I put my hand over my heart, slumping into the locker next to Charli. "Hey." She takes her chapstick away from her lips. "Hey, are you okay?" She closes her locker, replacing my hand with hers on my chest. "Why's your heart beating so fast?"
She's obviously very worried. "Hi." Sofia appears beside Charli. "Why're you guys like making out?"
"Her hearts beating really fast." Charli stresses.
Sofia takes over. She knows what to do. She takes me to the office, letting me lean on her.
"What's happening?" Charli asks behind us.
"Becca needs to go to the hospital," Sofia says to the man at the front desk. I forgot his name. Justin? Jacob?
"I'll call her mom." J-name says.
"Thanks."
"Charli Thompson. You're not on the list to go."
"But- But I'm her girlfriend."
"I can't let you go. I'm sorry."
I pass out in Sofia's car, my head hitting the window.
I'm out for awhile. At least I think I am.
When I wake up, I'm in a hospital bed and Mom, Dad, and Sofia are sitting in the chairs that line the edges of the room. "Hey, sweet girl." Mom stands up slowly.
Dad follows. "How are you feeling? Do you need anything?"
"I'm good." I start sitting up. There's a sudden pain in my chest and Dad makes me lay back down. "Shit." I gasp for air.
Sofia runs to get a doctor and Mom holds my hand tight. "Keep breathing, honey," Mom says sternly when I try to hold my breath, thinking it'll stop the pain.
A doctor comes in and gives me a shot while I'm still trying to breathe. I suddenly feel very tired. Then I'm gone again. Everything is black and cold.
-
"Hi, Becca." A woman says when I wake up. Dr. Jones is standing over me.
"Hi," I mumble, trying to look around the room for Charli.
She's not here. Sofia isn't either. Only Mom and Dad. Dad's on the phone and Mom's sitting down, crying quietly.
I want to ask her what's wrong but Dr. Jones keeps talking. "How are you feeling right now? Any chest pain? Are you having trouble breathing?"
"I'm okay. My chest feels sore and I can't breathe deeply," I reply honestly.
"We did some tests while you were asleep. You're going to need a heart transplant, Becca."
I've had heart problems since I was a little kid. They went ignored until I joined the Means family by then I guess it was too late to fix anything.
"Okay." I look at Mom and Dad. "Is that a bad thing?"
"Well... Normally you only live about twenty to twenty five more years after a heart transplant," Dad says. I do the math in my head quickly.
"I'm going to die at thirty-six?" I yell. I now understands Mom's tears and Dad's crossed arms.
"You have to stay calm, Becca," Dr. Jones says, sounding calm herself.
"Easy for you to say. You're not the one dying!"
"Becca," Dad holds my hand and kisses the back of it. "You still have a long time, bunny. Don't worry about it."
