When it ends

Chapter 14

The week went by so slowly. Why is it when you're waiting for something good to happen it takes forever to get here? The day of the surgery arrived and I was at the hospital bright and early. I had put my gown on and I was in  a room next to Ms. Davies. "Thank you for doing this." I said to her. "Of course, you were one of my most promising students. I hate you didn't stick with it." She said. "You know kids, they jump from one passion to the next. I dabbled in a few things." I said.

My grandmother was parking the car. She left Reba at home with my grandpa and they were going to come after the surgery. "This is true, and it's really no trouble. I don't need both of my kidney's anyways and you really should get a chance to explore all life has to offer." She said. I wiped away a tear. "I'm just honored, and touched and really really happy." I said the tears flowing freely now. "Come on, bring it in." She said reaching out for a hug. Once I had given her a tight squeeze I climbed into my bed. My grandmother came into the room. "Your friends just got here." She said taking a seat in the chair.

The doctor came in. "Okay, the nurse is on her way to start both of your IV's. We'll get you on some medicine and shortly after they will bring you to the back. We keep the operating room quite cold so we'll get you guys some blankets. We'll take you both back at the same time. I'll open you up Mac and the other doctor will open up Gloria. As soon as they get her kidney out we'll transfer it right into you. Then we'll get you both sewed up and into recovery." Said the doctor. "Thanks you." Gloria and I said at the same time.

 "Did you not tell your daughter about the surgery?" I asked Gloria. "Oh no, I did but she's with my grandbabies the doctor said this was a pretty simple surgery so I told her not to come. I didn't want to worry her." Gloria's daughter was about five years older than me and she already had two little babies running around. Her husband came in and gave her a big kiss on the cheek. "I love you." He told her. "You too." I was glad he was going to be around to take care of her. He walked over to my bed. "How you feeling?" He asked. "Almost good as new. Your wife is a life saver." I said. "Don't I know it! Been saving my life for over thirty years." He said. I grinned. That was beautiful. 

My three best friends came into the room. First they gave Gloria a hug and thanked her on my behalf. Then they all crowded around my bed. A nurse came in and they all had to move. She made quick work of the two IV's. Carter held my hand, he knew I was scared of needles. But the nurse got it right in. "Okay that's gonna make you a little loopy and out of it." She said. "Guys I hate to break up the party but I need Ya'll to head to the waiting room." Said the nurse. "Can I have just five minutes?" Carter asked. "Sure thing hon but she looks pretty out of it I doubt she'll remember this conversation." Said the nurse. "I know, but that's why I want to tell her now or else I'll lose the nerve."  She gave him knowing smile. "Okay sugar, five minutes." She said.

Carter came over to my bed. Everything looked fuzzy. "Hey Mac, look I need to tell you something." I tried to nod my head but it just lulled backwards on the pillow. He grinned. "Good, okay so you know how we made the promise that none of us would date. Well I'm doing my best to keep that promise but It's really hard because I'm in love with you. There  I finally said it. I don't care that we agreed not to date. And I didn't wanna say anything because you were dealing with so much and you didn't need my mushy feelings getting in the way. But then I realized that I could lose you and that if I didn't tell you, I might never get the chance." He said. I mumbled something incoherent. "I'm going to go now, but I needed you to know." He said.

Then he left. I was out of it but I'm pretty sure he just told me he loved me. Two nurses came in and wheeled me and Ms. Davies out of the room. They piled us with blankets and led us through the big double doors. Once in the room I looked up to see a bright light and then the doctor was over my head. "Here you go dear. This is gonna put you to sleep." She said holding up a mask. She gently lowered it over my mouth. "Count backwards from ten to one." He said. I did so but only made it to seven before falling asleep.

And then? I don't know what happened I woke up sometime later back in my room except nobody knew I was awake. I was having one of those cool out of body experiences you have in the movies. Did Carter really tell me he loved me earlier? First thing was my grandparents they came in and fawned over me. Then Reba started to give me a wet Willie but my grandmother stopped her.

They stepped out to talk with the doctors while Rosie and Zyler came in. "Do you think they know? They have to know? I mean we were together when we found out she was in the hospital they must've suspected." Said Rosie. "They don't know anything. Calm down, but I already told you we can just tell them we are dating. I mean I know we all promised not to, but they will want us to be happy." Said Zyler. Holy Crap! Zyler and Rosie? "Hey Mac, how ya feeling?" Zyler asked. Rosie hit his arm. "She's still sleeping!" "Right, let's go get something from the vending machine and let Carter have a turn. We'll come back when he's done." Said Zyler.

No wait guys, I'm here! Don't go! They left and Carter came in. He sat at the edge of the bed picking up my hand. "So about what I said earlier? You know that whole thing about being in love with you?" You're not? I dunno how to feel about that. "So how do you feel about that? Because I hope I didn't freak you out. And I knew if I told you when you were out of it I could actually, finally say it. I've had a crush on you since the start of twelfth grade and I can't keep it in anymore." He said. "Now don't think I'll be able to tell you when I wake up." He said. "Ugh I feel so stupid. Look just forget I said anything." And then he left. 

I walked around the room Gloria was still out. Her husband had gotten her some flowers. He was sitting in a chair he had pulled up next to her bed. I walked over to me and tried to lay down on top of myself. Nothing. Darn it that usually worked in the movies. Then I reached down and slapped myself gently. I felt it on my face. Ouch. Wake up you sleepy head!! Then I started to feel weird. Hey I'm fading maybe I was finally waking up. Then I just did. "Woah." I said.

"Good mornin' sunshine, I'll step out and get your family." Said Mr. Davies looking over to see me awake. "Thank you." I said groggily. I was on some pain killers so I didn't notice the pain. My grandparents came in. "I saw you trying to give me a wet Willie." I said to Reba. Her eyes got wide. "Hey, no way. You were asleep." Said Reba. "You were asleep weren't you?" She asked. "A little bit." I shrugged.

My grandparents hugged me gently and set some flowers on the table. "How ya feelin?" My grandmother asked. "I feel like I have a new lease on life." "You do dear, you absolutely do." She brushed a tear away. She grabbed my hand and squeezed it. "I just never thought we'd be able to find you a kidney and that you would be tethered to a machine and never get to go to college and do everything you wanted in life." My grandfather put his arm around her and squeezed. She quickly wiped her tears away. "I'm sorry, look at me getting all emotional. Let me take a minute. You're friends are itching to get in here."

 "Hey you, how are you feeling?" Zyler asked. "Deceived." I said. "Whaaat?" Rosie looked shocked. "Yea, so when were you going to tell Carter and I that you two were dating?" I asked. "Were you faking sleep!?" Zyler asked. "No, it was one of those weird out of body experiences." I said. "Oh shoot. Look we wanted to tell you we did, it's just we made the promise you know?" Rosie asked.

"Who cares about that?? We made that promise forever ago because we thought it would ruin things. But clearly we're fine. And you guys are going to school together, and you're cute....it's fine." Rosie let out a breath. "I was so scared to tell you." Carter walked in at that exact moment. "Tell them what?" He asked. "Oh yea, Mac over there had an out of body experience and she heard me and Rosie talking about how we were dating. By the way, me and Rosie? Dating." "Dating? Uh....Congrats...wait did you just say she had an out of body experience and heard everything?" "Yea man, pretty cool huh?" "Yea sure....Um could you give us a minute?" Carter said not really paying attention.

He took a seat next to me on the bed. "Hey, so about that whole out of body experience thing. You heard everything I said?" He asked. "I did...." I said unsure of how he would take it. "Crap, I knew I should have taken that secret to my grave." "Wait take it to your grave? I thought you said if you didn't tell me you might never get another chance?" I asked. "Okay, yea. I just...I don't know how you feel. And I guess I'm jumping the gun. But this is big, huge. And it's going to change things." "Right, and it very well might. But what if it changes things for the better? What if I told you that I like you to and we just be together?" His face changed. "Are you...wait...are you saying what I think you're saying?" I nodded shyly.

"Well yea, I mean you have been here for me through everything. And I just thought we was all being straight. But this is silly. We're here..." He took my hand. "Good, I like that. Now you just need to get better." "I'll do my best." I grinned.