A Whole New World

Chapter Seven

Friday had started out a pain.

It's not everyday that I say the highlight of my day was giving a presentation, but it really was today. Lotus and I did a great job with our presentation, even Ms. Finch said so. But her compliments weren't enough to lift my spirits. 

The things I was feeling, they were a mix of fear, anxiety and indecision. Tomorrow was going to be a big day for me. Dr. Hepburn had scheduled the surgery for 9am to give me the whole saturday to adjust. As she had told me multiple times this week and last, it was going to be a big adjustment. I was also trying to adjust to what Lotus had told me on Wednesday. I still couldn't believe it. Most of all, I hated how it affected me. It made me act differently around Colby. It made me avoid him, because I didn't know what would happen if I didn't. I could tell Lotus was also feeling awkward about the whole thing. She wasn't even retaliating to Rolo's jabs. Eventually, he gave up. Everyone was off today. At lunch no one talked. I had to leave halfway, choosing to walk Callie around a bit than sit through it. It was so bad that I opted to walk home instead of getting a ride. Once I got home, I went straight to my bed and crawled under my blanket, not wanting to face the world.

That was until my mom knocked on the door.

Begrudgingly, I got up and opened it. I could never ignore my mom.

"Let's go for a drive." She said.

I didn't have time to respond before she started walking away, signalling that this wasn't up for discussion.

I groaned before grabbing my jacket, which I always left on my desk chair and going to get Callie. 

"Where are we going?" I asked as she started the car. 

"I told you, for a drive."

I put my arm against the door and pressed my head against the glass. It felt cool, calming.

"Just so you know, I'm not having second doubts about the surgery... if that's what you're worried about. I want to do it. I really do." I told her. It was true. In the midst of all this, the idea of seeing... it made me happy just thinking.

"I know." she said nonchalantly, "And just so you know, you can tell me anything Jessie."

She said the last bit softer. She knew something was wrong. I hated how transparent I was.

"I know." I replied back.

Everything was quiet from then, except for the sound of the tires moving smoothly over the road, and Callie's soft breaths as she lay in the back seat. It felt like the silence was forcing me to speak, to say the things that had been whirling around in my head for the past 24 hours.

"Mom, how would you feel... if I liked a guy?" I asked. 

"The same way I would feel if you liked a girl: jealous because someone else was stealing my baby's heart."

I smiled, facing down. I knew her response wasn't going to be anything bad--I mean she knew Colby was gay and still treated him like her son--but I still felt relieved.

"And," she continued. "I would be happy for you."

"Thanks mom." I told her, feeling the tears start to form. This time they were happy tears.

"No problem baby." 

It was quiet again for a bit, but this time it was a comfortable silence, until I interrupted it again.

"So why are we going to Rolo's house?" I asked.

"What the?" Mom replied, clearly shocked. "How did you know we were going there."

"It's three lefts and two right. No stop lights in between." I shrugged.

"And here I thought surprises would be easier with a blind kid. No blindfold needed." She scoffed playfully.

"Well now you know better." I said with a smirk.

We made that final right turn and got to Rolo's. Mom still didn't tell me what we were doing here, so I had no idea.

That was until the door was opened followed by a shout of "Surprise!"