No Filter

Chapter XVIII (18)

Three days pass. It's Saturday. I've been cooped in the hospital room, watching over my mom. She has gotten stronger throughout the days, which makes me happy at her pace of recovery. I really want her to get out of here soon because I feel more confident when she rests at home.

I set the empty bowl of what once was filled with porridge off to the side table and wipe my mom's mouth with a napkin. She groans. She holds my hand and rips the napkin out of it. "Mija, I can do it myself," she says. "I'm your momma. You don't get to baby me."

I smile. "Right, ma," I reply. She blows me a kiss on the forehead.

I stand up from the seat and help her lay back down, carefully. She groans as she rests her head on the pillow. I sit down again, and she asks, "Are you going to go back to school on Monday?"

"That depends if you're out by then," I answer, not looking at her. I know what she was going to say.

"Ally, your education is important to me, and I don't want you to put me first over your education. You already skipped two days, and that's enough," she lectures. I pout. "Your life does not revolve around me, and as much as I want to be around, you're not going to see me as much."

I dart my eyes on her and shake my head. "Mom, don't say that," I said, feeling a lump in my throat. My eyes sting.

She coos, smiling. "Mija, I love you, and you know what I mean. You're going to be missing out on life if you waste it on me. You've spent a bunch of your time raising money for me, but you should just focus on saving it for yourself right now. You're dad has got this money issue in the bag. I trust that he does. You're a senior. You're going to graduate and begin your own life pretty soon. And your mom's not going to be in it."

I sniff the air and sigh heavily, "No, you can still be part of it. I've been thinking about going to Epic's Community College. It's affordable and close to home. I will still be living in the house."

"No," she shakes her head. "A mother's dream is to see their child succeed at their fullest potential, and I know that you don't like Epic's Community College. They are unfair and only care about money more than their students. Go to that one college. I'm sure Liam will agree." My eyes lower, and I seal my lips. "What?" she acknowledges my expression. "You know, I have been wondering...why haven't you two been hanging out. Did something happen?"

"Mom, I already told you. He's busy," I said, but she didn't buy it.

"You honestly think I believe you. I'm your mother. I know when you are lying. And you hardly do that, so this must be something really bad."

I sigh, "He has a girlfriend."

Her eyebrows shot up. "Girlfriend?" she repeats. "Describe her."

"She's pretty. Beyond gorgeous. She has dimples, and Liam finds them adorable. She has brown hair and good cheek bones. She's sweet. Can be sensitive. Mature. Not too short. Not too tall. Practically the perfect woman," I said.

"It's only high school," she says. "Give it time, and maybe, they'll end things soon."

I shake my head. "It's more complicated than that. His girlfriend is an intern at our school. And this semester is her last before she can graduate. And then after that, she'll get a teaching job close by, and they'll never part. And I don't want them too. Not if it costs Liam's happiness. He has been really happy since the summer and since he dated Sophia. I can't stand seeing him unhappy. If it means Liam's happiness, I will support him because he's my best friend before anything else."

"That's good," she says, "I miss him. Tell him to come visit me when you see him."

"I will try," I said. It's getting hard to see him now. Usually during after school, he helps Cheryl prepare for her teaching lessons or I would be busy doing homework or work. And even with all the classes we have together, we can't interact because we are getting into the projects in our classes. As the head of the newspaper, I have to talk to other students. But when we spend time with one another, it's usually short, and sometimes, Cheryl comes along, not to intercede, but because Liam offers her rides to places that she needed to go. And it's pass where we are going. But most of the time, it's like we don't even know how to be in the same room with each other anymore. There are some pauses and silence. Sometimes, they're comfortable, and other times, they're just plain awkward.

I hear the door swing open. I turn around, and my brows furrow as I see Troy entering the room.

My mom asks, "Who just came in?"

"Troy?" I mumble.

He waves at me with a sweet smile. "Hi," I greet.

"Hey," he says, tucking his hands into his pocket. He looks past me and greets my mom as well. "Hi, Mrs. Hernandez. I am Ally's friend. I heard what happened, and I just wanted to check on you."

My mom coos. "Aw, you're sweet. You didn't have to."

"It's okay," he says. "I chose to be here."

My mom clears her throat to only where I can hear. I turn around and see her eyeing at Troy as if to say 'he's cute' and 'you like him'. I shake my head and mouth 'No'. She rolls her eyes.

She turns to Troy and asks, "So, Troy, how did you and Ally meet?"

"At the bonfire?" He answers. "Ally came up to me and started asking me all these weird questions."

"They aren't weird," I rebuttal.

He nods his head, disagreeing with me. "Ally, you said that you didn't remember."

I shrug. "Good point, but I don't go up to a random stranger and ask them weird questions."

"You did to me," he says and winks at me. My face flushed, and I crinkle my nose.

"I guess that makes you special then," I remark.

"You kids take it outside with your flirting," my mom says, and my cheeks redden.

I catch my breath and turn to see her smiling. She nods her head. I stand up and turn to Troy. I gesture for the two of us to walk out of the room. He opens the door for me, and I thank him. Once he came out of the room and the door closes, Troy and I face one another. "So...?" He questions.

I sigh.

He says, "It's been a couple of weeks now. And I really want to know if you are going to give us a shot."

I nod my head. "During the first week, I would have said 'no'. I didn't feel much of anything. You were a good person to talk to, and you are a good person in general. That kiss was electrifying, I'll admit. But I didn't want our friendship to be ruin by this."

He lowers his head while nodding, disappointedly.

I continue, "but," he raises his eyes to mine, "I need something right now. And it might just be you. Or not. But I am willing to give us a chance. So, yes, I will go on date with you. Tell me the time and the place, and I'll be waiting for you."

He chuckles lightly. "Really? Uh, that's—that's awesome. Okay, so how about Saturday, I'll pick you up at five."

"Where are we going?" I ask.

He placed a finger over his lips. "You'll find out."

I nod my head. "Okay." We exchange a moment of smiles, and I had almost forgot that we are in the hospital. I turn to the door and gesture for him head in the room first, but he shakes his head.

"You go first," he says. "It's your mom's room."

I cock my head at him and remark, "You're the guest."

He crosses his arms and says, "We can do this for hours, Boo."

"Boo?" I question.

His brows crease, questioning, "Or is it Beau. I always get mixed up between the two. But now we are technically dating, you are my beau now."

I shake my head and said, "We'll work on the nicknames." I chuckle afterward, and he playfully rolls his eyes. I continue to gesture my hand for him to walk, and after a minute of fighting, I finally came to the conclusion that he wasn't giving up. And I didn't want to give up, but I didn't want to waste time anymore, so I open the door and walk inside. I hold the door for him to walk through, and he gives me a small smirk. I blush, not knowing what I was feeling, but it feels like the first time in a long time that I actually am smiling.