A Million Trillion Billion (What's Eating Gilbert Grape Fanfic) *ORIGINAL*

Chapter 19 - Stripped Down

The next morning, I'm the first one awake.
The clock on Arnie's bedside table reads 5:31am. I roll my eyes, I got less than 3 hours sleep last night. Again.

Reluctantly, I climb out of bed and throw one of Arnie's jumpers and some shorts on, and pad downstairs.
I make some pancake batter and switch on the stove, pouring some into a pan.
As I'm stirring it - and humming to myself - I hear a faint rustling in the basement. I frown, pausing for a second, before deciding it's probably just someone outside.
I shrug, and continue, flipping the first one over and chucking it onto a plate.
Moments later, I hear a banging sound coming from the basement.
I frown, turning off the stove and running to the basement door.
"Hello?!" I whisper loudly, swinging the door open.
My mouth hangs open when I see Amy stumble out from underneath the fallen shelf.
"Are you okay...?" I say, in slight shock.
I look her up and down. She's wearing an interesting skimpy outfit and giant platform shoes.
"Yes, I'm okay." She mumbles, and then looks down at the ground, covering her face. "Amy?" I walk down the stairs, and put a hand on her bare shoulder.
I quickly remove it as she starts to burst into tears. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry you had to see this." She blubbers, and I rub her back in a comforting way, with a confused look on my face. "See what?" I ask...avoiding jumping to conclusions.
"Me. Like this." She gestures to herself. Her shoulder slump down, and she throws her bag back on her shoulder.
"Come on." I grab her hand and help her up the stairs.
"Let's get those cuts cleaned up." I say, looking down at her bloody knee.
"Thank you Janie. You're so kind." She says into my shoulder. "What are family for?" I smile, squeezing her shoulder.

She takes a seat on the couch, and starts unbuckling her clumpy shoes.
I walk to the kitchen and pull out the box of first aid stuff.
I walk over to her, and kneel down in front of her.
"I'm guessing you want to know where I was?" She asks, sniffling. "Well, only tell me if you're comfortable." I reply, wiping at her knee, and undoing a bandaid.
"I guess I've kept it from everyone long enough." She shrugs, and blinks slowly, indicating she's pretty out of it. "Did you have a lot to drink last night?" I ask her casually, sticking two bandaids on her knee. "Yeah....I think so...." She says slurring her words.
I frown. "Pass me your left arm."
I quickly wipe down her elbow, and lather it in antiseptic before applying a white bandage. "Wow, that's quite a gash you got there." I raise my eyebrows as I tape it together.
"It really hurts." She looks at me with such sadness that I just have to get up and sit next to her and give her a hug.
"Just go to sleep now, and I promise it will be better in the morning." I say to her, bending down to pick up the box. "Okay, well, goodnight." She says, waddling up to her bedroom.
I frown with concern, before putting the box back in the top cupboard.

I sigh, tipping the rest of the pancake mix into the pan.
As I'm turning the stove on, I have an epiphany.
I rush to the coffee table and pull my notebook out of the first drawer.
I walk back over to the counter and take out a pen.
A Million Trillion Billion.
I smile to myself.
Now, that's a good title for a book.

Later on that morning, I'm sitting at the table, opposite Becky and Ellen, drinking some coffee.
Then the phone rings. I roll my eyes, standing up to get it.
"Hi, Janie Parker speaking?" I say into it. A raspy, familiar voice comes through it. "Hi Janie, it's Gregory Stevens. I was just calling to see how Arnie is going? He is due here for his medical review this afternoon at 2pm." Dr Stevens says through the phone.
I frown, my eyes scanning over Becky and Ellen's confused expressions.
"Medical review?" I ask. "I thought he was told he could stay home..." I trail off. Dr Stevens clears his throat. "Well, your brother insisted he go home, though he wasn't ready yet...but he was in a stable enough condition to go home. But we highly suggest you bring him back, he is a ticking time bomb..." Dr Stevens says with concern. "But...I thought he was fine? I thought it was you who suggested he be at home..." I watch as Gilbert comes through the back door, and I frown. He knows who I'm on the phone to. "It's just a case of whether you guys feel you're able to keep him stabilised." Dr Stevens sighs. I can hear emptiness in his voice, and I feel he thinks I've broken his promise. "I will bring him down at 2pm." I say, and hang up the phone.
I give Gilbert a cold, hard stare with gritted teeth.
Becky and Ellen exit the room, feeling the tension as well.
"Well, what was I supposed to do, Janie?" Gilbert kicks off his boots, and walks near to where I'm standing. "I can't believe you..." I shake my head at him. "He's better off here-" "And are you some fucking highly trained professional?!" I exclaim, louder than I wanted. "I know what's best for Arnie." Gilbert steps closer. Though he has a deep frown, I still see an uncertainty lingering in his eyes.
"He needs the medication." I say, lowering my voice. "No. He. Doesn't!" Gilbert says, frustratedly. "What's the big deal?!" I shout. "It's none of your business!" Gilbert snaps. "You brought me into this situation!" I yell back. "Yeah, well I wasn't the one who ditched my parents and RAN AWAY!" He screams.
Then he covers his mouth, in shock.
"I'm sorry Janie..." He puts a hand on my shoulder but I shrug it off. "Look, just leave me alone." I frown, walking away.

That afternoon, Amy half wakes up to tell me that I can borrow her car to take Arnie up to see Dr Stevens.
Ellen tells Gilbert where we're going and I hurry Arnie out the door before his brother can protest.
"Where are we going Janie?" He asks, putting his seatbelt on.
"To see Dr Stevens." I reply, shoving the keys in. "What for?" He asks. "To review your progress." I say, as we speed off. "Oh, okay Janie!" He says, placing his hands in his lap, and looking out the window.
Tears brim in my eyes as I drive away. What Gilbert said hurt me very deeply, but I also know what Arnie is going through must hurt Gilbert very deeply too.

We pull up to the driveway, as rain falls down on the windscreen.
We get out the car and Arnie grips onto my hand, I can tell he's nervous. He doesn't like medical reviews.