Red Band Society: Perfect-ish

Chapter 21: Barely There

Pitch Black. Thats what I woke up to. The calm beeping of the machines, Leo's steady breath and his arm around me. I slowly sneaked my way out of the room and walked down the halls. Dim lights lit them and occasional doctor or nurse would walk by me. The Pediatrics Ward was a different place than others in the hospital. Its where hope lives, dreams blossom, and love is deeply in the hearts of all. Than there is the pain, the hardship, and heartbreak. It is unexplainable but somehow, just somehow, all of these emotions could be felt at once.

I walked past each room only to see children smiling and dreaming. I didn't know how they could do it. Smile while we were stuck, and maybe the train will never coem to take us away from this personal hell of ours.

The next morning I had yet another weigh in. Except I was calmer than my first time. The number couldn't prove anything in my mind and I could make the number go down as far as I wanted. It was just like a calculator to me. Leo had been avoiding me all day and I didn't know why.

I walked into the weigh-in area and than noticed a piece of paper over the number. They had me step onto the scale backwards. I wasn't allowed to look at the number. shit. I had tried to not look shocked and stepped on the scale.

"I'm so fat they don't even want me to see the number.."

The machine beeped and before i could look the nurse turned off the machine and looked at me uncomfortably. I stormed out and went straight to Charlie's room. I didn't go in. I. just looked. How could someone look so innocent hurt you so much? Did I miss him? I didn't know. I couldn't leave Leo at this time.

I went from everyone teasing me and bullying me at school to having to pick between two boys. "This is ridiculous," I thought to myself.

Charlie had not seen me or talked to me since I woke up from my coma. Or maybe I should say since his scandalous love affair in my room. MY room. So this was not exactly my happiest moment.

I looked at his eyes and his dark hair and realized I missed him. But how could I go back to someone who was so harsh and a jackass to me? And in that moment when I had been staring through the window, I heard the sound of crutches charging away from a room nearby. Leo.

And then to put the icing on the cake, as I was staring down the hallway trying to call to Leo, I felt a soft touch on my arm. Jordi had asked if I was alright. Seriously? another one? I can't deal with this. I mean, this stuff doesn't happen to a girl like me.

It never has, and it never will.

I have had it with all of this nonsense over boys and friends. There was not time for that. The only word that came to my mind was...

Skinny.