Strong

Chapter 5

                I stand frozen staring at the front door, what just happened I think to myself. A date? I haven’t gone out on a date since the 8th grade. Why did he even ask me, does he pity me. I walk towards the couch and sit down. I turn the TV on and check the time, 4:47pm, my parents will be home soon. I can already see their expression, excited, enthusiastic; my father will be most likely wary and protective. I text Sophia “911 get over here,” and set my phone down.  I run up the stairs to my room and look at my clothes; I either have sweats or old t-shirts that I haven’t worn since the 9th grade.

                I’m looking through my dresser when I hear the front door slam open. “Ryan!” I hear Sophia scream.  She takes the stairs two steps at a time, she stands panting in my doorway. “What’s wrong, what’s the 911 text for,” she asked and stares at me then shifts her gaze to the clothes scattered all around the room. Her face turns blank, “No way, you have a date,” she says sitting down on my bed. I nod frantically, “I have nothing to wear, help me,” I plead and close my dresser drawers.  She nods and takes my hand, “we have to go to the mall, you have nothing but old clothes that you bring to the hospital,” I nod and smile, “you’re a life saver, let’s go.”

                We walk down the stairs, she grabs her car keys, and I scribble out a note for my parents, telling them where I’m going.  We walk out the door, Sophia is talking excitedly about what colors look good on me and outfit suggestions, “I kind of just want to wear jeans, and a nice blouse.” She nods, “that sounds good, not to fancy, not to casual, perfect for you,” I smile, “you’re the best,” she laughs, “I know.” I roll my eyes and get in the passenger seat. She turns out of the apartment parking lot and heads towards the mall.

                15 minutes and 5 Taylor Swift songs later were at the mall, and I hate Taylor Swift even more. “I loved her songs before, now they just have no meaning and sounds like every other song on the radio,” I say shaking my head closing the car door behind me. “I agree, did you know that Harry and Taylor dated,” she says and I shake my head. “Apparently their ship name was Haylor, everyone hated it.” She says and looks at me with a smirk on her face.  I shrug “honestly I could care less it’s not like he’s going to date someone like me, unpopular and boring,” I looked down at my feet and sighed. Its true isn’t it, someone like him doesn’t date someone like me, he’s talented and attractive, and I’m Ryan the girl who has cancer. “You’re ridiculous,” I hear Sophia say; I look up at her with a raised eyebrow. “Did you not see how he was all over you,” I shake my head, “he was cheering me up, he pities me, can we stop talking about this,” I ask and walk with Sophia to the mall’s front entrance.

                We head into a store to get the last item for my outfit, shoes, Sophia picked up a pair of grey boots, and looks at the clothes in the bag, “these are perfect, and doesn’t cost too much ill pay for them,” she says, I shake my head. “No way, I’m buying them don’t use your money on me,” I say and attempt at taking the boots from her. She walks to the cash register before I can grab them; the cashier rings them up and places them in a bag. I sigh and walk with Sophia out of the store. “I thought you would put up more of a fight,” she laughs and hands me the bags with my outfit inside them.