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evangeline blackwood

"You're actually so smart, it makes me physically ill." I fake gag as Ashanti gets her test back.

She laughs it off, as usual, and then points to mine. "So are you."

Well I'll be a bitch.

I got an A.

I blink at the test, certain that I must've been marked wrong. Looking up to see Mr Ali staring at me, he sends me a quick nod, confirming that this was indeed my score.

"This change of events will not revoke my humility." I reply after a few moments of mental processing. "How the fuck did I get an A?"

"Magic?" 'Shanti offers, chucking as Morgan barges through the classroom door, late as usual, and with a McDonalds bag.

He speaks to Ali for a moment before noticing us and walking over.

"Want some, Darlin'?" He pulls out 3 large burger boxes, smile widening.

"Nah, thanks though."

"Princessa?" He turns to Ashanti.

"Call me that again and I'll punch you." She rolls her eyes, grabbing one of the burgers and eating it despite Ali's quite vocal disapproval.

"Ashanti, you need to stop being so morbidly angry all the time!" Morgan exclaims, sarcasm leaking into his tone. "Loosen up! Be happy."

I stifled a laugh as I notice him shuffle his chair back away from her.

Ashanti scowls at him with clenched fists, "Emotions are nothing but an endless distraction. They're pointless."

"Anger is an emotion." He points out.

"Anger is a mindset, a choice. So shut the fuc-"

Without warning, the door slams open and some random kid rushes in shouting. "Does anyone know first aid? Some kids collapsed."

"Ev-"

I jump up, Ashanti and Morgan grabbing their food and following as I rush out the classroom and follow the kid.

Phoenix is on the floor in the next classroom over. With his eyes shut and his entire body shaking.

Pushing through the crowd of people around him, I tell Ashanti to go get his brothers and sister.

"Fuck," I mutter as I get on my knees beside him.

Morgan's next to me.

"Get your phone and time it." I instruct him, shrugging my jacket off, folding it and placing it under Phoenix's head.

"Hey, Phoenix? It's Evan. Can you hear me?" I try to say softly, waiting for him to stop shaking. "Has he ever had a seizure before?" I ask Morgan.

"Um. Yeah, yeah." Morgan rushes, "Hospital put it down to stress, I think. Or at least that's what I think Donnie said."

"Okay." I nod, inhaling deeply. "You're okay, Phoenix. You're safe."

I repeat them words, again and again, until he completely stops shaking.

"What does the timer say?" I direct the question to Morgan as I delicately move the 15 year old into the recovery position.

"3 minutes, 12 seconds."

"Okay, that's fine. But we need to call an ambulance if he doesn't wake up soon." I inform him, leaning over Phoenix so I can take his pulse and monitor his breathing before putting him in the recovery position.

"PHOE,"

Rory's voice echoes throughout the classroom and I can hear her footsteps coming closer and closer until she's in front of us. Her entire body locks.

"He had a seizure. Evan got me to time it and now we're just waiting for him to wake up." Morgan stands up and puts his arm around her as Adonis and Apollo appear.

"Can someone get the school nurse, please?" I snap at the unmoving onlookers who had literally just stood staring at us. A few of them shuffle a few steps back but only one or two actually leave the room.

Adonis seems to notice my frustrations and raises his voice, "Get out. Now."

And then they all fuck off.

Finally.

Apollo kneels down on the opposite side of Phoenix, grabbing his brother's hand and speaking gently. "Phoe, can you hear me? Come on, man."

Phoenix's eyes flutter slightly but he doesn't open them fully. The only sign of him being awake is the quiet groan he lets out before squeezing Apollo's hand back.

The school nurse rushes in and I stand back as she instructs Apollo to carry him to her office. Morgan's arm is around my shoulder but I don't process what is going on until Apollo comes back, running his hand through his hair.

"She'll come get us when she's sorted him out. Told us to wait in the library instead of going back to lessons."

We all nod and follow after him, apart from Rory who heads to the exit doors without another word.

******

It's been over an hour since Phoenix's seizure and the nurse still hasn't came and retrieved us.

To pass the time, I'd informed Ashanti of Adonis' visit yesterday while catching her up on our newfound friendship.

"So he came to your house beaten up? Then you took him home after Morgan's party? And he came to see you yesterday? Wow."

Her eyebrows furrow as if she's thinking about something. I read a few more pages of Pride and Prejudice as we sit in silence.

Ashanti watches me from across the table, prodding her own book in disinterest. The rest of the library faded into a dull buzz. She looked like she was trying to figure something out.

"'Shanti?"

"Huh?"

I kicked her under the table, causing her to cry out in pain and then try to pull it off as a cough at the questioning stares she receives. "I'm busy."

"Stop it."

"I'm trying to picture it." She teases, nodding her head towards the table where Adonis was sat with Apollo and Morgan. Their books also lay discarded on the table.

"Picture what?" I hiss.

"Your kids, duh." She rolls her eyes.

"Ashanti, please stop." I complain, my embarrassment becoming noticeable as I begin to blush.

"I'm trying to decide."

"Decide what?" I muttered through clenched teeth, attempting to swallow my rising anxiety.

"I would." She confirms, nodding her head. "I definitely would."

"Fucks sake."

"He's fit. Not Morgan fit but still fit."

"Why are you just obsessed?" My voice practically begs her to drop it and she looks at me like I'm completely crazy.

"Are you dumb?" She exclaims, "Right, E, let me just get you up to speed here. He defended you against Julian, right? And nearly killed Phoenix for pushing you aggressively the other day. He even came to see you yesterday when he thought you were ill. He's husband material and you deserve someone good after all this time."

"He's just a good friend." I try to defend but it gets lost when she points to their table. My head turns instantly and I catch Adonis already looking at me. He looks away instantly as he notices my stare but it doesn't stop the blush creeping up his neck.

Ashanti makes a noise that I'm positive isn't human. "How fucking cute."

"Stop it." I hiss, linking my fingers together as I rest my elbows on the table. "You're so embarrassing."

"Shut up, it's my job."

"Have you texted Rory?"

She blinks, biting her lip. "She texted me back saying that she'll call me later."

"I'm worried about her, man." I sign, "And Phoenix,. There's something going on with him, there must be."

"Well I think we're about to find out." She nods, gesturing towards the door. The twins and Morgan stand up and go towards her, with Adonis lingering back slightly gesturing for us to come with him.

I walk next to him, not ignoring the way his hand skims mine but I don't make any move to grab it and neither does he.

"I've phoned your father and he said that your brother has a history of seizures and fainting. This incident, however, seems to be caused by malnourishment and dehydration. His blood glucose levels dropped to a dangerous level, triggering the fit. He's skipped too many meals and seriously needs to start eating a balanced diet so these events can be avoided." She checks her notes, before looking directly at Apollo. "I can recommend a counsellor if necessary but if this happens again, I'll have no choice but to refer him to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. I'm concerned about his weight and the fact this was put down to stress."

She leaves us soon after her revelation. We stand in silence and I feel weirdly out of place as the Walkers surround Phoenix. Ashanti, possibility for the first time, looks oddly uncomfortable too.

Adonis storms out, slamming the door behind him. I wince as I hear him shouting in the corridor. Apollo's eyes flicker and, from across the room, I can see the glossy glimmer in his eyes.

"He's so small." He mumbles, running his fingers up Phoenix's exposed arms. "So tiny. How didn't I notice?"

"E." I look up as Morgan says my name softly, "Go after him. Please."

"Okay." I send Phoenix one final look and leave once I see Ashanti grab Morgan's hand and lean into his embrace.

I search the corridors aimlessly until I hear a fist hitting a wall. Storming into the male bathrooms, I catch Adonis ramming his fist into the mirror. Broken glass sprays all around us and blood begins to weep across his knuckles.

"Fuck." He mutters, not having realised that I'm behind him. "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck."

"Dee." I let out softly, causing him to turn to me rapidly.

"I'm scared. What if..what if..." He trails off, tears caressing his cheeks. I wrap my arms around him and his head burrows into my shoulder, his hands gripping my back as if his very life depended on it.

"It's okay. It's going to be fine, Dee. Just wait. He'll get through this." I whisper encouragements as his tears wetten my shirt. I don't mind though, running my fingers through the hair on the base of his neck. "It's going to be alright, Adonis. Okay? I'm here."

Confession: I think Rory's struggling too.