I was at Bella's house with Ricky and Kailey. I was stressing over the election, trying to think of any possible way to come out on top. This was my last try, after all.

I was also studying. I had my school computer on the desk in front of me, a notebook on my right and my binder on my left.

Bella put on one of her favorite songs. She was bored of sitting around and decided that music would lift our spirits.

The song played and both Bella and Kailey sang. As Bella sang, she started walking over to me, holding her hands out. The song continued to play as she made it to where I was sitting. She grabbed both of my hands, forcing me to stand up. She sang as she watched me, waiting for me to join.

I sang as I started to dance with my friend.

Kailey went over to Ricky and started getting him to sing and dance as well. Ricky didn't know most of the lyrics, but he still sang along as best he could. I knew all of the lyrics because I hung out around Bella and Kailey way too often. Eventually, we were all singing our hearts out.

I loved times like that. The times where you get caught up in the moment and all you can think about is how much fun you're having. You forget every bad thing that has happened in your life for a brief moment. The only thing on your mind is the lyrics and the sound, and the happy feeling that comes along with that.

After the song ended, Bella's phone went to the next song on her playlist. I was done with the little bit of dancing we had done and decided to get back to the work that I was doing before. Bella plopped down on the couch right along with Kailey.

"I want to go to a party." Bella said with a sigh as she did her makeup.

The mention of a party grabbed my attention. Any excuse to drink was enough to convince me. "Same, let's go."

Bella scoffed. "Well we have to find one to go to, Eli."

"I don't really want to go to a party." Kailey mumbled. "Besides, we can't just show up to one."

"Not to mention the fact that it's the middle of the week." Ricky noted as he rubbed circles on his girlfriend's back. "Who the hell is throwing a party today?"

Everything they were saying was true. Obviously there was no way of getting to a party tonight. I had only ever been to one party in my entire life and it was the day ever. It was an excuse to get shit-faced and no one would bat an eye. I didn't have an annoying bug in my ear telling me to stop. 

"Let's just go to The Hill." Kailey suggested.

The Hill was a specific field with a large hill in our town that people often went to hang out. People would bring food and have picnics, they would have family reunions, and other simple fun things.

I used to go there all of the time with Lily, it was 'our spot'. It was where we shared every good and bad thing about our lives with each other. It was where she comforted me and told me that everything was going to be alright. It was where we hung out to simply stare at the clouds. It was where I came out to her.

After the accident I couldn't bring myself to go back.

Bella and Ricky stayed silent, looking at me wearily. Kailey, realizing what she said, immediately backtracked. "Or...anywhere else."

I knew exactly why they were acting like that. They all looked at me, awaiting my reaction. They were probably thinking I was going to immediately say that I did not want to go, just as I had done for the past year.

When I didn't respond, Ricky said, "Or the park. Let's go to the park."

So we arrived at the park. 

I, for one, have always hated bees. I hated insects in general, but especially bees. They really only sting you if you mess with them, but I still avoided them at all costs. I would hate to get stung but those round yellow balls.

So, when I saw the devilish striped yellow ball, I immediately backed up. My friends shook their heads once they realized my fear was from such a small insect.

"It's just a bee, they're sweet." Kailey said softly, smiling at the bee.

I didn't care what she said. Bee's sting, just like wasps. I wouldn't go near anything that stings. I wasn't being childish for being cautious around bees. Also, my fear of the insect went a bit deeper than simply not liking them.

But when that oh so friendly bee stung Kailey, everyone's jaws dropped.

Kailey screamed and swatted at the bee, but the damage had already been done. Ricky rushed to his girlfriend's side as she groaned from the stinging pain. Bella took Kailey's arm and looked at where the bee stung her.

And what was I doing? I was losing my shit. 

"Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit." I cursed to myself as I ran my hands through my hair in distress. I looked at Kailey, panicked. "Are you allergic?"

Kailey didn't respond to me, she was too focused on the swollenness of her arm. But I needed her to respond to me.

"Kailey!" I yelled. This got the attention of all three of my friends. Kailey raised an eyebrow, tears brimming her eyes I assumed from the pain. I asked Kailey again, "Are you allergic?"

"She's never been stung before Elias, she doesn't know." Ricky said, his voice was firm but not harsh.

She didn't know? She had no clue whether or not she was allergic to bee stings. That wasn't the answer I was looking for.

This cannot be happening again.

"Do you need— I can...get—hospital? 911?" I sputtered out incoherent sentences. My heart was racing and my breathing quickened. "Can she breathe?"

I suddenly thought back to a year ago.

"Can you breathe?" I asked, my voice quivering and my body trembling. I watched silently as she gasped for air, her body lying in grass.

She gripped onto my forearm and pulled me closer. She continued to gasp as she tried to choke out a sentence, but I couldn't understand. She then pointed to her backpack.

"What? What's in your backpack?" I asked, my panic rising. When she didn't respond I started to rummage through her backpack that was on the ground next to us. I had no clue what I was looking for so I threw out all sorts of things. Eventually everything was out of the main compartment of her backpack and I had found nothing useful.

"Help!" I screamed. Some of the people around us looked at me as I cried for help, yet none of them came over to us. Though, I had no idea what they could possibly do to help.

Suddenly, taking me out of my trance, I felt a pair of small hands on my shoulders. I watched as Bella's mouth moved and noise came out, but it took me a minute to understand what she was saying.

"Breathe, Eli, breathe."

Breathe.

"Kailey is fine. Look at her, she's okay." She said in a calming manner.

Bella's braids moved with her head as she turned to gesture toward Kailey. I followed her gesture and took a long moment to study Kailey.

Kailey wasn't 'fine' per se. She had just been stung so she was obviously in pain. But, she definitely wasn't dying. She hadn't broken out into hives and she was breathing fine. She looked okay. 

Bella rubbed my shoulder as I felt my nerves begin to calm down. I let out a breath of frustration. My friends all gave me looks of sympathy.

This was embarrassing.

I had just freaked out in front of my three best friends. Sure, they've seen me freak out before, but that never changed how embarrassed I felt afterward.

They knew why I was so scared, they knew why I was panicking. After the accident a year ago, I had been overly paranoid at every little thing. I thought I had gotten over it, but I guess not.

Kailey walked over to me, her good arm holding her stung arm. "I'm alright. Okay? I'm okay."

"You okay, E?" Ricky asked me, his voice soft.

I hated when they got all soft on me. I knew they were only being nice, but it pissed me off. I let out a shaky breath and ran my fingers through my curly hair, trying to hide my embarrassment.

"Yeah, let's go." I mumbled as I started walking toward the picnic table, not looking to see if my friends were following behind me.

-

Studying was what I was doing, it was what I always did when I had down time. It kept me occupied and stopped my mind from wandering. Easton and Emerson were at work and my aunt was in her room, so I got to be alone as I studied in the kitchen while listening to music.

Unlike the perfect Javier Cortez, I had to study to keep my grades up. The only reason I knew that Javier never studied was because I often would look at his social media. We didn't follow each other on it, but his Instagram page was public so I could see everything. He was always doing something whether that be a party or a school event. There was no time for him to study if he was always anywhere but his home, right?

I picked up my phone, deciding to check in on my rival to see what he was up to. I went to his page and sighed when I saw nothing new.

Why do I feel disappointed? I don't care whether or not he posts.

I put my phone back on the counter and turned my attention to my work. The urge to throw all of my work into a shredder was almost to the max when a notification came up on my phone. I looked, it was Instagram.

javiercortez232 requested to follow you

My heart dropped. All of these years, why was he requesting to follow me now? We weren't friends. I had my account private for a reason. Why would I ever let him in?

I decided that I was not going to accept it. I went back to reading on and on about whatever the fuck we were learning in history class. Spoiler alert, I had no idea what we were learning in history class. Damn, it was a real struggle trying to be top of the class. All of the studying wore me out, but studying until I couldn't anymore was better than letting my mind wander.

A twenty dollar bill was silently being slid in front of me. My brother, Easton, had gotten home from work and was giving me cash like he did every week. I looked at him, but he refused to meet my eyes. He looked incredibly tired as he took a deep breath before silently walking away, I assumed to go take a shower.

That was when I noticed my sister standing in front of the refrigerator. I wondered how I completely missed the fact that both my siblings had entered the house. Sure, my music was loud and I was busy thinking about the asshole that everyone loves, but still. If Easton and Emerson were murderers, I would be long dead.

"Did you drink all of the milk?" Emerson asked me, irritation evident in her voice.

"I'm lactose intolerant." I replied as I paused my music.

Emerson scoffed. "Like that's ever stopped you."

She was right, it never stopped me. There was nothing in this world that could make me stop enjoying the great things that are made with milk. Yes, I regret it every time, but in the moment I love it. 

Resuming my music, I went back to staring blankly at my work. Staring at my work was my attempt to study. Unfortunately, all I could think about was Mr. Perfect. What was he thinking trying to follow me? Why did he think I would ever in my right mind accept it? I mean, I only had two posts on Instagram, both of which I was forced to post. He was never going to see anything that I did not want him to see because I don't post what I don't want people to see. But still, that didn't mean I wanted to accept his request.

I was startled for the third time that night when a McDonald's bag was plopped down in front of me. I paused my music before Emerson mumbled, "Almost forgot to give this to you."

And with that, Emerson walked off. I smiled at the kind gesture from my sister. She knew I hadn't eaten a proper dinner. Not that McDonald's was a proper dinner, but it was better than ramen noodles for the fifth time in a row.

And as I ate while the music played, I thought more about the guy that I hated. Maybe he only wanted me to accept his follow request because he is plotting something to make me lose the class election. Or maybe he wanted to do something to turn all of my friends against me. Nothing good could come out of me accepting his follow request.

So then why the hell did I accept it?