In maths, I caught Noah up with all what went on last night and he couldn't have comforted me better. He said a few things about it, one of which being it's my decision what I choose to do, and then we moved off of the topic.
But now it's the end of the day and I'm grabbing a few things from my locker.
"Ands? Did you hear what I said?" I'm torn away from my thoughts and see Mia staring at me.
"Oh yeah, right sorry." She crosses her arms over her chest and I slam my locker shut.
"I said why don't we go shopping this weekend to try and distract you from... things." I smile appreciatively.
"How about we just go now? We can get Ice cream. I could use mint choc chip right now." I don't give Mia an opportunity to reply because when I look in my bag, I see study books.
"Shit! Sorry ignore what I just said, I can't. I'm meant to be studying with Cole for our test."
It doesn't take long for a smile to take over her face. A smug one. "Studying, huh?" She winks and I groan.
"Right that's it, I'm leaving," I chuckle. "I'll speak to you later." I wave and turn around.
As I walk out the building, I send Cole a quick text and he replies straight away saying he's already outside waiting for me.
I turn the corner and there he is. Stunning as always, leaning against the side of the car while on his phone.
"So, studying at yours or mine?" He asks and I shake my head.
"Neither," I kiss him quickly as he opens the door for me, "We're going to the library. I remember what happened when we did that project when I first moved here. You get distracted way too easily."
He rolls his eyes pouting and he quickly makes his way to the driver's side of the car.
"Aww come on. My parents are working late tonight so we could just study at mine and watch something after." I groan because I know myself too well.
I'm going to give in. I can't help it.
Whatever Cole does, whatever he says, it's impossible to say no.
"How about fifteen minutes of revision, a few hours The Walking Dead?" I give him an 'are-you-serious-right-now' Look and he looks at me quickly while grinning before turning his head back to the road.
"I'm kidding," He laughs. "Maybe." I try to suppress the smile that's fighting hard to get onto my face.
"An hour and a half studying minimum." We're driving now, the school getting smaller and smaller in the side mirror.
"Maximum." He tries to disguise it as a cough and I laugh.
"You really can't help yourself can you?"
"Nope." He shakes his head, still staring at the road.
"I hate you."
"No, you don't. You love me." He teases and I scoff.
"Please, you're tolerable at best." He smiles.
"Would you be dating me if I was just 'tolerable'?" And I don't respond.
We both know the answer.
He's right though about what he said before that.
I do.
I do love him but he doesn't need to know that just yet.
*****
"What do your parents do for work?" I ask curiously as we walk up the stairs.
"They're both doctors. They have to work quite a lot but when they're home we get along well. But they always get called out for emergencies so it's usually just me. I know they don't mean for it to happen, they have my best interests at heart."
He shrugs nonchalantly but I know he's lying. I can see the disappointment and sadness when I stare into them.
"Come on, let's get the boring bit over with so we can watch Netflix." He winks at me and I roll my eyes because I know what that means.
I highly doubt that's what we're going to be doing.
We've been studying for about forty minutes and I think I might resurrect Shakespeare just so I can strangle him myself. I can't take any more of Romeo and Juliet.
I groan, resting my head on the information filled pages that are too coherent to comprehend.
"You know we could just stop now, right? You're just too stubborn." I look up and scowl at him.
"I'm not being stubborn, I just want a good grade." I go to start writing again and Cole snatches the pen out of my hand, throwing it across the room.
"Hey!" Before he can do anything else, the front door slams.
"Cole, honey! We managed to get the rest of today off! Are you home?" I freeze, suddenly feeling uneasy.
It's too early to meet his parent's, right?
"I didn't know they were going to be back. Are you okay about meeting them?" He asks, stepping forward to sweep fly away hairs off my forehead.
"Yeah, I'm just a little nervous. We've only been dating a few days." I tug at the end of my sleeves anxiously.
"That doesn't matter. It would've been longer if I wasn't such a dick and told you how I felt straight away." I link my hands together behind his neck and look at him.
"How long have you liked me?" I ask.
"I've known for a few weeks, maybe longer, but the rest of the time I was in denial. What about you?" I go on my tiptoes and rest my forehead on his.
All this time I thought it was one-sided.
"The same." He kisses my forehead and takes my hand as he leads me downstairs.
"Mum! Dad! Where are you?" He calls and my stomach knots.
"We're in the kitchen!" Cole leads us to the kitchen and the door shut and I take a sharp breath in when he opens it.
"Well, I have someone I want you to meet..." He begins to say but my whole body seizes up when I see who stands in front of me.
There are over seven billion people in the whole world so why in Gods name does this have to be my boyfriend's parents.
It's not who it is that's the problem. It's the memories.
I grip Cole's hand tightly and he looks at me with concern. I start to hyperventilate.
Holy shit-
I can't... I can't breathe.
It's like someone's taken all the oxygen from the room and I'm left with nothing but the feeling of all four walls closing in on me.
"Oh shit, Princess. Are you okay?" I can't seem to get any words out. I just stand there trying to catch my breath.
"Oh Andie, are you okay? Breathe with me okay." Natalie, if I remembered her name correctly, says softly and I try my best to follow.
Cole stops, turning to his fatherâIan if I remembered his name right as wellâwhile looking at him. "Wait, how does mum know Andie's name?"
"Now isn't the time, Cole." After what feels like forever, my breathing is finally going back to normal all thanks to Natalie's help.
Talk about a dramatic first meeting.
Well, not first meeting exactly... More like a second first meeting?
But now my breathing is getting better, it's now time for the memories to rush in. My head hurts as they hit me with full force; all trying to get in at once.
I'm sat in the leather chair in the hospital room while I watch my mother's every move.
"Mandy, stop staring at me. I'm not going to disintegrate." She tries to laugh but it's weak and quickly turns into a cough.
Typical.
Of course, it would be her to try and crack a joke while her body is being pumped with a medicine which is destroying her immune system to help get rid of the deadly cancer cells that fill her body.
"I know..." I sigh, "I just want to make sure you're okay. That's all."
"What's this for, eh?" She points to the pouch of chemotherapy that's hanging on a drip, her hands shaking slightly. "To help me get better." I take her hand and she squeezes lightly. She looks up and smiles.
"If it isn't the two Dr Jones'."
"How are you today, Catherine?" Natalie, the female doctor asks warmly. Ian, the man checks the time on his watch, which is attached to his uniform, and scribbles something down in my mother's file.
I found out their names a while ago now. Excluding my mum, they're the only two people I've spoken to in this hospital.
"I'm doing better thanks but please tell my daughter that, she's been watching me like a hawk ever since we got here." They both chuckle and I smile when I see my mother's smile.
This is the first time I've seen them since my mum died. In fact, they weren't even there that day. They weren't working then.
"Are you okay, Princess?" He murmurs. He's cupping my face, staring at my intently and I nod.
"I'm okay." I put my hands over where his rest but slowly pull them away when I see Cole's parents staring at us.
"Are you sure you're okay, sweetie?" She asks softly and I just nod once again.
"I'm sorry for your loss, Andie." Cole's dad says, his voice filled with sorrow.
"Wait so," Cole points back and forth between me and his parents, "you guysâNope, I'm still confused. Can one of you explain?"
"How about we sit down and then we talk." Natalie offers and Cole agrees and we head to the other room.
*****
Two hours later, I'm saying my goodbyes and Cole is taking me home.
"I'm so sorry that had to happen. If I knew I would've told you. I swear it." We're both in the car and he uses his free hand to put it on top of mine.
"It's fine, you shouldn't have to apologise. I loved your parents, they helped my mum more than you could imagine. It was just the memories, that's all. But it was nice to see them again." He's rubbing circles on the top of my hand.
Once we're home, I go to leave but he stops me by grabbing my wrist. "Forgetting something?" He asks and I know what he means and I'm gonna have my fun with it.
"You're right. Silly me," I smile sheepishly and lean forward. Cole does the same but before he can kiss me, I move to the side to grab my bag from the backseat. "Thanks for reminding me." I giggle at the expression on his face.
I close the door and turn around, just waiting to hear the sound of his door opening and shutting.
It slams shut and I smile. I knew it.
I spin back around and he's pouting. "You're such a tease." He strides toward me, trapping me in his arms before I can even head for the door. I laugh as he drags me back to the car and places me on the hood.
I lightly wrap my legs around his waist.
"Who knew Andie Mitchell could be such a tease." He whispers, his voice husky and he kisses behind my ear.
I nearly swoon there and then.
"We didn't do much studying today and the test is tomorrow," I state and I already know that was a lame attempt to try and change the subject.
God knows why I did, I'm loving this right now.
"Nice try, Princess, but you're not getting away with this one." He kisses behind my other ear this time.
"I." He kisses my left cheek. "Want." He kisses my right cheek this time. "My." Now my nose. "Ki-" I don't even let him finish before I smash my lips onto his.
I feel him smile against my lips. "Someone's eager." He mumbles jokingly and I pull away, hoping I get the reaction I crave for.
"Nope. Not happening now."
"What? No! That's not fair!" I have to bite my bottom lip to stop myself from laughing.
"Nope." I shake my head, crossing my arms, but my legs still stay where they were before.
"Kiss me, Woman!" He throws his hands up in the air, exasperated. I throw my head back in laughter.
"If you wish." I grab his face and plant my lips back on his. My hands go around his neck instinctively and his land on my thighs.
"HOLY SHIT! SINCE WHEN DID YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND?" We both jump back and my head instantly recognises the voice I haven't heard in months.
"No way!" I gasp and jump off the car.
"Yes, way bitch!" I run over to the petite black haired girl who's too pretty for her own good.
Jess.
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