Simple, Unexpected Crush ~Book 1 of Life Matters~

Chapter 15 ~ Level F For Failure

My parents didn't see anything wrong when they came back home. Josh got in trouble for not telling my aunt he was sleeping over but it's all right now. Well Monday came around and I was waiting for Angie at the bus stop. Everything was fine until Tyson came by and took off one of my earphones and put it on his ear.

"Can you not?" I kicked his leg.

"Why are you so mean to me? I just want to listen to music. How come you only let Gabe, Josh and Xavier listen along?"

"Because I let them." I stepped away from Tyson and walked until I spotted Angie getting out from her car. Angie waved at me happily. I rushed to her and we went around the corner and waited for Gabe.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"It's Tyson." I sighed. She didn't say anything else as we stood there until Gabe came. We walked back to the stop just to see the buses there. We went on and sat on a seat alone. Xavier came by and sat next to me as Josh sat to our left with Julian and Gabe. I leaned towards the window looking at the streets as we went to school.

In front of us to make things worse was that Kaya and Tyson were in there just talking. They talked and talked with other people like them. I put my music on full blasts doing my best to block them out. For some reason I just couldn't ignore them. I was in fact, interested in their conversation. I turned around to the back seat and looked at Angie. 

"I can't concentrate." I told her. She gave me a soft look and patted my head

"Oh darling. This is only the beginning. They're going to pay for my injuries one day." She said. I wasn't shocked when she said that. Lately, Angie's mom kept calling me asking me how she's doing. Her asthma is getting worse apparently and I hadn't told Gabe because he would over react. Angie knows that I know and she wants it like that but for what I know, I have to tell Gabe.

"I'm telling Gabe." I said.

"About...no please don't. I won't hear the end."

"End of what?" Xavier turned around.

"Go back to your music." I put my hand on his face and pushed it to the side.

"No, no, I want to hear this." Angie gave me that it's okay look.

"Angie's asthma is getting worse." I said.

"You have asthma?" Xavier asked. Angie rolled her eyes.

"What did you think in third grade when the ambulance came?" Her eyes narrowed.

"Some kid fell."

"No. That was because I got an attack while Kaya was mocking me as I ran in PE. She pushed me to the ground and I couldn't breathe."

"Oh..." Xavier's voice trailed off. We rode in silence until the bus made a sudden stop. "Gabe should know. Isn't he your friend?" 

"Yes."'Angie looked out the window. Xavier got off and walked out of the bus. I had to drag Angie out of the bus and for the whole morning it seemed she was lost in her thoughts. During class she would go outside and use her inhaler. By lunch I couldn't take it anymore. If anything happens to her all I’ll never forgive myself. So when Angie left to the restroom I went up to Gabe who was sleeping on the bench and began to scratch his head.

"It's not creepy at all." He said. He got up and faced me. "What's up?" 

"Angie is sick. Her asthma is getting worse." I blurted out. 

"What?" Gabe's eyes widened. "How long has it been going on?" I didn't answer. Gabe shook me until I slapped him away from me.

"About a month apparently." I told him how her mom keeps calling me lately asking how Angie has been doing. That only made him mad.