Angel

Chapter 25

My new home looked pretty identical to Ana's, but it wasn't decorated like a hipster girl's bedroom.

The walls were painted a sky blue color, which I didn't mind at all. It wasn't bad enough for me to have to repaint the room. All I needed was some furniture to match it.

I had some stuff like that back at my house, but I wasn't sure how I was going to get it here. My dad or my brothers couldn't bring it, I didn't feel like asking Julie, and Zack wasn't available either.

It looked like my only option was Julie, though, so I gathered up enough courage to dial her cellphone number.

I was staring at my cellphone now, preparing for the phone call, which I wasn't particularly excited about. I clicked the call button.

It rang three times until she picked up on the last ring.

"Vanessa? Is everything alright?" she asked from the other line.

"Yes, can you do me a favor?" I asked her, trying to get this conversation over with before my dad could grab the phone from her. I was not in the mood to hear his voice.

"I think so. What do you need?"

I was surprised that she wasn't bombarding me with questions. She hadn't visited me since before Dad got banned. I guess she didn't care much more than he did.

"Well, I moved to a better room, and they said I could decorate. Could you bring some of my stuff from the house?"

She didn't answer for so long that I thought she had hung up.

"I will come get you from the hospital, and you can come pick out what you want."

That didn't sound like something Dr. Pasterik would be okay with.

"I don't think I can leave," I said, not wanting to get in trouble.

"And why is that?" Julie sounded like I was pissing her off.

"Do you not know that I have an enlarged heart? And that I need to be monitored at the hospital twenty-four seven?"

I wasn't trying to be sassy, but I think she took it that way.

"I know this, Vanessa, but I do not have time to go through your room and get every single bit of shit that you want."

Her language was unnecessary, but whatever. I decided to argue.

"And why not? It's not like you have a job, or anybody to look after, so why can't you do this simple thing for your step-daughter?"

I heard her sigh.

"Fine. I don't feel like dealing with your drama, and the only way to get around it is to give you what you want. Tell me what you want me to bring."

"Okay, give me a second to think."

After I had an illustration of my room set in my mind, I started to list the things I thought would go well in my new home.

"Bring me all of my art stuff, my stereo, my Twenty One Pilots CDs, some black jeans, oversized shirts, my table, my comforter, and my soft, comfortable pillow. That's all for now."

"Okay, well that is going to take me a while to gather up, so I'll be there in about an hour and a half."

"Thank you, again."

"You're welcome. Your brothers miss you, you know?" She said, trying to change the subject and avoid the awkward mood.

"Wow. Hard to believe. Dad doesn't does he?"