Ruby Red

Three+

 

© Amber Kalkes 2014

 Picture of Zack-----}

Music ----------}

+Three+

Zack had been coming around a lot over the past few weeks. At first it was just when him and his dad were working but then he started stopping by on his days off. I was happy to have someone to hang out with since the transfusions weren’t lasting as long and mom forbade me from leaving the house. Hell, she wouldn’t even let me go down the stairs by myself.

The leash was getting uncomfortably tight.

“Ruuubbbyyyy!” Zack calls waving his hand in front of my face.

I flinch back. We’re sitting in the garden swinging on the porch swing. Zack’s arm is wrapped over my shoulder, something he’s been doing a lot. He’s been touching me at odd times and kissing my forehead or my cheek too. I get butterflies each time.

“Oh, sorry. I was lost in thought.” I say, blushing a bit.

He grins at me.

That’s another thing about Zack. He’s always a happy go-lucky kind of guy. He’s always smiling and joking around. It’s nice to be around after years of dealing with witty banter or deadly seriousness. Zack makes me laugh at his stupid jokes and funny faces. I feel my age around Zack.

The guillotine of thinking I may be dying keeps hovering over me everyday because what will happen when the transfusions no longer work? Of course I know what will happen. I’ll have a heart attack and die. I’m not afraid of death, not really. I’m afraid of what comes after. The unknown, that’s what keeps me up at night…well other then the usual things.

“You keep zoning out on me today.” Zack says in my ear making me shiver.

I smile apologetically. “I have a hard time concentrating when my count is this low.”

He nods thoughtfully. “Did the goofy old doc say anything?”

“He said he’s going to do more tests and blood work. You know I find it funny that they keep taking blood when all they want to do is keep it in there.”

Zack chuckles rubbing my bare arm with his thumb. “At least they make it up to you by giving you more then they take.”

“Touché.”

He begins to play with my fingers and I watch as nervousness overcomes his face. I still his fingers with mine asking him silently what’s wrong. He looks at me and gives me a small smile.

“Ruby?” he asks quietly. “Um…do you want to go on a date with me?”

Surprised is an understatement.

“A date?” I parrot.

He nods as his Adam apple bobs. “Yeah, I mean I like you and that’s what people do when they like someone. They go on…dates.”

“Oh.” I whisper then clear my throat. “Okay.”

“What?”

“I said, okay, I will go on a date with you, Zack.” I say with a smile.

His surprise was adorable.

“Really?”

I quirk an eyebrow, “Do you not want to now?”

“Of course I do!” he nearly shouts.

I breathe a laugh. “Then stop questioning it.”

He smiles so wide that I fear for his poor face. Then he surprises me by grabbing my face in his hands and nuzzling my nose with his. His mouth connects to both my cheeks and those pesky butterflies erupt in my stomach once again. He doesn’t kiss my mouth, making me confused.