Pay the Price

Chapter Twenty- One: Punished

I raced into the hospital behind my dad, Easton holding my hand. Surprisingly, my cheer team followed and so did Ally. I loved them all so much; they supported me.

Sirens were blaring and the red lights became fuzzy as they whisked by. One ambulance stopped, popping open the back doors and lifting my mother's stretcher to the ground.

The paramedics began sending each other code messages, classifying Leslie's condition. I silently watched with Easton resting his chin on my shoulder and arms wrapped around in front of me.

As Mom was carried in, my Dad, Easton, Ally, the team, and I hurried in behind and when Leslie disappeared into a room, we waited in the hall.

A tear fell from my eye. She wasn't ready to come out. If she had've stayed maybe this wouldn't have happened.

"Why did you let her out?!" I heard my dad scream at one of the nurses. "Why? She wasn't healthy enough! This is your fault, it's all your fault!"

I pelted over and grabbed him by the shoulders. He finally gave out and hugged me so tightly. My shoulder became damp from his sorrowful tears.

Ally came and took over with my dad so I could talk to the team. With my head low, I dragged myself over to where they were all waiting. "Thank you guys, so much. It means a lot that you would come and support me."

Siena stepped forward. "You ruined our chances of winning regionals."

Really? "Siena, sorry if I wanted to come to the hospital with my mom. I wasn't going to pass that up just to win a cheerleading competition!" I stormed away, not wanting to look at Si for a second longer.

"Hello, Mr. Anderson."

I spun on my heels, spotting Siena chatting with Tony's dad. Oh no, this is not good.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, smirking at Tony who was with him.

Before I could stop him, Stan sat down in one of the comfy chairs. "Well, Leslie is a close family friend, and we have helped pay for the room for her. We just want to make sure everything's alright."

Siena was silent. She whipped her hair and spun around, stomping toward me. "What?" She put one hand on her hip and the team, Ally, and Easton began to gather. "You lied! Your dad doesn't own Sport Tech, your family is poor! You can't even pay to save your own mother."

"I-I," I stuttered with nervousness. "I'm sorry, but when you were saying all those things at that party, I didn't want to admit it was true. My dad doesn't have a job, my mom works here at the hospital, and to pay for the room, Tony's dad donated us some money. In fact, we are living with them."

Everyone gasped.

"Jenn?"

I chased after Easton, finally grabbing his jacket. "Easton, no- I'm sorry I lied but, that was never why you liked me anyway."

Easton sighed. "I'm not mad that you lied, well, a little. I'm upset that you didn't tell me about everything. We trust each other, don't we? I just, I wish you had've seen comfort with me."

I hugged him. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been ashamed. But especially with you, I wanted to impress you, and you have such a nice house and everything."

Easton pushed back a strand of my hair, falling out of the ponytail because of the running. He placed a warm soft kiss on my lips. "I never liked you because you were rich, in fact, I had forgotten about it. Anyway, let's go back and forget all about this."

I couldn't tell you how relieved I was to hear him say that.

"You're off the team." Siena snarled when I got back.

Chuckling, I let Easton wrap his arms around from behind me. "That was our last competition of our last year. It doesn't matter if I'm on or off the squad."

She huffed. "Well, you didn't get to finish the year with the team. I can't believe you would lie like that!"

I gathered my team around. "Guys, I really am sorry. This just proves that you shouldn't be ashamed of what you do or don't have. I had great friends before people thought my dad was rich. Do I still have them?"

There was quiet whispering before the girls smiled and huddled in with me. "We will always be your friends!" One girl called from the back.

I squeezed out of the group and went to find Tony. Maybe I wanted to be on speaking terms with him, or to at least clear things up between us.

"Tony?" I found him leaning against the desk by the elevators. "Tony, I'm sorry. The way things were left between us wasn't great. I still want to be friends, as long as you don't mind me with Easton."

Tony smirked. "Why would I have a problem with that, you two both deserve the best. I'm sorry too, you know, I shouldn't have pushed you away. It shouldn't have mattered how scared I was of being in a relationship, if it was with you I would've been fine."

I smiled and hugged him. "Thank you, and thanks for coming to support my mom."

"Any news?" I heard my dad's voice from somewhere around the corner. He was talking to a nurse outside Mom's room. "How's she doing?"

The nurse shut the door to leave Leslie in quiet. "Well Mr. Miller, her heart rate is low, but we are giving her some medication to help it rise."

Clyde nodded and sat in one of the chairs. I perched myself next to him. "Hi Dad." And rested my head on his shoulder. "Don't worry, she'll be alright. Don't worry."

-

It had been about half an hour. I just woke from an uncomfortable nap on my dad's shoulder. He yawned and stretched, too. "I'm gonna go talk to that nurse again." He stood and walked off.

Someone tapped my shoulder. "Sorry Jenn, but I have to leave."

I hugged them. "Bye, and thanks so much for coming. It was great to see you again Ally. Tell your parents I said hi, and I'll give you the news!"

Slowly, I opened the door and snuck to beside my Mom's bed. She looked restless and uncomfortable. I sighed. This is my fault. I do believe she is getting punished for what I did. This is my punishment; watching my mother die, and having no way to help her.

I gasped slightly. For a minute it looked like she opened her eyes, but I guess they had just fluttered. Why couldn't she just wake up and be healthy again? We could wait for dad to get home from his job hunting, order pizza because mom can't cook, and watch the Star Wars series together on the couch.

I guess things might never be that way again.

"I love you, Mom."

I gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.

Suddenly, the monitor in the corner, instead if it's low steady beeping, it was all one dreadful beep, no pauses in between. "Nurse! Doctor!" I yelled.

Two nurses and a doctor rushed in. They did a whole series of things that I would never know in my life. One of the nurses pulled me out of the room.

As she was talking to me, I glanced behind her through the blinds into my mother's room. A thin white sheet was being lifted over her head.

She was gone.

This had been my punishment, and I will always believe that.

....

Sad, I know, but other than Leslie's death, everyone made up and things went well. I hope you guess liked that last chapter, yes it was the last chapter. But, stay tuned because I'll be having a couple more updates. Anyway, thanks a lot and I'll talk to you later!