Simple, Unexpected Crush ~Book 1 of Life Matters~

Chapter 45~Not The End Just Yet

A month has passed and no signs of Erix waking up. I had gone home and I accidentally cut myself. Xavier took me to the river really frustrated and made me toss the old blade. I did. He got me angry one day because he hadn't gone home in the last three days. I kicked him out because he was annoying me. He came back the following day all clean and fresh.

I was starring at Erix with everyone around me except for the adul. Norma has gotten better. Each week she brought in flowers and our friends brought in balloons. I never brought anything but his album I found in his room. I never opened it. I just placed it to his side just hoping he'll wake up and grab it.

"Erix made me eat toothpaste one day." I said laughing out of nowhere. "Later, I got a whole packet of Oreos, took off the creme and replaced it with toothpaste."

"Erix taught me how to throw a shot." Josh said. "First time, I hit his head but all he did was to laugh instead of yell at me. Once I learned, I did it a second time. He chased me down the streets."

"Erix and I used to go Old Willy's before it closed down. Good memories there since elementary." Ray said "At that place, Erix told me that I should stop hitting Kaya. He said that little sister's are important to protect. They have no one else but us." I closed my eyes letting that sink in. Oh and Old Willy's was a old arcade in our town. It closed down and opened a new food district. 

"Erix caught a guy pulling my hair in the library in third grade and kept calling me  a Nazi. He beat up that boy and that was the last time I ever saw him. I asked him why he helped me. Erix smiled and he said 'I'm the only bully in this school and no one else. You're my sister's new friend so I shall protect you.''"

"Erix was never a fan of my fears. He did after all told me that I shouldn't be embarrassed that I have a stuffed toy to comfort me." Gabe said shrugging a bit. "This was junior year." 

"Erix saw me one day playing at the park alone with my basketball after I pushed Ebony off the swing and made a run for it. He didn't do anything. He just joined and we both played until sunset." Xavier said biting his finger.

"He told me I was cool." Bob said. "It meant a lot."

"In freshman year, Erix would take my books from my locker and I would find them in the trash can. One day, I caught him and we both were fighting over the book and when the book slipped from my hands, we both looked at each other. He said I had pretty eyes and I punched him on the eye. I got my book back the following week with a note that said in big writing, 'seriously, you have pretty eyes.'" Norma laughed.

"Erix told me to stop drinking." Kaya said. "He was there with my brother at my house. He found me drunk out of my mind at the backyard and he carried me to my room and advise me that if I didn't want no one to catch me, I should do it secretly."

"You drink?" Ray asked shocked. Kaya stuck out her tongue. I walked up and picked up the album. I opened it and I began to cry. In the cover was a picture of Erix and I when we were little fighting over a stuffed bunny. In black words it said 'For my sister on her wedding day' and then a post stick note on the bottom that said ' Reminder: write a note at the end. Add more pictures. Add more pictures, add more life events.' I quickly closed the album and looked at my brother.

"You really are a jackass aren't you Erix? How can you do that for me? How are you suppose to finish that before that date?" Like on command his eyes fluttered opened. Norma ran out calling the nurses. "Erix?" I reached for his hand.

"E-bunny?" He said all confused. "What happened?" I don't know what happened to us, we all started to laugh. "Seriously you guys. What happened? Why is Ray crying? What the hell?"

Erix recovered quickly and he came home sooner than expected. I put back the album back to his room as if nothing had happened. I went down stairs to join him and stood near him just watching him as everyone caught up with him. Jena and Johnny won the finals and brought home the trophy for him.