(06)

THE LESSON HAD ended and the group were packing their stuff up, ready to go to their next lesson. They were all standing besides Kade who was still seated, leaning on the table.

Blake slightly nudged him and Kade immediately raised up his head," I'm awake. I'm fine." He blurted.

Aria observed Kade from behind, she squinted her eyes at him since he's been acting weird or she might say tired for the past few days.

"Okay." Blake muttered as he stared at Kade quickly packing up and they finally exited the classroom. Kade was walking between Aria and Luca towards their next class.

Kade could see Aria glancing at him with a weird look in her eyes and he could have almost taken that as worry in her eyes but he didn't want to believe that.

"Hey Kade, you okay?" Luca asked, looking over at the boy next to him who was getting paler and paler every minute.

Kade slowly looked at Luca and then at Aria, "Oh, I'm... I'm fine." He mumbled before his vision went blurry and soon black. He pitched forward, making no effort to recover or even break the fall. He hit the ground like a ton of bricks - he was out before he even connected.

Aria gasped and quickly fell on her knees, holding his unconscious body in her arms. "Kade," she softly muttered as she checked his forehead while they rest gawked at the sight with worried eyes.

"Luca, he's burning up." She softly muttered and Luca could almost hear her voice cracking as she wrapped her hands tightly around him.

"He'll be fine, Aria." Luca reassured her as he slowly lifted Kade and put Kade's arms on his and Blake's shoulder, carrying him to the Medical.

♕ ♕ ♕

Kade slowly opened his eyes, his head was still spinning but he felt better than before. He slowly looked around the room, white curtains, white ceiling and he himself was on a bed with the IV drip attached to his hand. He was in the Medical room.

His eyes soon lingered to a figure sitting on the chair right next to him. Her legs crossed as her eyes looked over at the book in her hands.

As if she felt his gaze, she glanced at him and lowered her book. "Oh, you're awake." Aria whispered as she sighed in relief.

"Yeah," he mumbled awkwardly as he slowly tried to sit up but was struggling to do so.

"Let me help you." She gave him a small smile as she got up from the chair and kept her hands on his shoulder, steadying him up.

"Thanks." He muttered as she gave him a small nod and sat herself down.

"Blake and Luca carried you here and left for their classes" she informed him and he nodded before glimpsing at her.

"Why are you still here?" Kade muttered, his forehead furrowed.

"Do you want me to leave?" She raised her eyebrow and was about to stand up.

"Stay. Please." He softly spoke and she gave him a nod, "Okay."

"How long has it been since you've slept?" She peered at him, almost frowning.

"What's it to you? He scoffed at her, "No one cares about me anyways." He snickered at her.

"Just cause we argue everyday doesn't mean I don't care about you." She sighed, looking at him softly.

"Why are you being so nice to me all of a sudden?" He squinted his eyes at her.

She focused on Kade, "I care about you," she spoke, gentleness lacing every word.

"You do?" He asked, almost finding it unbelievable that the girl he always fought with is saying such kind words to him. Though it wasn't the first time. Aria had always managed to comfort him when they were younger and he would always run to her.

He saw her nod her head with a small smile.

"You don't hate me?" He gazed at her, his lips quivering.

"I do." She curtly replied and saw him frown but she soon chuckled, "Only when you annoy the fuck out of me." She bit her lip, holding back the grin.

"I don't hate you too." He gave her a small grin, his sapphire eyes sparkling.

"I guess we're finally on good terms. After what sixteen years of bickering?" She shook her head with a small smile.

"I knew you always admired me from afar," Kade snorted as his lips twitched into a smile.

"That was you! You always punched guys who came near me!" She pointed a finger at him, a grin growing on her face.

"My mum forced me to take care of you and protect you!" He defended himself, crossing his arms.

"That's your way of protecting me? You weirdo." She snorted, rolling her eyes.

"At least it worked," he retorted.

His eyes slightly widened when he saw her getting up from her seat and turning around to walk away but he quickly grabbed her hand.

"Where are you going?" He breathed out heavily.

"You need to eat something so I'm going to the canteen." She shrugged and saw him shaking his head, "No. I don't wanna eat anything."

"Are you saying that so I could stay here?" She chuckled, raising her eyebrow.

She saw him widening his eyes and gasping, "Stop sprouting shit." He grumbled.

"Okay, I'll look around the room." She scoffed and then pointed to her hand which was grasped by him, "Leave my hand, will you?"

He quickly left her hand and she walked away while he rested back on the bed.

She soon came back with oranges in her hands, "I found these in the fruit basket," she gave him a small smile and sat back on the chair.

She kept the oranges on the plate which was on the table as she moved her hand to his forehead and checked his temperature.

"You fever came down. Good." She smiled, taking back her hand.

"You're a doctor now?" He chuckled as he saw her peeling oranges.

"You knew me ever since we were born. Did you forget that my dad is a billionaire doctor who owns hospitals and medical centres all around the world?" She raised her eyebrow at him.

"I know that." He rolled his eyes.

"You should also know that I know hundred ways on how to painfully kill you," she grinned, shoving a slice of orange into his mouth.

"You're the least scary person!" Kade snorted, still chewing on the slice.

"God, you take so long to eat one slice." She scoffed and shoved another piece into his mouth.

"Hey! Stop shoving slices into my mouth! Can you like be patient?" Kade rolled his eyes.

"Was I ever mistaken for a patient person?" Aria scoffed, shoving another slice into his mouth.

"No." He mumbled before Aria shoved another slice, yet again.

After he was done eating the oranges, they sat there in silence. Kade closed his eyes and rested in peace while Aria continued reading her book. It was a comfortable silence.

Until someone broke it.

"Is someone here?" The pair heard a new, loud voice and turned their heads around when they saw a brunette boy opening the curtains which separated the beds in the room.

Aria's eyes landed on him and then on his bruised knuckles.

His blue eyes widened once his eyes landed on the two staring at him, "Shit. Sorry. I'm looking for the nurse." He hissed and took a step back.

"She's on a break." She curtly replied and stared back at his bruises.

"Oh. Do you know where the bandages are?" The brunette asked awkwardly, pointing to his bruises.

Aria knew where every medical supply was in this room. After all, her dad was the one donating costly medical supplies to this school.

"I'll help you with those." She spoke and got up from her seat, walking towards him.

"Aria." Kade muttered, glaring at the guy.

She turned around to face Kade, "I'll be back quick." She gave him a small smile before gesturing the brunette towards the cupboard.

"You can sit there." She pointed to the chair while she dug into the cupboards and quickly grabbed the ointments and bandages.

"You're Aria?" The brunette mused as she applied ointment to his bruises.

"As far as I know." She mumbled making him chuckle.

"You didn't change at all." He muttered and she looked at him for a second before going back to tender his bruises.

"You don't remember me?" He slightly frowned as she started wrapping bandages around his hands.

"I'm terrible at names and faces." She scoffed, glancing at him.

"Hmm, I knew that." He slightly grinned at her.

"Why bother asking?" She rolled her eyes. "Did you get into a fight?" She scoffed.

"It's my first day here and I got into a fight with some senior." He scoffed while she slowly nodded her head.

"Thanks." He grinned at her when she was done wrapping the bandages and she gave him a slight nod before putting the box back into the cupboard.

She saw him pushing the door as he was about to leave the room but he looked at her and gave her a small grin.

"I'm Carson Walker. The guy's arm you broke alongside Ellis Young. See you soon, Aria." He winked at her and left. While she stood there, lips slightly parted.

are you enjoying the book so far?

elle x