It All Started With the School Dance (ch18)

"Boys, I don't know." mom said. "The only I can see to do, is bring you along. We'll keep trying to call their cell phone numbers, and if we reach them, we're only 20 minutes away from the house. That's the best solution. Unless you boys want to go home."

"Mom. They can come. I don't want to be alone, like, the only kid." I said.

"Okay, well, let's hope for the best." she got up. "Come on guys, grab your stuff, we're going to the hospital."

And with that, Ian, Jake, Mom and I all walked out and got into the car.

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When we got there, we quickly got out of the car and practically ran into the hospital. Mom figured out what floor grandma was on, and we found her room. I suddenly felt queasy.

"Mom, I can't go in just yet." I told her.

"Okay, honey, that's understandable.. can one of you stay out here with Lay?" mom turned to Ian and Jake.

"Sure." they both said at the same time.

"Thanks." mom and I said at the same time.

We sat down in the waiting room. I took a deep breath. It would be okay. I hoped.

"I'm not good with hospitals." I explained to them.

They just nodded.

Then all of sudden, something inside me burst. It was like, I was holding all the feelings that I had had when Allie and I were fighting, those we're all holed up. And then the fact that I wanted a boyfriend so bad and one of my crushes was moving away. And then the fact that my grandma was in the hospital. And I wasn't too close to her, but I was fairly close, and I just hated to see people dying because they look so small and helpless. All of that bunched up together, and I just started crying. I don't know how long I cried, but it was embarrassing. Then heard someone move and sit in the chair next to me, and he put his arm around me. And that made me feel better. But I just cried and finally I stopped.

"I'm sorry guys." I wiped away my tears. "But thanks for being here."

"Of course!" Ian said, while at the same time, Jake said, "No problem.."

I was reluctant to Jake's arm leaving my back, and rubbing it, and hugging me, but since I was better, he took his arm away and said, "Look, Lee, I know this is hard for you, but... it will be better." and I looked up and I saw his beautiful smile, and I had a little faith.

About 20 minutes later, mom came out and said they were going to go perform the surgery. She was getting teary eyed and I told her I already cried and we laughed. She told Jake to go try and call one of his parents with her cell phone.

He tried his Dad and his mom but no one was picking up.

"Oh well." mom sighed. "Look kids, I know you might not be hungry, but here," she pulled out a 15 dollars and handed it to me, "take it. Get yourselves something." So I took the money and Jake and Ian followed me.

We went to the cafeteria but nothing was good, so we ended up in a little shop buying skittles, sour patch kids and M&Ms. We started talking and sat down at one of the tables nearby. I was glad I wasn't here alone. ...It had been about an hour since school ended and Jake thought he'd try to call his parents again. We went back to my mom and she handed over her cell and Jake called his mom. This time he reached her. He told her that they were at the hospital supporting us and then by his expression, I knew that his mom had insisted that she come too. He told her goodbye, and hung up.

"My mom was just getting onto our road when she got the call. She said she's going to head over here and she's very sorry. She wishes good luck and she said she spoke to my dad and he was just finishing up when she talked to him, and she's going to call him back and tell him." he informed us.

"Thank you Jake." my mom sounded so relieved, and I was too.

The rest kind of passed in a blur. The surgery ended right after Jake's parents got to the hospital, and we were informed that it went well and she could go home in several days. Mom and Dad were both so happy, as was everyone else, and we all went to the cafeteria for a celebration. We ate an early dinner that ended up lasted 3 hours, with all the talking. Then, we were allowed to see Grandma. The Smiths said they should go, and we all thanked them perfusely, and then promised to call tomorrow.

When I walked into grandma's room with mom and dad, she looked so small. It was scary. I just stood there while mom and dad quietly talked to her. She insisted that we leave, that she would be okay.

So, about an hour later, we left.

It was around 9pm when we got home, but I was exhausted. I told mom and dad I was going to bed, and they understood and wished me goodnight.

I got ready for bed, and shut off the light. I wasn't tired but I didn't feel like doing anything. I just sat it bed, thinking. I know this was completely selfish, because, while grandma had a heart attack and was having surgery.... I was out there crying. But it wasn't that part that I felt bad about. It was the part where Jake had held me and comforted me. I couldn't shake that feeling. That it felt so good while grandma was so sick. But it was a feeling that could not be described with words. Just having him hold me close... why'd he have to move away?