I slowly creep out of the bathroom after the next bell rings. I don't want to talk to anyone, not even Sarah. She didn't support me in any way and just sat there. I know that she knows I can stumble with my words when I'm nervous or embarrassed.

At lunch I just sat some where other than my usual spot. As I looked around, it seemed like everyone was minding themselves and didn't care about what happened earlier. Maybe because the rumor hasn't spread yet. I try to keep my head down so Sarah can't notice me and ask me to sit with her.

Right now I'm having that feeling where I just want to be alone. Like that feeling (for some people) whenever you cry about something. Some people ask you what's wrong or try to help you, and I don't like that. Some people are comforted by that, but I hate talking when I'm sad, because I usually start crying. I'm well aware that I'm a senior high schooler, but I am very sensitive person, and I easily cry.

I check Todd's social media account. He always posts rumors and gossip on his account, which is why everyone hates him. He doesn't post lies, though. Everything is true, it's just that it doesn't need to be shared. I have never had something posted about me, but if I do, I'll be devastated. I look up his username, and the first thing on it is an image of the post-it note. The post-it with the conversation between Sarah and me. I read the messages that went back and fourth between us:

I hate my sister. I just want to kill her.

I doubt you actually want to kill her.

At least he left out the last part about the girlfriend and all that. There's already thirty-seven views on it, and it was posted ten minutes ago. That may not seem like a lot, but school is still in session, meaning that many students haven't checked their phones yet. It's almost the end of the day though, and I impatiently wait for the final bell to ring. I'm fidgety and can't stop shaking in my desk. The teacher has to tell me to stop clicking my pen, which has never happened to me before. All I want to do is just go home.

To my relief, the bell rings and I spring out of my seat. Today was just one of those bad days at school. It's normal for that to happen, but I'm usually sad over grades, not a rumor about me. I need to get my mind off the stupid rumor. Nobody will even believe it anyway. A murder plan is very extreme for a senior high schooler, especially for someone like me. I don't have any reason to kill my sister (or at least that no one knows about).

I get home and Rain's sitting at the dining room table. She's looking at her phone, giggling.

"Hey, Rain."

She sits up but stares at her phone. "Hi."

I'm quiet for a little while until I see her fingers moving. "Who're you texting?" I ask her.

"Oh, just...Chester. We're going out tomorrow."

"Does mom know you're going out with him?"

"No," she replies, waving her hand like it was obvious. "I'll just tell her I'm going to Addy's house."

"I thought you had a fight with her last week."

Rain groans and gives me an annoyed look. "Yeah, but she doesn't know that."

"Okay, just making sure," I say, putting my backpack down.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?"

"No?" I ask as Rain's face says an 'Of course you do' look.

"I thought you had to go work at the café," she tells me, looking back at her phone.

"Oh, crap," I say, running upstairs to get changed into my working clothes. I'm out the door in less than five minutes. It's raining outside, and my hair is dripping wet. I get to the café a minute before I would be considered late.

"Just in time," the manager says, slapping my back. "Get to work right away."

"Yes," I say timidly, going behind the counter. 

One customer walks in, his white t-shirt soaking wet. He looks familiar, but it's hard to recognize him from so far away. As he walks closer, I know who it is.

When I notice he's Alexander, I start hyperventilating, but I try to look calm. I can see the outlines of his muscles through his wet white shirt as it's clinging to his skin. He's so ripped. And much more attractive than I remember.

What am I thinking? He's a customer, not a boyfriend. He walks to the counter, and I feel the palms of my hands starting to get sweaty.

"H-hello. How may I help you?" I ask as I'm supposed to.

"Hey," he says in a deep voice, pushing his wet hair off to the side. "Can I get the... iced peach green tea with half sugar?"

I nod, showing that I heard his order. "Can I have a name for your order?"

"Alex," he replies.

I usually make drinks without giving it a thought since it has been carved into my brain. While I'm making his drink, however, it feels different. Teas are rare to order here, but it's not that that's messing with me. I'm making this for Alexander, my long-time crush.

"Here you go," I say, handing him the drink. "Iced peach green tea with half sugar."

"Thanks," he replies, smiling.

"That'll be three dollars."

Alexander takes out his wallet and gives me three dollars. "You seem very familiar. What's your name?"

"Um... Earnest," I tell him.

He doesn't say anything as he's thinking. "Oh yeah, you were from middle school, right?"

I nod as some water drips down the side of his head. He lifts up the front of his shirt to wipe it off, unintentionally showing me his abs. I tried not to look at it that much.

"I remember you. You were that really smart kid," he says.

I feel my face getting hot. "Yep. That was me."

"Well, see you around," he says, turning around and walking out the door into the rain.

As he walks out, I feel like I just want to melt. My heart is pounding in my chest right now, and I hope he didn't notice how nervous I was. Seeing him now, I love him even him more. I should've asked him for his phone number, but I think that would've been too much, especially after meeting again after four years.

Ten minutes later, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I'm not supposed to answer calls while I work unless they're important. It's from my mom. I pick it up.

"Earnest, your sister is in the emergency room. Your dad is gonna pick you up soon," she says quickly.

"Wait, what happened?" I ask frantically.

"I'm still not sure, but she must've fallen down the stairs and hit her head really hard. I don't know if she has any other major injuries."

"Was it an accident?"

"I don't know. You were the only person with her after she got home from school. I didn't think that you would push her, so I'm not sure."

I'm silently freaking out about everything that is happening today. I know people who will think I pushed Rain and why I pushed her. To kill her. To kill my sister.