(Un)Fortunate

Chapter 13

I didn't even realize what I was doing until Brandon called me out on it.

"Huh?" I say, looking down at the white shirt I had been about to put in with my dark pink cardigan. It was laundry day. "Oh, whoops."

I toss it aside, as well as a few others that missed inspection.

"What is up with you lately? Ever since we got home from the trip, you have been totally messed up," Brandon says, tossing a few darks he wanted washed in with the load.

"I don't know," I answer half truthfully. Ever since that dream, where I was at prom, I have been totally messed up. Or, at least, thats what everyone else is saying.

Yesterday, I put the milk container into the pantry. This morning, I got in the shower with my pajamas still on. It's pretty bad.

I leave the laundry room, trying to clear my head. I have a feeling inside. It's a feeling I have never felt before. It's like, I know what I am doing, but I have this feeling I should not be doing it. I have been racking my brain trying to figure out what to do. Or, what this means?

I told Jen, and she said it was just prom jitters. Like people get before they get married. Except, I'm not getting married. I am going to prom. With a boy. Who I may or may not actually want to go with.

I shuffle upstairs and grab my keys, deciding to make a trip to the hospital.

The drive there is silentl. No radio. No windows down. Just the silence and I.

When I arrive at the hospital, the nurses wave me in. They pretty much know me by now. Considering I come pretty much every day.

I knock on the door to his new room: Room 235. They moved him to a new floor a couple of days after he woke up and was settled.

"Who is it?" He says, not even pausing to look at the door.

Mario Kart is playing on his t.v. screen. He is playing as Toad, his favorite character.

"A robber coming to steal your hospital food."

"Please," He says, pushing a tray of green beans towards me. "Do, I hate those things."

He pauses the game, and looks towards the Steak N' Shake bag in my hands.

"What's in the bag?"

"Definitaly NOT a mint shake."

"Give it to me!" He says, putting his hands out.

"Here, you ogre."

He slurps down half of it in one gulp.

"So to whom do I owe this visit?" Caleb asks, raising one eyebrow.

"No one, I just wanted to get out of the house. Brandon has started to do his own laundry. Talk about wacky."

"Seriously? Mom isn't doing it for him?"

We both collapse in laughter. I sit down next to him and he sits up. The doctors say he might get to go home next week. It has been two weeks since the crash. If his vitals are good, he will be up in no time.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" I say, reaching into a box I brought.

"What is all that stuff?" He says.

"Cards, flowers, and gifts from our classmates."

He reaches over and touches a dead daisy.

"Wow. So fresh." He says sarcastically.

"Oh, be quiet. They have been in here for two weeks."

He stops for a moment. As if frozen in time. The way he just sits there, makes my heart drop out of my chest. He has this look on his face. A look I have never seen before. This usually smiling, happy person, for the first time looks dissappointed.

"Are you okay," I say so quietly I am not even sure the words came out.

He looks up, blinking a few times. Just a second before he smiles, I see the true him. He was tired. He was lost. Being someone who has to be perfect all the time, isn't perfect. No matter what anyone thinks. You mess up once, just something as little as saying something you don't mean that way- can ruin your whole career.

He shakes his head, flipping his already perfect hair.

"Look at this one, Ell."

I decide to play along. "Ewww is that a lock of hair? And what is that?"

"Pretty sure that is a lipstick kiss."

"Who is that from?" He sits up a little more, leaning over and snatching the card from me. I hide my smile as his face turns into a mix of horror and humor.

"Why would Brandon send me this?" He laughs, tossing the card aside.

"So that's what he snuck in the box before I left," I giggle, handing him the next package.

This package is small, and wrapped with silver wrapping paper with a yellow bow on it. He rips through the paper, revealing a small jewelry box. He lifts it open, and inside is a bracelet. It's a similar style as a charm bracelet.

There is 5 charms trickled over the bracelet. The first is a shield with the school colors on it.  The next is a logo for the first commercial he did. Next to that is a small picture of a film camera. There is a charm of an Academy Award, too. The last charm is of our family. There is a tiny stick figure for mom, dad, Brand, him, and me.

"Who gave you that one?" I say.

"Huh?" Caleb says, looking up. I repeat my question.

"You."

I give him a small smile, and before I know it he is hugging me.

"Ew. Get off," I say jokingly.

"No. I have to."

"What are you talking about?" I say, looking him in the eye.

"Ellie, you have supported me my whole life. Even though we argue all the time, and sometimes I let Brandon use your toothbrush-"

"EWWWWW! No wonder Brandon had my toothbrush in his bathroom," I throw up a little at the thought.

"Yeah, sorry about that. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for everything you have done for me. I know I am not always there for you, but you are always there for me. You are the best twin sister I could ask for. I love you Ellie."

"You sound like you are proposing to me instead of telling me how great I am," I laugh, hugging him.

"Way to ruin the moment, sis," He says, reaching for the next envelope.

"I know, but who else is there to do it but me?" I wink.

 

For the next 3 hours, we shuffled through love letters, locks of hair, and lemon flavored lollipops.