11 Except my heartbeat...

After Raven left, I went back to Alex's room. He was sleeping and the nurses instructed us not to disturb him as he was under quite a heavy dose of painkillers which were given to him in order to lessen the pain of his broken hand.

I came home with a heavy heart. I didn't want to but Mrs Hayden forced me and Sandi to leave, telling us that she will take care of him now. Mr Hayden was also on his way to hospital.

We called Sandi's brother to pick us up. She has an elder brother and sister who moved here in America before us. They are in college and live in their own apartments. Her brother came here to meet them and was staying with them for some days.

After reaching home I changed my clothes into comfortable pajamas and a baggy T-shirt, sitting on my favorite couch in our living room, eating the sandwich and drinking hot chocolate mom made for me. She makes the best hot chocolate.

I needed some time to relax my mind so I switched on TV playing my favorite cartoon channel. Yeah, I watch cartoons to escape the worries of the real world.

When I was tired of watching TV, I went to the kitchen and told mom everything that happened today while she was making dinner. She told me that she is so proud of me, the way I dealt with that bully and Alex's situation.

I have this habit to share everything with mom after school. She is a housewife so she is at home most of the time except when she has parlor appointments or when she is hanging out with Sandi's mom and some other friends they made here. I wondered why dad is not home yet.

"Mom, why isn't dad home yet?" I asked her who was busy in making dinner. 

"He will be late today darling. He called to inform that he has some important work to finish." she replied.

I noticed that dad was coming home late nowadays and I felt like something was bothering him. He didn't participate in our conversations like he used to. He seems like he is in some deep thought all the time. I shook off the feelings.

Maybe it's just me.

I told mom that I was not feeling hungry and kissed her goodbye, coming to my room. I fell on my bed dramatically, closing my eyes and taking in a long breath. My eyelids were heavy and I felt a slight headache due to exhaustion. Today had been a long eventful day.

I let the peacefulness of sleep consume my uneasy self. 

~

I woke up to the voice of my mother the next day because my alarm clock was not working after I tried to break it. It didn't break but I guess my purpose was fulfilled. But still nothing could save me from getting up and going to school.

I followed my usual routine of showering, brushing teeth, putting on contacts and wore a simple top-jeans outfit. I was not in the mood to leave my hair open today so I blew dried them and tied them up in a loose bun. I came downstairs greeting mom. Dad was not on the table.

"Isn't dad up yet? He is going to be late today." I asked mom sitting on the table.

"He already left," she gave me a short answer while she was busy making cereal for me.

"That's nor fair. I didn't meet him yesterday and today he left without kissing me." I pouted. Something behind my head was shouting that dad is up to something which he is not sharing with us.

"Honey he is busy with some work nowadays," she placed my cereal in front of me picking up the used dishes. "But he promised to take us out for dinner today." She informed me with a beaming face. I thanked her for the cereal and smiled at her.

"Okay, I can't wait for tonight." I chirped. We haven't had a family night out since we moved here.

I finished my breakfast, washed my dish and left home walking towards Sandi's home. She was not standing outside as usual. I got excited suddenly.

I would surprise her by standing there already when she would come out. I plastered a goofy smile on my face and stood on her porch waiting for her. I didn't go inside as it will ruin the chance of seeing her surprised face.

Sandi's mom has decorated her porch with such beautiful flower pots. I stood there admiring their beauty. A plant with slender branches reminded me of Mr Talon, my old friend.

Mr talon was a huge tree, nearby a lake which was a few farms away from my old home. We used to sit under Mr talon and play our little games.

I smiled at the plant and waved at it. When I learned at school that the plants are living organisms like us but they don't have the ability to speak or walk, after that day I used to wave at plants thinking that they can see and hear us.

I was interrupted by the roar of a familiar black car. My smile vanished and I turned my face avoiding his stupid eyes which were penetrating my soul through the descended side mirror. I noticed he had some bruises on his face which looked fresh.

An uneasy feeling crept my heart remembering what he did to Alex yesterday and what Raven said. I made up my mind to visit Alex and ask him everything. He was discharged from hospital but currently at bed rest as it will take some weeks to heal his hand. But he can join school after a week or so.

I was drowned in my thoughts when the front door opened revealing a wide-eyed Sandi, just as I thought. I greeted her with the same goofy smile which I was practicing before she came and we walked towards school, holding hands and chatting.

Everything was as usual.

Except my heartbeat!

It was a little faster than usual.

~

We reached school and got engaged in our regular activities. I also learned that yesterday's video went viral on Facebook and almost everyone at school was showing me thumbs up or winking at me. I don't use Facebook so I didn't know anything about it.

Some juniors came to me telling me that my 'speech' really inspired them to stand up for themselves and protect others who can't. Also, some said that they apologized to people they were bullying and made friends with them like I did.

Children possess this ability to forgive and forget about things pretty fast. They don't have ego issues like adults. I was thrilled and beyond happy. I never thought that my little move will make such a difference.

At lunch the girl from yesterday also came to me thanking me for what I did for her. She told us that her name is Katherine Parker. She was such a sweet soul and a really pretty girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. Her unusual features stunned me. 

I offered her to sit with us which she happily accepted. Rest of the lunch time passed by with three of us chatting and introducing ourselves. Rest of the day went by pretty fast. Soon we were at Alex's home sitting in his room. He looked quite better than before.

A maid brought us snacks and drinks and we had our random chit chat. I was trying to make myself ready to ask Alex about his issue with Xavier Millers but I couldn't gather up enough courage. Sandi was also giving me helpless looks.

Whatever Isabella you have to do it!

"Alex," I finally called him.