Should I Stay?

Chapter 8

I have quite the crowd now. Gran and Gramps. Uncle Greg. Aunt Willow. Aunt Kate. My cousins Heather, John and Theo. Dad is one of five kids, so there are still lots more relatives out there.

Nobody is talking about Louis, which leads me to believe that he's not here. He's probably still at the other hospital, being taken care of by Diana

The relatives gather in the hospital waiting room. Not the little one on the surgical floor where Gran and Gramps were during my operation, but a larger one on the hospital's main floor that is tastefully decorated and has comfy chairs and sofas and magazines.

Everyone still talks in hushed tones, as if being respectful of the other people waiting, even though it's only my family in the waiting room. It's all so serious. I go back into the hallway to get a break.

I'm so happy when I see Niall, Liam, Zayn and my other friend Sophia arriving; happy to see their familiar faces. They all wear comfy clothes, like they're about to have a sleep over or something. And their hair is all messy and out of place, excep for Zayn's, that's perfectly done, as always. I swear, that kid could be a model.

Sophia is red-faced and blotchy, like she's been crying or is about to cry. I know this because I have seen her cry many times. She's very emotional. ''Drama queen,'' is how Niall puts it. ''It's the London gene. She can't help it. I suppose we'll be like that one day, too,'' Liam concedes.

Niall, Liam and Zayn are so the opposite of that, so droll and funny in a low-key way that they're always having to say ''just kidding'' to people who don't get their sarcastic sense of humor, that I can't imagine them ever being like Sophia. But Liam can cope with that perfectly, because he's dating her.

But Sophia is really Jewish. Sometimes I have Friday-night dinner with her family when they light candles, eat braided bread, and drink wine (the only time I can imagine Mrs. Smith allowing Sophia to drink). Sophia's expected to only date Jewish guys, which means she doesn't date. Liam was an exception. Her perents loved him for some reason, even when he is far from Jewish.

She always jokes that this is the reason her family moved here, when in fact it was because her father was hired here in Londen. Every summer, she goes to Jewish sleepaway camp in Sheffield. It's called Camp Torah Habonim, but Sophia calls it Torah Whore, because all the kids do all summer is hook up.

''Just like band camp,'' she joked, though my summer program is nothing like American Pie.

Right now I can see that Niall is annoyed. He's walking fast, keeping a good ten feet between him and the rest of the gang, as Niall often calls it, and march down the halls. Suddenly his shoulders go up like a cat that's just spied a dog. He swerves to face Sophia.

"Stop it!'' Niall demands. ''If I'm not crying, there's no facking way you're allowed to.''

Niall never curses. So this shocks me.

"But,'' Sophia protests, ''how can you be so . . .'' -sob- ''so calm when-''

"Cut it out!'' Niall interjects. ''Lucy is still here. So I'm not losing it. And if I don't lose it, you don't get to either!!''

He stalks off in the direction of the waiting room, the boys and Sophia following limply behind. When they reach the waiting room and see my assembled family, Sophia starts sniffling.

Niall doesn't curse this time. But his ears go pink, which is how I know he's still furious. ''I'm gonna leave you lads here. I'm taking a walk. I'll be back later."

'''Niall, wait!'' is all Zayn says before running after him.''I'm going with you.''

Niall looks up at Zayn and nods. ''Alright,''