Above

15

Leeciy
Christmas passed and New Years is creeping up on us like some type of big cat.
"What should we do for New Years?" Annaliesee asks weakly, laying in her hospital bed, playing with her bandages.
I shrug, gazing out the window at the newly fallen snow. "Probably sleep through it like any other day."
"No, you can't do that." Annaliesee answers. "Just because the party planner is out of commission doesn't mean you get to have a funless New Years."
"The most that'll happen is champagne sipping in the mess hall." I say, looking over at her.
"That's so lame! At least have a party."
"What are we even going to do at this party?" I ask. "Its the middle of winter and the only place with a space heater is the mess hall."
"Then gather in the mess hall, play some music and have a good time." She answers. "That's what I would do." 
I shrug. "I dunno."
"Think about it, please, there's nothing I want more than to hear a party."
"I mean, we probably would anyway." I say, standing off of the chair positioned next to the window.
"Where are you going?" She asks, sitting up, wincing.
I pull my chair closer to the bed. "I was coming closer, so you can see me." I say.
"Oh." She lays back down, her eyes fluttering shut.
"Now you're not even looking at me." I say, standing up again.
She was constantly hit with waves of exhaustion recently.
"'M just resting my eyes." She murmurs tiredly.
"Sure." I lean against the wall, waiting for the faint snores.
Eventually they fill the air, and I leave.
***
Logan asked me if I would check on Estelle for her for whatever reason. It's not an inconvenience, as her house is on the way to mine from the hospital.
I knock on the door, expecting Estelle to open the door, probably smiling, a jugsaw puzzle on the table behind her, September slaving over it, but September opens the door.
"Hey." He says. "Cirus isn't here."
"Where is she?" I ask.
"With Fran, I think." He answers.
"I'm supposed to check on Estelle." I inform.
He nods, widening the door to let me in. "She's upstairs, I would knock, I'm not sure what she's up to."
"Oh okay." I say, walking in.
He shuts the door, walking back to the sofa.
"What are you doing?" I ask.
"Algebra." He answers, getting out a pencil and paper. "I want an education, even if I have to do it myself."
"Oh, okay." I say. "I'm gonna go see Estelle."
"Don't let me stop you." He says.
I nod, walking toward the stairs.
***
I knock four times on the door, waiting for a response.
"Go away Logan!"
I pause. "Leeciy, It's Leeciy."
"Don't come in!" She yells, her voice cracks.
"I was told to check on you." I yell back.
"I'm just cleaning, no checkup needed." She answers.
"Can I help?" I ask.
A pause. "No!"
"Please?"
A longer pause. "Please just go away!"
"I'm supposed to check on you, I don't want Logan to be angry." I call back.
She doesn't answer.
Suddenly, there's a pit the size of a black hole in my gut, nerves budding. "Estelle?"
No answer.
I push open the door, a squeak filling my ears.
Her face was in a pillow, her back quaking with cries, a piece of paper clutched in her hands.
"Are you okay?" I ask, walking over, placing a hand on her back. "I hate him." She says, looking up at me. "I hate him so much."
"Who?" I ask.
"August Jones."
I crinkle my nose. "Why?"
"Because he left!" She yells, before becoming overwhelmed with sobs.
I sit next to her. "It wasn't his fault."
"It was Yeeva's!" She yells. "I hate her too!"
"We all hate her." I say, rubbing her back.
She looks at the paper, studying the small letters. "God, I hate him."
"You don't hate him, you love him." I offer pathetically, my heart wrenching uncomfortablely.
"He didn't say goodbye! Or that he loved me, he told me to survive." She says.
I pat her back.
"I can't even throw his shit away! It all has too much sentiment." She looks tearfully up at me.
"Well, instead of crying over it, why don't you celebrate it?" I ask. "That's what my mom did when my father died."
"I can't celebrate his death, you idiot." She answers.
"Not his death, his life." I say. "I know that's what it all says in the movies but it works, I think."
She looks at the box she's packed up. "We didn't even date for a year, I dunno why I'm so hung up."
"People grieve differently." I say" shugging.
"I wanna get over him, so badly." She says,wiping her tears and looking up at me. "Do you have any idea how to do that?"
"Can I tell you my opinion?" I ask.
She nods.
"I would just pretend I'm okay, throw myself into some new hobby or something." I say, shrugging.
"I'm not a ninety-year-old widow." She says, sighing. "I'm sorry, I just realized what a jerk I'm being."
"It's okay." I say, smiling down at her.
She leans over and hugs me, resting her head on my chest.
I wrap my arms around her shoulders.
"Your heart is racing." She says. "Are you sick?"
I shake my head. "I just came from training."
"Oh."
"Anyway, did I tell you about our party?" I ask.
"We're having a party?" She asks, pulling away from our hug.
I nod. "It was Annaliesee's idea, she said, she wanted nothing more than to hear a party."
"What's the occasion?" Estelle asks, looking up at me and quirking a brow.
"New Years?" I say, confused.
She nods. "That's coming up."
"Yeah, in two days, so come on." I say, standing up.
"What are we doing?" She asks, standing with me.
I grin. "We've got a party to plan, dweeb."