What Happened At St. Ivey's (One Direction)

Chapter 8

So this is gonna be a depressing  chapter, but it’ll get better, I promise!

~BROOKLYN~

When I came to, I was leaning against Harry, and I jerked upright. This was a bad idea; I sat back down as a wave of dizziness took over. We were still in Kayla’s room, spread out on the beanbag chairs. Harry put his arm around me and whispered, “It’ll be alright Brooklyn, we’re here for you.”

I glanced at him, then at the other four and Kayla, who had red, puffy eyes and tear stains on her cheeks. What would be alright? What happen-

Suddenly everything came rushing back into focus. Kayla…very sorry…two months to live…. I jerked up and pulled my sister into my arms. We were both crying and hanging onto each other and trying not to waste a precious second. The little girl in front of me was warm and soft, albeit a little skinny and pale, but very, very much alive. I squeezed my eyes shut but the tears still leaked out. There was no possible way that this girl would be dead in two months.

I held her tighter.

The boys, who were tearing up too, rubbed our backs, but I barely felt a thing. They whispered soothing words, but I wasn’t listening; the blood roared too loudly in my ears. I only held my sister, my baby, my Mouse, as another moment of her life ticked away.

After I don’t know how long, I remembered my parents and cringed. I decided I’d call them later to check up on them. The doctor had left, and we were all still in Kayla’s room. Kayla herself had fallen asleep in my arms, exhausted from crying. I gently stroked her hair.

I rubbed my nose. “Sorry,” I told the guys plaintively. “I didn’t mean to break down in front of you.” They had been sitting tensely in their beanbag chairs; now they stood.

“Sorry?” Zayn said, eyebrows raised and eyes wide. “Why on Earth are you sorry?”

I looked back at him, not completely sure what to say.

We sat silently for a minute, and in that time, Kayla stirred. She rubbed her eyes sleepily; it was probably around eight o’clock. “Brooklyn?”

“Right here, Kay,” I said, mustering up as much cheer as I could. “Do you need anything?” Other than a longer life? I pushed the thought away.

“Where are mom and dad?” She murmured, and her voice was very small. She looked up at me, all wide, innocent eyes and flyaway brown hair, and my heart broke a little.

“They’ll be here soon,” I promised, although I wasn’t entirely sure. I stepped out into the hallway to call them, and when I came back, Kayla was curled in Louis’ arms, fast asleep. I smiled at the two, but I could feel the smile wobble uncertainly on my face. I pressed my lips together to keep from crying again.

My mom, who’d answered when I called, was in hysterics and on her way here. I’d tried to calm her down as much as I could, but, I mean, her daughter was dying. She’d be here in a few minutes.

Louis gently rocked her back and forth, and a sudden thought occurred to me – What would happen now? Would we still have four more days with One Direction? Would Kayla even want to? I frowned as I thought.

“I think we’d better go,” Liam, who stood next to me, whispered, and I snapped back to reality. I nodded, not exactly looking forward to facing my parents alone. When Lou set Kay back on her bed, she woke up again. I took my chance. “Hey, Mouse? Before the guys go, I want to ask you something.” She nodded sleepily, and I felt a little bad, but pushed on. “For the next four days, do you still want to do this?” I asked. “Hang out with One Direction, I mean?”

Kayla blinked, more awake now. “Of course I do!” She said it as if not doing it hadn’t occurred to her. “I’ve only got two months to live, and I might as well make them memorable.” I could tell she was trying so hard to put on a brave face as she spoke, but her bottom lip trembled. All five of the boys seemed happy to still hang out with us, with her, and I was relieved. Not many celebrities would hang out with a terminal cancer patient.

A few moments after they’d gone, my mother burst into the room, my father close behind. Lydia Wells was in tears, black make up tracing a path down her cheeks. She enveloped her youngest daughter in a hug. “My baby,” she whispered, over and over, and my heart broke a little more. Kayla began to cry again.

My dad had slumped into a chair by the bed, looking shell-shocked and dead tired. His eyes were focused on a point somewhere on the floor. “Dad,” I said, collapsing onto the floor next to him. He didn’t even look up, and I sighed, leaning my head against his knee. I’m not sure how long we sat like that, his shocked expression and my exhausted one, but long enough for Kayla and my mom to break apart. Well, sort of. She still had a white-knuckled grip on my sister’s hand.

My mom stood up, clearing her throat, and my dad finally snapped to attention. “We can get through this,” she began, tears still marking her cheeks. “We’re a family. That’s what families do….” They’re might’ve been more, but I kind of zoned out. I just wanted to go home and sleep. Oh, and call Austin.

I soon got my wish. Visiting hours ended at nine, so we left Kayla with a few more tears. I walked numbly to my car, the yellow paint almost glowing under a streetlight. I sat in the dark for a moment, hands resting on the steering wheel. Then I let out a scream. Just one, ragged, satisfying scream; then I started my car and began towards home.

~

It was one in the morning before I called Austin. He answered on the last ring, his voice sluggish with sleep. “Hello?”

“Hey, it’s me,” I said. “Sorry it’s so late.”

He must’ve heard something in my voice, because I could hear his sheets rustle as he sat up in bed. “It’s Mouse. Today we were just watching movies, Cinderella or something, in beanbag chairs. Then the doctor came in and…and…told us…” I trailed off, squeezing my eyes shut as I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. “Kayla has two months to live,” I said, exhaling it in one, fast breath.

“Oh, my…. Brooklyn. I’m so sorry. There’s nothing they can do?’

“No,” I whispered unevenly.

“Have they even tried? I mean, there must be some-”

“No,” I whispered, cutting him off. I pulled the covers up and over my head, something I’d done when I was little and had still believed in the monsters under my bed.

“How’d Kayla take it?” he asked.

“Not well. She cried; I cried; mom cried,” I said. “Surprised we didn’t flood the place.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, and I could hear the sincerity in his voice.

“Not your fault.” I pulled my cocoon of blankets tighter around me.

“But I’m sorry it had to happen. If anyone deserves a long, healthy life, it’s your sister,” he explained softly, and I was suddenly very glad I could talk to him about all of this. Who else would understand?

I smiled a little. “Thanks. Have I ever told you that you’re my best friend?”

“No,” he mused. “Don’t believe you have.”

“Well, you’re my best friend.” I heard Austin laugh, and I almost felt normal again, just laying in bed and talking on the phone. The feeling didn’t last long, though. “I’ll talk to you later, okay, Tin-Tin?” My eyelids were starting to droop, and I felt drowsy from the warmth of my covers.

“Oh, before you go,” he said, then paused. “Are we still on for Saturday?” I could practically hear him holding his breath.

“Duh.” I smiled. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

~~~~

Sorry for such a depressing chapter! But stick with me!! Comment with advice, critique, anything!