- Paige's POV - Friday, May 7th -

It's been rough knowing Maya's terminal and she's been going downhill, really quick. We've been trying to spend as much time with her as possible, especially to make her feel like she's not alone, because she isn't. Besides her, it's super rough on me but I don't know if it's worse on Moms or Oakley. Well most likely Oakley because it's her twin.

I haven't slept and I think it shows seeing as I'm slower than usual and my eyes have pretty bad bags and are bloodshot.

I'm wearing this:

And I currently have my hood up as I walk into school.

I make my way to my sister's class and slowly plop down into my seat.

I'm caught up in work and now we use Fridays as catch up since us seniors graduate in two to three weeks so... Yeah. I literally feel like I'm about to pass out from exhaustion.

I feel pain on my ear as I get pulled up and dragged to Danielle's back room.

"Ow. What the hell?" I ask when she partially closes the door.

"How much have you slept?" She asks. "Give a time frame?" I say, and she just gives me a look. "Uhm... Maybe two to three hours in the past month." I say and rub the back of my neck.

"Paige, that's not healthy." She says. "You know what else isn't healthy? Maya but no one can fucking help her! And now she's on her fucking death bed because there's not a cure for cancer." I say as I get pissed and slide papers off of a counter.

"Everybody says 'Oh, we're researching and looking for a cure'. Lemme give you the actual news, there isn't one and now so many innocent adults and kids- KIDS, Danielle. Kids are dying from this incurable disease when they didn't do anything to deserve this." I say as tears let loose and I throw a few things before just sliding down the wall in the dark as I break down.

"Paige..." She says softly.

"Uhm... Miss Jayco?" Someone says from inside the classroom room and Danielle pokes her head out to talk to them before turning the light on and squatting down in front of me.

"Do you need to leave? You can be excused from school today." She asks, and I shake my head. "I'll let you sit in here, for a little bit, okay? I have to go talk to your classmates." She says and I nod. "No more throwing or destroying stuff, aright?" She says. "Sorry." I say quietly. "It's fine, I understand you're upset." She says.

She pats my knee before standing back up and entering the main part of the classroom.

I cry for a bit longer before I literally can't anymore because I've cried so much lately, and I actually end up passing out.

- Danielle's POV -

So, first period just ended so I head back into the backroom to see if Paige is okay, but I see that she's asleep so I'm not really sure on what to do.

I call the office to see if Principal Mark could come down, and he's on his way.

My few students besides Paige that were supposed to come today enter the room and I tell them just to take a seat and that they know they should be doing something academic related.

Principal Mark enters the room.

"What can I help you with?" He asks with a smile. "So, I have a student in my backroom, who happens to be Paige." I say and he nods. "Is everything okay?" He asks as we walk to the door.

"No. There's been a lot of stuff going on around her lately and it's seriously taken a toll. She told me she's only slept basically two hours in the past month. She snapped when I was talking to her in here earlier and all of her emotions flooded out which I know is good for her because she bottles them up. But, she passed out and I'm not sure what I should do. She refused to go home, so I'm like 'Should I force her to go home, or wake her up so she can do school?'" I explain as he looks into the backroom and sees Paige sitting against the wall.

"Wow, uh... I'd say just leave her for right now because I know she's a good student, but she also needs to sleep like you said, so just leave her be. I'd also say to inform her parents." He says. "Okay, thank you." I say. "No problem." He says then leaves the room.

I sigh before the bell rings. I make sure my students are doing what they need to do before texting Ali.

- Ali's POV -

"Ash." I say to get my wife's attention. "Hm?" She hums. "I just got a text from Danielle saying that Paige passed out and is asleep. She also had a small breakdown." I summarize the text.

"I knew she hadn't been sleeping well." Ash says. "Me too, but I didn't know it was that bad." I say and think about how I haven't realized how tired Paige has actually been.

- Paige's POV -

I wake up, but still feel super tired and heavy.

I pull my phone out to check the time and see it to be 1:33.

I slowly get up and brush myself off before picking up the papers and shit I threw.

"Hey, you don't have to worry about that." My sister's voice startles me, causing me to jump back. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." She says as I finish picking up papers and I set then down.

"I'm gonna go to class." I say and she nods. "Your backpack is right there." She says and points to it. "Thanks." I say. I go to leave and she hands me a paper, causing me to look at her in confusion. "Excuse note." She says. "Oh." I say.

I then leave her class and make my way to the class I need to be in.

- Later -

I make it onto Maya's floor and make my way towards her room.

I see Mom holding Mama and Oakley tight while standing in the hallway, causing me to try and walk faster but I'm still too tired.

"What's wrong?" I ask, and Mom just looks at me with tears streaming.

"M- Ma- Maya?" I stutter out, and she nods.