AKA

12.

Bleach, soap and boy. That's what Mars' car smells like. He had to clean the blood off of his seats, I wonder how that went. I stared down at the clean floors and gripped my seatbelt as it layed across my body. I watched through the window as Mars wheeled the empty chair back to the entrance of the hospital. He rubbed his hands together and walked inside. We had drove around to the front and I was currently waiting outside for him to come back. I told him we could just leave the chair in the garage but he insisted that we take it back inside. He wouldn't even let me help him put it in the trunk. I closed my eyes and leaned my seat back. To think how fast your life can progress. A week ago I was so naive to the fact that I would be in a hospital soon. That's the scary part about life, you just don't know what will happen tomorrow, in the next hour, minute...second? Everything can change in the blink of an eye...It's just the reality of life.

   The door opened with a loud clack sound and I felt the movement of the car as he sat down in the drivers seat. "Everything okay?" He asked while turning the key in the ignition. "Mhm.." I said opening my eyes and looking over at him. He nodded his head and began to drive. "What's ironic?" I asked looking over at him. "What?" his eyes flickered to me quickly. "You said, 'how ironic'.." He took a moment and then began to speak, "Water won't kill me, you will." I stared foward and bit my lip,"I said that.". "Yup and..in some way you were right..." I smiled and perked up, "but I didn't die!" He let out air through his nose and began to blink quickly. "Yes, you did, we just got another chance.". I grabbed his hand and squeezed it softly, "This wasn't your fault..I told you that." Running his other hand over his face, he spoke, his voice deeper, "So who's is it?". Honestly, I didn't have an answer.

A bit of time passed and we were closer to my house. "Sorry about your car, but to be fair, you could've just called an ambulance.." A smile came across his face and It was like I could feel it in my chest. I was warm and my entire mood changed. "Do you know how much an ambulance costs? Besides, they wouldn't have let me come with you." I realized I was still holdning his hand so I let go of it gently. Not because I wanted to, but because I wasn't sure if I should keep doing it. I watched as his face turned slightly red. He squeezed his now free hand and placed it in the wheel. Whatever that means. It's quite odd that we're acting so...normal. Like everything is okay. I think that just proves how normal it is for people like us to go through this kind of shit. It all just seems like a movie, very...coming of age.

~

"Home sweet home..." I said as I stared out of the window. "At least it's not the scene of the crime.." He said while taking his key out of the ignition. "Not one of them.." I said softly, although I know he probably heard it. "Come on." He opened the car door and closed it as softly as he could. He then came around my side and assisted me in getting out of the car. I noticed two familiar vehicles in the driveway and immediately got excited. "They're here!" I grabbed his hand and pulled him to the door. He laughed softly and followed behind with no resistance. "I've got it." He said holding up the key in his free hand. I wasn't letting go this time, so he's just gonna have to use his bad hand. He fiddled with the key a bit and then turned the nob. My face dropped from the darkness. Where'd they go. Mars put a hand in front of my eyes and then flicked the light on. "Surprise!" I heard familiar voices whisper yell. Once the hand was removed I saw the four of them standing in my living room surrounded by decorations. There was a cake on the table and pizza in the kitchen. "Good clean fun." Mars said into my ear. Tears welled in my eyes, I was overwhelmed with happiness. It's the little things ya know? "Thank you.." I forced out. I opened my arms up and was quickly engulfed with hugs. "Anything for you." Vee said while rubbing my arms. "Don't cry, it makes me sad." Skinny said while whiping my tears away. I stared up at her a nodded, her eyes were slightly glossy and her cheeks were red. Her eyes flickered to Mars and she smiled slightly. "We'll be back okay?" Mars said looking down at me. I nodded and smiled taking Vee's hand. I watched as they walked into the kitchen, talking quietly. I wonder what they're saying.

~The conversation~

"Skins, I'm sorry okay?"
"It's fine, I get it. It was wrong of me to think that it was your fault."
"But it was..I wish you all would stop trying to convince me that it wasn't."
"We're just telling the truth, you're the one beating yourself up about it. Shit happens. Look, you're like my brother Mars, I've known you since... forever and, I know better than anyone that this is something you can't help. I'm just asking you to dig deep and try. She loves you, and I know you love her. You're fighting it and It's literally killing her."
"But I know you do too. It's not fair, I can't do this to her. To you..."
"But you're also dying a little more everyday because of it. So you have to, I don't love her the same way you do. And she doesn't love me the way she loves you. We can't lose both of you, so please...just.."
"Be a good person..."

~End of conversation~

"I could really use a blunt right now." I said while laying in Vee's arms. "Too bad buttercup, no drugs, doctors orders." I rolled my eyes and sat up. "But what can I do? No tv, no running, no spinning, no jumping, no yelling, no sun...no drugs." They laughed at my dramatic moment and began throwing out ideas. "You have us." Adonis said putting a hand over his heart. "Clean fun." Skinny said from behind me. "And what's that?" I said leaning back. "You know, what kids do..spin the bottle, truth or dare, paranoia, battle of the sexes." I laughed and closed my eyes, "So what's first?"

"Alright couple up!" Vee said clapping her hands while standing in front of everyone. "Bro!" Shank and Skinny said at the same time while shaking hands. "I call you." Adonis said while pulling Vee down into the seat with him. I smiled to myself. Why don't they just date already. I turned around and grabbed Mars, "I guess you're mine." He smiled down at me while putting his arm around me. "I guess I am.".

We each settled onto one of the three couches and began to consult on team names. "So..there's Lars, Muci, Maci...Lurs?" I said looking at him holding up four fingers. "Lurs is too close to lose.." He said while putting one of my fingers down. "Muci is too...Moosey." He put another one down. "Lars is too close to Mars." another one down. "So Maci it is!" I said holding my middle finger up. He smiled and stared back at me, and I did the same.

"Okay love birds what it gonna be!" Vee said staring at us with wide eyes. "Maci!" I said feeling Mars' hand take mine, putting it up in the air. "Predictable." Adonis said making a thumbs down gesture. "Tell em babe." He said hyping up Vee. "We are...Donee!" They smiled to eachother as if it was some kind of breakthrough. "Booooo!" The other four of us yelled at them while throwing imaginary tomatoes. "Come on! It's great!" Adonis said putting his hands up. "I'll tell you what's great!" Shank said rubbing his hands together. "What's great then?" Mars said leaning foward competitively. Skinny leaned foward narrowing her eyes. Suddenly everyone learned foward dramatically anticipating the name. "The suspense is killing me." Vee said pretending to faint onto Adonis as he fanned her vigorously. "Oh just spit it out already." I said putting my hands over my chest. They stood slowly as we watched them rise. There was a pause before they said the name. "Skank.." Gasps escaped our mouths and the room was quiet. "YEAH!" Shank and Skinny exclaimed while laughing and praising eachother. "Jesus christ! Is that even allowed!" Adonis asked while turned to Vee. "It is...they can play on." She said while trying to keep character as the host. "We're screwed." I said turning to Mars. "It's the effort that matters." He said while comforting me. We all burst into laughter and gave them props coming up with the name, the boys exchanging high fives. Now let's just hope Mars and I can actually come together to with this game.

~

It's been quite a while since I've updated, but I've been in college and boy is it time consuming! I'm gonna start updating again though, I've got some things in the works!

-SUSU