OUR SECRET SPOT-Paige Bueckers

PART 13

A hour of waiting, and worrying had gone by. Rowan anxiously sat in a chair, in a depressing waiting room. Her leg bouncing up and down, uncontrollably. Paige came walking back, with a plastic bag. She sat down next to Rowan, placing a hand on her thigh, making her leg stop bouncing. "Chocolate covered pretzels, Oreos, and a Diet Coke" Paige said, pulling stuff out of the bag with her free hand.

Rowan thanked her, feeling grateful. The two sat and waited, and waited. "Paige?" Rowan whispered, looking up at the blonde. Paige turned her body and looked back in her eyes, showing she was paying attention "you don't have to be here, you can leave" Rowan admitted, "no, no, I wanna be here, with you. " Paige whispered, holding her hand, squeezing it tightly, like if she were to let go the world would end. "Why? Why do you stay here with me?" Rowan asked confused on why Paige would want to stay "I'm here because I care" she stated.

Rowan nodded, letting Paige stay. She stood up when she spotted the nurse walking towards them, "he just got out of surgery, he's doing g good, stable. But we are going to have to keep him for a couple nights, just to make sure he's all set. Now he's still sleeping right now, we have him a lot of drugs to numb the pain and fall asleep. I recommend coming back during visiting hours tomorrow morning" she smiled at the family.

Rowan nodded, understanding the nurses words. "Paige, we're gonna order some takeout if you would like to join us?" Rowan's dad said, picking up her little brother. Rowan slapped her face, in embarrassment, "sure!" Paige smiled, "no she probably wants to go home, we can drive you home" Rowan assured her, she don't want to push the girl. "No I want to" Paige spoke up, walking out the hospital doors.

The car ride home was silent, when they arrived at Rowan house, she took a quick shower and opened her bedroom door to see Paige sitting on her bed, reading a book of hers. "What are you doing! Stop touching my stuff!" Rowan snapped, yanking the book from her hands. Paige didn't tease back, that was weird.

"Paige why are you here? I mean I appreciate it but you should be at UConn-" Rowan tried asked "cause Rowan, I care about you." Paige stated. "Okay but why? We're enemies remember? Stop caring! You know what just leave!" Rowan snapped. "Go! Get out of my house!" The brunette yelled. Paige knew Rowan's emotions were getting the best of her, her cousin was dying and she didn't know how to handle it. So she put all of her anger and sadness into Paige.

Paige went to comfort the girl, but Rowan pushed her away, "leave" Rowan sassed. Paige didn't fight back, so she left. She hopped on a plane to Connecticut and left. This is what Rowan wanted, Paige thought. A hour later Rowan went downstairs, she sat around the dinner table, picking at her food. "You haven't touched your food. What's going on hun?" her Dad questioned, "NOTHING!" Rowan screamed, shoving her chair out and running up to her room.

She had overreacted just a bit but the thought of Paige being gone and her cousin dying was getting to her. The next morning was rough, she dragged herself out of bed to head to the hospital. Today was the day she had to say goodbye. The nurse had told them last night that even though the surgery went well, the surgeons had found a huge tumor. They tried everything they could but nothing was saving Kyle.

Rowan came into his room last. The room was dark, a little lamp lighting the way. She sat down on the uncomfortable chair that was sat next to his bed. Kyle's eyes looked heavy as he tried to open them, he had cords in his arms and IVs stuck in him. He also had an oxygen mask layed on his face. "Hi bud" Rowan sniffled, "don't cry please. I've had enough tears form everyone, just cheer me up" he whispered, barley being able to talk.

"I knew that guy shouldn't have cleared you for your divers licenses" Rowan smiled, trying to enlighten the mood for him. It worked, Kyle was smiling and laughing by, but it shortly became a cough instead. "Listen Kyle, don't give up on me. You don't get to." Rowan sniffled, laying her head on the bed. "You know I still remember every single song on your favorite playlist" Rowan said, "really? Name one" "um Gods Plan, Drake" Rowan laughed, "you sang that song every time I saw you in 2019. And you did that little dance with it" Rowan said, making Kyle laugh at the memory.