After spending a couple of days in the hospital this is what I found out:
1. The medicines I took to keep my heart rate normal were failing. I had no chance of going to school anymore for a while. I had to get home schooled.
2. My nailbeds and my skin were going to be a pale blue. Imagine playing in the snow for twelve hours. Your skin tone would then match mine.
3. Stan picking me up didn't make me faint. My heart was already pumping harder because he made me nervous, maybe because I possibly like him.
4. Wyatt texted Ellie in French. They're better than ever.
5. My mom has never left my bedside. Ellie got her license yesterday and has been bringing my mother food and changes of clothes.
6.Stan has skipped school everyday to be with me. I think he feels guilty. He says he thinks my blue self in this hospital bed is cute.
7. I don't have much longer to live.
8. My father, after finding out about my impending death, wants to be a part of my life after choosing alcohol over us 4 years ago. How ironic.
9. A repetition of number 7. If I can't find a heart donor in 3 months, I was a goner.
10. I'm more afraid than I thought I'd be to die.
Just five months ago I was playing basketball with Ellie while she drooled about Wyatt. Now I was going to be home-bound, my mother crying over me in my hospital bed, prayers flying around me like a sadistic game of dodge-ball. Ellie breaking down, and shaking. Stan coming to lace his fingers through mine, making me wonder why I had to die after meeting him.
This is just my luck.
Two weeks later, on a Thursday, I found myself, on my 16th birthday, sitting outside on my porch with Stan, who'd just gotten here with a bag of random stuff. He'd come over every day since I'd gotten out the hospital, his black and yellow mustang, which he cleverly named Pikachu, becoming a familiar part of my driveway. Ellie had come over everyday after school, her mom not allowing her to stay with me everyday like she wanted. Stan, however, decided to skip school, despite my protesting, and begging.
"So, Kitty. How's the ticker feeling?" Stan said, trying to brighten my mood.
"Still tickin'." I smiled at him. He had just brought me some Oreo ice cream in an attempt to get my weight up, which would not help my heart at all. But because I love Oreo cookies, and ice cream, and Oreo Ice cream; and because I like him, I gladly accept.
Stan laced his long fingers in my thin ones, and he kissed my cheek, brushing back my annoying long hair. I still had yet to have my first kiss, (who'd kiss a sick freak, right?) apart from Matty Pearson in third grade, which I later found out was a dare and meant absolutely nothing. 'Go Kiss The Infected Girl, Matt!' they shouted. I never really forgot that, and I stayed away from guys until now.
Stan was different-- He was funny and outgoing, (the complete opposite of me) And he was gorgeous...He had these chocolate brown hair and light brown eyes, his left one had a sort of birthmark in it that looked sort of like a chocolate chip heart. His lips were thin and painted a healthy peach color, and he had a nice pair of dimples to compliment his lip ring. He was maybe four inches taller than me with a long skateboarding body. He always smelled like apples and Old Spice deodorant, which smelled a lot better than the Axe I noticed Wyatt wore.
He watched me eat another bite of ice cream, and smiled. "What're you thinkin' about?" he asked.
I looked away. "Lollipops and rainbows." I giggled.
He gave a weak smile. "Seriously, Kitty. What's up?"
"Honestly? I was just thinking about how nice you've been to me over the past two weeks. I'll remember that. You know. Before I d--"
"Don't you dare say that." Stan said, looking at me, his eyes visibly becoming darker. I don't really know how he does that, changing the shade of his eyes to match his mood, but I didn't like it. I slipped his fingers through mine.
"We all have to, sometime. Maybe I'll just die young." I stood up, pulling him to his feet. "I lived a good life," I laughed. "And I met wonderful people. I've done fun stuff. I mean, maybe I didn't get to graduate, or go to college, or get married and have a family of my own, but I did alright, right?" I looked at him with a weak smile, hoping he'd give me a smile in return.
He was looking down at me, eyes wide open with a few tears sliding down his cheeks and onto his lips. My mouth fell open slightly, speechless. His eyes were turning a hazel color, mine did the same thing when I cried.
"Stan, I--"
Quickly, he planted his lips against mine, snaking his arms around my skinny waist. I linked my arms around the back of his neck, and (probably because I'm so short) he picked me up a little so that my legs were around his waist. (not in a sexual way, get your mind out of the gutter) I bit his lip, and he opened his mouth a little, tongue mixing with mine. I could feel the coolness of the Oreo ice cream slowly melt away. I could taste the salt from his tears, but I kissed him anyway. I completely forgot about everything, except for him in this moment. I could die a happy girl.
"You'll be okay... I'll give you my own heart if I have to... I...I love you, Kat." Stan said when we pulled apart.
I felt a tear of my own coming down. I believe him, but I really couldn't bring myself to say it back. He saw that, and he quickly kissed me again to hide his hurt feelings.
