“Do you know which hospital?”
She nodded, “Sainte-Catherine’s.”
“Thank you,” I said, before calling my mom. I gave her a quick resume of what I’d just found out. She came to pick me up in minutes and started driving me to the hospital.
It was a long, silent car ride. Sainte-Catherine’s was about half an hour far from my house and forty-five minutes from Liam’s.
Mom broke the comfortable silence. “Do you think she’ll be okay?”
Darla Black was one of the kindest women I knew. When I went to study at Liam’s house, she always made us hot chocolate and cookies and she made those horrible jokes that make you want to bang your head against a wall yet laugh at the same time.
Liam looked at her as if she were his home. She was the only family he had left, except for two estranged cousins who lived in Australia. She represented the only shelter, he had from everything in the world. She was his grandmother, his mother, sister, and most importantly, friend.
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly.
If the loss of that amazing old woman could affect me, the feeling must be amplified a million times for Liam.
We got to the hospital a few minutes later and Mom decided to stay in the car. I promised to get her a coffee on my way back and rushed inside.
The hospital was quite elegant. It had wards arranged in a circular design, where the nurses' station was at the center of the ward with all the rooms visible to them. The walls and doors were made of glass and they had curtains that can be closed for a patient's privacy. I heard people moaning and calling for the nurses. The lights were dim. I heard beeps and monitors buzzing and an occasional intercom call.
“Excuse me?” I tapped on a nurse’s shoulder. “Where’s the reception?”
“Take a left, you’ll find it there. As a matter of fact, I’m going there right now. Follow me.”
I followed the nurse, who had fiery red hair stuffed into a net. The receiving desk was right where she said it would be. I walked to the receptionist and gave her a smile.
“Hello.”
She didn’t answer right away.
“Would you possibly know where a boy, Liam Black, would be? He’s here, right now.”
She finally looked up, her dark brown eyes piercing through me. “And who are you?” Her jaw chewed gum noisily and rapidly. I felt as if I was wasting every minute of her life that I was there.
“His best friend,” I replied in less than a second. The nurse grimaced.
“Look, he’s in the third floor. Room 561. Floor 3.”
I went into the elevator and practically ran to Room 561. I stopped in my tracks only when I was already in front of the entrance.
Why was I even doing this? Liam still didn’t want to be my friend.
Because he’s suffering and you care about him.
I took my courage in two hands and knocked on the door three times. After a few seconds, the door opened, revealing a disheveled Liam. My heart softened at the sight in front of me.
His hair was completely messed up, there were tear streaks on his cheeks and his eyes were empty looking. They widened at the sight of me.
“I know I shouldn’t have come here, but I wanted to see you, I wanted to tell you something.” I stopped for a second, my eyes falling on the elderly woman sleeping in her bed, a million wires connected to her.
“Why didn’t you tell me, you idiot?”
He looked at me with a blank stare, and I walked past him and sat on one of the chairs beside Darla Black. She was pale and tired. The soft risings of her chest and her faint heartbeat were the only signs of her still being alive.
“Hey, Darla,” I said, tears forming in my eyes. “Can you believe your grandson? He didn’t tell me that you were here.” I chuckled dryly.
Someone tapped my shoulder and I turned to the familiar screen of Liam’s phone.
“CHD, (Coronary Heart Disease). She's been fine, but about two weeks ago, she got an attack. The doctors say that she doesn't have much time.”
My heart fell. Even though Liam’s neighbor had mostly informed me, I still couldn’t believe that this was real, that this was happening.
"I'm sorry," traced his lips.
I replied, “No, I am.”
And I hugged him.
He stiffened. I could feel him hesitate, but he reluctantly wrapped his arms around me as well.
We stayed that way for a long time, the seconds ticking by slowly, every moment taking its time to pass.
It was a silent confirmation of our friendship.
“Lena! Is that you, dear?” said a throaty voice. I jumped in the air, but smiled at the sight of Darla, now awake. Her blue eyes, which have the same shade as Liam’s, held that same twinkle I’d seen so often when she was well. I went by her side, and so did Liam.
“Darla! Long time no see, eh?”
She chuckled and coughed at the same time and Liam tensed.
“How’s your life going?” she asked, as if she was just at home, knitting a winter sweater for Liam.
I shrugged. “Nothing special. I sent my college application last night, actually.” I felt Liam’s eyes on me. Darla’s mouth dropped a little and she patted my hand.
“So did Liam, yesterday!” She chuckled softly. I was alarmed and I clutched her hand in fear.
“You okay?”
She waved her hand over her face and nodded. “Never better.”
Liam reached out and held her hand as well, placing it over mine. I tried to ignore the shocks that slightly jolted my body. Darla’s eyes went to our hands and she chuckled, as if sharing an old joke with herself.
“Do you have any new jokes?” I asked.
Her eyes lit up, and the wrinkles on her face seemed to fade from the joy. “What did the green grape say to the purple grape?”
I stayed silent.
“Breathe, idiot. Breathe!” And she broke into laughter. We laughed heartily with her, but remained cautious.
I had to admit though, hearing Liam laugh made me feel somewhat better. And it felt like old times, when Darla would sit on her old, oak rocking chair and tell us jokes, as her face glowed with tranquility.
She blinked several times and her presence was deflated every time she blinked. She finally closed her eyes, and soft snores were heard. She’d fallen asleep again.
I looked down to our hands, which hadn’t left Darla’s. Liam typed something on his phone with his free hand and showed me.
“You came for the coffee, didn’t you?”
I simply replied with, “You promised.”
“The hospital’s cafe has the best coffee around.”
I smiled. “Let’s go then. Mom wants a coffee too; I’ll give her one and then tell her to go home. You’ll drive me home anyways.”
I turned to him, and his eyes were burning into me.
They could say every word his lips and tongue couldn’t. They were the way he expressed himself and I found it bizarre yet normal that I could read them so easily.
Today, there was fear laced with relief.
I nodded. “I’m glad we’re friends again too, idiot.”
12
Love Jitters
“Maybe it’s the way she walked straight into my heart and stole it.”
~One Direction~
Lena Rose Winter
I laid my head against the cold, hard metal of my locker. I felt my eyes close, as I melted into Ed Sheeran's raspy voice in Give Me Love. It felt as if I was in a different world. I felt peaceful, considering that it was lunch time and I still had an hour ahead of me.
I had eaten, then extricated myself from Liam's company with the excuse that I had some "homework" to do. Frankly, I just wanted a little time to myself.
"Oi, why are you sitting in front of your locker being all depressed?" said a voice that could only belong to Victoria. I opened my eyes to see her sitting beside me. Her face softened when she saw my expression. I took off one earphone, to hear her bet
ter.
"What's wrong, babe?"
I smiled a little, I always loved it when she called me "babe" and it was cute, unlike the way Jonah used to say it.
“Well…” I trailed off, not knowing exactly how to explain anything.
"Can I guess?"
“Sure,” I shrugged, highly doubting she knew what was on my mind.
"You really want Liam to ask you to the dance, but he's not doing anything," said Tori, stroking her invisible beard.
My eyes widened. How could she do that? I hadn’t mentioned anything to anyone.
She grinned mischievously and then held one finger up. "Wait, I'm not done. You're in love with Liam, but you don't want to confess anything," she finished in a singsong voice. I snuck a peek at her, frowning when I saw her eyebrows wiggling suggestively.
“I do not like him.”
Tori raised an eyebrow. “And you’re worried about his grandma and you want to take his mind off things.”
I didn’t answer because it seemed as if this was the only piece of indisputable truth she’d said so far.
Tori's expression only got worse. Then, she poked me. She perfectly poked my belly button.
Coincidence? I think not. I ignored her, replacing both of my earphones in place.
Poke.
I squirmed a little.
Poke, belly button poke.
I let out a small squeak and tried to find refuge in the music.
"No, I just want to hold you.
Give a little time to me, to burn this out,
We'll play hide and seek, to turn this around…"
Tori started fully tickling me. She giggled as she achieved a series of shrieks out of me. My legs started kicking the air and I felt as if I was being tortured.
In no time at all, she had almost finished me. "Hide and seek, my arse."
I felt my smile turn upside down.
No one gets away with insulting Edward Christopher Sheeran.
"Hey! He's beautiful and perfect, okay! You ruined my mood," I exclaimed, retrieving my iPod from her hands.
"Your mood wouldn't be ruined if you asked Liam to the dance,"
I re-crossed my arms. "No, I most certainly will not ask him to the dance.”
"You know you want to."
"I do,” I sighed. “But a girl's got to have some pride."
Tori groaned in frustration. "Come on."
"No."
"If you don't, I'll tell—” She paused, a dramatic look only a maniac could muster appearing on her face, “—Jonah that you've always loved him."
That made me gasp, "You wouldn't."
She smirked. "Oh, I most certainly would.”
"Fine," I surrendered.
Tori got up in a flash and started jumping up and down — also known as Winter Happy Dancing.
"But how should I… ask?" I stuttered, whispering the last part. Tori put her hands on my shoulder and looked at me with dead serious eyes.
"You just say it, okay, Lena?"
Receiving no change in my facial expression, she shook me frantically.
"Lena! I'm going to go tell him to come here and you just do it, okay? Where would he be?"
"Library," was my automatic answer.
"He'll be here in a jiffy.”
Jiffy?
Breathe, Lena. Breathe, I commanded myself.
"Okay," I managed to say, just before Tori stormed off, reminding me of a lightning bolt.
What if he says no?
You'll be strong.
He wouldn't hate me, right?
No, Lena. He'd never hate you.
How do you know? You're just me.
I know a lot more than you do about everything.
Oh yeah? Like what?
You like Liam, more than as a friend.
Oh, me. Always lying to me. I don't like him!
Yes, you do.
It's my mistake anyway, who has a conversation with themselves?
You.
During all this time, I was searching the hallways for his red sneakers.
He walked towards me, looking worried. In his arms, there were several, heavy looking books. I recognized The Host.
That's your typical Liam.
"What's wrong?" he mouthed, running a hand through his perfectly tousled, soft chestnut hair.
"N-Nothing, I-I..." The floor was suddenly the most interesting thing to look at.
Pride, regain yourself, Lena.
I felt myself get stronger, a surge of adrenaline coursing through my body. I lifted my head up, directly looking through Liam's beautiful, deep, ocean blue eyes. I melted. I fiddled with my arms.
"I-It's just, you know!” I grunted. “Would you stop that?”
Liam raised his eyebrow questioningly.
“Stop being all you, when you know exactly what I want to say," I blabbered, my hands getting strangely sweaty.
I sighed loudly, waving my hands around. "Ah, I'm just going to say this. Don't find me weird or stupid, okay?"
"Never."
"Willyougowithmetothedance?” I said, barely coherent. “Justasfriends, ofcourse, likeduh."
I put my head down, letting the heavy silence settle in. I should've never said anything. Being a coward, I couldn’t even look at Liam.
He was going to say no.
I took a chance and lifted my head a little, only to meet adorably confused eyes. He furrowed his eyebrows.
Darn it, he didn't understand me.
"Well, I just... will you go to the dance with me, as friends of course?" I asked, never taking my gaze off him this time.
His eyes went wide and his mouth was agape.
I shouldn't have.
I felt my bottom lip slightly quiver, thinking I had just ruined everything. My eyes met the ground again.
Soft hands held my chin and slowly lifted my head up.
Liam was smiling.
His eyes were shining with happiness. Cheeks, faintly tainted with a fair color reminding me of a rose, merely blooming. Loose strands of smooth brown hair perfectly framed his face. The blue eyes brought out his striking natural beauty and I couldn't help but stare. His thick light eyebrows showed contentment, but amused at the same time. My eyes unconsciously flickered to the lips. Red, was all I could think. He licked his lips, making them even more of a strawberry color.
I liked strawberries.
I bit my lip. Expect the worst.
Liam blinked. My nervousness made my muscles tense.
Don't get your hopes up, I reminded myself.
His lips moved, making my heart race faster. I sighed in relief and then realized what was happening.
I felt my mouth curve into a smile, which immediately transformed into a huge grin.
"Yes."
That was the one word I would've died to hear his voice say, but his mouth tracing it was good enough. It was better than that, it was extraordinary.
I don't know if it was something about his smiling expression or the way his mouth curved around that word, but it took me all the restraint and will in the world not to break into a happy dance right there.
13
Girl Days
“A best friend isn’t just someone who’s always there for you. It’s someone who understands you a bit more than you understand yourself.”
Lena Rose Winter
The dance was on a Friday and everyone had school. The girls complained, but the boys couldn't care less. Well, obviously, they didn't have to prepare for perfect hair and makeup that took hours to master.
The thing was, I didn't have anything to wear. I was horrified. All I had was a dress that was now two sizes too small, worn on Valentine's Day, three years ago.
I wiped the sleep out of my eye, taking the Cheerios box and shaking some into my bowl. My mom was still asleep, which was really strange. Ever since Tori came into our lives, she'd always been going out in the afternoon and coming back after midnight. Frankly, curiosity was killing me, but I decided to give her time.