Borrowed Time Part 2

Chapter 259

Juliette missed her own bed more than she missed anything - two nights on the hospital floor would do that to a person, but going home was the furthest thing from her mind.  She needed to be with Shelby on her first night home, she was too scared that she'd somehow pass out again from something the doctors didn't catch and then they'd all end up back in the hospital anyway...

Like, it would feel fucking amazing to fall asleep in Esme's arms in the comfort of their bedroom with their evil cat curled up at their feet, but Shelby trumped that.  She had to, someone had to put her first, and she sure as shit wasn't doing that for herself.

Juliette settled on the edge of Shelby's bed, tapping her fingers on her thighs as she looked around, breathing out a slow exhale, taking in the familiar comfort of the space, a place that had all of them interlaced within it.  Her eyes caught on the framed photo that Shelby kept on her bedside table, and she picked it up, smiling as she stroked her fingers over the glass.

It was her, Shelby, and Micheal on their first day of high school, which felt like a million years ago at this point... They looked like totally different people.  Micheal's hair had grown out from when he'd buzzed it, he'd grown three inches... She forgot that he was shorter than her till they were sixteen.  She'd never noticed how much Shelby had changed over the years, maybe not physically, but she could tell.  Her smiles were surer now, she didn't look as tired, or like she was trying to be what she thought people wanted her to be.

God, she could hardly stand to look at herself.  She frowned... God, she'd thought she was massive at that point, but there was no way she was bigger than a medium at most, she could see the gauntness of her cheekbones, how dull her eyes were, the fake smile she'd plastered on... That year had been hell, that summer specifically was when Samantha had made sure that she would never feel comfortable in her own skin ever again... Well, until now.

Juliette heard the door creak open, and she set the photo back down and looked over to see Shelby easing her way into the room, moving slowly, careful not to bump her bruise from her IV. She shifted to the side, and Shelby waved her off.

"Don't get up on my account, I'm fine." She insisted, and Juliette frowned, standing up anyway.  Shelby could try to be independent all she wanted right now, but if she took another fall Juliette knew that she would feel personally responsible, so she wanted to make sure that it didn't happen.

"Are you sure you don't need help?" She asked, watching Shelby shake her head, a weak smile on her face as she made her way across the room... She still looked so tired, like there was life in her face again, her skin didn't look as dull as it had, but there was just an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion that seemed to ooze from her.

It was fair, sure... But it was horrifying.

"No, I'm good." Shelby settled down slowly, steadying herself with each movement before she gave Juliette a shrug. "Besides, I'm pretty sure the doctor wanted me to move within a limit to test the heart monitor, you know?" She asked, and she grimaced... Yeah, there was no way that she was going to know that.

Juliette'd gone and grabbed food for everyone with Esme when the heart monitor had gotten put on.  She would've stayed if she'd known that it was happening, but she hadn't really been clued in on it.

"I wasn't in there for that conversation." Shelby gave her a look.

Okay... No reminder needed, good to know.

"No, I know.  Micheal would know that part." Shelby sighed, laying back on the bed as she threw an arm over her face.  Juliette laid down beside her, scooting close enough that the sides of their arms were pressing together.