The next day, I was still too upset to attend. My mind could go blank during a test in English.
"Is Mary Anne alright?" asked Sharon.
"She had a tough night," said Dad. "She told me that Kayla died."
"Wow," said Sharon.
"She's having a hard time adjusting," said Meredith.
At school, Stacey didn't see me in school. She didn't know about Kayla yet.
"Where's Mary Anne?" asked Stacey.
"I don't know. I haven't seen her," said Claudia.
"She's at home," said Dawn.
"Again?" asked Stacey.
Kristy came and said, "Mary Anne texted and told me the news last night. She sounded upset."
"I knew about it," said Dawn. "Carlos told me when I got home from babysitting."
"What news?" asked Stacey.
The girls looked at each other and Kristy said, "We'll explain later so the rest gets involved since it wasn't announced."
"What's going with Kaylee?" asked Stacey.
"She is acting odd," said Dawn.
"I noticed that, too," added Kristy.
After school, Kristy said, "Kayla lost her battle to cancer last night."
"Mary Anne must be very upset," said Claudia.
"She is," said Dawn.
"That explains why I didn't see her, but why Kaylee is here?" asked Stacey.
"I'm not sure. Mary Anne told me and Kristy that Kaylee didn't get upset at all," said Dawn.
"Meredith and I saw that," said Carlos.
"She noticed it as well," said Kristy.
"I suspect Kaylee wanted to forget and attend school," said Claudia.
"I thought about the same thing," said Mallory.
"Logan knows about it," said Kristy.
"He felt bad," added Dawn.
"I think we should see Mary Anne to make sure she's okay," said Stacey.
"I think she would like that," said Meredith.
At home, I was in my room when my friends came over.
"They wanted to see if you're okay. They felt bad about Kayla's sudden death," said Dawn.
"I'm still in shocked," I said.
"Kaylee was in school," said Stacey.
"How can she handle that?" I asked.
"We suspect she wanted to forget and attend school," said Kristy.
"I knew I wouldn't able to do it, that's why I stayed home. I didn't want to fall behind in classes," I said.
"I don't blame you," said Kristy.
"Neither do we," said Claudia.
"I don't think Kaylee knew you were out," said Dawn.
"She didn't ask us about it during lunch," said Stacey.
"I think she wanted to act normal around you guys like she did when Kayla collapsed the day she was absent and when I told her about it," I said.
"Maybe you're right," said Carlos.
"We did expect her to be upset about her sister's death," said Meredith.
"So did I," I said.
Later, I wondered if I should see Kaylee.
"I'm going next door to see Kaylee," I said.
"I think she would like to have company," said Dad.
"But she didn't come over with the other girls to see how I was doing," I pointed out.
"I'm surprised at her," said Dad.
"Me, too," I said. "I'm going to talk to her about it."
"I think so, too," said Dad.
I went next door to see how Kaylee was doing.
"She's doing okay," said Mrs. Willis.
"I was told she went to school," I said.
"She wanted to forget about the news," said Mrs. Willis.
"Oh, I didn't even go to school today," I said. "I'm still shocked about Kayla's death."
"I thought she went to see you after school," said Mrs. Willis.
"No, she didn't. That's why I was debating if I should show up or now. After all, I did support her sister all this time during her illness," I said.
"I agree," said Mrs. Willis.
"Should I talk to her about it?" I asked.
"I would," replied her mom.
"Dad was surprised at her," I said. "My other friends came to see me. At least they cared. He agreed about talking to you."
I went to see Kaylee and she was acting strange.
"I was expecting you to see me after you got out of school," I said as I sat on Kayla's bed.
"Oh, good, you're here," said Kaylee. "I knew why you were out when I didn't see you."
"Then, why you didn't come over to see me?" I asked. "Is something bugging you? I can tell the way you were acting."
"Yes. I wanted to walk on my own. I didn't bother walking with the other girls. They all avoided me in school," said Kaylee.
"Avoid you?" I asked.
"Yes," said Kaylee. "I don't know why."
"They didn't think you would attend school today. They all thought you would be upset about Kayla's death. My siblings saw that, too, when you called me about Kayla," I said.
That was whenn Kaylee blanked hard.
"To be honest with you, I thought you would be upset, too," I said. "I didn't sleep much last night. I couldn't stop thinking about Kayla."
"The truth is that I do miss Kayla. I guess I didn't let them go near me. I didn't realized they were concerned about me," said Kaylee.
"They cared about you. That's what they told me when they came," I said.
"I was just trying to act normal. I didn't want to talk about it at school," said Kaylee.
I knew what she was saying now. I had a feeling on that.
"Your mom did say you wanted to go to school to forget about it," I said.
"I did," said Kaylee. "I had some good memories about this."
"Like what?" I asked.
"Since we shared a room, we would pretend we were roommates. At least you can use her bed when you're here for sleepovers," said Kaylee.
"That would make me feel a little awkward," I said.
"True, but I used that thought to help me sleep through the night," added Kaylee. "Mom said we have life insurance, so that would help us pay for Kayla's funeral expenses."
"Really?" I asked.
"Yes, so we're glad," said Kaylee.
"How are your younger siblings making out?" I asked. "I thought about them last night."
"They're doing okay. They all went to school, too," replied Kaylee. "I don't even have her locket. She was supposed to give it to me."
She didn't realized I have it. I didn't even show it to her.
"Isn't that her locket that you're wearing?" asked Kaylee, who noticed that.
"Yes," I replied as I held it. "I guess it was a way for her to help me go through it."
"I didn't even know you had that," said Kaylee.
"She gave this to me the other day, but she called it a friendship locket," I replied. "In fact, it was the doctor who handed it over to me in case she dies before we get to see her. She wanted to make it special for me."
"I think I have an idea. I could buy you one and we can add Kayla's pictures so you and I can both have lockets," I said.
"That sounds fair enough," said Kaylee. "Do you want when you're up for it?"
"Sure," I said.