Friends?

When I woke up, James was already gone. His bed was empty, blankets a mess, curtain half-drawn. I rubbed my eyes, and a slow, stupid smile pulled at the corner of my mouth.

And then I remembered the things I said last night. The things I felt last night.

The smile vanished.

I dragged myself out of bed and shuffled into the bathroom, still wearing the hoodie from last night. Brushed my teeth and hair, washed my face, changed my clothes, stared at myself in the mirror for way too long.

"You have a crush," I told myself quietly.

Then I flipped off the mirror and walked back out before my reflection could say anything smug.

The room was quiet for a while. I texted Leafy and Nadia. 

Scarlet: Hi guys

Leafy: OMG SHES ALIVE!!

Scarlet: I saw you yesterday

Nadia: Anything interesting happening

Scarlet: No

Nadia: Liar

Leafy: STOP LYINGGGGG

Scarlet: I'll tell you guys tmrw ok promise

Leafy: NOOO I CANT COME TOMOROW MOMS MAKIMG ME DO COMUNITY WRK!!!!

Scarlet: Y

Leafy: Cos I 'need more sunlight'

I laughed. Of course she did. Leafy's mom was kinda crazy.

Nadia: Welp. Just u n me tomorrow, scarrr

Around eleven, my parents arrived.

Mom came in with more clean clothes, thank god, and a million different healthy snacks I would never, ever eat. Dad followed behind, wearing his usual business-casual concern face. I waved from the bed, and Mum launched into full 'poor baby' mode immediately.

"Oh, sweetheart! You look so much better today!" she said, smothering me with hugs and kisses and holding my hand. "How's your head? Do you need anything?"

"I'm okay," I said, and I meant it this time. Kind of. "Hi, Dad."

He smiled, came over to pat my shoulder. "Hey, kiddo. You good?"

"Yeah. I'm alright now."

They stayed for a while, chatting, asking questions I didn't feel like answering. I played nice. I'd gotten good at that. It was weird, though, just sitting there in my now-familiar hospital bed, with its crinkly sheets and faint antiseptic smell, while Mum talked about what groceries were on sale and Dad offered to bring my laptop tomorrow. Like I was still just visiting, and not living here now.

Eventually, Dr. Halvorsen showed up, clipboard in hand and a smile that was almost suspicious.

"Well, good news!" he said brightly. "Your scans look great. Your numbers are back where we want them, and you've responded really well to the treatment."

I blinked. "Okay..."

"If everything stays steady, you should be able to go home by Sunday."

Mom gasped like I'd just won the lottery. "That's wonderful!"

Dad grinned. "Told you it'd be a short stay."

I smiled, too. Nodded. Tried to act excited. And I was—wasn't I?

I mean, I'd been desperate to go home at first. Home meant space and quiet and my own bed and not having to eat food that tasted like nothing. Home meant no needles. No Penny. No James.

My heart gave a weird little thud.

Oh.

June and Penny came over in the afternoon. They tried to braid each other's hair, and Penny helped June with her homework. Turns out, Penny was really smart.

"I hate math", June grumbled, fiddling with her pencil. "Why can't you just do it for me?" 

Penny giggled. "Cause that's cheating! You've only got two questions left, anyway". 

When June finished, she gave it to me to check. It was mostly right, which was a real accomplishment. June was ecstatic.

"I'm gonna go ask the lady at the front desk if we can have some paper, and then we can draw!" She raced down the hallway without even closing the door. Penny sat on the end of my bed and waited quietly.

I heard a little shuffle from the other side of the curtain.

"Hey Penny?" I asked quietly, so only she could hear.

"Yeah?"

"Why don't you go talk to your brother?"

She looked a little bit surprised.

"Because I want to play with June", she answered.

"You still can", I said. "Why don't you go over there, and when June comes back, you can draw on his side of the room? I think I need a nap". 

I didn't really. 

Penny didn't question it. "Okay", she smiled, and got up, swinging the curtain open with a flourish. James was sitting on his bed, staring at his phone. He looked surprised to see her.

"Hey, Jay-Jay!" she said, bouncing onto the bed. He laughed. And when he saw me watching, he gave me a big, goofy smile. It made my heart skip a beat.

Mission accomplished. 

By the time both girls went home, it was 5PM. The air was quiet, and mellow sunshine poured through the window. I was sitting on the edge of my bed, debating whether or not to text Leafy, when James poked his head around the curtain.

"Hey Red," he said. "Wanna go get ice cream?"

I blinked. "What, now?"

He raised an eyebrow like it was the dumbest question ever. "Yeah, now. I don't know any ice cream places open at two in the morning."

I snorted. "Aren't you the only one allowed out?"

He shrugged. "Technically. But you've also got that 'sad and slightly tragic' look going for you, so I think we'll be fine."

I rolled my eyes, but I didn't say no.

We were heading out the main doors when a nurse stopped us.

"Where are you two off to?" It was Nurse Maggie. 

I didn't say anything, but James smiled at her. "Oh, hey Maggie! We're going to get ice cream". 

To my relief, Maggie just smiled back at him. "Okay, you two. Have fun!" She gave me a wink, and I looked away, embarrassed.

The street outside was still warm from the afternoon, and the air smelled like strawberries. We walked down a stretch of narrow shops, past a bookstore with large paper signs, a florist playing 80s music from a giant speaker, and a bakery with little cakes lined up in the window. It was quiet in that golden-hour kind of way, with only a gentle breeze and not a single car in sight.

We were quiet most of the way. James whistled some stupid tune I didn't recognise, but it immediately got stuck in my head.

Then, halfway down the block, I stopped short.

"Oh, shit", I said.

James stopped too. "What?"

"I didn't bring any cash". Now I felt real stupid. Come on, Scarlet. You're going to but ice cream and you didn't bring money?

"...So?" he said, sounding confused.

"So I can't buy anything, stupid!"

He dug into his pocket and pulled out a ten dollar bill, shoving it into my hands. 

"What? No! I am not letting you pay for me!" I tried to give the money back, but he just grabbed my arm and continued down the street like nothing happened. 

I trailed after him, flustered and muttering under my breath. James started whistling again, and swung my arm back and forth as we walked. I didn't stop him. My stomach was doing those stupid little flips again, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't make it stop.

The ice-cream shop was one of those little stores that looked completely out of place compared to the ones nearby. It had fairy lights strung up at the front and outside tables, and everything was pastel. When we walked in, there was only the cashier, and two old ladies sitting together and eating. They all waved to James, and he waved back. I ordered strawberry, and he got chocolate, because of course he did.

We ate in silence for a while, but my brain wouldn't shut up. Oh my god he's taking me out for ice cream!!!! flashed in my mind again and again, along with the fact that I'd have to admit to my friends that they were right this whole time. I looked desperately for something to distract myself, and then I remembered.

"I'm going home on Sunday", I blurted. 

James was silent for a few seconds, like maybe he hadn't heard me. Then he nodded slowly, still looking down at his cone.

"That's good," he said.

"Yeah."

"Really good," he added, but he actually sounded sad, which surprised me

I nudged his foot lightly with mine. "You're allowed to be disappointed, you know."

He didn't look up. "Yeah, well... I kinda got used to having you around."

My heart flipped over in my chest.

"Me too", I said. 

When we got back to the hospital, I took my pills, changed into my pyjamas, and flopped down on the bed with a sigh. My phone buzzed nonstop. Leafy had sent me about a million frog stickers, and I had to politely tell her to shut up before my phone overheated. 

I love Leafy. She's my best friend, and she always knows how to make me laugh, even when I'm not in the mood. But sometimes, she's a little bit much. Part of me was honestly relieved she wasn't coming over the next day. I needed a break from the noise, just a little quiet to sort out my thoughts and breathe, and besides, Leafy probably doesn't have the greatest advice on boys.

I really needed some right about then.

(1471 words)

Hey guys!!! Um, this one was kinda.... Great! It was great.

I know I'm posting chapters really fast, but it's just that it makes me happy seeing all the comments and things and I can't help it!

So uhh yay they're besties now!! Isn't that awesome! It is, I know.

I will post the next chapter on...hmmm..... Friday, around 7AM AWST. Do the math and you can find the time for your country!

Nothing else to say here.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Blue