*Hands over an Oreo*

Death.

That's exactly what I felt like when I woke up the next morning.

I had a searing headache, I was sweating, I was cold and I had thrown up almost two times, that I remember of.

I'm pretty sure this is what death feels like.

I groaned as the alarm went off again, not helping my headache.

"Em!" I heard mom's voice from downstairs. "Em you're gonna be late for school honey!"

I felt bile rise up in my throat again making me turn to the side. I let out a sigh of relief once it had settled.

"Emily get you butt up, or I'm leaving without you." Alec's voice echoed through the hallway, making me put one of the pillows over my ears to block out the unnecessary roaring.

I was sweating like a pig but feeling cold at the same time, making me want to peel my skin off.

After a while, my bedroom door burst open, and the covers were ripped off of my body the next second.

"EMILY WATERS, HAVE YOU FINALLY TURNED DEAF!" Alec yelled, making me groan in response.

I wanted to move. To at least give him the finger, but my body wouldn't co-operate.

"I SAID GET UP OR I'LL LEA-" He grabbed by shoulder quite roughly, turning me to lie on my back before he grabbed my arms to shake me but stopped before he could.

I groaned again as he let go of me, making me curl up in a ball again.

"What the heck Em," he said as he sat by me and placed his hand to my forehead. "you're burning up."

Again, I groaned in response, not opening my eyes.

Just leave me here to die, please, thank you.

I wanted to speak but just the thought was exhausting.

He frowned as he felt around the bed with his hand, and then put his hand into the covers to find a melted bag of ice and the bruise that was left uncovered as my shirt rid up.

'It's no big deal, I'm fine. It's just a fever.' is what I wanted to say, but that message wasn't very well transmitted by my half dead brain and came out as a groan.

"Okay so first you get hurt, and then you leave the ice bag on your body all night? Have you forgotten how easy it is to fall sick when you're hurt?" He said sternly, removing the ice bag and helping me shift position so I'm not laying on the wet patch of the bedsheet anymore.

"I'm fine." I managed to mutter, opening my eyes enough to see his concerned face, leaving out the part about Ryder being the one who brought me the ice bag.

"How'd this happen?" He asked looking at the bruise.

"One of the fights, took one too many blows in the same spot." I wheezed out making him sigh and walk towards the bathroom in my room.

"You know, just because I don't object with you fighting, doesn't mean I'm okay with you getting hurt." He walked back with two tablets in his hand.

"Come on, buddy." He said, sliding his arms under my back, so I can sit up a little and gave me the pills, which I swallowed before lying down again.

"Alright, you need to rest. I'll tell mom you're sick and she'll take care of the rest." He said slinging his bag over his shoulder. "And I don't want you fighting for a while, okay? And that includes the idiots at school." He finished pointing a finger at me.

I nodded weakly, muttering a 'I'll try', before he bent down to kiss my forehead, and raising my covers up to my chin. "Bye loser."

I groaned again in response, before going back into slumber.

*****

The next time I woke up was because of the sound of my phone vibrating on the side table.

I felt a lot better than how I felt in the morning and made note to thank Alec later for the pills.

My skin was still sticky, but I didn't feel as cold and I still had a minor headache but I didn't feel the urge to hurl every five seconds. I stretched my limbs out feeling my sore muscles flex and joints, pop.

I blindly felt the side table for my phone, retrieving it, only to see that it's noon, already. I lowered my gaze to the screen and my eyes widened at their own accord.

What the fuck? Did someone die?

I unlocked the phone to see calls from everyone in the group and one from Alec, probably to make sure that I'm okay.

Oh, so I died, apparently.

Most of the messages were from the group chat, and some personal messages to ask me if I'm alive or not. I opened one personal chat first, for no particular reason.

Yoo where are you?

Hey the classes are about to start.

Miles?

Are you ignoring me?

Why aren't you in school? Are you okay?

Are you hurt again?

MILES! YOU BETTER ANSWER OR I'M COMING TO YOUR PLACE.

My eyes widened as I saw the gazillion texts from Ryder, and his level of panic rising with each one.

I quickly typed a response, saying that I'm fine and was asleep.

I opened the group chat next.

No. She hasn't responded to me either.

So you think it was Ryder?

Who was Ryder?

dO yoU tHinK iT Was hE wHo kIllEd eM?

Em isn't dead. And why are you typing like that?

I was whispering...

...

...

...

...

Hahahahaha

Guys, she's not dead.

Yup. I'm pretty alive, I think.

Emilyyyyyyy! Thank God you're alive, I would've hated to have to kill Ryder.

You left me alone with these clowns :')

Heyy...

Anyway... Why aren't you in school?

Yeah we were worried.

I hesitated for a second before replying.

I wasn't feeling well so I just slept in.

What's wrong?

Oh it's just a fever. I slept with the ice bag on me, overnight.

Oh shit

I sighed, before keeping my phone away as I felt the headache resurface.

I had no plans for today, whatsoever and was about to fall asleep again when my phone went off, making me groan.

I picked it up to just get it over with once and for all.

"Let. Me. Sleep." I groaned into the phone.

"Well, you sound pleasant." Came a deep voice, startling me a bit. I sighed before rubbing my temples. I should've check the caller ID.

"What do you want?" My strained voice almost made me wince.

"A 'hello' like a normal person, for starters." He joked.

"Bye Ryder." I deadpanned.

"No no no I'm kidding." He rushed out. "But on a serious note, I'm coming over, after school."

I sighed. "No Ryder, you're not. You've got practice and I'm pretty sure Alec will come straight home, to torment me, which is somehow him 'looking after me'."

"Well, that's good." He laughed.

He hesitated for a second before speaking again. "I'm sorry. I didn't... know. Lexi told me how easily cold affects you. I just thought it would be funny if you wake up on a wet bed." He sighed. "Well, that backfired."

"It's okay. I wasn't always like this, you didn't know." I tried to reassure, not liking where this conversation was going.

"Why exactly does it affect you like this? You had pretty strong immunity, as far as I remember." He said, making me dread, bringing it up.

I contemplated my answer but I couldn't find anything to say for a good half a minute.

"Miles? You there?" I heard shuffling, as he walked.

"Yeah." I said.

It's okay, it's the past. Talking about it shouldn't be so hard.

"Well uh it was three years ago... I think. I was out in the cold for a long time and, maybe, sort of, kind of, passed out in the snow, till Alec found me and called an ambulance." I finally said as I grimaced at the memory as I was met with silence from his end.

I hate this conversation.

I continued, not waiting for him to put the pieces together. "So, now, cold is one thing I can't- "

"What day was it?" He interrupted, as I noticed silence followers his voice, meaning he had stopped walking.

"Does it matter?" I chuckle weakly.

This is why I hate talking about the past, it brings up things that has hurt us already to hurts us even more. And neither of us deserve that.

"Miles..."

I sighed. "Christmas Eve."

Silence followed as I was that worried that Ryder might have stopped breathing altogether.

"Ryder..."

"Miles I- " He was cut off by a shrill noise of the school bell, making him sigh. "You should rest. I'll check on you later."

He said in a low voice before hanging up.

I groaned, yet again, before getting something to eat from the kitchen. Mom had left me chicken noodle soup with a 'get well soon' note.

Back in my room, I picked my phone to text Alec to pick up something for me to eat on his way home, when I noticed the 2 e-mails. I never check my e-mails but I had nothing to do so I opened it anyway.

I frowned as read the first one.

Alex King

It has come to my notice that you have not responded to my invitation to the gang, which is quite uncalled for.

I hope things don't take an ugly turn and we can sort our differences without harming each other. Let's schedule a meeting, so we can discuss your terms.

I scrolled down further to see numerous e-mails from the same ID, unread.

How dumb can a person be? Who checks their e-mail on a daily basis, nowadays?

I rolled my eyes but I could clearly sense the threat in the e-mail I just read. The gang leader is obviously not happy about the fact that I beat up two of his fighters and pretty much ignored his invitation to join his gang.

He's asking a 17 year old to join his gang, what does he expect? For me to thank him for the 'honor'? This is stupid.

I cause enough trouble to last me a lifetime, I don't need more.

I closed the e-mail and go to check the other unread one.

Dylan

Are you dead? Did Ryder kill you???

I groaned, before falling face first on my bed.

*****

It was Sunday night and I had this sudden urge to have coffee and to my surprise there was no coffee at our house.

Who has no coffee at their house?

Since I was feeling much better than Friday, with only mild headaches and sore muscles, I decided to go to the store to get it, and some snacks.

I didn't bother telling Alec or he would've been all up in my business with his protectiveness and how I shouldn't go out alone on a Sunday night.

So, here I was on my way to the store, on the pretty empty sidewalk, go get my beloved coffee. Yes, I love coffee a little too much.

I was in the store surfing through different isles when my mind drifted to the events of yesterday.

Since I was sick, the whole group decided to show up at my house with snacks and pizza. Dylan was being his usual self when I asked him about the stupid email. He said wanted to try everything to reach to me, to confirm if I was alive.

Lord help this boy.

In midst of all the snacking and talking, I noticed how Ryder was being unusually quiet, which I'm totally okay with, by the way.

You know when you see a really cute guy and you create a personality for him in your head, that matches his good looks and then he opens his mouth and ruins everything?

Yeah no that's not the case with Ryder, I just wanted to put that out there.

I knew he was still thinking about what I told him on Friday and I had this sudden urge to comfort him.

It's ironic, how much I don't want him to feel guilty and sad about the past, as that's all I wanted when I was in London.

Because now that I'm back and I've spent time with him, all I see is an oblivious boy who has no idea what he unintentionally put me through.

He eventually snapped out of it, when I asked him what's wrong but I knew he'd keep beating himself up for it, till we get to talk about it.

I reached the dairy isle after I get my coffee, only to find out that they're out of my favourite, Belgian chocolate ice cream. I frowned before picking a cookie dough flavour, before, paying for all of the stuff.

I was on my way home when I suddenly got that feeling, a very familiar feeling, that someone was following me.

Just great.

Alright, so I could either start running or just stop and face my fate. The practical choice would be running but this is me, obviously, and I listen to my instinct.

And my instinct to, not run, grew stronger when the number of footsteps increased.

There was no point in running, because if they precisely came for me, they know me, and they've come prepared.

I casually took out my phone to send a quick text before I abruptly stopped.

I hadn't fully recovered yet, my rib still hurt, my muscles were sore from being sick and I was still a little weak from all of that.

The footsteps stopped behind me as well, as I turned to face three guys in overcoats and hats, with their hands in their pockets.

This can't be good.

"Want me to be play the oblivious girl and ask 'can I help you'?" I asked, not showing any sign of weakness.

"We're from the- "

"The red serpent gang, I know, I see your uniform. What's new?" I cut him off, which was probably not a good idea as I saw the guy's muscle on the jaw tick.

"Mr. King has asked for your presence at the headquarters, right now." The guy in the middle spoke again, making me frown as I bent a little to get a better view of his face.

That's an oddly familiar voice.

My eyes widened. "Oohhh couch guy!" I exclaimed. "So you're on the recruitment team now?"

He stiffened, before clenching his jaw. "It's Brody, bitch."

"No. It's Brittney, bitch." I corrected him, like the mature person I am, making him frown. "So how's the missus?"

Low blow. I know, I'm a bitch.

"None of your fucking business." He gritted out, almost ready to pounce as the other guy placed a hand on Brody's shoulder, holding him back.

"Listen, we don't want any trouble. You're outnumbered anyway. Just co-operate and come with us, and no one gets hurt." The other guy, who's blonde hair was peeking out of his hat, spoke.

"Oh," I said nodding in understanding, before casually turning. "sorry, I don't want to. See you later."

I waved casually, in farewell as if I'm leaving a cousin's house, instead of escaping from members of the most feared gang I'm the state.

'Oh the nerve of this bitch.'

It's a gift.

"Oh I don't think so." A voice echoed, as a hand latched onto my wrist and turning me back to face them.

My eyes narrowed at the three figures in front of me, at their own accord, who had all advanced towards me with clenched jaws and fists, obviously aggrevated by my behavior.

Another sound cut through the silence in the air, the next second, which I hadn't realised but had come from me.

Crack

Crack