"She'll need more medications."

I hated those words.

Yes they kept me healthy, but the ammount I take keep me out of school. I already take diurectics and something called 'water pills'. Why must there always be more everytime my health declines?

I cough everytime I lie down, I get tired and restless all the time that I miss watching friday football games. I do good in school but I missed out on a lot of my highschool experience.

I spend more time at home resting, than living a normal life. When can I be normal for once?

"Sweetie, are you alright?"

I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to my dad who was driving us back home from a doctor appointment.

"I just feel tired. I'm gonna need some rest when I get home."

"Okay. I'll try and hurry to get us home."

I looked back to the window with a sigh and did my best to hide that I was starting to feel breathless.

After many agonizing minutes I got out of the car as fast as possible and headed straight to my room. When I slammed the door shut I took lots of deep breaths until my breathing returned to normal.

"Octavia?"

"Yeah dad?"

"Do you need anything?"

"No I'm good dad thanks."

"Okay well just let me know if you do."

"Alright."

I waited until I was sure my dad retreated away from my doorstep before I collapsed in a chair and yelped from my aching feet. No matter how comfortable my shoes were my feet and ankles was always sore.

I flinched as I pulled off my shoes and set them next to my dresser. The dresser where my medications was waiting for me to swallow. I groaned as I forced myself to swallow them whole with water always set for me to drink.

I felt instant nausia and drowziness and I coughed as I blearily walked to my bed and collapsed onto my bed. I coughed for many more hours until I finally fell alseep.

~September 19th, 1989

I woke up to find the same breakfast of veggies and whole grain toast. I preffered to eat dark chocolate over the same meal four times a day everyday. But my dad wants me to eat healthy so it was better than not at all.

I didn't feel so bad today so hopefully I can go to school. I went on Monday and now it was Friday.

I ate my breakfast with a grimace and started picking an outfit for the day.

"Octavia are you awake?"

"Yeah but I'm changing so don't come in."

"Okay we'll be ready to go to school in about 10 minutes."

"Okay dad."

I finished putting on my outfit and quickly swallowed my medications along with the new bottle.

I grabbed my bag and started to head out when I felt a pain on my chest.

"Please not now."

"Octavia are you ready?"

"Yeah I'm coming."

I took a deep breath and heart began to still again. I sighed in relief and headed to the car.

~Bennington High School

I stepped out of the car and waved goodbye to my dad. I turned around and started to head inside when my heart started hearting again, this time more painful.

My health declines every year. It just wasn't fair. I stood there taking slow but steady breaths.

"Hey! Keep standing there much longer and you'll be digging your grave faster Spencer!"

I looked up in annoyance as Stacy and her lackeys laughed at me amused by my pain.

"Hey Octavia!"

I looked up to see the Ernest approaching from a white car. I was surprised he drove himself to school.

"Hi Ernest."

"Either we don't have classes together or you haven't been to school lately."

"The second one sadly. Family reasons."

"Sorry. I guess that's life for you."

"Yeah it is."

Silence.

"What class do you have first period if you don't mind me asking?"

"Anatomy."

"With Gonzales?"

"Yes. Do you have that class too?"

"Yes actually."

"Oh wow I've never seen you there."

"I did just move here about a week ago."

"From where?"

"Newington."

"I hear it's nice there."

"Yeah. A lot of stuck ups there though."

"Oh, what's your impression of here so far then?"

"A lot more calmer and quieter compared to the rich hub laketown."

"It is."

Ding dong!

"Want to head to class together?"

"Sure."

Never did I think I would ever be walking down the same school hall with anyone. Everyone spreads rumors about me to the point where no one talks to me or wants to be near me.

They're all afraid I'll make them sick.

Ernest might think the same at some point, but until then I'll just enjoy the moments where at least someone wanted to talk to me.

"You don't talk much."

"I'm more of a listener."

"The same goes for me honestly. This town might be nice but the people here not so much. The things I've been hearing about a girl in particular, their so mean."

"A girl?"

"Yeah that she has the plague or something and just talking to her will leave you cursed. I don't believe it at all. Nobody knows what that girl is going through. It's rude to assume the worst for a person."

"Yeah it sounds bad."

I knew the girl he was talking about was me. But I just didn't have the heart to tell him yet.

"You okay?"

"Oh yeah. Just thinking to myself."

"Okay."

We reached anatomy class and everyone went silent as soon as I entered. This happenned for every classroom I stayed in. Ernest didn't seem to notice and went to take a seat.

I sat in the desk beside the window and everyone seated behind me or next to me immeadiately squirmed away to another desk or scooted as far as possible from me.

"Okay class settle down. Today- Oh for heavens sake, can everyone stop sitting away from Octavia? I need at least three of you to sit next to her or you're all getting an extra quiz for your behavior."

The class went uncomfortably quiet that the teacher even suggested it. When I thought no one would come Ernest suddenly got up from his desk and sat in the desk next to mine.

"Thank you...umm Ernie was it?"

"Ernest ma'am."

"Ernest thank you. Everyone else gets a quiz."

The whole class groaned and some even glared at me. Like it was my fault they had to take an exam.

Half an hour into the lecture I was off into my own world. Watching the tree blow in the wind.

"Hey Octavia."

I turned to look at Ernest and giggled when I read the note he was holding.

This class is so boring. If I wanted to learn about anatomy I would want to be a scientist."So Octavia can you tell me how many valves the heart has, since you're obviously paying attention?"

Almost all the class snickered at me having been picked out by the teacher.

"Four ma'am."

"Very good."

Of course I knew the answer. I had a heart disease so I know a lot about the heart.

I turned to see Ernest waving his hand again to show me the new mesage on the note.

Wow you're smart. I can barely tell difference between the knee cap and the leg bone.

I couldn't help but giggle again but quieter this time.

"i'm not that smart."

"you seem smart to me."

We both snickered but quickly stopped trying to look interested in the lesson when the teacher looked in our direction.

~Lunchtime

The day repeated the same as usual. I only saw Ernest for one class in the morning and everything repeated the same as the years before.

One teacher treats me normally, one treats me like I have germs, one hates me, one wishes I never existed, and the cafeteria ladies treat me like I'm contagious.

I'm used to it by now but I never enjoy it one bit.

"Seat taken? Oh wait I forgot they never are for you freak."

I ignored Stacy but couldn't for long when she 'accidentally' dropped her drink on my shirt.

"What the!"

"Oh I'm so sorry. I hope it doesn't stain freakshow. Hahahaha!"

The tables close by laughed at what Stacy did. Nobody ever stood up to me and I never had the energy to stand up for myself. That's why she kept doing it, because she could.

Stacy walked away in hysterics as I tried to clean up my shirt from the milk.

"Here."

I looked up at Ernest holding out napkins for me.

"Thanks."

As I started drying and wiping at my shirt, I was surprised to see Ernest sit down at my table.

"I just finished getting my plate when I saw her throw the milk on you. I'm sorry I'm always too late to step in."

"Don't worry about it. It doesn't bother me really so there's no problem."

"Still I feel bad. I want to make it up to you somehow."

"No that's fine. You don't have to do anything for me."

"Well there's a football game later today and one of my friends gave me two spare tickets. I was wondering if you wanted to go with me."

Did I just hear him right? He wants me to go to a football game with him?

"Uh I can't."

Not a complete lie because I had to catch up on this past weeks homework. But I really did want to say yes.

"Why not?"

"I'm- I have a lot of homework and I need to get started on it as soon as I get home."

"Come on just this one time. I promise I won't ask you again."

"I umm.."

"Here I'll give you a ticket in case you change your mind."

He handed me the football ticket I never thought I'd be holding.

"Say I do change my mind how do I contact you?"

"Oh right."

I quickly handed it back to him and he quickly scribbled his phone number on it.

"If you change your mind call me and I'll go pick you up. Okay?"

"Okay."

Is this really happening? I want to say yes but I know my dad will definitely say no.

I did my best to have a conversation with Ernest as lunch period wore on to the end of the school day.