Olivia

Well, life isn't always what you expect. And in my case that's good. I'm the lead singer of a famous band - called Lemonade Mouth - and I have the best friends in the world which also are my band mates. It couldn't be better. Only if my dad would be released from prison. But that's not going to happen in the next five years.

In my life, there is still a bad part. And I know it is going to happen someday. I just hope it is not in the next months or weeks. Gram gets old, I know. But I don't know what I would do if she wouldn't be there anymore. She's getting weaker everyday. I hate seeing her like this and I hate that I can not help her the whole day long. Unfortunately, I can't stay away from school, I have to go there too and Gram wouldn't allow me to stay home. She doesn't want me to see how bad it actually is about her.

Every night I cry myself to sleep and hope that she will still be there tomorrow with a fake smile on her face. She tries to tell me that everything is going to be fine and that it will be better in no time. But faith is fading more and more.

The doorbell rings and I shout "I'll get it." through the house. Although I know that gram isn't doing well today and she can't get up. That's why she's still lying in her bed upstairs. "Hey, Olivia." I'm greeted by Sydney and Wen. Sydney takes care of my gram when I have to go to school what I think is very nice of her. I know that she has a job but she said that she will go to work when I come home from school. "How is she?" Sydney asked. "She's still upstairs. She can't get up." I said softly and looked to the stairs. I sighed as Sydney spoke. "Well, you two better start walking. Otherwise you will be late for school." She gave me a small smile and walked upstairs as I turned to Wen. "Ready to go?" He asked and I nodded. He held out his hand for me that I took gladly. Even though we are kind of a couple, we are taking it all very slow. Maybe not a really good timing for a relationship and he understands.

Our walk to school was silent for a few minutes. Not an awkward silence at all. It was a peaceful silence that both of us enjoyed. "How did you sleep?" He asked gently. He knows that I don't sleep much lately. I told him. But I didn't tell him that I cry. I don't want him to know so he doesn't worry too much. "Good." I lied what he noticed. "Don't lie to me." I sighed as we almost were at school. I was relieved because Stella saved me from answering. She ran up to us and hugged us tight. "Guess what! Guess what! Guess what!" Stella shouted smiling. "What?" Wen and I asked at the same time. "We are going to perform at the summer festival!" "Oh my god! That's awesome!" I shouted too and hugged her, so did Wen. "What's going on?" Mo asked as she and Charlie made her way over to us. "We are going to perform at the summer festival!" Stella shouted again and Mo and Charlie flipped out just like we did. "That's great. When is the festival?" Charlie asked. "Middle of next month. So that means that we need new songs. Maybe about five or seven songs so that we have a selection." She said while she looked directly at Wen and me, the songwriters of Lemonade Mouth. "Stella, that is not enough time." Stella sighed. "You are two geniuses in writing songs. You can do it easily. I know you two. But remember they have to fit to summer and party." With that she left and went into school. All of us groaned but followed her. "Should we start working after school?" Wen asked me while we walked into school hand in hand. "Can you come over a bit later? I have to take care of gram." He stopped and stood in front of me. "I can help you." Wen offered and smiled widely. "You don't have to. Just come later." I gave him a weak smile and walked over to my locker which was next to Wen's. He leaned against his locker and looked at me while I took out the books for my next lessons. "Are you sure you don't need help?" "Yes. I'm totally sure. I have to go to class. See you at lunch break." I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek softly. Then I turned around and walked off.

Sitting in class I couldn't concentrate on what the teacher was trying to teach us. I was thinking about everything. I know it sounds unfair to actually think about the time when gram is gone. But I have to. I have to plan things. I mean things like: What will happen to the house? Where will I stay? How will I live my life without her? She is the only one left of my family. My dad is an exception. He is in prison. He can't help me either. So what will I do? All these questions running through my head are giving me a headache. I would rather go home and look after gram than to be here in school any longer. Probably, I will have to ditch school if it is getting worse for gram. Although she doesn't want it I can't leave her. I don't want to come home someday and see that she is gone. I want to support her. I want to be there for her. Just like she was for me after my mom was gone and dad was in jail. She's my gram... I love her.

The school bell rang after long lessons which seemed be have no end. But finally lunch break was there. I could tell by the growling of my stomach that I was starving. That happened a lot lately because in the morning I don't have time to eat and I don't feel like I want to. As I sat down next to Wen at our table in the cafeteria the others were already sitting. Charlie and Stella were joking about Mr. Brenigan and Mo was talking to Scott. Every one of them knew about gram and my situation at home. But gladly, they didn't mention it in school or when we hung out. There was one time when they started to ask questions.

We were sitting in Wen's backyard and drinking Lemonade. What else would we drink? It was quiet for a long time and everyone had a thoughtful but depressive look at the same time on their faces. I was leaning against Wen as I noticed the tense atmosphere. It scary me a bit since it was a wonderful day and we normally are the happy ones.

Suddenly Stella asked what seemed to be everyone's question. "How is your gram?"

I shrugged. "She had better days."

"Are you alright?" Charlie asked carefully.

"I guess."

He wasn't satisfied with my answer so he asked again."You guess?"

I shrugged again. "What else should I be?"

They were taking this very serious and nobody seemed to be pleased with my answer even Wen sat up straight and looked at me.

"I don't know how you should feel. But we really want to know how you really feel. We care about you and all of us are worried." Mo said softly and I sighed deeply.

"I'm afraid." I admitted but it sounded only like a whisper.

The others all looked down with sad faces.

I had the feeling that I needed to tell them more. I wanted to tell them more. I wanted to just tell somebody how I felt. "I'm afraid of loneliness. She is the last family member around that I know. My dad is in prison and I don't know any other family member. I can not imagine a life without her. She became my best friend over the years. Before all of you guys came into my life, she was the only friend I had even though she was my gram." I felt warm tears on my cheeks as I began to cry softly.

"Why don't you know any other family members?" Stella asked curious after it was quiet for a minute.

"After my mom died my maternal relatives have turned away from us. And my dad is the only son my grandma has. I know that she has another daughter – my aunt – but I can't remember her. She left my gram when she married some rich man and we haven't heard of her since then. I've never met her."

It felt good to speak about all this. As if a weight has fallen from my shoulders.

"You know that we will always be here for you. No matter what happens you always have our back." Mo said and everybody agreed nodding.

Tears were streaming down my face and Wen was holding me in his arms. He was rubbing my back delicately.

"Thank you. I appreciate this friendship. You guys are everything I have." I meant it like I said it. What would I be without them? No need to guess. I would be alone.

Back to lunch break. Everyone seemed to be focused on their conversations so I turned to only one left, Wen. "I want to invite you." Wen said out of nowhere. "We haven't done something together lately. I think the last time we did something was a month ago or something." I sighed. "As much as I want to... I can't." I gave him an apologetic look but he wasn't satisfied. "Is it about your gram? I can convince Sydney to look after her. She will be fine." Wen continued to talk nonsense. "Wen." I tried to make him stop but I failed the first time. "Wen. Shut up!" I almost shouted. He was quiet like everybody else at our table and a few other kids in the cafeteria. Yes, I was angry at him. How could he talk like that? "This is my gram we are talking about and not some dog that you can push away." I looked at him angrily as I stood up and stormed out. I hid in the janitor chamber – the one that I got detention in – and slid down the nearest wall. Who does he think he is? Just because he has got no problems. Ok. Maybe I overreact. But I have the right to be furious right now, haven't I? Ugh. This is all so exhausting. I can't take it anymore. I need to get home. I need to look after gram. She needs me.

I decided to go home. Although it meant that I had to ditch school. I had never ever in my entire life ditched school. That was the first time. But I had to. For gram. I can't concentrate on other stuff right now. I can't concentrate on class or on writing new songs for the festival. I can't stand my friends right now either. They want to support me, I know. But they can't. I was running home since I walked to school today with Wen. Luckily, it wasn't far away. It seemed as if nobody had noticed me leaving.

As I arrived and I opened the front door I was crying. Sydney had heard the door and walked up to me. She was shocked to see me but she took me in her arms. "What happened? Why aren't you in school?" I was sobbing as I tried to answer. "I couldn't take it." Sydney rubbed my back but didn't understand what I was trying to say to her. "Shall we go in the living room? Your gram is sleeping so we have time to talk."

I told her about my fight with Wen and that I ran away. I also told her about my fears and that I want to be with gram. I told her about memories of my mother and the days after her death. I told her about my dad and my whole life. It was good to talk about everything. I felt better after all and I smiled because of all the memories, the good and the bad ones. "Thank you, Sydney, for listening." I said but suddenly we heard a loud noise from above. Like something hit the ground. My first thought was gram so I stood up and ran upstairs.