Breathe. {Rydellington AU}

3

Saturday morning.

The definition of Saturday morning was 'sleep.'

Not 'standing in front of a hospital.'

Rydel rubbed her eyes and walked inside. She stood in front of the front desk and a nurse looked up at her from the desk.

"Can I help you?"

"Um, yes, I have this project for my journalism project- I'm Rydel- and I wanted to interview one of your kids. Would that be ok? I mean, it's fine if no, but-"

"Of course, dear. What grade are you in?"

"12th. I'm a senior at the high school down the block."

"Then I think you'll want to talk to our patient Ellington, he goes there too, and is a senior." The nurse gave her a warm smile.

"He could use some friends." She added quickly.

"Oh, I'm not here to make friends-"

"Room 237, floor 2. Have fun, dear." The nurse shooed her away.

"Er, thank you!" Rydel called over her shoulder. She walked down the hall and tapped the 'up' button by the elevators. The doors slid open, and she stepped inside. A little girl, who could have been no more than ten, ran after her, just making it through before the doors lazily shut. Rydel pressed the button with the number 2 on it and the girl reached over and pressed the 5.

"I'm Emily." A small voice said. Rydel looked down at her and forced a smile.

"I'm Rydel." They stood in silence. "How old are you, Emily?"

"I'm 9 years old." The girl smiled proudly, flicking her dark hair over her shoulder. Silence again intruded.

"You wouldn't happen to know Ellington?" She asked. Emily nodded violently and ran out on the second floor, grabbing Rydel's hand and dragging her along. They stopped in front of a half-open door, and Emily pointed at the sign beside it.

"Two. Three. Seven." She stated happily and skipped inside.

"Elly Belly!" She called and ran over to give the boy a hug. He laughed.

"Hey Emmy, you doing good?"

"I'm good!" She smiled. "Rydel wants to see you!" She pointed at Rydel, who was standing shyly in the doorway.

***

Ellington's smile faltered.

He knew this girl.

She was popular.

And 'popular' meant nothing but trouble for him.

"Why don't you go play with Todd?" He suggested. Emily smiled and nodded.

"Ok!" She ran out the room, yell "Toddy Bear! Let's play!"

Ellington glanced over suspiciously at Rydel.

"What do you want?" He snapped, raising his guard.

"Um, well-"

"Save it. I don't need anymore nicknames from you preps."

Rydel blinked.

"Er-"

"So, what is it? Why are you here? More bullying? Are you going to take over my only social life now, my only happiness?!" The heart monitor that was attached to him picked up speed with his anger.

"No, no, I- I'm not here to be mean," she tried to explain.

"See, I have this project for my class. I have to interview someone here. And- And I was going to interview you."

Ellington softened.

Ok, maybe she isn't that bad? He thought.

"Um, sit down." He pointed at a chair across the room.

She pulled it up and sat down beside him, handing him a form.

"What's this?" He asked, studying it.

"A permission slip. You sign it to give me permission to interview and publish and article about you." She explained.

Ellington shrugged as she handed him the pen. He scrawled his signature across the line and and handed back the paper.

"Thanks." She tucked it in her folder and opened her notebook.

"First things first. What's your full name?"

"Ellington Ratliff." He answered. She wrote it down quickly at the top of the blank page.

"Tell me a little about yourself. What should I know about you?"
She asked.

"Well, I'm a senior at our school, I'll be 18 on April 14th, and this hospital is like a second home to me."

Rydel nodded, furiously writing as he spoke.

"Why are you here in the first place?"

"Last night I had an asthma attack, to the point I couldn't breath, so I was checked in and stayed overnight. I'll be discharged this afternoon."

"So just asthma? That's it?"

"Well, the asthma is because I have cystic fibrosis." He summarized. She nodded.

"Continue." She urged.

"Um, I was diagnosed when I was 14, and I've been dealing with it since. I have to lug around this oxygen machine because my parents don't have enough money to buy a little portable one. I have to wear this thing called a nasal cannula, which is connected to my machine. It flows fresh air into my nose to help keep my oxygen intake steady."

***

Rydel didn't want to leave. This boy was so unique with his illness, how he coped with it, how it worked. They had been talking for an hour. He had so much to say, but such a little voice. So many hated him though, which sent a shiver of rage down her spine. How could anyone hate him? She reached over and took his right wrist, pulling up the sleeve.

"What are you doing now?"

She didn't answer, and wrote down her phone number.

"Call me, text me, whatever. I'd love to keep in touch." She smiled at him. Ellington nodded slowly.

"Okay, maybe I will." He glanced down at her digits as she stood.

"I have to get going. I'll see you Monday?"

"Yeah, see ya Monday."

She gave him another tiny smile and left the room, tucking her hair behind her ear. Humming to herself, she walked outside and hopped into her mother's waiting car.

"How'd it go?" Her mom asked.

"Great!" Rydel answered enthusiastically.

This could be one of my best presentations yet! She thought.

----

Everything Has Changed
By: Taylor Swift Feat. Ed Sheeran

That kind of inspired this chapter. *shrug*