Code Red

Chapter 23: Let's Go To The Beach!

Chapter 23: Let's Go To The Beach!

“Oh my gosh! Come in, come in,” Her cheerful voice echoed around the cold white room, adding some life to the dreary atmosphere. Her usual blonde hair that shone brightly in the sun and hung below her shoulders was all gone and a pink bandana took its place. Her tanned skin was now as pale as a vampire and her pink plump lips were now cracked and thin. Tubes were going in and out of her connecting her to machines to help her breathe. She even had the tube that goes in her nose and around the ears back to an air tube next to the large machine. The only thing that was the same about her was the large smile plastered on her face and the happiness she holds shining in her eyes.

“Mom!” Janie screamed, dodging between mine and Dylan’s legs and springing onto the bed.

“Careful!” Their Aunt Selena exclaimed, jumping from the hospital chair she was previously sitting on.

“It’s okay, Selena, I haven’t seen her in a couple months,” Elizabeth’s breaths were short and shallow as if she was gasping for breath every second she breathed, which in a sense, was true. She opened her arms for her daughter and Janie snuggled into her mother’s chest. It broke my heart to see Elizabeth look like this, it physically pained me.  “Come here Dylan and Joe, I won’t break,” Her laughter seemed forced and even hard for her to do.

I squeezed Dylan’s hand and let go, giving him the room to walk closer to her. Joe hurried over to his mom, and gave her a huge welcome hug. It took another second for Dylan to finally embrace his mom in his arms and I think the hole in my heart grew even more as I saw a tear trail down her face as she rested her chin on his shoulder. Her eyes flew open as if she finally realized another human presence in the room.

“Nina?! Oh my gosh, come here! Look at how much you’ve grown! You are so beautiful!” Dylan stepped out of her way and she extended her arms for me.

“You look just as beautiful,” I blushed, taking tiny steps towards her. But the thing was, I wasn’t even lying about her beauty. Sure, she might not have looked the same as she did two years ago but her she still looked just as good.

“Stop lying,” She chastised, squeezing me in her arms.

“I’m not lying,” I giggled as I rubbed her back, loving the feeling of having her hug me again. She used to always hold me in her arms and her hugs never felt warmer.

“This is such a surprise! I didn’t know you were coming.” I stepped out of her embrace and looked for a chair to sit in before I felt an arm wrap itself around my wrist and pull me backwards until I was sitting on someone’s lap… Dylan’s.

“I invited her, mom,” Dylan grinned slightly at his mom as Selena sat in the chair next to us.

“So are you guys like…” She paused, smirking slightly as she flicked her finger between the two of us. Dylan and she had the exact same smirk that it bewildered me. She always had a childish side of her, always wanting to know the latest gossip when I went over to their house.

“Yes mom,” Dylan groaned, my cheeks flaming as I hid my face in his neck.

“Awe! Oh my gosh! I knew it, I knew it! I need to call Christina! Why didn’t she tell me?! I just spoke to her, that little bitch!” Her eyes widened as she realized what she called her best friend in front of her two little children. Her hand flew to her mouth and we all started cracking up. “Don’t tell her I said that and never repeat that, Janie.”

“Mom! Dylan and Nina are going to get married!” Janie cheered, smiling brightly as she stared up into her mother’s eyes.

“Of course I know, I have been planning this with Christina ever since they met,” She clapped her hands together as she started a coughing fit. Dylan was about to spring from the seat when Elizabeth waved him off. “No big deal, I am fine,” She smiled at the love of her son, and thanked him silently with her eyes.