How My World Changed Forever...Again

Keeping Secrets

Rachel's POV
Colleen just got off the phone with Katie LeBlanc. It's three days after she told everyone about Katie. We're starting to form a plan for what we're going to do with the girls since they can't stay with us forever, obviously. They seem really good with us right now, and I'm glad they're handling the news okay.
Colleen and I are in her bedroom and the girls are in their room doing school. Colleen says, "okay, so, Katie just told me that they're pretty much good with the issue of cutting the company ties, which is pretty much why we have the girls anyway. However, she and Billy have still been so busy helping out the Donnellys. She basically told me that she wants the girls back in Maryland because she wants them to see Katie. You know, it's so sad to hear a mother wanting to get her girls home to see their best friend because she might die. I can't even imagine. Anyway, because they're so busy, she's nervous for them to have full responsibility of the kids because with them, they can't like, get up in the middle of the night and just leave if they have to. So of course, I offered to fly back and stay with them for, really as long as they need. Obviously, I'll have to come home at some point because I know I have a life and everything. So, my next question is, do you wanna go with me?"
"I am absolutely going with you. When?"
"Well," she says, "Katie said as soon as possible is fine. I can imagine that she probably misses her kids a lot too. If I can get tickets for tomorrow, I'm going to go ahead and book them. Is that okay?"
"Yeah, I think they definitely need to get home. Honesty, they're handling this way better than I expected. It's been almost three weeks Colleen! We did it!"
"Side note, we also totally kept it clean. Well, maybe there were a few things but nothing that didn't go over their heads...I hope..." Colleen says, laughing.
"So we have to pack, for tomorrow? And for an unknown amount of days? And for the east coast?" I ask.
"Yeah. Should be interesting!  Also," Colleen says, lowering her voice, "I think we should surprise the girls.  I don't want to tell them until we're like, at the airport."
     "But what about all their stuff?"
     "We'll pack it without them knowing."
     I start to get pretty excited.  Something about surprising these girls with something that I know will make them so happy literally puts me in an indescribable mood.  "So I need to get online and try to book tickets right this second."
     Colleen starts looking for airline tickets and I go downstairs to tell Matt.  He's sitting on the couch in the living room.  I go over and sit on his lap.  "Hey baby," he whispers, putting his hand on my head.
     "Hey.  So, Katie is ready for the girls to go home.  But Colleen volunteered to fly back so she could stay with them and help out so Katie and Billy can worry about the Donnellys.  I think I'm gonna go with her...would you be mad?"
     "Rachel, of course I won't be mad.  Am I going to miss you?  Yeah, I always miss you when you're gone.  But this is so much bigger than us.  You're doing this to help these kids, and I love that about you.  I love that for the past three weeks, you've put your life on hold to help these girls.  And you're going to keep doing it.  It's absolutely adorable.  Also, you're so cute with those girls!"
     "I try," I say, putting my hand on my stomach, "it's kinda, giving me baby fever..."
     Matt and I know we want to have kids, we just aren't sure when.  We've talked about it before, and I've just been too nervous.  Right now though, it's like, I totally wish I was pregnant.
     Matt looks at me and says, totally seriously, "are you on your period?"
     I laugh and say, "no!"
     He knows that when I am on it, I wish I was pregnant because then I wouldn't have to be on it.
     "Okay, just checking.  I know how you get when you are.  But in all seriousness, Rach, I've been thinking about kids too.  Maybe when this all settled down, that's something we can talk seriously about."
     "Definitely.  Okay, I just wanted to come make sure you are okay with me leaving.  I need to go start packing.  One more thing, for the love of god, please don't tell the girls.  We're going to try to surprise them."
     "I won't," he says as I stand up.  I lean down and kiss his lips.  "You're cute," he says.
     "I love you," I say.
     Back upstairs, Colleen and I are tarting to pack for ourselves.  I really don't have that many clothes here, but I make do.  I use one of Colleen's suitcases because the one I have is fairly small.  Since it's August (A/N totally just made that up, deal with it lol) it should be warm, even across the country.  I pack four pairs of shorts (two denim and two black), two pairs of workout shorts (just cause they're comfortable), three pairs of capri leggings in various colors and patterns, and two pairs of jeans.  Those are literally all the bottoms I have.  For shirts I just pack a bunch of t shirts and tank tops.  Also, I throw in two sweatshirts and one heavier jacket.  I pack socks, underwear, and bras along with a pair of vans and a pair of sneakers. For the plane, I plan on wearing a pair of black denim shirt that I left out with a purple tank top.  I'll also wear sandal flip flop things so security is easy.  Next I go into the bathroom and pack travel shampoo, conditioner, and body wash; a razor; deodorant; lotion; tampons; my hairbrush; hair ties; toothbrush; toothpaste; plus my small amount of daily makeup.  I don't bring a a flat iron or anything because I don't use it and if I really needed to, Colleen will have one. I pack my toiletries bag inside my suitcase and zip it all up.  I will be checking that bag because we have to check some of the girls' stuff anyway.  In my backpack for my carry on, I pack extra batteries, extra chargers, all things that I won't need again tonight.  Tomorrow right before we leave, I'll pack my laptop and camera stuff.  I also have my purse as my personal item.  I go back across the hall to Colleen's room as she zips up her suitcase.  She says, "Okay, we're flying out at 8 tomorrow morning. I want to be at the airport by 6 or 6:15.  So we should leave here at 5:30.  So that means we definitely have to pack their stuff tonight.  There's no way we're going to be able to pack and have them still go back in their room and not notice all their stuff packed."
     I say, "why not just have them sleep in here tonight so we can pack after they fall asleep?"
     "That's a good freaking idea!  You're smart."
     "I know," I say, jokingly.
     "Also very humble!" She says sarcastically.

Annie's POV
     Hayley and I are in our room doing school.  It's really late since we didn't go any this afternoon.  Rachel just came in and told us they're filming in her office if we need anything.  I slowly close my laptop even though I'm not done for the day.  I pull out my phone and immediately text Katie.  She and I have been texting pretty much all the time except when she's...receiving treatment.  I love talking to Katie.  For a couple years, I never realized how much I missed my old friends especially her.  "Hey" I text.
"Hey" she responds, almost immediately.
     I ask what she's doing and immediately feel stupid.  She's in a hospital, what could she possibly be doing!?
     She texts back anyway and says, "Just finished another round of chemo.  That's one more in the books. How about you?"
     "I'm with Hayley doing school for the day.  We didn't do any today.  How have you been feeling?"
     "I'm okay..."
     "Katie?"
     "Yeah?"
     "Do you know who Hayley and I are with right now?"
     "Yes!  I forgot to freak out about that with you!  How even?  Oh my gosh I wish!  I love Colleen!"
     "I know, same!"
     "I wish I could meet her"
     "I wish you could too."
     Katie and I continue talking.  We talk about normal, teenage, girl things.  We don't talk about Leukemia.  We don't talk about the hospital.  We don't talk about cancer or treatment or any of that sad, depressing stuff.  I don't want to talk about that.  I want to make up for all the months, weeks, days, moments I lost with Katie.  I try to fit all the words I wish I would've exchanged with her into one, short text conversation.
     An hour later, Colleen comes in and before she can say anything, I start crying.  She doesn't know why.  I don't even know why!  I get up off the bed and she pulls me into her arms.  After a second, she pushed me out in front of her and wipes the few tears from my face.  Without even asking what's wrong, she says, "Do you guys wanna sleep in my bed with me tonight?"
     I lay my head back on her chest and nod into her arms. She strokes my hair and says, "okay, come one girls.  I stand up and all down.  We both follow her into her room since it is already 9:30.  Hayley and I just lay down, wearing the clothes we had on all day.  As soon as my head hits the pillow, my eyes get heavy.  Colleen sits on the side of the bed next to me and takes my hand.  Rachel sits next to Hayley.  Rachel says, "it's okay, girls."
     Colleen says, "try to get some sleep.  I'll be in soon, and if you need anything, just come find Rachel and I.  Goodnight."
     They get up and turn the light off.  Leaving the room, Colleen pulls the door half shut.

Colleen's POV
     After tucking the girls in, Rachel and I head over to their room to quickly get everything ready.  They both have a suitcase, but I don't really know who's is who's.  That leads to us just half folding clothes and putting them in a suitcase.  We et everything from the closet, drawers, and floor.  Plus a few things that were lingering on their bed.  "So how are we gonna do this in the morning, Rach?" I ask, realizing it's a little unrealistic to leave the house at 5:30 and expect them to just be cool with it.
     "I don't know.  There's really no where we'd be going at 5:30"
     "That's the problem."
     "Here, why don't we do this.  Let's tell them that we have to drive to Santa Barbra and since it's kind of far away, we wanted to leave early.  We'll tell them that we "might have to" stay over night at Chris and Jess' so then they'll bring all the things like phones and that blanket Annie carries around.  Then we'll drive to LAX."
     "That's actually not bad.  You are younger, I am supposed to be smarter than you!" I say, sarcastically.
     Rachel and I finish packing and hopefully have gotten everything from their room.
     We actually end up loading all of our bags in my car tonight so we don't have to worry about them in the morning.  I lay out some grab and go snacks for the morning on the counter because oh my god I am actually a 35 year old suburban mom.
     Rachel and I exchange good nights in the hallway before going into our separate rooms.  I carefully move Hayley towards the middle of the bed.  I lay down next to her who is in the middle.  I try to just fall asleep.  No phone, no Twitter. I need to sleep or else I won't get up on time tomorrow. 

Rachel's POV
     I lay down in bed next to Matt who is still fully awake.  "Hey baby." I say.
     "Come here," he says.  I move closer to him and he pulls my body on top of his.  His lips meet mine.
     "I'm gonna miss you Rach," he says.
     "I'm not gone yet," I say, and he puts one hand around my waist while one runs through my hair as his soft lips meet mine.