meeting
tonight with her father.
Present Day
“How did that happen?” I ask raising one
eyebrow. Quentin shrugs and Arianna
blushes. I can’t help but smile. They are cute together despite the
differences. There’s a story there that
I would like to hear someday.
“Things just happen to happen,” Quentin offers.
“But you guys hated each other in high school.”
Quentin looks at Arianna and I can see something pass between them.
“We didn’t really hate each other,” he turns back
to me, “just didn’t see eye to eye on things.” I think I understand. While he’s talking, I notice something
flashing around in his mouth.
“Is that a stud in your tongue?” I can’t believe
it. Quentin has changed — his father
would never have allowed that. He simply
smiles without opening his mouth and nods.
“You have ruined him,” I playfully yell at
Arianna. She has a big smile on her
face.
“Wasn’t that hard to do.”
“Well, I’m happy for both of you,” I tell them.
“And I know Sam will be ecstatic. You know
she always said there was something between you two.” They share a look of
concern between them. I don’t like it.
“What?” Quentin shakes his head.
“No, you don’t get to ignore the question.” I’m
starting to get angry again. Why does
everyone look like someone just died? And suddenly I don’t feel so good.
What if it’s Sam?
What if they don’t want to tell me that she’s
dead? Is that why everyone looks sad and
concerned when I bring it up?
The little ball of lava in my chest is now a ball
of fire and growing.
What the hell is everyone’s problem? What, they don’t think I deserve to know that
my best friend is dead?! They think I’m
too weak to handle those emotions? Who
are they to decide what’s best for me like that? They have no right to keep this from me! I’ve clenched my fists so tight that my
knuckles are white and pain is starting to build in my palms.
I really want to hit someone right now.
Arianna seems to notice my emotions. She’s been almost studying my face since she
got here. She looks concerned and really
surprised at my reaction.
I can’t say I blame her; I’m surprised as well.
“Alan, it’s not like that,” she tells me. “Sam is
fine, no change from what we’re told.” I start to breathe and try to get the
ball under control. Okay, so that kind
of thought process is not a good thing. I try to swallow the fire down, but I’m having a bit of trouble with it
this time. My thoughts are still crazy —
jumping from knowing she’s fine to imagining her dead. It’s making it hard to control my lava stream. I have to think she’s alive. She has to be alive, why else would the nurse
say I could see her tomorrow?
No, I know she’s alive.
“Yeah, we just feel like you should be prepared in
case she doesn’t wake up,” Quentin adds. Arianna’s eyes grow wide and she hits him in the arm. He utters a curse when he realizes what he
said. I’m still controlling my emotions,
but what he’s saying is making sense. I
already had those thoughts cross my mind a few times.
Doesn’t mean
I want to be reminded of it, you prick?!
That irrational side of my brain is really making
it hard to restrain myself.
Calm down. I know there is a chance she won’t wake up. Calm down. Quentin is not a bad guy. He means
no harm. Calm down.
I take a deep breath in and hold it. My vision clears and I feel the calm.
I slowly let the breath out, calming prickles
dance from my lungs down to my feet.
“I know there is a chance that she won’t wake up.”
I’m a lot more breathy than I want to be. Calming myself is more tiring than running the
mile in PE.
Another deep breath.
“I have to think positive,” I admit, “or I’ll go
crazy.”
Arianna and Quentin look at me with a bit of
sympathy in their eyes. They both have
known
tonight with her father.
Present Day
“How did that happen?” I ask raising one
eyebrow. Quentin shrugs and Arianna
blushes. I can’t help but smile. They are cute together despite the
differences. There’s a story there that
I would like to hear someday.
“Things just happen to happen,” Quentin offers.
“But you guys hated each other in high school.”
Quentin looks at Arianna and I can see something pass between them.
“We didn’t really hate each other,” he turns back
to me, “just didn’t see eye to eye on things.” I think I understand. While he’s talking, I notice something
flashing around in his mouth.
“Is that a stud in your tongue?” I can’t believe
it. Quentin has changed — his father
would never have allowed that. He simply
smiles without opening his mouth and nods.
“You have ruined him,” I playfully yell at
Arianna. She has a big smile on her
face.
“Wasn’t that hard to do.”
“Well, I’m happy for both of you,” I tell them.
“And I know Sam will be ecstatic. You know
she always said there was something between you two.” They share a look of
concern between them. I don’t like it.
“What?” Quentin shakes his head.
“No, you don’t get to ignore the question.” I’m
starting to get angry again. Why does
everyone look like someone just died? And suddenly I don’t feel so good.
What if it’s Sam?
What if they don’t want to tell me that she’s
dead? Is that why everyone looks sad and
concerned when I bring it up?
The little ball of lava in my chest is now a ball
of fire and growing.
What the hell is everyone’s problem? What, they don’t think I deserve to know that
my best friend is dead?! They think I’m
too weak to handle those emotions? Who
are they to decide what’s best for me like that? They have no right to keep this from me! I’ve clenched my fists so tight that my
knuckles are white and pain is starting to build in my palms.
I really want to hit someone right now.
Arianna seems to notice my emotions. She’s been almost studying my face since she
got here. She looks concerned and really
surprised at my reaction.
I can’t say I blame her; I’m surprised as well.
“Alan, it’s not like that,” she tells me. “Sam is
fine, no change from what we’re told.” I start to breathe and try to get the
ball under control. Okay, so that kind
of thought process is not a good thing. I try to swallow the fire down, but I’m having a bit of trouble with it
this time. My thoughts are still crazy —
jumping from knowing she’s fine to imagining her dead. It’s making it hard to control my lava stream. I have to think she’s alive. She has to be alive, why else would the nurse
say I could see her tomorrow?
No, I know she’s alive.
“Yeah, we just feel like you should be prepared in
case she doesn’t wake up,” Quentin adds. Arianna’s eyes grow wide and she hits him in the arm. He utters a curse when he realizes what he
said. I’m still controlling my emotions,
but what he’s saying is making sense. I
already had those thoughts cross my mind a few times.
Doesn’t mean
I want to be reminded of it, you prick?!
That irrational side of my brain is really making
it hard to restrain myself.
Calm down. I know there is a chance she won’t wake up. Calm down. Quentin is not a bad guy. He means
no harm. Calm down.
I take a deep breath in and hold it. My vision clears and I feel the calm.
I slowly let the breath out, calming prickles
dance from my lungs down to my feet.
“I know there is a chance that she won’t wake up.”
I’m a lot more breathy than I want to be. Calming myself is more tiring than running the
mile in PE.
Another deep breath.
“I have to think positive,” I admit, “or I’ll go
crazy.”
Arianna and Quentin look at me with a bit of
sympathy in their eyes. They both have
known
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