I opened the door of my house and I was surprised to find three pairs of eyes looking at me. I totally forgot that they were coming back on that day.

"You my dear have a lot to explain!" mom was the one who said that. She stood in the middle of the living room with her hands on her chest and a serious look on her face.

Sherry ran to me and hugged me tightly.

"Woah, look at you! Someone might think she is the one who came back from a long journey after weeks," dad commented, amused by Sherry but what he didn't know was I really came back from a long journey, from the journey of life and death.

"Wait, Is that...Is that blood?" mom asked, only now noticing the dried blood stains on my blouse. She quickly walked to me and inspected it close "Did something happen? Are you okay?" she asked looking into my eyes, I could see how worried she was through her eyes.

"No, mom. It's not my blood," I told her before realising what I said and quickly corrected myself, "I mean it's not blood, we had a science project on something so this ended on my shirt," I lied hoping that the blouse was dark enough to support my lies.

"Ah," she nodded falling for it.

"So, where were you till this late?" she asked pointing at the watch on the wall. I looked at it and realised it was pretty late, it read 1am.

"Like I said we had a science project. It's deadline is tomorrow so we were busy getting it done. And I lost track of time. Sorry, it won't happen again," I lied to her again, I was telling so many lies on one day, correction night.

"And who is the guy that dropped you here, your boyfriend?" Dad asked and after seeing my questioning look he added, "We heard a car outside and when we looked on the window we saw a guy dropping you here."

"Oh, no...that wasn't my boyfriend. It was Kyle, one of the guy we were doing project with. He is Betty's boyfriend," I answered him. I could see him relieved after hearing that. I have never seen Dad being all Dady over boys before. Maybe that was because I never brought home any guy before.

Mom looked at me closer inspecting if there was any hint of lies, I knew she wouldn't find any because after the day's events I was too tired for other emotions to show on my face.

"You can ask Betty if you don't believe me, she was there with me," I told her. It wasn't entirely false though. Betty was there and we had a project which deadline was today, not a science one though.

"I believe you," Mom told me and then hugged me tightly, "I really missed you," she told me after releasing me.

Dad walked to me and hugged me too, "missed you kiddo," he told me. He then released me and looked at me with a smile on his face. "Tell me.. how do you feel being eighteen? Being officially an adult?" Dad asked jokingly reminding me of my birthday which felt like it was years ago when it was just few days ago.

"I feel old," I answered him with a smile and they laughed at that. Sherry stayed quiet looking at me, she must have been so worried and I'm sure she was dying to hear every detail of what happened but that wasn't the right time so she stayed there quite holding it all in.

"I'm sorry we couldn't be here on your birthday, I promise you we will have a big party this weekend to celebrate your birthday. You can invite all your friends. And before you say no to the party, please let me do that to atleast release some of my guilty, will you?" she asked and much to her surprise I nodded agreeing for the party. Although I was feeling down a while ago, my mood started to light up with her here, with my family around.

"So, what did we miss?" she asked in excitement so that we can fill her in on what she missed when she was gone. Mom likes to know everything happening to us. She would sit and listen to even the smallest things happening to us, and we usually have a lot to tell her, except that time.

"Nothing much," I lied. And that was the biggest lie I ever told in my entire life.

* * * *

I closed my eyes as I smelled waffles when I entered the kitchen. That's the morning I was used to, that was a normal morning. I missed that.

I was planning to pretend to be sick and rest at home after the event of the say before but I wanted to see Luke, I wanted to know if he was okay, and if I pretended to be sick mom wouldn't let me get out of bed the whole day let alone leave the house and so I wouldn't have been able to go to Luke's home to see him.

"Kayla, thank God you're here. I was starting to be afraid you will never get down on time. Come here and have some breakfast," mom told me as she put some waffles on a plate for me.

"I thought you are not going to school today, don't you need to rest?" Sherry asked me.

"Why does she need to rest? She isn't even sick and she went to bed the same time as you yesterday, plus didn't she say she had a project which was due today. On top of that she is in her final year, what would you do if her grades drop? And who are you to decide that she needs rest, a doctor! Stop saying nonsense and finish your breakfast, you don't have all day!" She told Sherry with a scowl and hands on her waist. Sherry just pouted at her. I looked at them amused. Mom and Sherry disagreeing on everything was a normal routine, they would disagree even in the smallest things. And guess who always team up with mom? You got that right, me.

"Yeah Sherry, why should I rest? Do you want me to fail in my final year," I said dramatically.

Sherry's mouth dropped, she looked at me in disbelief. I just shrugged and smiled at her lovingly. It wouldn't do me any good if I argue against mom.

We finished our breakfast in five minutes before kissing Mom goodbye and headed out. I threw my backpack on the back seat of my car and we got in. Sherry wore her glasses and buried herself in her novel as soon as she got in. I shook my head. Some things will never change. What a Nerd!

There was no jam so it took us less than fifteen minutes to reach school. I parked the car in my daily spot and got out. I stood there staring at the school remembering one of the dreams I had last night.

"What's wrong?" Sherry asked me after seeing me not moving.

"I just remembered one of the dreams I had last night," I answered her.

"What dream? Is it a bad one?" she asked.

"Actually it's opposite of that. Luke proposed to me in the dream, in front of the whole school, " I told her with a wide smile.

"Wow!" she squealed in excitement and I had to cover my ears for few seconds, "Then what are you going to do? Didn't you say all your dreams come true! Is everything happening the same? Wait...Which clothes were you wearing in your dream?" She asked in excitement.

"I chose these clothes today because they were the ones from my dream," I sighed loudly "I think this is more like me wishing for it and imagining scenarios in my head. Luke was stabbed yesterday, he must be lying in bed half concious right now," I told her and immediately felt sad remembering the state I left Luke with yesterday. Although he was concious and was able to move with the help of someone he still didn't look too good. I wanted to stay with him the whole night but the thought of leaving Sherry alone in the house didn't sit right with me. By the time I forgot that our parents were coming back that day and even if I would have remembered that would have been more of a reason to go back. Kyle offered to stay with him, so I left with relief.

"Oh.." she muttered as she recalled what I told her yesterday. Sherry pestered me to tell her what happened, if everyone was safe and what happened to Logan and his crew. Although I was tired I had to tell her every single detail, she deserved atleast that much from me. Sherry has been the source of strength for me all that time. She has always been beside me, supporting me.

I heard my phone ringing and I smiled after seeing the caller id, I picked it up as we walked inside the school.

"Hey girl," Betty greeted me cheerfully and I immediately light up after hearing her cheerful voice. Betty is someone who always tries to cheer up others, sometimes it's not easy to figure out how she is feeling. I have been best friends with her for ten years so I know her, she didn't need to tell me that she was still hurting by her father's death. I know she is still hurting and she needs time to heal and her being like that was one of her way to cope with her sorrows. I only needed to silently stay beside her and only from time to time to remind her that I'm right beside her.

"Hey chipmunk, what's up?" I greeted her. Chipmunk was my nickname for her. I always tell her she is always all over the place like a chipmunk.

"Where are you? I have been looking for you," she asked before pausing and added "You're coming to school right?"

"Yeah, I had to. I am already here, at the halls," I told her as I look around searching for her.

"You are at the halls? That's where I am, which part are you in? Wait, I think I saw you...no no, 8 o'clock," I looked at where she directed me and saw her standing there waving at me. We walked to where she was as I disconnected the call.

"What's up kiddo?" Betty greeted Sherry cheerfully even though she knew how much Sherry hates the name. Sherry scowled at the nickname but she ended up smiling nevertheless.

"Did you talk to Kyle? He wasn't answering my calls," I asked Betty. I was worried about Luke. What if his condition worsened over night?

"Nope, I didn't. I haven't talked to him since last night. Don't worry Luke will be fine, he just need some time to recover. And Kyle is probably busy tending to him that's why he wasn't answering. If they won't pick up till the end of school, I'll take you myself to see your Romeo," she told me winking at me as she mentioned Romeo.

"He is not my Romeo, Luke and I aren't...why am I even explaining this to you. You'll never stop, will you?" I told her with a sigh.

"Nope," she answered grinning. She then intertwined my hand with hers on one side and Sherry's on the other side as she dragged us down the hall. "Now let's go to class and get this day over with!" she announced cheerfully as she continued dragging us.

"But my class is in opposite direction," Sherry complained but that didn't stop Betty from dragging her too. Poor Sherry, she will have a hard time getting back all the way here on time. I smiled.

* * * * *

I sighed in relief after hearing the lunch break bell. I thought I was going to die out of boredom from that period, we had history and I was never a fan of it. And being hungry didn't help it's case. I collected my books and immediately walked out of the class so that I can go get my lunch. I came to a stop abruptly when someone grabbed my hand.

"Where are you going?" Betty asked me.

"To the Cafeteria obvious," I answered her "by the way, what are you doing here?"

"I came to get you for lunch silly!" she playfully hit my shoulder and I looked at her suspiciously. Since when have we been getting each other for lunch? Mine and Betty's classes before lunch are in opposite directions that's why we have always been going to the cafeteria separately.

"Wait I forgot something in my class, let's go get it," she told me as she finished texting someone. She then proceeded to drag me in the direction of her class, not even bothering to wait for my answer.

"Was that Kyle?" I asked her. I wanted to know how look was doing if it was Kyle.

"Nope, just some girl I am in the same class with," she answered.

We reached to her class and she told me to wait outside as she goes in to take what she left there. She came back few minutes later and we started heading to the cafeteria.

"Did you get it?" I asked her.

"Get what?" she asked as she texted someone.

"What you forgot," I sighed. "What did you forget anyway?" I asked her. That was so unlike Betty, I was curious what was that important thing she forgot that made her waste her precious lunch time to go back for it.

"Just something," she told me as she put back her phone on her pocket. She then stopped as if she forgot something or as if she was thinking something. I just looked at her questioningly.

"I think I got my period, escort me to the washroom," she told me before grabbing my arm and started dragging me to the direction of washroom.

We reached in the washroom and I stayed there waiting, and waiting and waiting and- I checked my watch.

"Betty, Is everything okay in there? what are you doing? It has been fifteen minutes already. Lunch time is going to be over in no time at this rate," I told her with a sigh.

She walked out a minute later and smiled at me "False alarm, hush! I was worried for nothing," she proceeded to washing her hands. My jaw dropped at that.

"It took you fifteen minutes to realize it was false alarm?" I asked in disbelief.

"Hey, I had to make sure! And it's not like lunch time is over, we still have time. Let's go," she told me as she took my hand and drag me outside of the washroom. I sighed, I sure was being dragged a lot today.

We entered the cafeteria and my eyes widened at the sight. I was so shocked to move.

The cafeteria was decorated with balloons and at the back there was a big banner which was written "I love you Kayla " in a nice, cute manner. At the back the group of cheerleaders which was led by Britney stood on tables in their cute short cheerleader outfits holding small banners reading "will you be my girlfriend?", they were also standing in a well organised style. They were followed by a group of football team who were standing on the floor in their uniform holding their hand on their chest and standing in style and infront stood their captain, Luke with a smile on his face and a single beautiful red rose on his hand. He was wearing a different style yet a simple outfit but he still managed to look more sexy.

He walked in front of me and kneeled down with one leg and asked, "Kayla Dalton, will you be my girlfriend?" The whole cafeteria squealed in joy, I could feel the pairs of jealousy girls eyes on me. I still stood there in shock. What is this? I thought Luke was still in bed unwell, and how the hell did he get Britney in this? What am I saying, Britney would do anything Luke asked for. Betty and Sherry came and stood infront of the football team with Kyle, they were all smiling at me.

"Is that a no?" my eyes immediately shifted back to Luke after hearing him saying that.

"Of course not," I quickly denied "I just-

"Then it's fine, as long as it's not a no," he told me with a smile as he stood up and hugged me tightly. I hugged him back happily. I could hear a lot of people cheering for us.

"You didn't have to do all this, you're not even well," I told him as we continued to embrace each other without caring our audience.

"I didn't want to waste anymore minute, I wanted to be with you. I always have, from the moment my eyes fell on you, I love you," he told me and from that moment nothing else mattered. I knew that there was no any other place I would rather be. I hugged him tightly.

"I love you too Luke," I whispered on his ear as I hug him even tighter.

I then decided something; I was not going to dwell on the past anymore, or what happened in the past weeks or think about what will happen tomorrow. Or even wonder if everything can go back to normal. I am going to live everyday to the fullest, like there's no tomorrow.

~The End.