The Best Thing for Me

by Lauren Jackson

  "Gross." Luke scoffed from somewhere to my right.

  I let my arms retract from around her. With a strangled cry, she plunged into the water, it engulfing her body. I smirked down at her, knowing I had got her when she least expected it. She submerged, spluttering, her eyes round. With her eyes in slits, she wiped her face off the excess water on her face. She glowered fiercely up at me, which resulted in me staring down at her innocently.

  "Whoops...?"

  With a growl-like sound coming deep from her throat, she lunged at me, our chests colliding. My eyes widened and we both toppled over and were swallowed up by the rolling waves. Her grip only tightened around me as I struggled to come up. She put most of her weight on me, trying to get me to stay under.

  My eyes snapped open in panic, which was not a smart idea on my part. The salt water burned my eyes to the extent of tears welling in them. That didn't matter though as I was under water, so no one would see.

  I gasped, causing me to accidentally swallow a mouthful of water. This resulted in water flooded my nose and down my throat, making them both burn fiercely. With one easy movement, I maneuvered her body and came up, gasping for air. We both death stared each other, before I felt myself chuckle, wrapping an arm around her neck and running my knuckles over her head roughly.

  "Jason!" She cried, trying her hardest to wriggle out from my capture. I laughed at her miserable attempts. "I hate when you give me a knuckle head!"

  "I know."

  The words barely left my mouth before I took a blow from her. She elbowed me in the stomach and I sucked in a breath, releasing her instantly. I doubled over in surprise. That had a lot of force in it. I looked up and noticed her smirking in triumph. I stared at her, surprised. She usually didn't have that kind of strength.

  "Oh good," Luke said in relief, appearing by our side. "You guys have stopped making out in front of everyone.”

  Her face grew hotter and hotter with each word, red appearing in blotches on her cheeks. Her mouth opened and she began stammering and stuttering, trying to force words out. "I- what-umm!"

  Luke and I looked at each other, before bursting out laughing. With narrowed eyes, she turned and tried to stomp through the water, but it was very slow. I tried not to laugh more. She marched up the sand and wrapped the towel around her, collapsing beside Mel.

  I stayed in the water for about half an hour more, before Luke and I retired back up the beach with the girls. I wrapped my arms around Emma and kissed the top of her head. "Okay, I'm sorry I pushed you in the water."

  "And so you should be." she sniffled, but the corners of her mouth twitched as she suppressed smiling. I smirked, pinching her cheeks.

  I let go, but put an arm over her shoulder. We began walking back up to the house and she rested her head on my shoulder. I gripped her tight beside me, so she was firmly pressed against my side and sighed in content.

  I really loved her.

  Emma Ross

  "Hello, Emma." a voice I didn't think I'd hear much again said in my ear, causing me to jump in alarm and my head bang roughly on my locker down. I winced, slowly pulling out and placing my hand on my head as if that would sooth the throbbing.

  "Ouch." I muttered, rubbing it tentatively. I looked over and did a double take, realising who it really was that just spoke. "Penny?"

  "Hi." she said, beaming at me. I raised my eyebrows. What the... "How are you?"

  "In pain." I stated flatly. "And you?"

  "Never better." she sang.

  "That's nice."

  I turned, grabbed my books out and slammed the door shut. I turned to go leave and she linked her arm through mine, much to my utter shock. I stared at her, my eyes wide and my eyebrows up into my hairline.

  "Um...?"

  "We should hang out more often."

  "We should?" I echoed.

  Was she up to something?

  "Yep."

  "Okay then." I trailed off, completely confused at this attitude adjustment. I thought she hated me? Well, not hate, but didn't like me enough to say no to Mark's 'tempting' offer at spying on me for money.

  She began babbling away and I found myself tuning out. We entered the classroom and I shrugged her off, trying to ignore the weird stares people gave us. I stared at the other students as no one was in their seat, but all stationed at the front of the room.

  "Okay, the last stragglers have arrived." Mr. Gildred said, shaking his head at me.

  I gave him a sheepish smile and briskly walked away from Penny and found myself a spot in the line-up. "Okay, so we're going to have a seating plan from now on. You guys have been too talkative for my liking. I'll tell you who you're with."

  I was immensely glad he put me in my usual seat and I padded over there. I plopped down on the desk, opened my book and scribbled down the date. I jumped in fright as books slapped down beside me, unexpectedly.

  Don't be Penny.

  Please don't be Penny.

  I looked up and choked on my own saliva. Britney sidled in beside me, throwing her hair over her shoulder. She looked over at me and smiled, revealing two rows of shiny, white, flawless teeth. I gaped at her. She was sitting with me? Why on Earth would Mr. Gildred put an 'It' girl with me? At least we'd sort of sorted out our issues. It would have been a worse situation if we hadn't had our little 'Daniel moment'.

  "Hi, Britney." I forced out, putting a polite smile on my face.

  "Emma." she replied.

  I was expecting her to ignore me, so I was surprised when she replied. I gulped, slowly facing the front and casually tried to act like a normal person. Was this just a one lesson thing or would it be for the rest of the year?

  Oh boy...

  "Okay, are we all settled now?" Mr. Gildred asked and some of murmured their responses. "Okay goodo. These positions will be where you are for the rest of the term. There will not be any moving, okay? Alright, let's get on with the lesson."

  The rest of the term wasn't as bad as the year, as long as Britney didn't trying to kill me. Okay, that was a bit extreme. I think we had more of an understanding now. We weren't best friends obviously, but not quite enemies.

  "How have you been?" I asked, trying to be nice.

  "Alright." she shrugged, taking down the notes. I was yet again surprised. She did her work? "How about you?"

  Me? My eyes widened.

  "G-good."

  "That's good."

  My mouth fell open slightly. Okay, this had to be some strange dream, right? She was being polite to me? What is this?

  "How's Rachel?" she asked.

  I flinched upon hearing her name and my pen slid from my hand, rolling off the desk, crashing to the floor. With shaky fingers, I fumbled down on the floor after it. I slowly rose back into my seat, looking at her. "H-how did you... did you know about that?"

  "I'm half related to Daniel." she pointed out in a duh voice. "My family was informed. Well, we were half related."

  I bit my tongue, in order to prevent myself from questioning that. "She's good. My Dad and she are spending some time together. She's getting over it."

  She nodded in response, not looking up at me. I gulped. Did she know she was my mother? Did she know about the witness protection thing? Questions and more questions whirled around my brain like a cyclone.

  "Can I ask you something personal?"

  "I guess so."

  "I won't tell anyone, I promise." I declared, my voice low. "But you know how you are, er, were in love with Daniel?"

  "Mhm?" she asked, not seeming baffled at all by the mention of this. I shook off my slight shock and continued.

  "Well... I just want to know why you fought to have Jason back so much, if you were already in love with Daniel?"

  "I needed a cover up." she replied simply.

  "Oh." I said, scrunching up my face. "Why Jason?"

  "Because he was my ex and he's hot?" she said like I was stupid.

  "Oh."

  The rest of the lesson went by in silence, until the bel
l buzzed loudly. I gathered up my stuff and planned on getting out of there before the rush, but I was pulled backwards by my elbow. I internally cringed. Please don't be Penny.

  I turned around, coming face to face with Britney again. "Okay, I'm not looking to become best friends with you or anything, but what we were like in class just then is okay, right? We're just going to be normal and you won't tell anyone about Daniel and me?"

  "Sure," I replied with a smile. "But just to have you know, and not that I want you to go back to being rude to me again, but even if we weren't sort of, maybe, friends, I still wouldn't tell anyone about you and Daniel. That's your life and your business. I know how much people talking about you sucks. You may not be the nicest person on the Earth, but I wouldn't do that to you, Britney."

  She stared at me in surprise. "Really?"

  "Really."

  "Oh... well... thanks?"

  "You're welcome." I replied, turning and this time, managing to make it out of the classroom uninterrupted. I threw my stuff in my locker and made my way down to the tables for lunch. I was going to eat and then stop by the pool. I liked watching the team train. It was interesting. I really hope they go well on the weekend.

  Just as I sat down, my phone began vibrating in my pocket. I slowly grabbed it and brought it to my ear, without bothering to check the caller I.D. "Hello?"

  "Emma!" a voice said breathlessly. "Oh my God, I don't know what to do! If it's gone I don't know... what if... what if..."

  "Slow down." I said slowly, trying to understand what the urgent voice was blabbering on about. I recognised Luke's voice though, that much was clear. "Luke, calm down and start again."

  "Oh God..." he cried, his voice broken. My heart began beating faster in my chest as panic began pulsing through me. "She will die..."

  "What!?" I exclaimed. "Who?"

  "Both of them..."

  "Luke, you need to tell me what is going on." I said, trying to sound calm and collected, although my body was beginning to shake. Unfortunately, I think I know where this conversation was leading to. My breath was coming out short and fast.

  "Mel... she was cleaning the porch..." he said with a hiccup, indicating that he was crying. Something panged inside me. Luke never cried.

  "What happened?" I asked urgently, feeling the need to thump him over the head with one of the history text books.

  "She slipped and fell down the stairs... she's at the hospital."

  "Oh my God!" I cried out, tears welling in my eyes. "Is she okay?"

  "They said she might have lost the baby..." he trailed off, full on balling now.

  His words were slurring together now, making it impossible to understand him. My phone slipped from my hands and hit the ground, but it didn't even register. My heart sank further and further down to my stomach, my hands clamming up.

  This could not be happening.

  56

  The figure of speech 'Time went by as slow as a snail' really wouldn't be precise enough. The time for two lessons to drag by was excruciating. To the extent that you wouldn't understand. I had been trying to get a hold of Jason ever since lunch, but for some reason, he wasn't picking up.

  Why the hell would he have a phone and not use it?

  I know I shouldn't be taking my anger out on him, but I can't help it. Mel was in hospital battling for her life and her daughter's life, and what am I doing?

  Sitting in school.

  The anger, frustration and fear were pulsating through my body at an unhealthy rate. My heart beat had not been a normal rate ever since I answered the phone at lunch. I'm not sure if I really can go into cardiac arrest at this age, but I think I'm probably getting close. My body was in ultra-freak out mode.

  I have no idea what lessons I had been at and what I was learning. My whole mind was consumed with one single thought.

  Would they live?

  But then there was be a whisper in the back of my mind that followed that question.

  What would I do without them?

  I sighed heavily again, raking my fingers through my hair. I slumped forward, thumping my forehead against the hard wood. I was so angry that Jason wasn't replying. He was my ride home today and I immediately want to go to the hospital. Well, when I say he was my ride, I mean I use his car and force him to let me drive.

  I need to know she will be okay.

  As soon as the bell buzzed loudly, signaling school being finished, I leapt out of my seat and began running out of the room. I threw my stuff in my locker, hardly locking it properly. I sprinted out the front of the school and began to wait rather impatiently for Jason. I could hardly stand still, so I began pacing backwards and forwards. If I did stand, my foot wood began tapping erratically, which would jolt me into pacing again.

  When I saw him and I stomped up to him and prodded him in the chest with my finger, my eyes in slits. His eyes widened in surprise at the look of my face, before a scared expression overtook it. He took a couple of steps back, rubbing the spot in his chest I had so rudely stabbed.

  "Um... have I done something wrong?" he asked in a quiet voice, his eyes wide and a little fearful. I must look like the wicked witch from the west right now.

  "Why weren't you answering your phone?" I cried out, my face growing hot. I reached forward and smacked his arm hard, but he hardly even flinched. He raised his hands in a peace signal, before digging into his pockets. He retrieved his phone and waved it in the air.

  "Flat battery."

  "God," I choked out, running my hands over my face. Tears began bubbling around my eyes and in a matter of seconds, tumbling down my face.

  "Hey," he asked, his voice becoming soft, which made me cry harder.

  He stepped forward again and cupped my face. He brought me into his embrace and I buried my face into his chest, letting out sobs that were shaking my entire body. I hiccupped into him, feeling this over-whelming feeling of sadness.

  It was as though lead had been pressed into my bones, suffocating me. I suddenly felt out of breath as I felt myself get more and more worked up.

  "I-it's M-Mel!" I stuttered out, my teeth chattering slightly. "She's in the hospital!"

  His posture stiffened and he released me, reeling backwards. "What?"

  "They think she might have lost the baby!" I cried out, my knees wobbling together to the extent I could hardly stand. I began swaying as I cried more. He wrapped an arm around my shoulder. He rubbed up my arm, whispering calm things in my ear.

  "Come on, let's go."

  "O-okay."

  I let him guide me towards the car as my legs stiff and hard to bend. I dragged my feet, my head hanging. I didn't have the energy to lift it up. I know he wants to ask more questions, but I think we both knew I couldn't answer them at the moment.

  I wonder how Luke is doing...

  I automatically went around to the passenger side. I was not fit for driving at the moment. I was too shaken up. Jason gave me an understanding smile as he slid behind the driver's seat. He revved the engine and slowly backed out.

  "I don't think I need to ask why we're going to the hospital?"

  "No, you don't."

  He nodded once and pulled out. I rested my head back, biting my lip. I closed my eyes and tried to think about anything else but Mel. Thinking about this whole situation sent me closer and closer to having a mental break down.

  I wasn't coping.

  Just the thought of life without Mel in it... it was too much to bear. I think I really would break down. Before Jason came into my life, she was all that I had. Losing her would literally be like losing apart of myself. It brought tears to my eyes just thinking about it, so God only imagine what would happen if she did die!

  I shuddered at the thought and shook my head furiously. I really needed to think about something else now. I was just going to get myself more and more worked up. What Mel needed right now was a group of her friends and family to support her, not an emotional wreck. She'd probably slap me if she saw how I was reacting.


  Silence lapsed and all that could be heard was the car smoothly gliding across the road. It didn't help that a slow song was on the radio, adding more sadness to the situation. I jumped when a violent crack of thunder erupted in the sky.

  I wriggled in my seat and looked out the window of the car and up at the great cumulonimbus. The entire sky was grey and murky. Rain began pattering down on the windscreen and I rolled my lips into my mouth, trying to not let my tears fall simultaneously with the rain droplets.

  I needed to attempt to hold it together.

  I felt Jason's gaze on me a couple of times, but I couldn't meet his eyes at the moment. I rested my forehead against the cool glass of the window and let my eyes roam over the blurry outside world. The droplets slid down the window like the tears were rolling down my cheeks.

  We eventually reached the hospital and with stiff fingers, I unlatched the door. The car was hardly even turned off before I tumbled out of it. Whilst hardly picking up my feet, I began trudging towards the almost too familiar doors. The rain was spitting down onto me, but it hardly even registered in my mind.

  "Emma - wait!" Jason panted from somewhere behind me.

  It was like my feet had a mind of its own. My legs were moving without me hardly ordering them to do so. I didn't take anything in around me. I most likely came across as a zombie. I walked straight up to the receptionist's desk.

  She looked up from her computer. She frowned at me. God only knew what I looked like. My usual tanned skin drained of colour, my eyes red-ringed and my hair sticking to my skin unattractively. I cleared my through although my voice still came out raspy.

  "Melanie Stewart." I croaked out.

  I heard jogging footsteps and Jason appeared beside me. The lady flickered her eyes between the both of us. "Are you family members?"

  I opened my mouth to say no, but I was her best friend, but Jason beat me to it. "We're her brother and sister."

  "Oh!" she said, fumbling with her keyboard. "Room 211."

  Jason nodded at her. "Thank you."

  When I failed to move, he wrapped his lower arm around my back and tugged me after him. I was leaning into him as we made our way to the room. I didn't know where I was going, so I'm glad Jason was paying attention.