More or Less

Chapter 13 • Metallic

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Alisha's POV

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"You're very lucky," Dr. Helen says, "Your iron level was dangerously low. You got here to the hospital just on time." Then she gives Theodore a look of praise and touches his shoulder. "You should be grateful, Alisha."

I don't say anything. There's nothing to say.

Everyone's here. My sisters, Ma and Goldo, Ashka, Grace, Jomar, Abuela, and even Davont'e. They crowd the hospital bed with anxious expressions on their faces as they listen to Dr. Helen's verdict. Ma's fingers tighten around my own, she hasn't stopped holding it since last night.

"What exactly happened, Doc?" My stepfather asks, looking from her to I. He doesn't know much about my health problems. This is new for him. "What's anemia?"

"To put it simply..." Dr. Helen begins, brushing her pale blonde, fluffy hair away from her face. "Alisha's body can't produce an efficient amount of iron, so she has to take daily doses to keep from getting sick." Then her blue eyes dart to me and I shrink away from her scrutiny. "Have you been taking your vitamins, Ali?"

Now everyone's staring at me. I bite my lip and fidget with the needle in my arm. "I may or may not have skipped a dose or two by accident, " I confess, "I forget sometimes."

"Forget?" Ma repeats in disbelief and I mentally prepare myself for a lecture, but, to my relief, Goldo hushes her, pressing his finger against her lips. Everyone laughs and the mood immediately lightens. Ma sighs and looks at me in that motherly way which makes you regret anything you've done to make her worry, and I do. "You know how 'portant they are for you, Wewe."

I roll my eyes. She never keeps track of my meds, but as soon as we're in a hospital for it, she suddenly acts like she does. "Of course I do," I mumble, "Didn't think you would."

"She didn't mean that." Ashka says, throwing me a sharp glare. "She's tired. We should leave her alone."

"I'm exhausted." And I'm disgusted. He sits by the door, leaning back on his chair with a proud look on his face. As everyone leaves, they thank him for saving my life. I stare across the room at him and he stares back, a cocky grin on his lips. When he makes sure no one's looking, he blows a kiss and I've never felt so.. there's no words to explain, but it's not a good feeling at all. I want to hit him - bad.

Jomar, one of my very close friends, leans over and kisses my forhead, taking me by surprise. I've known him since Sophomore year and I owe him my life. He's one of the people I'd actually take a bullet for and whom I could trust with all my heart. Lifeline, as we call eachother. I grip his hand tight. He kisses my cheek, says I love you, and leaves.

Theodore stands to follow suit, but I call his name. He looks at me and arches a brow, completely surprised that I've addressed him. I straighten up, brush the messy lock of black hair from my face and try to look brave, but my bones were trembling.

"Why did you save me?" I bluntly ask.

He walks over and I shrink into nonexistence, but he doesn't touch me. His eyes trail the thin, light blue blanket that Ma has cocooned my body with. I pull it over my chest and he regards me with a sick look of amusement.

"I'm a changed man." He says, feigning hurt as he places a scarred hand atop his heart, eyeing the get well Spongebob balloons Davont'e has brought me that were tied to my hospital bed. "Jail gives you a lot of insight on life."

Bullshit. But I don't say so. I look away, fidget with the IV that feeds some unknown liquid into my veins. I wish I could read his mind, find out what he's up to, but I can't. God knows how much I want to...