All My Friends Are Dead

Chapter Four: A Support System

I get home and my mom is at the table. She looks anxious. "Hey mom, what's up?" I ask. "Did you hear about Maddie?" she questions "yes, I did." I say solemnly. "First Andy and now Theo?" she exclaims. "How is Andy doing?" I ask. "She's alright." she answered. "Is there any news on Alana?" I ask, not ready to know the answer. "Yes, but it's not good" she says "she's on a ventilator and they do not expect her to survive" she says with worry in her voice. "The first kid, Ezra, passed away 30 minutes ago." she says. "Mom?" I ask, "what is going on here?" "I don't know sweetie." she answers. "I do not want any of you going to school if any more people are admitted." she demands. "I agree mom." I say. she pulls into a hug. "I am going to pick up Theo today, alright?" she tells me. "Okay mom. I'm going upstairs with Andy." I told her "Ok. don't tell her about Alana just yet." she says. "Alright," I answered.

I walk in my room and Andy is very excited to see me. "Are you feeling better?" I asked her. "I'm feeling a bit better," she says, "of course I'm still sad, but it's important that I don't let Theo know exactly what's happening. it would hurt him." she explains. I go up to her and give her a long hug. "When did you grow up?" I tease and she laughs. "Hey Ella?" she asks, "is it still you and me against the world?" "Of course," I answered, "we're going to need each other more than ever now." she smiles. We decided to continue our show marathon from before.

when mama gets home with Theo, we meet them at the bottom of the stairs. "How come you two get to have a sleepover but I can't?" he says with his puppy eyes. "How about we set up both the air mattress in my room, then all four of us can have a sleepover?'' I ask "YES! YAY!" he yells. i can see tears forming in mama's eyes. I can see worry in Andy's eyes. but I look into Theo's eyes, and all I see is happiness. oh, what I would give to be a child again. Mama helps me set up the cots while Andy and Theo are downstairs enjoying some popsicles. "Andy'' mama says "three more people were taken to the hospital." my face drops "mama" I say "I think it's better if we all just stay in the house and don't leave. we don't know just how dangerous this is.'' I will explain. "I agree, '' Mama says. "So, who are the three?'' I ask. "Michelle, Jason and Bridget." she says. hmmm, whatever this is affecting adults now? This is so confusing.

The sleepover last night went great. Everyone was still sleeping but I had to make a call. I take out the paper Elias gave me, and I type in the number. the phone rings and then he answers, "who is this?" he asks groggily. "Sorry, did I wake you up?" I try to ask. Before I can finish my sentence, I'm interrupted with "STELLA??". "Hey Elias," I said in the middle of laughter. "I was going to ask you to catch me up with class work at the end of the day, but it doesn't seem like you're going to school" I explained. "Oh, no I'm not." he lost his happy tone. "Hey stella?" he asks, "can I talk to you for a little?" "Ok, but just until my family wakes up." I told him.