When it ends

Chapter 9

       "Was that your dad?" Rosie asked. "It was, he's going to send a car at five and we will meet." I said. "Do you want us to come with you?" Zyler asked. "No, I think I should do this alone." I said nodding. "Fine, but we should leave in the morning. You need to check in with your doctor. You know since it's getting worse." Carter said. "Yea, I guess that's a good idea." I nodded. "Look I think I should come with you." Carter said. "I'll sit in the corner and just be there fore you after he leaves." I nodded. "I guess that would be okay." I said.

       "It's our last day in California we've seen it all. What do you want to do?" Rosie asked me. "Let's just got to the beach." I shrugged. They agreed it was a good idea so we got dressed and headed to the beach. I didn't feel like getting in the water so I just sat on the beach. I was feeling really nauseous anyways. Rosie and Zyler were trying to see which one of them could go out the furthest.

       "Are you nervous about seeing your dad?" Carter asked sitting next to me in the sand. "Yes, and I hate I'm even having to go see him y'know? He made it clear he wanted nothing to do with my sister and I. And if he gives me a kidney isn't like he's accepting that he's my dad? I mean what will people say?" I ask. "I've got it. You tell him that he wanted to be selfless so he put himself on a donor list and you were his first match. He'll look like a hero and have an excuse for the surgery." He shrugged.

      "I don't think my dad would go for it. I just wanna punch that guy ya know?" I said. "Well you could. I mean nobody would know. I'll record it of course but that's so when you get mad you can relive it." He said. "Uh, no actually." "Okay, how bout this. We can practice what you'll say. I'll be your dad." He said. I nodded, that might actually be helpful.

     "Hey da...er Jack? Mr. Odonald?" I shrugged. "I'd go with Jack." He nodded. "Okay, hey Jack so as I told you the other day. I'm uh sick, in early stages of kidney failure." "So? Why are you here?" He asked. Well that sounded like my dad actually. "Well the doctor says you're likely the best match." I said. He shook his head. "Sorry kid, my kidneys are my kidneys. You can probably buy one on the black market. But I mean I'm not paying." I wacked his arm. "Buy a kidney on the black market?" I asked.

      "What you can buy anything on the black market." He shrugged. "You're an idiot." I said. "Sorry, I'm just trying to lighten the mood." He said. "Thanks I appreciate it." I said leaning back on my elbows. The sun was glorious. Summer was in full swing. Kids were running around the sand with buckets and shovels. A family of four was chasing a dog. Two kids were trying desperately to get a kite up into the air. A couple was making out like it was the last time they'd ever see each other. A mom with a tiny baby was sitting at a picnic trying to feed her.

       It made me realize how fragile life really was. I'd loved every second of it, tried not to take any of it for granted but now there was no guarantee that I'd get to live more of it. I sighed. "I'm ready to go home. I miss my grandparents and Reba." I said. "Yea, I miss my parents too." He nodded. "Well then I suppose it's a good thing we are leaving for home in the morning." I said. "Yep, long drive though." I said. Rosie and Zyler had come up to the sand at this point. "Wanna stop back through Nashville Carter?" Zyler joked.

       "No, not even a little bit." Said Carter. We dried off, cleaning everything up that we had brought. Back in the car we headed to a restaurant. "Google says this is the best." Said Rosie grinning as we got out. "I think it's gonna be good." She pointed. "Well we trust you." I nodded. "Just so long as they have good dessert." Zyler nodded as well. We stepped inside. "Holy...a dessert bar...this is...you did...wow..." Zyler could barely speak in full sentences. 

       The first thing was an ice cream machine. Then you could put any of the toppings on top. Then there were pies and cheesecakes, cookies and brownies of all sorts. "Can we just eat dessert? Is that healthy?" I asked. "That's why they have the other bar silly. Soup." Said Rosie.  A soup bar? Sounds great. Although it's summer time in California and it's hot...I'm being bitter. I'm going to enjoy this because Rosie put a lot of thought into it.

       Once we had paid I took a bowl. All of the soup looked good. I tried three, the vegetable, the cheese and potato and this pasta soup with red sauce. All three were delicious. I didn't fix a ton because I wanted to try multiple soups. I didn't get a ton because I also wanted dessert.

       I got a brownie two different types of cookies, and some cheesecake. We sat in our seats just sitting. "That, was amazing." Zyler said. "You are right, now I'm gonna need to be carted out of here." Said Carter patting his stomach. "Did you eat too much?" Rosie asked. "Yep, and now I'm gonna have to hit double time in the gym when I get home." Said Carter raising his shirt to reveal perfect abs. "Oh please, we can't all look like you." Zyler said rolling his eyes. "Hey, to be fair I worked hard for all this." Said Carter.

       Well I wasn't complaining. In fact if I was being honest I couldn't stop thinking about that kiss. A small part of me was curious to try again but we had made a promise that we wouldn't date and ruin the friendships. We finally got up and left heading back to the hotel. When we got there we started cleaning up and packing. It was almost time for my dad to come by with the car. "I shouldn't have eaten so much." I said.

       "Yea we heard, I snagged some crackers from the bar for you just in case." Zyler said pulling a few packs from his pocket. "Oh, that was so kind of you. Thank you." I took them and munched on them while sitting at the desk. I had turned on reruns of the golden girls hopping that would calm me down. But I was still a bundle of nerves.

      "Quiet you trash." Blanche called out. Rosie laughed. She hit my arm. "Come on that's gold. Take it easy. You are fine. Go meet the man. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If he says no then you go home and we try again. Someone will be a donor. And if he doesn't he's a jerk. You get this over with and we had a good trip." Said Rosie. I nodded my head. I knew she was right.