Monday morning; the first official day of the holidays; I mean the weekend doesn't really count. And on the first day of the holiday I had an early wake up call.

'Poppy, James is here to see you'

I sat up straight and looked in the mirror. Great, I looked a mess. The next few minutes I spent running around my room trying to get ready. T-shirt, jeans, converses, cardigan, belt. James was my best friend, but sometimes I wished he was more than that. I love him more than I can possibly say. Bag, purse, mirror, brush; that's why looking nice is important.

'Poppy are you…'

'Yes I'm awake'

I had sorted out my clothes but not my hair. How should I have it? Up-do, straight, curly? I grabbed a hair bobble and quickly shoved my hair; like he would care. I grabbed my bag and ran downstairs.

When I got into the kitchen everyone else was sat down having breakfast. Mum and Phil were sat at the table eating toast. And as usual y annoying brother was boring my mother to death with one of his lectures for college. Who thinks about college in the holidays for goodness sake? James was stood at the juicer. He heard me put my bag on the counter and turned around; He smiled. His smile was to die for.

'So what do you want to do on the first official day of summer?' James asked.

'I don't know; maybe the beach or the cinema. Or we could go shopping and how could I forget…'

'Ok, I get the idea' he chuckled.

He walked over to me and passed me a glass of freshly made orange juice. I starred into the glass. He was a great chef. Just useless with a blender; he had forgotten to drain the bits out. I took a sip just to be polite but would tell him about his error later on. Suddenly I felt a sharp shooting pain across my stomach; Mum turned around. I dropped the glass of orange on the floor as I doubled over in pain. I started to feel dizzy; ten I passed.

When I woke I found my head on James lap. He was stroking my hair. Phil was brushing up and mopping the floor where the glass had smashed while mum was on the phone.

'Are you ok Poppy? You gave us a right scare' He asked. I just sat there and didn't reply but I think my smile said it all.

'I just rang the doctor. He says to take it easy for the next couple of days. If you get any more stomach cramps we are to take you up to the hospital'

This wasn't the first time that I had felt sharp pains in my stomach. It had been going on for quite a few months but I hadn't really worried about it. But today was the worst pain I had ever experienced. I sat up slowly as James supported my back. My brother Phil put the brush down and came over to me. He grabbed me under the arms. James tried to help lift me up but Phil shot him the evil eye so James left him to it. Phil slowly carried me over to the sofa. He wasn't the strongest of all people. But ever since father died he has cared for us all and tried to act as grown up as he can, he swore to father before he died that no matter what happened he would care for us.

'I guess we won't be doing much today then' James said as he walked across the room.

'She most certainly will not.'

'But mum I feel fine now! Honest.' I sat up on the chair and turned to face her. But the truth was that I didn't feel fine. If I was telling the truth; I felt worse than I ever had done.

'Poppy you look really ill. You're really pale and don't seem you usual energetic self.'

'For once I actually have to agree with your brother.'

Phil and James hardly ever agreed with each other. Phil thought that I shouldn't be friends with James. James has had a lot of girlfriends over the years and has broken up with them after a few months. Phil didn't want the same to happen to me. James on the other hand hated Phil because he always thought he knew best.

I rolled my eyes and folded my arms. The one time I wanted them to disagree; they agreed!

'I'll call back later' James said and he wandered over to the door.

The next thing I knew I was lying in a hospital bed attached by lots of wires. That's when my life really started.