

“Of course. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

He nods and then heads toward his car.

“Thanks for your concern,” I holler behind him, before heading back up to our small apartment.

I’m surprised Mack took it upon himself to find out where I live. I’m surprised he cares so much. But what I’m really floored about? Topher asking around about me. That’s like social suicide. I don’t know why it matters to him…but it feels nice.

* * *

I’ve always enjoyed the educational part of school. But after the meeting with Dr. Brown, it is becoming more difficult to justify wanting to even attend now. There’s no point. I’m not going to live to see my graduation. And after all the hard work I’ve put in, it’s depressing to say the least. My heart is heavy and I’m off kilter…I arrive to school much later than I usually would. I had trouble sleeping again. No amount of Tylenol could save me. I feel like a zombie simply going through the motions.

I’ve been running on a couple of hours of sleep the past few nights, and I am fatigued beyond belief. I barely recognized myself when I looked in the mirror. I’m starting to look a lot more like my mother…and that’s not necessarily a good thing. She’s exhausted all the time because of how hard she works. Soon, it’s going to be difficult to continue keeping this from Rose and Wesley.

When I arrive to school, the halls are buzzing with my peers bustling about. I try my best to steer clear of the A-Team, but accidentally run smack dab into Alyssa. “Watch where you’re going, freak!” she reprimands me before ramming into my shoulder roughly and walking away.

I rub my shoulder gingerly, as I approach my locker. My ears feel like they need to pop and that I am underwater. I crack my jaw a few times to no avail. I can hear the background noise, but it isn’t overpowering like usual.

Normally I would hear her sneaking up behind me. I would be prepared. But because of the weird issue with my hearing, I don’t even take note of Sophia until it’s too late. She is pulling at my hair and clothes and laughing hysterically.

Freak.

Alyssa’s title keeps replaying in my head as I watch Sophia’s lips move, yet don’t hear a sound. I turn my head to Topher’s locker. I don’t know what compels me to do this, but it’s as if I can feel his eyes on me. Sure enough, he is there, leaning against it, watching everything unfold. I lift my hand up slightly and give him a small wave. He was so worried about me, now he’ll know I’m fine.

Topher just stares back at me with a blank expression. He doesn’t move a muscle, except for his jaw which he appears to be clicking. Sophia follows my gaze to Topher, and then back to me. She moves her position so that she is in front of my line of vision. “You are delusional.” My hearing returns.

“Excuse me?” I ask.

She snaps her fingers obnoxiously in front of my face. “Topher Carlson? You’d have better luck batting for the same team.”

She thinks I am crushing on Topher?
I think she’s the delusional one.

“Don’t you think you should get a new hobby?” I recognize the voice before I even bother looking up. It’s Madalynne. She is putting Sophia in her place.

“Excuse me?” Sophia asks, outraged.

“You heard me…don’t you have somewhere else to be?”

Sophia looks at me, and then back at Madalynne. “I take it back…maybe you’re the delusional one.”

Madalynne’s facial expression stays stone cold. “Beat it, Sophia.”

Sophia’s eyes dart wildly between me and Madalynne before she huffs loudly and stalks off.

I look up at Madalynne. She looks nice today. Her hair is pulled back into a French braid and she is wearing a tank top, hoodie, and shorts. Simple, but she owns it.

“Thanks,” I say. I begin heading away from my locker, and lock eyes with Topher as we pass. He still doesn’t bother acknowledging me with more than a simple look. I’m starting to wonder what the hell his deal is.

“Listen,” Madalynne says as we walk together. “I’m sorry about what happened at the party.”

I shrug. “It’s no big deal.”

She stops walking abruptly and grabs my arm. Her brown eyes bore down into me. “Yeah, it is. I had no idea they would be such complete assholes, and I’m sorry, I could have stood up for you better…I feel really bad.”

“We come from two different worlds, I understand,” I mumble, my cheeks burning up.

“You’re really fun to hang out with, Ciera. I wish you gave yourself more credit.” She smiles slightly back at me.

Madalynne thinks I’m fun to be around?

“Even Parker was gushing about how cool he thought you were.”

“Really?” I ask, doubting every word she is saying.

“Really. He asked me when we were going to all hang out again. He thinks you’re really funny.”

She looks at the screen of her cell phone and then around my head. “Look, I have to run to the bathroom. Catch up with you later?”

“Sure,” I reply, completely floored.

I watch as she rushes off, and then I continue heading toward my first period class.

It’s unfortunate that after three years of high school, I am finally beginning to make other friends apart from Mack, but I have limited time to enjoy it. It’s unfortunate it will be so short lived, but at least I get a chance to experience it before it’s too late. Before I’m not around anymore.

The migraine begins rearing its ugly head again, and I reach up to rub the back of my head and neck. I reach into my bag to pull out a few pills and toss them back without any water.

“Are you okay?” I hear his voice behind me. I almost don’t want to even respond. Topher marches to the beat of his own drum. It’s like he decides when he does and when he doesn’t want to acknowledge my presence. It’s confusing to say the least. But…at least he’s not bullying me anymore. That’s one development that I’m happy about.

I look up at him lazily. “I’m fine.”

“Well come on then, you’re going to be late to class.” He tosses over his shoulder as he passes me.

Confusing.

Chapter Thirteen

Topher

I’ve been checked out for a good minute. I know I should be paying attention, especially since we have a test next week…but I can’t focus. I keep sneaking glances at Ciera, and I don’t know why. She doesn’t look well, she looks as if she hasn’t been sleeping. There are dark bags under her eyes, and her eyes are nearly bloodshot. She keeps yawning every few minutes, attempting to keep herself awake.

I wonder what’s going on.

Mack is keeping a protective stare on her, and he keeps looking back at me every few minutes.
I get it man, I promised to stay away from her…and I have every intention to from now on.
We’ve never hung out before, so it shouldn’t be difficult keeping my promise. Ciera and I have literally nothing in common.

So why do I care so much if she’s okay?

It’s probably just because I was there when she had her seizure. That’s scary shit. Anyone would be traumatized. I’d be acting the same way if it were anyone else.

I watch her rub the back of her head and neck gingerly. It’s obvious she isn’t feeling well.
I wonder why she returned to school when she isn’t a hundred percent yet…

The rest of the period slips by, taking the day along with it. It isn’t long before we are back in afterschool detention with Ms. Toole. She is preoccupied in a book, and most of us are just talking quietly amongst ourselves. Ms. Toole tends to let a lot of stuff slip by.

“May I use the restroom?” Ciera asks Ms. Toole, running the back of her hand across her forehead.

“Are you alright, dear?” Ms. Toole asks, adjusting her glasses on her nose. “You look like you’re not feeling so hot.”

Ciera shrugs. “Just a migraine.”

“Have you taken any medication for it?”

She nods. “Tylenol.”

“You may go.” Ms. Toole motions toward the door with her head, and then her eyes drop back to the book in her hand.

I watch as Ciera slips out and into the hall.

She’s been gone for ten minutes at least, and I’m starting to wonder if she skipped out on detention altogether. I look at her desk, taking note of her binder and books scattered about. There’s no way she’d leave without them.

I raise my hand.

Ms. Toole doesn’t even bother looking up from her book. “What is it Mr. Carlson?”

“May I go to the restroom?”

“Go ahead,” she replies, still sucked into her world of literature.

I slip out of my desk, and make my way out into the hall. I do have to pee, but I am more curious about where Ciera disappeared to. As I near the bathrooms, I see her sitting on the ground in front of a row of lockers, her knees pulled up to her chest and her head buried in her arms. She looks like she could be sleeping or crying. I’m not sure what to make of it.

I nudge her with my foot. “Hey.”

She stirs with a jolt. Her blue eyes dart up to meet mine, and then they narrow.

Okay. What’s that about?

“What are you doing out here?” I ask, coming to stand right in front of her.

She looks up at me through tired eyes, and then runs her hand over her face.

I take a seat next to her, backing myself up against the lockers, our shoulders almost touching.