~song of the day~

Dove's POV

One week later

Letting a deep breath out my lips, I push through the glazed doors and step into the school hallway. I pull my hoodie cover over my head and shove my hands into my pocket.

Lately, everyone has wanted to know how I'm doing as I was the closest to Luca. They all thought that the same person who shot Ashley killed Luca. And they all seemed to have an unsolicited opinion about how I should grieve. A part of me blamed myself for his death, while the other was convinced it was his fault. 

After everything Luca had put me through, I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. I was the one who led him on and abused his emotions because I had wanted to make Gray jealous. Just because it didn't mean much to me, I failed to see Luca's feelings. And for that, I blame myself.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see a locker, covered with multiple sticky notes and flowers all over the ground. I stare at Luca's locker, frozen until my eyes get blurry and start to sting.

"Want to leave a message?" I feel a pair of hands rest on my shoulders. I raise my head slightly to see Elliot standing next to me. He holds up a sticky note and a marker.

I shake my head weakly. "I have nothing to say."

"You don't have to say anything. You could just draw a picture or write numbers. Anything," Elliot urges, pushing the paper in my direction.

I knew he wasn't going to give up, so I grab the paper from his hand and walk towards Luca's locker. I place the sticky note on another one since there was no space left. Everyone had something to write about him, both those who knew him and those that didn't. Although, some of the messages were a little less than modest.

My pen lays still in my hands as I consider what to write. I was blank. So, I draw a huge heart that almost covers the entire paper. I proceed to write the same words that has been going through my mind.

I'm sorry.
And thank you.

I write those words in the middle of the heart and take steps backward. A white rose sticks out to my right. I pull my hoodie back to thank whoever handed me the rose.

Gray looks at me with a soft smile, silently urging me to take the rose from his hand. I collect it and walk towards Luca's locker again. The rose had a small sticker paper attached to the stem, so I was able to pin it next to my note.

I let out a small sigh and wipe my face because I didn't trust myself not to cry. Gray wraps his arms around my shoulders as we stare at Luca's locker.

A few minutes after Sabrina had shot Luca, the police arrived and took her away before she could do any more damage. She managed to get three bullets in Luca, the last one being a pierce in his heart. He died on the spot, and I still feel like a part of me died with him. I was also grateful for Gray during this period. He had been there more than anyone else and didn't even complain when I refused to eat for two days after Luca's death. He helped me stay sane, refusing to leave my side for even a minute.

"Would you come with me to see Ashley today?" I ask Gray as we walked away from Luca's locker.

"Do you have a choice?" Gray teases with a brow raise.

I roll my eyes, knowing he was referring to my inability to drive. "So I take that's a yes?"

"Like he could ever say no to you?" Elliott rolls his eyes and enters the classroom.

They say couples start to look alike after dating for a long time. They forget to mention they start to act alike too.

"I'll pick you up after school," Gray pats my back.

"Are you leaving school?" I frown, holding on to his hand.

"I need to visit someone," He says, a stern look on his face.

"Who?"

"My father."

~~~~~~~~~~

Classes were a bore as usual, and I found myself sleeping more often than usual, partly because I wanted to escape reality. After my last period, I walk outside and find Gray, leaning on his locker, waiting for me. He opens the door for me, and I get into his car murmuring a thank you along the way.

"I got you food," Gray holds up a paper bag as he starts the car.

A smile appears on my face at the sight of Demi's pasta paper bag. I hadn't eaten all day because I was avoiding people, and the cafeteria seemed like a death sentence.

"Thank you," I say, pulling the paper bowl out of the bag.

I'm almost done with my food when we pull up to the hospital, so I return the bowl into the bag while Gray packed the car.

The only good thing that had happened this week was Zyair regaining his speech and regular movement of his hands. However, his legs remained paralyzed, and the doctor says there is only a twenty percent chance he can get to walk again.

After his discharge from the hospital, Zyair had upgraded Ashley to the VIP suite he was in previously. He had also been by her side ever since her surgery, more because he wanted to be there for her less than he liked the breakfast sandwiches. His words, not mine.

"Hey," I smile, walking into Ashley's room. She gives me a small smile and waves me in her direction. I place my bag on the side stool next to her bed. "How are you doing, beautiful?"

Zyair presses a button on his electric wheelchair and scoots closer to me.

While the hospital had given him a regular wheelchair, Zyair refused to use it, mentioning that he had enough biceps and wasn't trying to gain more muscles by rolling the wheelchair around. So Mr. Smith got him an electric one.

"I've been a lot better late-"

"She wasn't talking to you," Gray cuts Zyair off.

"She said beautiful. Who else could she have been talking to?" Zyair snorts, folding his arms across his chest.

Ashley raises her middle finger to Zyair, and he throws a huge grin her way. "I'm hungry," She turns to me with a pout.

"You ate all her sandwiches?" I frown, glaring at Zyair.

"No!" Zyair juts out his lower lips in defense and shakes his head. "I only had three."

"They give only three," Gray corrects.

"It's okay. I didn't want the sandwiches either. I had a different meal," Ashley says, grabbing my hand. "I want ice cream. Can you order it for me?"

"Don't listen to her. The doctor placed her on a diet for a week," Zyair retorts, smacking my hands away from Ashley's.

"Why did you hit her when Ashley's the one that grabbed her hand," Gray flinches, standing between Zyair and me.

"Ashley's sick," Zyair raises his head to stare at Gray. He then drops his head in dismay. "I can't live like this."

"Is something wrong?" Gray's cold demeanor breaks as he places his hand on Zyair's shoulder and runs his eyes over Zyair, checking for any signs of discomfort.

"Yes," Zyair's head snaps up. "You know what? Sit every time you want to talk to me. You're built like a fucking skyscraper. That's bad for my neck," Zyair places his hands on his neck, feigning pain.

A sigh of relief escapes Gray's lips, and he runs his hand through his hair. "Even if I sit, you'd still have to raise your head," He snickers.

"Please, my upper body is-"

"Both of you shut up. You're making my pains worse," Ashley places her hand on her head, massaging her temples.

"You got shot on your abdomen," Zyair stares blankly.

"Gray, can you please take your boyfriend outside?" Ashley sneers, lowering herself onto her bed.

"Oh! That reminds me. Mum's having a gender reveal slash baby shower party, and you're all expected to come," Zyair grins, his eyes settling on every one one of us.

"It's in two weeks," he adds.

"Is it a boy or a girl?" I ask, clapping my arms excitedly.

Zyair facepalms himself before dragging his eyes to me, a blank gaze on his face. I could tell he was about to give a smart comment, so I raise my hand to stop him.

"Never mind."

"It's called a gender rev-"

"She said never mind," Gray flicks the back of Zyair's hair with his fingers, cutting him off mid-sentence.

"I'll tell my doctor you bully me," Zyair frowns at Gray.

"At least, it's not mum this time," Gray laughs, and Zyair's face almost turns red.

"It's been 12 years. Let it go."

"I'm going to tell your kids those stories."

"Can you guys please go make love outside!" Ashley almost yells, but her voice still comes out weak. "I want to talk to Dove in private." 

"And I thought we were one big family here," Zyair mutters to himself as Gray wheels him out. I hear him mutter something along the line of I can wheel myself before Gray closes the door.

After they leave, I turn my head to Ashley. "I hope you aren't dying or anything else of that sort," I chuckle half-heartedly.

I hated hospitals for a lot of reasons. One could come here with a bruise or cut, only to find out they are pregnant, have cancer, or have a genetic disorder. Not that I was against diagnosis or anything, but why did they have to find out at that moment. It's like one moment your life is perfect, and you go to the hospital to treat a sprained ankle. Then boom, we wish to inform you that you have bone cancer.

Ashley shakes her head with a small smile. "No, it's good news. I got a call this morning from the University," She bites down on her lips nervously. "I got in."

I gasp and jump to hug her, ensuring my hug wasn't too tight because she wasn't fully healed from her surgery. "That's amazing news. Oh my God. I'm so happy for you."

Growing up, Ashley and I always planned to go to the same university, NYU. But after we fell out two years ago, I had no idea where she applied to. I didn't apply to NYU either. I had picked schools far away from my state because I wanted to get away from everyone and everything as soon as possible.

It's funny how things changed in a year, and now, all I want to do is stay and be with my friends.

"Did you apply to NYU?" I ask, starting to feel guilty I didn't apply to it.

Ashley shakes her head, and small tears dropped from her eyes. "No. Last year, I despised this place and didn't want to remain here. I'm sorry."

She lets her hair fall over her face and cries softly. I wrap my arms around her in return. "No, it's fine. It doesn't matter. I didn't pick it either."

Ashley sniffs and pulls away from me. I tuck her hair behind her ear. "I'll always come and visit you. Even if I have to drive for hours."

"You can't," She shakes her head and flips her hair to her back. "It's in Geneva. The University of Geneva."

My heart sinks, and my tears threatened to fall, but I hold them back. I didn't want to make her feel any worse than she already did. "I'm really happy for you, Ashley. Extremely," I pull her close again. I hug her a little tighter this time and close my eyes.

"You deserve it," I add, patting her back gently.

As we remained in each other's embrace, I couldn't help but think of how the colleges will affect our lives and friendship. Most especially, I didn't think I could survive living so far away from Gray.

••••••••••••••

A/n: Four chapters left including the epilogue ❤️

QOTD- What's your dream school?