A Chance at Life

As Ready as I'll Ever Be

We head downstairs to have dinner and sit with Marty watching a movie until we finished. I get up with Shelby and we both clean the dishes whilst Marty cleans the lounge. "Do you have to go now?"
"We say this way too often"
"One day we won't have to say it at all" I kiss her nose and she smiles.
"I'll see you tomorrow, and the day after-"
"And the day after..." I pull her closer by her waist and kiss her. She pushes me away and runs off. "Shelby?" I hear Marty call after her too as she runs by the lounge. I follow her and find her in the bathroom throwing up. I kneel down and hold her hair back. "Am I that bad at kissing?" She laughs and sits back up.
"I'm sorry"
"Don't be sorry, are you alright?"
"Yeah, I probably just ate something bad"
"I will sue the school" we laugh and she gets up flushing the toilet. "You should get home and rest"
"Yeah"
"Come on, I'll walk you out" we walk to the door and Marty joins me in waving her off.

"Is she okay?"
"She threw up, probably ate something bad"
"I mean it can't be dinner since I feel okay"
"Yeah me too, don't worry about it. She'll be alright. I'm heading to bed, do you need anything?"
"Nope all good" I wave goodnight and go into my room. I see that Helsby has attempted and failed to put his blanket back on his side of the bed. I pick it up and put it over him as he sleeps on the tiny piece he managed to get up. I change into my pajamas and get into bed, falling to sleep . 

The next few days fly by as the big game gets closer. I spend every day doing the same routine: Going school, going to training and spending as much time as I can with Shelby. She drops me off home every night after practice and we spend most of our time in the car since her dad found out she was spending time at 'Marty's house' again. She recovered from her illness and found out it was just a sickness that her brother had, at least that's what she told us all.

We all started to receive our college acceptance and rejection letters back during the week too. I got accepted into Texas A&M. Shelby got into all of her chosen colleges including UCLA. All I wanted was to be as far away from Shelby's family as possible so I could enjoy life with her without having to worry. My top choices were UCLA and NYC which both had scouts at my game so I was super nervous about Friday. Marty got her acceptance letter for Texas A&M, Fatin and Leah both got into colleges in California together and Dot was staying back home and Rachel and Nora both got into Stanford. The group chat definitely wasn't quiet this week with celebrations every time someone got an acceptance letter.

It was Thursday night and I was in Shelby's bed with her after I snuck in through her window after practice and we were watching Ice Age on her tv. She was playing around with my hand with her head rested on my chest and I had my eyes glued to the screen.
"Toni?"
"Mm?"
"What are you doing this weekend?"
"Uh...being with you?"
"Do you want to babysit Maria with me?"
"When?"
"Saturday night"
"Rami called asking if I was free"
"Babysitting a child?"
"No, his dog's called Maria" I was confused for a minute and then realized.
"Oh haha. I'm not used to you being sarcastic, I see I'm rubbing off on you" she laughs and entwines our fingers together.
"So will you?"
"Only because I get to spend a whole night with you again"
"He gets home around 7am so we should be okay if Maria sleeps all night"
"Alright then" We get comfy and I start to get sleepy and I close my eyes.

I wake up to the sun beaming on my face through the curtains with Shelby still snuggled up to me. "Oh shit" I quickly move and grab my stuff and fall to the floor as I hear someone moving outside Shelby's door. The door opens and I hear her dad call out her name.
"Shelby...Shelby?"
"Mmm? Oh crap" I watch as she shoots up and looks around spotting me on the floor.
"Watch your language. Are you getting up today?"
"What time is it?"
"You have 40 minutes to get to school, don't forget to eat again. I'm going work, see you tonight" I notice her look down at me when he says that and I shoot her a confused look. "Shelby?"
"Hmm?"
"What are you looking at? I'm leaving, have a good day"
"You too, bye daddy" he closes her door as he leaves. I stand up and get dressed.
"Toni..."
"That's why you threw up, you wasn't sick. You haven't been eating"
"It was one time for the pageant...you don't get it...I'm constantly under pressure for everything. Every tiny piece of weight gain, every word I say wrong, when a strand of hair is incorrect or when-"
"I get pressure Shelby, I'm a captain of a basketball team. My life is pressure, the pressure to succeed to make my own life better in the future than my past. I'm not fighting with you, I just wish you hadn't of lied"
"I'm sorry..."
"I want to be the one you don't have to lie to, I need you to know I'm here for you, no matter what" I sit next to her and hold her hands in my own. "I love you Shelby, I know your life is full of lies and secrets right now but between us there's nothing but the truth" I see her start to tear up and I comfort her in my arms.
"I'm so sorry Toni, I'm so stupid"
"No you're not, now come on. I have to get back home to change and you need to eat"
"Why don't you borrow something from here, I'm sure I have something you'll be comfy in. I'll go get us breakfast and we can sneak you out"