33 Days To Live (Under Revision)

43

The last thing I remember was something about Picasso before I passed out against the car window.

Even though the position was really uncomfortable I slept like a baby, until the blaring of horns and my dad yelling in Italian jerked me awake.

Blinking hard I sat up slowly, practically blinded by the light from the fully risen sun.

"Ha un asino ti insegnano a guidare? Vai a casa e ottenere una licenza vera e propria!" My dad shouted, banging on his horn as he slowly moved through traffic.

My dad was a sweet guy, don't get me wrong but he had some serious road rage. Especially when we took road trips up to New York. Unphased by his shouting, my mom worked on her laptop while Rachel and Lucy shared a glance before giggling.

"Mama Mia! Ci sono altre persone sulla strada che si signora ignorante parla al telefono! Cio che Johnny ha fatto si puo aspettare fino ad arrivare a casa!" My dad shouted again as he stuck his head out the window.

Groaning I laid back against the window, just wishing I could sleep more but between the honking and my dad screaming Italian there was no hope for that.

"Hey Ben, we're here by the way if you couldn't tell," Rachel said and Lucy laughed as she pinched my cheek.

"Did you have a good nap?" She asked, making me smile as I batted her away.

"Yeah, yeah, tell my papa to shut his trap." I mumbled, making my dad look back at me at the sound of my voice.

"Ahh ragazzo! Your awake! Did you sleep well babino?" He asked, letting go of the wheel to wave at me. Rolling her eyes at him my mom reached over to grab the wheel with one hand while she closed out her work.

"Hands on the wheel Antonio," She said and he apologized before grabbing the wheel from her.

"Does he do that often? Let go of the wheel?" Lucy asked and I nodded as I closed my eyes to rest them.

"Yeah, don't worry though both my parents took a defensive military driving course to lower their insurance. I think they spent more money on it then they saved." I chuckled.

After another forty minutes of my dad shouting, horns honking, and moving an inch a minute, we found ourselves pulling into the hotel parking lot. A few minutes after that we all climbed out the unload the bags while my mom went inside to check us in.

"So what's the plan for today?" I asked Rachel as I put on my backpack then grabbed Lucy's bags, even though she protested with half a dozen no's.

"Well I have a ton of apartments to look at, so you both are more then welcome to tag along for that. Or you can hang out at the hotel."

"Are we going to the museum today?" Lucy asked hopefully and Rachel nodded.

"Yes, but not until later." She informed as we all walked inside before piling up the bags on the trolley.

Once that had been done, all conversation about our plans for the day ceased as my dad and I began the difficult task of dragging the cart up to the room. Who was the idiot that decided to put carpets in hotel hallways and unstable wheels on trolleys? After tipping over the cart a couple of times and ramming it into Rachel's heel, we finally made up to the room.

By that time everyone was tired and grouchy, so while Rachel dashed off to go see apartments with my dad, my mom excused herself to go take a nap in the connecting room. At first Lucy and I didn't do anything except unpack our stuff then we called in room service to get a pizza. Then when the pizza came we took the small pie out to the balcony that was overlooking the city and sat it between us.

"You can take the first piece," I said upon us settling on the cool concrete and Lucy eagerly took a big one.

"Thanks." She smiled as I grabbed one as well. For a moment then we just ate, then after we had partially filled ourselves I decided to end the silence.

"The city is really cool isn't it?" I asked, looking out at the army of skyscrapers.

"Its breathtaking. I can't believe I've lived only a few hours away from all this and have only been here once." She marveled.

"Why only once?" I inquired curiously. I have been to New York countless times in my entire ten years of living in Crescentburg, it was my family's favorite spot to vacation.

"When my mom and Oscar got married they had their wedding in the city. Afterwards he took Wally and I sight seeing but we didn't get to officially go anywhere." Lucy informed around a bite of gooey pizza.

"How long ago was that if you don't mind me asking?" She just shrugged.

"About three years ago." I nodded as I shifted positions so I was sitting crossed legged.

"They've been married for awhile then. I figured he was a newer addition to the family, like last year kind of new," I said in surprise.

"No, I just have never connected with him on a father daughter level." She sighed heavily as she then put her pizza down. "I think what his problem is that he tries to hard to understand me. He judges me to quickly without asking for an explanation."

"That's because he thinks he's seeing everything from your point of view but he's really looking at you from his own."

It was true. Parents were smart and usually right about most things but sometimes they judged from their point of view.

"That's true." She then smiled a little. "A couple of nights ago though, he did something kind of weird but a good kind of weird. He asked to see my art, then he started talking about how talented I was and how I should consider art school. It was odd coming from him but a huge compliment. I feel like its the first time I've connected with him a little," She said, making me beam.

"Maybe Oscar had a revelation?" I suggested.

"I don't know, maybe." Lucy then punched my shoulder playfully. "Thank you for taking me with you this weekend. It feels like a burden got lifted off my shoulders and I need that." Inhaling deeply she looked out at the scenery around us, silently admiring it while I admired her.

"Its no problem. Don't tell the others but your quickly becoming one of my best friends." I admitted, even though my heart ached a little at the word 'friends'.

"Your becoming one of my best friends too Ben." Her happy gaze then drifted back to me. "You know, this is the happiest I've been in years. I can't remember the last time I felt this happy, even with all the drama involving Jamie. Lately I'm actually excited to get up and enjoy the day and I don't dread school anymore. I look forward to it. I look forward to seeing Rodney, Gene, Leo, Andrew, and you especially," She said, sounding genuinely happy. She was practically radiating from how big she was smiling.

"You gave me hope Ben, you gave me hope for tomorrow."

Suddenly then I felt my bottom lip quivering and without giving it a second thought I leaned forward and I crushed her in the tightest hug I could.

"You don't know how bad I needed to hear something like that today." I mumbled against her shoulder as she hugged me back in surprise.

"You have no idea."

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Ugh I do not want to go to work today. This will be my sixth day in a row working and I'm exhausted :( at least I get a day off tomorrow! And my birthday is on Monday so that's something to look forward to :)

Time to go to work, sigh.
-Mari.