Game Over: Life's Over

What I Do Best

Hey, guys! I just wanted to say I'm really sorry for the long delay in posting a chapter. I've been having some writer's block to deal with on top of everything going on in my personal life. I'm really trying to get back into my stories so I can put out content for you all. I'm working on the next chapter as we speak so stay tuned for more!

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Soleil was finally allowed to see me and I was so excited. Probably more excited than I was when I was able to leave the hospital. I had a feeling she would be excited, too. She was probably lonely and bored without me, even with all hundred of her stuffed animals to keep her company.

Seeing each other in person was better than any text or phone call.

I sat on the couch with my bunny sitting beside me. I wasn't sure how our visit was going to go. Nerves were definitely building inside of me. But I tried to push them away because I was excited to see Soleil. It had been too long and I was ready to put that to an end. I wanted to get back to a normal routine.

The doorbell rang and I jumped. I was glad Soleil was on time. If I had to wait any longer, I probably would have worried myself to death.

Theo got up from the couch and walked over to answer the door.

Nervously, I waited for Soleil to come inside and see me. What would she think once she saw me? I wasn't the same person as before I went into the hospital. Hopefully, she wasn't still expecting that version of me.

Theo opened the door and smiled. "Soleil, it's good to see you again. You, too, Carrie."

"Thank you for having us over. Soleil just couldn't wait any longer to see Jake."

Theo laughed. "Jake's been antsy, too."

"Can I see him?" I heard Soleil's voice from the other side of Theo. She was shorter than both Theo and Carrie so it was hard to see her but I would recognize her voice anywhere.

Theo stepped out of the way and I could see her more clearly. She was wearing a pink sweater and black leggings. She was holding a folded blanket against her chest that looked huge compared to her small frame. Sometimes, it was easy for me to forget that she was smaller than she had been, too. We were both dealing with the effects of the mutation.

When she saw me, Soleil smiled and all the nervousness she was giving off vanished. She walked over to me and sat down on the couch beside me. "Hi, Jake."

Hesitantly, I smiled back at her. "Hi."

She held the blanket out for me. "I got this for you. I wanted to get you a stuffed animal but you don't like stuffed animals as much as I do so this seemed like a safer option."

I laughed. "I don't think anyone does."

She rolled her eyes. "You don't know what you're missing out on."

I looked down at the blanket as I unraveled it so I could see it better. It was a plain white blanket, but it had blue and green dinosaurs all over it. It was soft against my fingers. "Thanks, Soleil."

She pushed herself back so she was more comfortable on the couch and began kicking her legs. Her feet didn't come close to touching the floor. Neither did mine.

Theo guided Carrie into the kitchen where Eric and Mom were already. I knew they would all be talking about me but for once, I didn't care. I was just glad Soleil was there with me.

I glanced at the adults as they disappeared, leaving Soleil and me alone.

Soleil sighed. "I hate that this is so awkward."

I looked at her. "It doesn't have to be."

Her eyes softened. "I was worried you weren't gonna be you anymore."

That was my biggest fear too. I didn't want to change so much that I wasn't myself anymore. The physical changes were hard to deal with but nothing was worse than forgetting myself or others around me.

"I'm still me." Thankfully.

She smiled but it wasn't a big smile. She leaned her head against my shoulder and folded her legs under her.

I opened the blanket and spread it across both of our laps. "I'm sorry you weren't able to come see me when I was sick."

"I know why I couldn't but it still sucked. I just kept waiting for you to show up at playgroup or something and everything would be fine."

"Hopefully, I can go back soon. I want to see you and Will before Christmas."

She looked up at me. "Oh, I'm seeing you over Christmas. I don't want to go another couple weeks without seeing you again."

"My mom talked about taking me home with her for a few days so you'll have to talk that over with her."

"Maybe I should just go with you."

"You don't want to see your family?" I asked.

"It's complicated. My parents are just... a lot. I don't know if they plan to come to Carrie's or get me for however long but I know they'll be babying me the entire time I'm with them. They can't resist it whenever I see them."

"Isn't that what Carrie does?"

"Not at all. Carrie lets me do whatever I want and be normal. My parents would treat me as if I really were a baby." I could understand not wanting that. My mom tried not to treat me like I was a baby but I knew it was hard for her. Putting diapers on me and watching me sleep with a stuffed animal in my arm and a binky in my mouth certainly didn't make it easy for her to see me as an eighteen-year-old.

"Have you tried talking to them?"

"They don't listen to me. They never have. They have this idea of me in their heads and they'll mold me into that before they believe who I really am."

"Maybe you really should go back home with me."

She sighed. "Carrie would have to ask permission and I don't think they'd like that. They'd be so hurt if I chose your mom over them."

"But it's different with Carrie?"

"All I have to do is tell them that I don't want to leave Carrie and they'll back off."

"But they're your parents. Shouldn't they have a say?"

"Letting me stay would be their say. In their minds, if I'm clingy with Carrie, it's because I've regressed and they'd rather me be with her than with them when that happens."

"Have you ever... regressed?" I asked cautiously. I wasn't sure if I was ready to get into that myself but I knew that it would make her feel better to know I had.

She stiffened and I instantly regretted asking. I knew it was a sensitive topic but I didn't realize it was sensitive to her.

"We don't have to talk about that."

She got quiet and I was scared she was going to be in a bad mood or get mad at me. I didn't mean to upset her.

She put her legs on the couch beside her and laid down so her head was in my lap. Even at my size, my lap was still big enough to hold her head like a pillow. She pulled the blanket toward her so it covered her instead of me.

"Hey, that's my blanket," I teased.

She stuck her tongue out at me. "You can have it back when I leave."

"Great. Then it'll smell like you."

Her mouth fell open in shock. "I don't stink!"

I laughed. "You kinda do. You just took my blanket after giving it to me as a gift. That makes you stink a little."

She shook her head. "I feel like I should get a present for dealing with you sometimes."

"Christmas is coming up."

"Yeah, but I already expect presents from you."

I sighed. "Jeez. You're really asking a lot today."

She grinned. "That's what I do best."