Finding Life

Six

Izzabella

"You got a what?" My mother shouted. She picked up the pink slip and waved it in the air.

 This was it- the moment where my new found love of rebellion would come to a sure end.

"A speeding ticket?'' My voice quivered and I took in a deep breath. Having your mother stare down at you with a look somewhere in between anger and disappointment wasn't exactly a great feeling.

I heard my brother snicker from behind me followed by a muffled 'ompfh.' Alex must of smacked him a good one.

"Do you have any idea what this means?" Mom sneered up at me. This was the first time I had ever gotten myself in trouble and I was terrified to find out what the consequences would be. "Your getting a job. You cant be expecting me to pay this ticket."

''What?" I shrieked. My mother couldn't be serious. "Mom, your a doctor. You make quite a bit."

My mother snorted. "Yes I make that money- myself. What? Were you just expecting to mooch off of me for the rest of your life."

"Mother. Please." I pleaded.

"No. I have made my decision."  She snapped and exited the room.

 I let out an agitated scream, still standing there in the same spot.

Josh broke out into full fledged laughter as soon as mom was out of earshot. "Oh my god. You working? Remind me never to go there."

"Shut up you idiot. At least mom actually pays attention to me." I retorted back, but as soon as I said it I regretted it.

"Josh. I-" I started to apologize, but he cut me off.

"Yeah. Well, maybe she would if you didn't have that disease. Its all your fault." Hurt flashed in his eyes and he too exited the room.

What kind of a horrible person am I? Tears welled up in my eyes and a hand was placed onto my shoulder.

I had forgotten Alex was in the room and on top of the anger, sadness and guilt I felt, embarrassment was now added to the list of emotions. He stared at me, his eyebrows furrowed. When he didn't say anything I decided to.

"I messed up really bad. Didn't I?" I asked him, wiping tears away that had spilled onto my cheeks.

He nodded, his brown hair flopped along with him. "Yeah." He whispered.

I was shocked by his answer. Nobody had ever been that straight up with me. Most people would beat around the bush when I needed an answer. Six years ago, when I was diagnosed, it took the doctors forever to tell me. They started off by telling me how 'life should be lived to the fullest' and 'never let go of your dreams'. Everybody knew about my condition before I did, so to have someone like Alex be so blunt with me was very refreshing.

I smiled sadly up at him. "I should go talk to him."

Alex shook his head. "Give him some time to cool off Iz."

''How much time?"

He pulled out an object from behind his back. ''Enough time for a Shirley Temple classic?" He asked, a boyish grin plastered onto his face.

I looked up at him and shot him an excited smile. ''You like old movies?" I teased.

"Oh you bet. Anything from The Invisible Man to Duck Soup."

I gasped, my eyes widening. "You're kidding?"

He shook his head and flashed those teeth of his that I was so envious of. "Nope. Just don't tell a single should Iz." He looked around the living room looking oddly uncomfortable. "Do you have anything a bit smaller in size than this room?" He asked. His eyes wandering around the parts of the house he could see.