Chapter Three

Next morning, I wake up feeling like there is a thing going on my head , like hammers hitting my head constantly as if my head is a nail. Somehow, I managed to drag myself up and get ready for school. I go downstairs and see the note aunt Sara had left on the kitchen countertop.

'Going to shop for groceries. Be right back. Love you.'

Alright then. I make some pancakes for me and a cup of coffee and take it to the living room. I pulled the curtains off and I immediately regretted it. My headache seems to worsen at the sight of light. I closed it and sat down on the couch. I devour my meal and texted Jerah to come pick me up. I waited for Andrew and when his car came , I get inside and turned on the air conditioner.

" Hey, how are you?" Jer asked.

"Hi. Not so good right now. I have a raging pain in my head and the hotness today doesn't help it." I grumble.

" It is not that hot. " He checked my temperature.

" You are sweating. Are you sure you would be able to come to the charity?" He asks.

" Yeah, of course. I won't bail on you. Besides, once the headache goes , I will be alright ." I said.

"OK." He drives to school. I get inside the school and the day goes on with no sight of Andrew . Not like I want to see him or anything. Nuh uh. Not even a little bit. Okay , maybe a tiny bit, but I don't get any sight of him until after lunch break.

Me and Jer took our lunch outside to eat as the cafeteria was cramped.

" So, at what time should I pick you up today?" Jer asks.

" It's your event so you tell me about the time."

" We can be fashionably late. Be ready by 7."

" Okay."

" Also, do not turn away but Andrew is looking at you with those hearted eyes. Scratch that- with those murderous devil eyes." Jer whispered in my ear.

" What? Where?" I turned away and looked at him and he looked my way, but when our eyes met, he quickly looked away. Jer raised his brows at me, amused .

"I don't care." I grumbled.

"Sure thing," he commented.

" Come on, let's go." I took his hand and pulled him away from me. I took him to my locker and took my books out for literature class. I turned away so quickly that I felt nauseated. I gag a little and Jer notices it.

" Hey, hey. You feeling alright?" He looks at me with concern.

I shook my head and opened my mouth to answer. Bad move. I gag again, so Jer stares at me toward the girl's washroom. I opened a stall and threw up. Jer grabs my hair and rubs my back.

" What was that about?" Jer asked.

" Hell if I knew."

" Are you pregnant?" he blutters.

I stand up ,take a napkin to wipe my face and rinse my mouth with water.

"Yes, yes. I have been keeping this secret for eight months. What gave it away?" I said, rolling my eyes.

"That's why you have been a crazy hormonal woman. It all makes sense now. "

I smacked his head. " You idiot. I was being sarcastic. "

" So, you are not pregnant?"

"Of course not, " I said.

" Do you want me to call someone?" Jer asks.

" No, just get me some medicine from the first aid kit in your car, if you have one. And something refreshing for my mouth. I don't want to walk with a puke smell in my mouth." I made a disgusting face.

" Yeah. Wouldn't want that for you. "What if someone just walks by and kisses you out of the blue?" He smirks.

" Ha ha ha. Funny," I comment, sarcastically.

He exits the rest room while I wait inside for the goodies to arrive. He comes back and gives me his water bottle and a pack of gum. I take my medicine and chew gum. I exited the washroom and went face to face with the one and only Andrew. Great. He always sees me when I am at my worst or about to have a breakdown.

" Are you alright?" He asks me. I am busy staring into his deep gorgeous blue eyes that so I don't even hear him.

" Wh-what?" I asked.

" I said, Are you okay?" He asked again.

" Yes. Why would you think there is something wrong with me? I am perfectly healthy and fine. See." I twirl and do a little dance to show him how good I feel. Since when am I so awkward?

" Why would you just assume I am not okay ? Unless you wish that i was not okay. That would be so psychotic, if you don't want me to be okay. Because I have not done anything to you so you are just being unreasonable. I am and hopefully will stay healthy." I say breathless from rambling like a mad woman.

Jer whispers into my ears "You are being awkward and weird again, Ana." And suddenly I am flushed.

" I just meant that I heard someone throwing up earlier and you came out of the washroom so I asked." He looks totally confused by what just happened. Hell, even Jer is. I am so embarrassed by what I did that I want the earth to swallow me up.

I laughed nervously and said, " Ha ha. I just thought you were mocking me because we don't really see each other eye to eye so... Yeah ,I am gonna stop talking now. Thanks for your concern and I am okay if that's what you wanted to ask. I am just gonna go now. Also, sorry for making any assumptions." I say and walk as quickly as I can away from him.

I hear Jer say, " Bye, man." to Andrew before he follows me.

" What was that about?" Jer asked.

" I don't know okay. Just- Just forget about it. " I say.

" Okay. I will see you later ..?" He says it like a question.

" Yes. Bye." I give him a peck on his cheek and go to my class.

The whole day passes by quickly. I meet Jer in the parking area and he drops me home. I bid him goodbye and get inside to get ready for charity. I do my light makeup and wear my dress before doing hair. Someone knocks on my door.

"I am coming in." My aunt Sara says.

" Okay."

She comes in and says "Wow! You look beautiful, my darling."

" Thanks aunt. I really don't know what to do with my hair." I say.

" Aww, Hun, let me help you with it." She comes and does my hair into a bun of some sort with two curled strands lose.

" You know, your mom would be proud of how pretty you are. She always wanted a daughter, so she could dress her up and get her ready for parties." She says and a few tears fall from her eyes.

" I wish she was here." I say with some unshed tears in my own eyes.

" Me too." she says. I turn around and hug her and we both cry a little thinking about our memories of her.

"No more tears now. Your makeup will be spoiled." I laugh at that and wipe my tears away.

We both go downstairs and when jer arrives she bids us goodbye and jer drives me to his family's house. It is almost an hour away from my place. When we reach, He opens my door and i head in with my hand on his arm.

His house is a cozy space with rustic interior. We head in and his elder brother hugs me.

"Hi Ana. How are you? It has been ages." He picks me up and gives me a swirl.

I chuckle and say "hello to you too Seth. I miss you too."

Seth has always been brotherly to me. When me and Jer used to fight when we were kids. He used to settle our disputes and always sided with me. He was the person who i liked after jer. We instantly clicked when we met.

" Did you try the gralic bread yet?" He asks me and puts his arm on my shoulder in a brotherly way.

" No, I just got here Seth." I say

" If you need anything , just come find me . Okay?" He says.

" Yeah. Okay. Where are Quil and Samantha?" I asked him.

" Dad and mom must be in the office." He looks at jer and says, "Go meet them."

" Okay Seth," Jer says.

"Bye Seth. See you around." I hugged him and went to the office.

I saw Samantha correcting Quil's bowtie. She stops when she sees me and rushes towards me.

"Oh my dear, you look so pretty. How are you? It has been years since you came here. How is Sara? I am so sorry about your parents." She says it all in a breath. I just hug her. She said she always wanted a daughter, so she spends a lot of time with me when I am there.

" Let the girl breathe, Sam," Quil says. He comes towards me with Jer at his side.

" How are you kid?" He asks and pats my head just like he used to when I was 10.

" I am fine. Really? I miss you guys a lot. How are you both? How is work?" I said .

"All is well," he said.

" Samantha, we need to go downstairs now. " He says to his wife.

" Gotta go darling. I will talk to you later, okay? Don't leave without meeting me." She gives me a last hug and leaves.

"Can I have a drink now?" Jer asked me.

"OK. But I want a glass too." I gave him my best puppy eyes.

" Oh no no. Your aunt will have my head if she finds out."

" Okay fine, but I am having a soda." I said and took him to the bar where he got a beer and handed me my soda. I sipped it hoping it was something a little strong .

I finished it and went to the dance floor. I danced and a minute later Seth and Jer joined me. We belted out the lyrics of the song and swayed to the beat. Seth and Jer left to get a drink, so I danced alone for the time being. I started sweating again, so I left the dance floor and went outside into the fresh air.

On the way, I took a another can with me. I go outside and just stand in the woods. I remember how me and Jer used to come here when we were overwhelmed. I just stayed there for a little while with my eyes closed. I open them and see a flash on my right.

" Hello? Is someone here?" I asked, feeling a little scared.

I saw a shadow of a person on my left, so I turned again and someone knocked into me, dropping my soda on the ground.

" Fuck. Who is here?" I said, feeling a lot more afraid than I was a minute ago.

Someone tapped my shoulder. I turn around to see Jer standing there.

" You scared me Jer." I press a hand on my chest,"When did you come here?" I asked.

" Just now. What are you doing here?"

" I wanted a breather so I went out .Anyway, is someone else here too? Someone knocked on me and my energy drink fell down." I said.

" Why are you drinking those while you are on your medication? I told you not to do so." He whines.

" I just wanted some. Okay. I am sorry. Now, can we go inside? I don't want to stay here."

"Okay, but no more of those. " Jer says sternly, so I nod.

He takes me inside and I use the restroom to compose myself. There was someone, I swear. I couldn't imagine it ,could I? No, it was real. I felt it and I saw a shadow too. I wash my face and dry it with a hand towel. I go into the living area and see Jer and Seth on the dance floor, so I find my way to the office to meet Quil and Samantha one last time. I am about to enter when I hear something.

" How are things in the station?" A man asked.

"Bad. Bloodshed has increased. We can't get to them in time." I recognized that as Quill's voice.

"How many have turned yet?" that is Samantha. But turned? Turned into what? What are they talking about?

" Only a few. It started when William's family arrived, so I am gonna keep an eye on them," Quil says.

I don't want to be rude, so I knock.

" Ana. What are you doing here?" Samantha asked, and she looked at all the people here.

" I just wanted to come say goodbye before leaving. I can come back if you guys are busy."

" No. We were just talking about a charity fund. Come here." Quil lies, but why would he lie to me?

" OK." I entered and bid them goodbye before leaving. Jer drops me at my place and I change and think about what happened in the office. Finally, I fell asleep with no answers to my questions.