CHAPTER 65

'Kiera.' I hear Anna calling my name the next afternoon and I take a deep breath before getting up from the sofa and go to the kitchen where Anna called me from. Instead, I find Katie, Lucy, Lily and Liz. 'Where is your mum?' I ask looking at Lily.

'In the garden,' she replies and I walk towards the garden to see Anna sitting by the bench. I sit opposite her and say 'You called?

'Yes I did,' she replies with a smile on her face. 

'I'm guessing Will told you didn't him?' I ask knowing that I'm correct, not needing to even ask but I somehow feel that I need her confirmation.

'He did, indeed. Why didn't you tell me you were going to accept the offer?' She questions and I knew this question was coming.

'I only decided yesterday and you were at work,' I explain and she nods, taking in my explanation. 'What else did he tell you?' I ask, putting my arms on the table and resting my head on my arms. 

'Well he told me how proud of you he is and I agree with him. I'm also proud of you Kiera,' she says and I can detect the honesty in her voice. I smile and sit up as the conversation has become a little more serious. 

'Thanks,' I say sincerely, not knowing what else I'm supposed to say.

'You don't need to thank me Kiera,' she responds. 

'Does Lily know I accepted the offer?' I ask quietly, afraid of what I'm going to hear. 

'No, she doesn't.' I sigh in relief, happy that she doesn't know. 'But I strongly advise you to tell her,' Anna replies causing me to sigh as the happy feeling has currently disappeared.

'I really don't want to tell her or the others for that matter,' I mutter, covering gym face with my hands.

'Kiera,' Anna says as she removes my hands to look in my eyes. 'How do you think they'll feel if they don't hear this from you?' She asks.

'I honestly don't care.’

'You don't mean that,' she replies.

'I do,' I reply immediately trying to prove her wrong.

'What happened between you?' She questions, raising her eyebrows at me. 

'Lily just chooses everyone over me, it’s like we're not even friends.'

'She is upset you know,' Anna replies. 

'So? She should be. She always manages to make me feel like crap. This whole issue doesn't even concern her yet she still gets involved.' Anna smiles as she rubs my arm in a comforting manner. 

'I still think you should tell them Kiera,' she replies offering me her opinion. Before I have the chance to respond we notice Elaine who says 'Isn't this nice?' I roll my eyes at her comment and choose to ignore it. 

'Hi Elaine, how are you?' Anna asks as Elaine sits down beside her. 

'I'm doing great thanks,' Elaine replies and she turns back to look at me, 'how are you Kiera?'

'Fine,' I reply which seems to be my reply for almost everything.

'Is that so?' She asks and I nod. 'So Will didn't go with you to Clockwork?' She asks narrowing her eyes at me.

'He told you?' I scoff and she smiles. 'Why did he do that?' I was going to tell you.'

'Really?' She sarcastically asks but she seems to be amused at the current situation.

'Yes, I was going to tell you when I told Kaiden because you are his Godmother,' I reply defensively.

'Kiera I am your Godmother too,' she replies and I playfully roll my eyes. 'How do you feel being the leader of Clockwork?'

'Ecstatic,' I sarcastically respond and they chuckle. I stand up and turn to face Anna and say 'I have an appointment, you are coming aren't you?'

'Of course I am,' she replies and I smile, silently thanking her and walk into the house. 

I notice only Katie and Liz are present and they're sitting by the dining table. 'Hey,' Liz says as she notices my presence and I just nod, acknowledging her presence. 'Sit down,' she says patting the seat next to her.

'And why would I want to do that?' I ask, folding my arms yet again and Liz sighs. 

'Kiera, please just sit down,' she replies. I roll my eyes before sitting down next to Liz. 'I heard about you and Joe.'

'I think the entire neighbourhood has,' I mutter loud enough for them to hear.

'Kiera,' Liz sighs.

'Elizabeth,' I reply in the same tone and she scoffs. 'What? You heard about me and Joe, I get it. Is that all you wanted to tell me?' I ask defensively.

'Are you and Joe together?' Katie asks, playing with the ends of her hair as she waits for me to reply. I notice Liz watching me as well and I sigh.

'No.' I reply and Katie raises her eyebrows at me. 'What? Are you going to say I'm lying again? I don’t blame you, I wouldn't believe myself either given my track record.'

'Shut up Kiera I do believe you,' Katie replies and I roll my eyes.

'Whatever,' I mutter.

'I do believe you and I have no problem with you being with Joe,' Katie replies and I scoff loudly. 'What?' She asks.

'Why are you suddenly okay with me being with your ex?' I ask narrowing my eyes at her. 

'I was always okay with it. I'm just not okay with you two doing it behind Jess' back.' She admits and I roll my eyes. 

'I don't want to listen to this and if any of you asked me you would know that we did nothing behind Jess' back except one kiss.' I reply as I stand up. 

'I'm sorry we all assumed.' Katie apologises and I shake my head at her.

‘Isn't that what you all do?' I rhetorically question before leaving the kitchen. I walk up stairs and come face to face with Lily who I've been avoiding.

 'Hey,' she says and I ignore her, intending to walk past her but she grabs my hand and spins me around to face her.

'What do you want?' I ask in a bored tone. 

'We need to talk.'

'Oh really?' I sarcastically ask and she rolls her eyes. 'We don't need to do anything Lily, the sooner you learn to understand that, the better.' I snap, not being able to control my emotions. 

'Kiera I'm sorry,' Lily replies in a quiet tone. 

'Aren’t you always?' I ask and she drags me into her room. I roll my eyes once I see Lucy on her bed texting on her phone. 

'We need to talk,' Lily says and Lucy sighs loudly. I check my watch, realising I have forty minutes before my appointment. 

'I'm going to get changed first,' I reply and Lily folds her arms as she looks at me in a disbelieving gaze. 'I'm not trying to avoid this conversation if that's what you're thinking,' I reply and she sighs allowing me to leave the room which I do.

I quickly get changed in black jeans and a grey hoodie. Releasing my hair from its ponytail, I go back to Lily's room and sarcastically say 'do you believe me now?'

'Shut up Kiera,' she replies and I roll my eyes and lean my back against the wall. 'Are you not going to sit down?' Lily asks.

'I'd rather stand,' I reply stubbornly and Lucy sighs.

'Where are you going?' Lily asks as she points her index finger at me.

'I have an appointment in-' I check my watch before continuing, 'thirty five minutes.'

'Where?' Lily asks and I roll my eyes, feeling sick and tired of her questions.

'Where do you think?' I retort and she sighs, sharing a look with Lucy as they silently speak. 'Hello, if you two are going to talk silently then I might as well just go,' I say and can't help but feel slightly annoyed. They don't say anything so I sigh and turn towards the door. 

'Kiera wait.' Lily says and I turn around to look at her.

'You're just wasting my time and I can't be bothered for this right now. I'll talk to you after my appointment,' I reply and exit the room, not bothering to listen to Lily's reply.

I walk into the kitchen to see Katie and Liz still talking. 'Have you seen Lily and Lucy?' Liz asks as I walk into the room.

'Unfortunately,' I reply without any emotion. 

'Where are they?' Katie questions.

'They're upstairs in Lily's room,' I inform them and they nod.

'Did you talk to them?' Liz asks as they stare at me.

'It depends on what you mean by that.' I shrug my shoulders as if it's not a big deal and they decide to drop the subject. 

'Where are you off to?' Katie asks as she inspects my outfit. 

'I have an appointment,' I inform her as I sit beside Katie.

'About the anorexia, brain tumour or the head injury?' Katie asks raising her eyebrows.

'Katie!' Liz gasps and I smirk at Katie's bluntness.

'Its fine and the anorexia but probably all three,' I reply, answering Katie's question and they both nod their heads.

'So what has been happening with you?' Liz asks curiously as she waits for my answer. I consider telling them about accepting the offer at Clockwork. I mentally list the pros and cons before deciding to tell them.

'Well you guys are looking at the official leader of Clockworks.' Liz begins squealing and Katie gasps. 

'Are you being serious?' Katie asks and I nod with a smirk on my face. 'Oh my God, you're going to do great,' she replies as she wraps her arms around my neck and I return the embrace.

'Thanks.' I say sincerely.

'You're welcome,' Katie replies. 

'She's right Kiera. You are going to be awesome not that you already aren't,' Liz says intertwining our hands and I smile gratefully. 

'Thanks,' I say suddenly feeling shy.

'You don't have to thank us Kiera, we're just being honest with you,' Liz replies and Katie agrees. 

'Kiera are you ready?' Anna asks as she walks into the kitchen with Elaine by her side who is probably going to come along. 

'Yep,' I reply and smile at Katie and Liz before following Elaine and Anna out of the house.

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The car ride to the hospital is longer than usual due to traffic but we still have ten minutes to spare before my appointment. 

We sit in the waiting area and wait for my name to be called. Elaine and Anna get carried away with their conversation and I kick my legs back and forth in attempt to entertain me.

'Kiera Hayden.' My name being called out by Doctor Ash puts a stop to my feet's movements and I look up at him. Elaine and Anna stand up and I have no choice but to do the same. We follow Doctor Ash into his room and I gasp once I see Kaiden who's dressed in his uniform. 

'Why are you here?' I ask as I sit down beside him. 

'Can't I come here to support my little sister?' He asks and messes my hair up. I push his hands away from me and roll my eyes. He greets Anna and Elaine before turning his attention back on to Doctor Ash. 

'Okay, so the plan for today is pretty simple. We're just going to weigh you and I'm just going to talk to you about how your anorexia is going. Then I'm going to give you a prescription for you chemotherapy because I'm giving it to you in blocks. Is that okay with you?' He asks and I nod. 

Elaine's phone begins ringing and she declines it before standing up and Anna follows her. They apologise and leave the room. Doctor Ash looks at me and says 'are you ready?'

'It depends on what you mean by that,' I reply shrugging my shoulders and he shakes his head at my reply. He gets the scale out and tells me to stand on it. I roll my eyes and take my vans off before standing on the scale. He takes out his records and looks at my weight. I look up at the ceiling, not wanting to look down and avoid it completely.

 'Kiera, you can look down, you know.'

'Shut up Kaiden,' I say through gritted teeth and he scoffs. 

'Kiera guess what?' Says Doctor Ash and I sigh because I'm not in the mood to be playing this game.

'I don't really want to do that,' I respond. 

'Well you're lucky that I'm just going to tell you then. You have put on two pounds!' He announces excitedly. 

'What's there to be happy about? That just means I'm fatter,' I mumble loud enough for them to hear me. 

'No you're not, you are becoming healthier.' Kaiden says and I don't bother replying. Instead, I silently put my shoes back on and they don't say anything. 'Kiera have you thought about leading Clockwork?' Kaiden asks and he and Doctor Ash put their attention on me. 

'Actually I have,' I reply. 

'Is that all you're going to tell us?' Doctor Ash asks and I smirk. 

'Guess what Doctor Ash?' I say mocking what he said earlier and he chuckles. 

'I don't really want to do that,' he replies in a high pitched voice which is supposed to be an impersonation of me. I gasp loudly and they begin laughing hysterically. 

'That is not funny,' I reply annoyed. 

'It is,' Doctor Ash replies and I roll my eyes and slouch in my chair, waiting until their laughter has calmed down. 

'Okay, so tell us,' Kaiden says after they have recovered. 

'I am the leader of Clockwork,' I reply and they gasp.

'Oh my God, that's fantastic,' Doctor Ash replies as he wraps his arms around my neck, hugging me. 

'I'm pretty sure you're not allowed to hug your patients, that's like violating the rules or something,' I reply but hug him nonetheless. When we pull away, he says 'I wasn’t hugging you as my patient, I was hugging you as a congratulation to my best friend's younger sister.'

'Whatever you say,' I reply. 

'I can't believe you finally accepted it!' Kaiden replies as he gives me a hug. When we pull away, he messes up my hair again and I pull his hands away. 'I'm really happy for you,' he says sincerely with a smile on his face and I return it. He checks the time and says 'I have to go,' and leaves the room. 

'Okay so what happens now?' I ask Doctor Ash. 

'Well now you are going to have regular check-ups and we will keep monitoring your weight and you still need to eat healthily. I don't want you going back to your old ways.'

'Okay,' I reply, determined to follow his advice. 

'Now have you had any problems?' He asks as he begins typing on his computer. 

'I've been having headaches,' I reply and he nods.

'I'm going to prescribe some medication that will help with the headaches your feeling most likely from your head injury.' I nod and he begins typing away again and signs the prescription before handing it to me. 

After a few more minutes, my appointment comes to an end and Doctor Ash walks out to the waiting room with me to talk to Elaine and Anna. 

I leave the hospital and lean against Anna's car and stare at the prescription in my hand.