The week passes slowly, and I was stuck with the same old yet comfortable routine- home to school, to the hospital, and back home. And I was very much happy with this lifestyle. The weeks before these days had been nothing but chaos, forcing me to appreciate the normality of my past life.

Today, I received a reply from the University of Kentucky. I had applied to only two schools-The University of Miami and Kentucky. To be quite honest, I had no idea what I wanted to study. I don't know what I want to become in the future, and I don't even know if college is right for me. But my father suggested I apply as a backup plan for whatever I really wanted to do in life.

I wasn't much enthusiastic about college as I was about leaving New York City. The University of Miami sent me a reply last week, and I didn't get in. Now, only Kentucky is left, and I wish I had applied to more schools instead of being so nonchalant about it.

"I could always babysit Chloe and the new baby for you," I say to Shelia while helping her make a meal for breakfast. My father had suggested getting extra help for Shelia, but she refused, stating that she would get nauseous and feel irritable if she did nothing all day.

"I'm sure you'll get in," She smiles in return, flipping the pancake on the pan. I didn't want to get my hopes up, but I certainly didn't want to quell Shelia's enthusiasm, so I remain quiet.

"Do you have any idea for what you want to major in?" Sheila asks after a moment of silence.

I shake my head, cutting up apples into a bowl. Ever since Shelia's pregnancy, she craved apples more than anything. She also couldn't eat the food she makes. Not because she doesn't like them, but because she was the one who made them. So, while Shelia made food for Chloe, Harry, and my dad, my dad always made her food.

Since I'm around a lot more, I had been making Shelia's meals for her. Dad and Shelia never directly asked Gray and me about the strange happenings a few weeks ago. They only knew what everyone in our community knew. That we were involved in a group of fights with some gang members from the Bronx, and as a result, Luca died, and Ashley got shot. They didn't know about Fawn either. We had to keep her involvement a secret for Kayden's sake and the safety of our community. A herd of parents would come for the school's head if they knew their not-so-innocent children were in a classroom with a notorious gang member, so the secret was best for everyone.

"I haven't looked at my options yet."

"Well, you should. You might find something you like," Shelia shrugs.

I just want to be ridiculously rich without working. Is that too extreme to ask?

"I doubt," I mutter under my breath before walking towards the dining area with a bowl in my hand.

Harry sits at the dining table, burying his face in a novel- the art of war. He stretches his arms out without looking away from his book and tries to grab an apple piece. I swipe the bowl say from his grasp, and he ends up feeling the table for the bowl. When he doesn't find it, he drops his book with a thud and looks at me, sighing softly.

"Good morning to you too," I plaster a smile on my face.

"Is it truly a good morning?" Harry chooses his words carefully. "I've recently taken a liking to philosophy and-"

I pop a piece of the sliced apple in his mouth to shut him up before running back into the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Shelia turns off the gas cooker and places the remaining portion of the stir-fry veggies left in the pan on a plate. "We leave by 12 for the Smiths. But I suppose you and Gray would go earlier?"

Sheila raises her head to me, waiting for a response. Today is Mrs. Smith's gender reveal party, and Zyair is the only one who knows the gender of the baby. I am looking forward to seeing how Zyair reveals the gender more than knowing the gender itself.

"Yes. We'll be out of here by 10." I help Shelia with the last of the meals before skipping up the stairs to remind Gray that we leave by 10.

The time was 8:30, and knowing Gray, he could still be sleeping in his bed for all I know.

I forget to knock on his door and barge into the room. The moment I walk in, Gray shuts his laptop with such ferocity, stands from his chair, and walks to me.

"Good morning, " He places his hands on my shoulders. His arms snake around his shoulder as he leans in to place a quick kiss on my lips.

"What we're you doing?" I return my eyes to his laptop suspiciously.

"Just a quick chat with Zyair," Gray says, shoving his hands into his back pocket. "We leave early, yeah?"

I nod my head, keeping my eyes trained on his laptop. I didn't like how he acted the moment I walked in, but I brush off the sentiment. "I'll go get ready."

~~~~~~~~~~

There is a sharp, sudden shrill from the front that causes everyone to either contort their faces or cover their ears in defense. Zyair clears his throat into his microphone, raising his wine glass in the air. "Can I please have everyone's attention?"

"Earlier today, my mum told me to give a little speech before I reveal the gender. I didn't have enough time to prepare, so bear with whatever I say and clap at the end," Zyair smiles at the crowd, handing his glass of wine to one of the waiters.

The party is in full swing, happening at the Smiths family beach house. It had stopped snowing this past few days, but the atmosphere was ever so chilly yet hot at the same time. The scorching sun would pierce through my skin while the cold runs through my bones.

The cold I felt was probably due to my exposed legs that I had considered yet didn't bother to alter my outfit. After all, the cold is temporary, while drip is eternal.

I knew I looked good, and that was enough for me to bear the cold. Zyair, Aaron, and Gray had done a great job with the theme and planning of the party.

Mrs. Smith had suggested the help of Ashley and me, but the guys refused. No one thought they could pull it off, but they did- better than we could have imagined.

The beachside theme was perfect- the colors of the table were soft pastels, aligning with the aesthetic of the sand. The sky is a beautiful bright blue color, the same as the sea. I wondered if that were a sign the baby would be a boy.

I could imagine Zyair raising his to the sky and announcing the baby was a boy.

"I know it's been years since a lot of you saw me. So you're probably wondering why this handsome young man is in a wheelchair," Zyair smiles, scanning the crowd with his eyes. "Well, a month ago, I was involved in an accident, and no, I don't expect you to feel sorry for me because I don't."

"I've always wanted a younger sibling, not because I cared, but because all my friends did. I never knew what it was like to have a brother or a sister, or well at least that's what I thought." He stops to take a breather and stares off into space.

"But I was wrong," He chuckles, a sad tone behind his laughter. "There was a time when I got consistently bullied because..."

His voice trails off and he covers his mouth with his hand and swallows hard. "Well... Because I was different. It was a very difficult time for me, but I had people who stood up for me when I couldn't. They got into fights, broke some bones, made some enemies, got suspended for fighting the school authorities for turning a blind eye."

He takes a sharp breath, coughing into the mic.

"They are my brothers," He smiles, his eyes lingering at our corner. "Grayson and Aaron."

The crowd hoots and cheers at Zyair's speech. Gray sniffs a little, and I don't need to look at him to know he had tears in his eyes, so I hold his hands and hope it was comfort enough.

"Are you cold?" Gray flinches at my hands, leaning towards me with a whisper, rubbing his fingers on my hand.

"Shhh." Zyair was still speaking. Gray ignores me a takes off his coat. He places it directly on my thighs.

"You'll be cold," I announce, eyeing his white t-shirt.

"Shhh."

"And lately, I've had more than just brothers. I've got sisters and a soulmate. And I'm sure there's extra room for another special someone," Zyair places the mic close to his chest, and a distorted sound follows from grazing his coat shaft.

"Sorry," He mutters into the mic. "Ladies and gentleman, if you look under your umbrella's you'll notice a button. On the count of three, can we all press the button?"

I sit up straighter, buzzed with excitement as I place my hand on the button. And the countdown begins.

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One!"

I probably pressed the button before the count of one, but it didn't matter because nothing happened. Wondering if my button was the problem, I stare around and see that the umbrellas were still the same white color.

"That's odd," Zyair comments, a confused expression on his face. "While we try to fix the problem, can everyone look towards the sea? It's a beautiful day, isn't it?"

Was the fuck was he doing?

"Zyair Smith!" His father scolds, striding towards him.

A gasp comese from the crowd, stopping Mr. Smith in his tracks. I look towards the sea to see the source of their surprise. My eyes widen- almost bulge out of the socket- and I had to blink multiple times to make sure my sight was fine.

"Oh my God!" Ashley gasps next to me. Right in the middle of the sea stood a pink whale, jumping in and out of the water. Marvelous it was!

I had no idea that pink whales exist.

We all leave out seats and run towards the shore, my feet sinking deeper into the sand. A whirring sound is heard from above us, and soon enough, rain follows.

I thought it was rain, but when the liquid touches my skin, I realized that it was pink paint.

"It's body paint mixed with water. Non-toxic to the skin," Zyair's voice booms from the mic.

Everyone cheers loudly, and Mrs. Smith bends to hug Zyair. Most people are out on the sand where the helicopter keeps spraying the pink mixture on us.

"It's a fucking girl!" Elliot jumps in the air, grabbing Aaron's hand and forcing him to jump along with him.

Aaron's father still didn't approve of his relationship, but he was willing to let Aaron stay in New York. After the incident with Luca and Ashley spread like wildfire, Mr. Baker became more lenient when he realized he could lose his son at any time. Nothing in life is certain, especially life itself.

"So we are going to have two girls?" I point out, clutching on to Gray's arm. Sheila was also pregnant with a girl.

"Twice the trouble," Aaron states with a small eye roll.

"Twice the beauty," Ashley corrects.

Ashley gasps, her eyes trained on my clothes. "Your clothes are getting ruined."

I hadn't even thought about my outfit when I ran into the rain as I was much too excited. "It's fine. I'll just go get Gray's coat." I say and walk back towards our table.

After grabbing Gray's coat and my purse, I was about to go back when my eyes spot a message on Gray's phone.

I didn't know why I tapped the message, but I did. I enter his password before I could even realize that I was invading his privacy.

My eyes scan through the contents of the email as my heart burned and my hands trembled. He had gotten in. I should be proud, but why did I feel a different emotion within. One I wouldn't dare confess I was feeling.

Then my eyes land on a certain sentence, and my heart drops as a deafening silence invaded my senses.

••••••••••••••

❤️