My Brother's Best Friend

Chapter 2

It was Friday and my bones were jittery with excitement yet they were tired. I couldn't sleep last night thinking about Drew.

I told myself how I was being a child and that Drew only thought of me as Will's baby sister. It was just an irrelevant little kid who had a crush on the hot senior--the really hot senior who was also my brother's best friend.

I put in my combination and opened my locker before I saw a little yellow post it fly out.

I kneeled down and picked it up. It said:

Do you prefer diamonds or chocolate?

-D

#1079

I stared at the note dumbfounded then automatically knew who it was.

"What's that?" I heard over my shoulder.

"Hanna!" I said startled.

My blonde friend with the bright blue, curious eyes attempted to skim the note.

"It's nothing," I said.

"Then let me see it," she pressed on.

"Hanna," I said.

"Fine, fine," she said smiling.  "I'll leave you to your note reading. I'll see you at lunch."

"Okay, see you, Han," I said.

"Bye," she said

I made sure she left then took out the note and read it again.

Because I didn't have a post-it, I turned it over and wrote:

I'll be nice and go with chocolate

-L

Locker number 1079 was on the second floor where my class was, so I took my binder and the note tucked behind the clear cover and walked to the second floor.

I squeezed through the tight crowd and saw the locker. I doubted myself for a minute then slid the note through the slits of the locker.

"Lauren."

I turned swiftly around.

"Lauren, what are you doing?" Will said approaching me holding on to a binder.

I spoke without thinking, "I'm headed to class."

"I saw you put something in the locker," he said.

"Erm...just a small note to all the seniors about the pep rally next Friday" I said hoping he'd believe it.

"Oh, leave a the note on my desk at home. I need the reminder," he said casually.

"Okay," I said a little too quickly.

He started to leave but turned back around.  "Oh and if you see Drew, tell him Alison's looking for him."

I paused then said, "Okay."

Drew

It was the last period of the day and my hand was busy scribbling notes down. My brain was buzzing and busy and the only thing that kept it at rest was my anticipation.

I decided that a note was the best way to get her to see me. I kept it brief and simple as Samantha told me.

I kept scribbling more notes, functions, equations and formulas.

My heart was aching to see her response. I usually don't look forward to things.

After school, there's either practice or a game. Then that's it. I don't look forward to driving to the hospital and seeing my sister helplessly getting sicker and sicker, but as I sat in class I couldn't help but look forward to leaving and hopefully reading her note.

After forty more minutes of taking notes, the bell rang.

I gathered my things and left the classroom. I headed to my locker and opened it.

The note was lying between my gym bag and the locker wall.

I picked it up and turned it over. I read it and smiled.

Chocolate it is.

I saw Will heading towards me with a soccer ball in his hand after I tucked the note inside my pocket.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Yeah," I replied.

"Good. Today's game is against Briar Oaks," he said.

"They're good," I said.

"Yeah, but we're better," he said.

I nodded in agreement.

"I forgot to mention that Alison is looking for you," Will said.

"Alison?" I asked "What does she want?"  After a difficult break up with my ex-girlfriend, Alison, we had stopped talking. 

He shrugged and said, "She said to meet her after the game."

I remained silent.

"But don't worry about it. Call me if she tries anything and I'll back you up," Will joked.

I laughed and tried to shrug it off. If Alison was involved, I couldn't help but worry.

We won the game 2:1. I spotted Lauren on the bleachers. She was probably here waiting on her brother.

As much as I wanted to speak to her, I knew I had somewhere to be.

Her eyes found mine and I turned to look at Alison who was standing next to me.

She didn't have to say a word for me to know to follow her. She led me into the empty hallways and finally stopped.

Her golden locks were hanging around her shoulders as I noticed for the first time that she was holding a file folder.

"I need you to sign something," she said.

I took the folder and opened it. I skimmed the papers on the inside and my stomach turned when I saw the name on the paper.

"An autopsy?" I questioned.

She nodded.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because I want to know what killed her," she said.

I suddenly felt the anger begin to rise inside of me.

"I already know what killed her," I said harshly.

"Drew, don't," she begged with tears beginning to fill her eyes.

"And you know, too," I continued.

"No," she choked out, "Neither of us do."

I avoided her gaze and didn't speak.

"Please, Drew," she said.  "We have to find out for Anna."

"Don't you dare say her name!" I yelled.

I heard Alison's sniffles and though I couldn't see it, I knew she was crying.

"I'm not signing this," I said handing her back the file.

Alison just stood there for a few seconds before gently taking the file out my hands.

I heard her leave then she was gone.