When it ends

Chapter 5

                I tossed and turned and finally got up and walked to the window. I pulled the curtains back. "Whatever your will, let me handle it with grace." I'd like to be one of those people who accepts death you know? Just charges head on. Doesn't make little of it because she knows its going to happen. But to fight until i can't fight anymore.

                  "You're always graceful." Carter said taking a seat next to me in the window. I wiped a tear away. "I don't know about that. I'm scared and that's not what i wanted." "You can't plan that. You just found out you may be dying soon. Give yourself some time and some credit. This can't be easy for anybody. And you're handling it a lot better than i would." "Yea?" I asked

                     "Oh yea i'd probably start testing monkeys kidney's." I laughed. "Look, i love you. You are gonna make it through this. Grace and all. And we'll talk about this as much as we need to until you're okay." He said smoothing my hair back. He pulled me into a hug. "Maybe just hold me." I said burying my face into his chest. "You got it Mac." He soothed his hand down my back and soon my breathing evened out.

                The next day i woke up in bed next to Rosie. I guess Carter had carried me to bed. I was a lucky girl to have such great friends. We headed downstairs for the all elusive free breakfast. Once we had scarfed down all we could eat we hit the road.

"Okay we can go through Las Vegas." Zyler said. "And do what? We can't gamble." Said Rosie. "No but i could get drunk and marry a striper." Said Zyler. "Ew you would do that." Rosie said shoving his arm. "Hey i'm just being a realist." Said Zyler. "Hey realist, you're a good guy and you can do better than a striper named candy okay?" "Okay how about a striper named heaven?" He asked.

                   "I'm serious dude you're going to college if you marry a striper then you can't..." "Get with all the cheerleaders duh. Good lookin out Mac." I rolled my eyes grinning. I'd miss Rosie and Zyler when Carter and i went to school or if just carter went to school. I was glad they'd only be thirty minutes away. But we agree we'd get together every other weekend.

            "Dude, seriously go to Vegas." Zyler whispered to Carter. "Dude, this isn't about you. It's about Mac get your head out of your butt." Carter said glaring at him. "Yes sir, head out of butt." "So you never did tell us how things went with your mom." Rosie said.

             "I thought Carter told you?" I said. "No." Zyler shook his head "Oh well my mom thought he was hot. She basically tried to strip him down while i was still in the room." I said. "She hot?" Zyler asked. "Dude not even close." Carter said. "So you got your looks from your dad then, good to know." Zyler joked. "So you think my dad's good looking?" I asked laughing.

                "Oh heck yea, Jack is a total babe. I mean have you seen his butt?" He joked. We all burst out laughing. I was so glad for the distraction. I had been thinking of what i'd say to my dad. But i figured things with my mom went well and i'm two for two so there we go. I already knew things. My dad wouldn't want to see me and in fact he would deny i was even his. But Zyler was right about one thing. I did get my looks from my dad. We did look very similar. To the blonde hair and green eyes.

              If we pushed through we'd make it to California by tonight. It was Wednesday and the premiere was Saturday. In all actuality we probably had time to stop in Vegas but i was too nervous to actually stop. I felt somehow just getting to California was the best option. "I am taking a vote." Said Rosie. "And what's that?"I asked. "That when we get to California we stop to buy bathing suites. I cannot get in the ocean in my clothes. That salt water will just ruin them." She said. "I think that is a great idea." I nodded. The guys agreed.

                   We pulled into the cutest beach side hotel. It was slightly run down but it was near the water. It was the prettiest shade of blue green. The doors were made to look like giant surf boards all painted up in neon colors. When i pushed the door open i was hit with hawaiian print. The beds were covered in it. Both lime green. The desk was an old weathered surfboard and the chair was made out of some driftwood. The head boards were made out of tons of intricate seashells.

             "This place is the coolest." Said Rosie. "It is, are you guys hungry?" I asked. "Starving, do you even have to ask?" Carter said."Okay Rosie and i will go get some food and you guys can shower first." I nodded. We headed to the surf shack across the street. We got nachos and hot dogs. With lots of fries. We'd just all pick and choose when we got back to the room but i really wanted the nachos.

                        When we got back Zyler and Carter had both already showered. "Would it be wrong to sleep with the window open?" Zyler asked from the balcony. "I love the sounds of the waves it's so peaceful, it's not dreadfully hot. I say we do it." I said nodding. Once we had scarfed down all the food. Rosie and i took turns in the shower then we headed to sleep.

                          The next day after we had our breakfast we decided to hit the strip. Well that's what we called it because we weren't from here and didn't know what else to call it. They had tons of beach shops. "Ricos, you find what you need or i'm a monkey's uncle." Zyler said, reading the sign. "Well let's not let him be a monkey's uncle!" I said.

                        I tried on several suites. I ended up selecting a black and white striped bikini. Rosie went with a purple and silver swirled one piece. The guys even got new board shorts. "I don't know why we didn't think to bring our own bathing suites." I said shaking my head. "Hey it's okay we were all a little distracted when we packed." Carter said placing a hand on my back. "Thanks, okay you guys ready to get changed and hit the beach?" Rosie asked. "Heck yes, let's do this." Zyler said fist pumping the air.

                    The drive to the beach took literally five minutes. "Do ya think it's gonna be cold?" Carter asked. I mulled it over. "yes but nothing worth doing isn't a little crazy right?" I asked. "Let's do this." Rosie said. We all grabbed hands and took off towards the ocean. I was hit in the face with a big splash of salt water but i oddly enough didn't mind it.

                     We swam for a bit then got out to get changed and head to lunch. The guys wanted authentic seafood. So we hit up Moe's crab shack. It was on the water and it was quant as could be. And the food was totally delicious. After that we just shopped and saw the sights for the rest of the afternoon.