Air

16. Soup, Stars, and Sisters

Chapter 16

(Brittany's POV)

"I just realized," Starbucks Boy chuckles. "We just scheduled a date with each other and I don't even know your name."

"Well, it's Brittany." I sigh.

"Why the sadness?" Starbucks Boy smiles.

I stare out the big window at the midnight blue sky speckled with stars. The moon illuminates the sky. "Sometimes," I twirl my spoon around in my soup. "I don't want to be Brittany."

"Trust me. Sometimes, I don't want to be Austin."

"Being Brittany is worse."

"Being Austin is worse."

"Being Jackie," I mumble. "Is worst of all."

He takes my hand in his. "What's wrong?" His voice is gentle. "Is it the same thing that was bothering you at Starbucks?"

"Sort of." I tear rolls down my cheek and land on my bottom lip. I taste salt.

"Well?"

"It started last April. We were on vacation and my sister, Jackie, got sick. We found out she had metastatic bone cancer."

"I'm so sorry. Did she...?"

"Die? No." I pull out my phone and show him a picture. "That's her. Right now she has an infection in her scar. They amputated her right arm and she has an 80% chance of death."

"Is she getting better?"

"Right now," I tuck my lose strands of hair behind my ear. "They're focusing on keeping her alive, not healing her." 

The waitress strolls across the room to us and twirls her hair. She gives Austin a dreamy stare and leans against the table. "How's everything." Her accent is strong, and she rolls her r's. She uses improper English, hinting that she's working on learning the language. Her nametag says "Susanne."

"And," Susanne swivels to face me. "Are you accompanying this fine young man on a date?" I nod. "It's a shame." Susanne's heavy accent is almost impossible to understand. "I've been told I'm an excellent kisser."

"Bring us boxes for our meals," Austin raises his voice, and everybody cocks their heads, fascinated. "I won't take this anymore. We're leaving."

"As you wish." Susanne sounds hurt, and she turns, juts out her hip, and struts away.

"Some people," Austin scowls. "Well, what can I do? I was born with god-like handsomeness." He runs his fingers through his long-ish brown hair and raises an eyebrow while flashing a half-smile. 

I burst out laughing and he tugs on my hand to keep me from falling out of my chair. Relief fills my veins and a burst of sunlight goes off inside of me, drenching my insides.

"Listen," Austin hurries to gather his things. He drapes his jacket over my shoulders. He collects his bag containing his leftovers, which Susanne had angrily shoveled into the box as I was laughing. "I have to go."

I jump to my feet. "What? Why?"

"My dad," he hesitates. "My dad wants me home a little early."

"But..."

"I have to go. I'm so sorry." Austin rushes out the door, nearly tripping over a man's foot on the way. I make the rash decision to follow.

Outside, the air is chilly and the fact that we're right next to a lake doesn't make it any better. A mist catches a ride in the wind and I feel the minuscule droplets land on my face.

"How could you do this?! You're just leaving! You didn't so much as give me a hug, let alone say goodbye!"

"I just have to go! You don't understand!" He protests. I run up to him and throw myself into his arms. He embraces me and we sway back and forth together, both hugging and crying. 

The moment is ruined by the ringing of my phone. I look up at Austin, who nods for me to answer it. 

"Hello?"

"Brittany. Jackie flatlined. Come quick." I hang up and rush to my car, leaving Austin confused.

The drive felt like it dragged on for hours, but it only took minutes. The hospital is right down the rode from The Cheesecake Factory. 

As I stand in the elevator, waiting for it to take me to the third floor, I'm flooded with guilt. My heart is stabbed. My sister was dying and I was out on a date!

The instant the metal door opens, I sprint to the last room I remember Jackie being in. I disregard the nurses I run into and I focus on getting to my sister as quickly as possible.

I fling the door open only to be pushed back outside by worried nurses. I protest, but they lock the door. I'm left standing in the hallway wondering if Jackie will survive.