Becoming Me

Prom Eve

I watched out the window as I saw all the cars as we passed them. I'm not sure what expected to happen when I got to the hospital we were close though.
When we finally made it to the hospital I saw my parents in the waiting room and a women with giant boobs so I assumed it was Brookes mom. She was crying as well.
"Oh honey I'm so glad you made it here safe." My mom said hugging me tight.
"Mom what happened?" I asked starting to get irritated that no one was telling me anything.
"Honey, Jeremy and Brooke were on their way home last night when a truck hit them and they slid off the road into a ditch. It's bad very bad." My mom said holding my shoulders.
"Where is he?" I asked holding my tears in.
My mom led me on the room leaving after so I could have some time with him. I looked at him it didn't look like him maybe it was the tube in his mouth or it was just how fragile he looked. I never imagined standing in hospital looking at my best friend laying there almost lifeless.
Seeing him there reminded me of the first time we met......
First day of second grade my family just moved to a new town me and my brother didn't get the same class, and let's just say I wasn't the skinniest girl in that school and I eat when I'm nervous, I had sat next to a kid who looked almost as nervous as me.
"Hey you gonna eat that?" I asked him but before he could respond I grabbed his sandwich and ate it in fear of the people around.
"Uhh no you can have the rest..." He said back pushing his food to me.
"Oh thanks!" I said while opening my lunch bag too. He looked at me and we both laughed.
We exchanged our names and started conversation like it was like we knew each other. After that everyday we got closer and closer leading us to our senior year.
Now thinking about it, it makes me sad that I made my senior year revolve around me I didn't ever care to check in on Jeremy at all.
Before I knew it I had fallen asleep on a chair as my head layed on the hospital bed.
"Come on hun it's time to head back home." My mother awakened me brushing my hair onto my back.
"Would it be alright if I stayed with him?" I asked rubbing my sleepy eyes.
"Well I guess." My mom said a little concerned. Since Jeremys parents were away on vacation and no one could get a hold of them they put my mom as an emergency caregiver to him.
When my mom left I looked at the clock it was barely 10:00 o'clock. I didn't notice I guess while I was asleep they took the tube out of Jeremys mouth. That has to be good right? I sat up looking at him when a shadow walked into the door frame with a hospital gown.
"Oh Jade it's good to see you." It's was Brooke she was okay. Wow I didn't even think to ask about Brooke I'm a terrible person.
"Brooke!" I got up and hugged her she let out a fragile breath of air so I loosened my hug a bit, "How are you doing?" I asked looking at her she looked beat up. Her hair was in a frumpled ponytail she had a black eye but surprisingly she was walking and no broken bones.
"I could be better." Brooke said as she sat in the chair by Jeremy, "How is he?" She said holding his hand.
"Well not as good as you but better. They took his tube out." I said sadly unsure of myself.
"Oh Jere bear I'm so sorry." Brooke said now carrying his hand kissing the top of it solemnly.
I was frightened once more by another shadow.
"Brooke darling you shouldn't be wondering the halls like that." One of the nurses said guiding her out the door.
"Bye skittles see you soon." Brooke said blowing me a kiss.
I sat where she was, "Jeremy don't you dare leave me in this world alone." I whispered holding his hand with both of mine.
I had fallen asleep again. When I awoke the clock read 2:52 the room was not empty to the left of me sat a sleeping Derek leaning on a counter with his eyes closed. I got up a shook him a little. His eyes opened immediately.
"Hey sorry I didn't mean to scare you." I said pulling my chair next to him.
"No its all good. I actually came to keep you some company. " Derek said awkwardly.
"Hah yeah thanks what's up why do you look nervous?" I asked holding myself together I got a kind of weird tingle when Derek leaned a little closer to me.
"Well I was at your house talking to Brandon he helped me realize some things." Derek said thinking about what to say next. I didn't respond I let him go on mainly because I felt my awkward language almost coming.
"Well I have this for you." Derek said pulling out a familiar object.
I laughed a little looking at my snow globe but instead of just my snowman inside it was a picture of me and Derek from Clarissa's party before I found out about my brother and her except I could see Zach was cut out that made me laugh a little more.
"Turn it around." Derek said nervously with a smile.
As I turned it around it read prom... PROM! Before I could respond Jeremy awoke and screamed,"SALĪ!" After that he laughed and crashed again.
"Was that spanish?" Derek asked scared.
"Yes." I said in shock.
We both looked at each other then I got up and pushed the button.
When the doctor finally came in we explained it all he asked that we contact my mom. We waited in the waiting room as my mom was talking to the doctor.
"So prom?" Derek asked unsure of himself.
"I'd love to but I feel as though I need to be here for Jeremy." I said solemnly.
"How about if Jeremy wakes up we have our own little prom here with Jeremy and Brooke and you and me?" Derek said trying to problem solve everything.
"Then yes I'd love to do that." I said with a weird little giggle.
The wait began at 4:45 for Jeremy to awaken once more.