Tangible Things [ ONGOING EDITING ]

Vol: 1. Chapter Two

+ T W O +

     This scene is so familiar. I am in the backseat of my mother's car, a lollipop imprinted into my mouth, while southern drawls are all to be heard around me. Although, this time, I've settle for a pair of ebony sneakers. Much to my grandmother's dismay.

My mother had bugged me for hours the night before, about whether or not I was okay with going back to school after all of this time. Of course I wasn't okay. I'd spent my entire summer house-bound with nurses and doctors surrounding me.

At my latest checkup, my mother and I had argued greatly. Due to her insignificant fear of me dying in the middle of a class. "I'll be fine, mom." I had said, just as my breathing had started to regulate. "I promise."

     She didn't take my word for it, though. She'd called every one of my soon-to-be teachers, and warned them of my difficulties.

     That sure wasn't going to interfere with my absolute need to be treated as any other teenage girl. With no special treatment at all.

I needed to get out. Even if that meant turning down homeschooling. I'd been homeschooled since I was ten-years-old. It's my senior year. And even if I am not as healthy as the other kids—I should afforded the same opportunities.

"Everything all right, Jules?" My mother asked, raising a dark eyebrow at me through the review mirror.

"I'm fine. Just not at all ready for public high school." Unfortunately, my sister felt completely different. She'd been going to the same school, with the same kids for the last three years. She was familiar with the campus, the students. So to see her bobbing her head along the music, excited to see her friends again, pushed an ache into my chest.

The rest of the drive was quiet, only minimized voices coming from the radio. Once we finally arrived to, Asheville High School, I wanted to be anywhere than where I actually was.

The air was hot—just as it should be on a day amidst the summer-time. My mother rang her head back, smiling warily at my sister and I. "You two have a good day," I nod, pulling open the door, ready to leave, until she calls out for my again. "And Jules—please take it easy."

     "Of course, Mom. Why wouldn't I?" I reply sarcastically, closing the door behind me, my backpack, and my decorated oxygen tank.

Automatically, several pairs of eyes follow me as I walk. They watch me breathe through nasally cannula's, as I drag along the tank. Melanie reaches out, clasping her hand in mine. A warm smile meets mine, "you're doing great."

Were public schooled kids always so loud? The first half of my day was so leisure, I was sure that I'd be drained of all life by the time it ended. But I was fine, besides the few questions people kept asking me whenever I sat down beside them.

And my lunch period wasn't any different. People stared, long and hard. It didn't matter whether they were two feet away, or two tables away. All eyes eyes seemed to be on me. The obvious dying girl. I received apologetic smiles, of wary looks up and down.

I stand there, with my tray in hand, eyes trailing over everyone else's as they trail over me. That is, until my sister finds me, and takes my tray out of grasp, so that I can drag myself, and the tank along with her. "Come on," she says, "you can sit with my friends and I."

I know she means well, but she has a tendency to make me feel like a wallflower. Like a spectator, who will forever roam the four walls of, Asheville High, alone. But nonetheless, I follow her to her table.

When she sets my tray down, she try's to pull my backpack from my shoulder, but I put a hand up, signaling that I'm okay. There's a girl in front me, who's watching me, as though I'll break at any moment. I recognize her; she'd been to my house lots of times over the last few years.

"Hey, Julianne," she greets sweetly. "How's it going?"

"Fine." I smile back, although I don't actually want to, I know I'd come off as cold and impolite if I don't. A girl beside Melanie clears her throat, raising an eyebrow at my sister. "So, Mel. Who's the new girl?"

     Melanie doesn't hesitate to answer. "This is my sister, Julianne. It's her first year here at Asheville."

     "Oh, well, Julianne. I hope you're considering trying out for the team. . ." The girl leaves her words hanging in the air, snickering under her breath.

     I shake my head, clearing my throat due to the awkward tension she'd created. "Definitely not."

     ". . . And is there a particular reason? I mean—your sister here, is great while at the top of the pyramid. Maybe it's in the genes. All I'm saying is, that you should give a shot." The girl in front of me, who I now as Meredith, scolds the girl beside Melanie.

     "Summer. Come on, don't be this way—"
     "Don't be what way? I'm just trying to improve the squad, Mere."

     "The squad doesn't need improving, Summer. Don't be a bitch on the first day of school." My sister spits, glaring dangers into Summer as she shrugs as though nothing is wrong.

     I could tell by the looks of this evening, that Summer would give me an especially hard time this year. She raised a compelling brow at me, crossing both arms over her chest. "So, Julianne. Are you in, or are you out?"

     "I'm in."