A Cardiac Mistake

Chapter 4

"Is she doing better?"

The doctor peered at my dad who stood attentively behind me. He was clutching tightly onto my shoulders, waiting for an answer like an eager child. With a solemn face, the doctor replied, "Sadly... She is getting better." He started laughing.

"That's so unprofessional!" Dad exclaimed, holding tightly to his chest. As soon as the doctor said that, I sat back into the pillow on the bed.

"Well if you didn't have that dejected look on your face, I probably wouldn't have teased you," The doctor replied, all chummy with my dad. "We can let her out soon, isn't that great?"

I tried to sit up and dad helped me along the way. He realized I was reaching out for a cup of water so he handed it over to me.

"Anything else?" He asked, all attentive.

I shook my head. "Thanks dad."

I looked around, frowned when there was no else beside me, and as if reading my mind, my dad said, "Max is just outside waiting for you, Sam. Actually, he's met a new friend whom I think you'll love as well."

"Can I see him now?" I asked eagerly, pushing myself off the bed.

"Woah. Woah, wait up little midget." Dad stopped me midway. "We got to have another final check-up before they get to release you."

"Again?" I complained, the annoyance obvious in my voice.

The doctor had a calm smile on his face. "I know sweetheart, it's really troublesome, but it's for your safety, okay? This'll just be a jiffy, I swear." He glances at my dad who in return, nods his head.

"I'll be out here, Sam." Dad says moments later.

He gives me an air kiss, waving his hands as he heads out. "Such a doting father," The doctor replies, that smile still on his face. He pulls out a tiny jar and an injection. "These are for you, although we're releasing you, you have to come on the fifteenth and thirtieth of each month, okay?"

"Yes sir," I mock salute him.

The doctor smiles again and begins his check-up and other matters.

I don't move when he injects it, I don't laugh either. It stings like a fire ant has just bitten me, but I've been doing this almost all my life, and will continue do so in the future.

"It's a good thing your condition is better than everyone else," He chuckles, pulling out the needle and placing a cotton ball on the dot. "But remember, please be wary when you play outside, and you can't go into sports at the moment."

"But I'm in the archery team..." I begin slowly, frowning.

The doctor smiles widely, "Really?" He beams. "Now isn't that wonderful. That you can continue. Just no running or any cardiac exercises, alright?"

I nod obediently.

He pats me on the head, smiling widely. "I know you're nine right now, and that Louisa just left the family recently, but I hope that you'll stay safe and be a good girl not to worry your dad. He's got the same condition after all, okay, sweetheart?"

"Yes."

"I know having no mother is tiring, but you have to work hard for your father too."

"Yes, doctor."

As he checks for my steady heartbeat with his stethoscope, I glance behind him and notice a picture frame of a young boy behind him. I point at it when he's finished with his check up, and ask, "Your son, sir?"

He glances at my direction, and smiles. "Yes, my boy. My pride and glory." He beams. "He just turned sixteen recently. I think you've met him before."

"What's his name?" I ask.

"Terrence."

"Terrence?"

"Yes."

I ponder on this, the name ringing in my ears. "That's a nice name."

"His mother picked it out for him," The doctor replies with a kind expression.

I look back at the picture and notice that Terrence is holding a trophy on one hand, and a picture of a beautiful woman on the other. He's smiling gallantly, all smiles like his dad in front of me, and from the looks of it, he seems to be a child born from love.

"That's my wife," The doctor replied when he realized I was about to ask who the woman was. "She passed away when he was nine. Around your age," He realized as if remembering the moment. "She had a heart problem too, like you."

"Does Terrence have a heart problem too?" I wonder. "Like daddy and me?"

"No, he doesn't," The doctor says. "But I guess that's one reason why he's so into medicine, like me."

"Max likes medicine too," I interject, remembering all his aced science projects.

"You're good to go now, Sam."

"Thank you!"

On the way out, I bumped into the kid in the picture. He was taller than me but skinnier. He didn't look like that happy go lucky boy in the picture, but he still had the same kind smile like his dad. "I'm sorry," He apologized, stepping aside. "I didn't mean to stop you."

I rush outside and glance inside the clinic, watching him as he taps his dad on the shoulder. They both have happy expressions on their faces and Terrence is showing the doctor something; a paper, maybe a perfect grade?

"We'll be going now," Dad ushers. I didn't even realize he was beside me at all. "I'll see you again on the thirtieth."

The doctor waves warmly at me, "See you soon, sweetheart."

"See you soon!"

Dad closes the door behind him and we're starting along the hall. Quickly, I grab his hand and minutes later, he answers a call on his phone. "Hey Ben," He greets his brother and says something incorrigible. "Yeah, maybe we should eat at that place again. I think they'll love it."

"Sam!"

My attention is pulled away from my dad, and to Max who was rushing out to greet me. In a moment's notice, he jumps in the air and crashes into me, wrapping his arms around my neck. His blonde hair tickles my cheeks and when

I pull away, I can see the excitement coursing in his deep grey eyes. "You're finally out!" He exclaims happily. "You won't believe who I met!"

My best friend turns to the side, grinning widely. "This is Kate."

"Hello," I smirk widely, stretching my hand out to greet her. "I'm Sam."

She shakes my hand shyly. "I'm Kate."

"It's nice to meet you," I glance at Max who was still beaming. "How'd you meet her anyways?"

"My dad works here," Kate says softly.

"Is that so? Then I guess I'll be seeing you soon!" I reply, holding her hand. "I have to return by the end of the month for another check-up."

Kate bogs her head happily. "I'd like to see you too on that day." Ben calls for us at the distance. "I guess you got to go now. I'll see you soon?"

She waves at us as we leave, Max getting into the car before I do. Once we're safely buckled inside, he sighs dreamily, exclaiming, "She's so pretty!"

"She was, wasn't she?" Dad nodded, pulling out of the parking area. "Don't worry, I know you'll see one another again."

* *

"Sam?"

I open my eyes slowly, sucking in a breath as heavily as I could, and when I glance up, Dexter is peering at me with those pair of beautiful blue eyes I had loved before. He helps me sit up, holding me very, very gently, as if I'd break any minute.

"You were groaning in your sleep," He said with a very attentive voice. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I brush him off. "I'm okay. I've just had these recently."

"Recently?" The worry in his voice is obvious.

I sway my hands in the air lazily. "Don't worry, I've got this handled. What day is it today?"

"Twenty-fourth?" My ex-boyfriend raises an eyebrow. "Why?"

"I've got another check-up in six days."

Dexter knows about my illness. Actually, he found out in the worst way possible. I was in the middle of practicing alone with archery – he happened to be there (thank God, actually) – and the attack happened in the middle. He freaked out, like all normal people do, and had brought me to the hospital.

"Water?" He offered, placing a cup in my hand before I had time to decline.

"I'm really okay," I reply, a bit distressed that he was treating me like a sick person. "Really. I just forgot to take my medicine with all this crazy stuff happening."

Dexter's eyes turned into slits. "You forgot? Sam-"

"Dexter!" One of his brothers call from downstairs, probably trying to get help from him. My ex-boyfriend is in the middle of telling me off and helping his brother, when I push him by the back, smiling. "Dex!" They call again.

"They probably need help with something," I say softly.

He glances at me, then sighs heavily. Pointing on my desk, he says, "I got you breakfast. You fell asleep last night before you could eat dinner. Louisa said we shouldn't wake you because you might be too tired from all the moving you'd done." He stops at the doorway. "Please, Sam, eat." He adds.

I nod my head lazily, getting up from bed. "Yes, sir."

After sitting down on the Eames chair, I started shoving the food in my mouth, and stopped about three spoonful's later.

The food was delicious. So good that it was way better than Max's burnt omelet. But I had trouble eating with the way my heart was beating furiously in my heart. Pulling the drawing out of the table, I grabbed my medicine and took one, drinking water furiously to let the bad aftertaste die down.

Returning back to bed, I checked my phone out for messages but there weren't any. I decided to send a message to Max.

[Heya.]

[Hi to you too.] He replied.

[I kind of forgot summer was ending.]

His message came two minutes later. [Oh yeah, forgot about that too with you moving and all. Which school are you moving to?]

[Not yet sure. Will tell u soon.]

A new school. A new way of life. New teachers to piss off and listen to. But above all, I already had secrets I was hiding. I would probably still attend my beloved archery classes, even if they were thirty minutes to an hour away. Besides, mom wouldn't have any problem with me going to Southampton during the weekends, Philip promised me beforehand.

[Are you still attending your training for archery?] Max replied soon.

[Yeah, weekends I'll be over.]

[See you sooner than I thought then.]

There was a knock on my door, and Taylor popped his head in, glancing at me. "Sam?"

I ushered for him to come into my room and on my bed. "Hi sweetie, what's wrong?"

"Why didn't you eat breakfast with us?"

I consider this for a moment, then say, "That depends. What did Dex say?"

"He said you would eat breakfast with him instead," My new step-brother cooes.

"Well then, that's my reason for not coming to eat with you," I hug him tightly. "I can eat lunch with you though."

Taylor gave me a hug before returning to his room, and when I collapsed on the bed, I heard the water running in the bathroom. Only one other person had access to the bathroom, and since our rooms were practically only separated by a bathroom and two walk-in closets, I hardly even had to think to know who it was.

Dexter started humming.

I tried not to laugh and shook my head warily as I started scribbling. I stopped midway when I noticed my phone on the pillow. Picking it up, the screen opens and my best friend's face and mine popped across the screen.

Max and I were grinning stupidly on it.

Dialing Max, I waited for him to pick up. Five rings, and then it went, "Hey, how are you?"

"Hi Max, I just wanted to-"

"Gotcha!" Max started laughing.

I pulled the phone away from my phone, glanced at the screen to check if this was really Max I was talking to, and when Max name was indeed on the screen, I pulled it back. "-not here at the moment, please leave a message instead."

Beep.

I stared blankly at the wall. "You've got voice mall?" Was all I said before ending the call.

Lying down on the bed, I wondered who to call next, when I called for the next person I know I could talk to. Two rings and she picked up, "Sam."

"Kate," I grinned widely.

"I haven't heard from you in forever," She replied, the happiness seeping from her voice.

"I haven't visited the hospital since forever," I laughed.

But it was Kate's turn to be serious. "No way."

I could feel the chill in her voice when she said that, and laughed awkwardly. "About that..."

"How could you miss your checkups? You know how important they are, Sam. You have-"

"I know, I know," I interjected, rolling my eyes. "I didn't call you to rant on me, Kate."

Kate was sighing heavily on the other side of the call. "Well, true, what's up?"

I recalled the events of how my ex-boyfriend had freaked out too much the first time I had my attack in front of him. "Remember that one time I was rushed into the hospital by that blue eyed freak you said was handsome?"

"Your boyfriend?" I nodded, even though she couldn't see. "Dexter, right?"

"Yeah, him. Forgot him yet?"

I could hear the giggle in her voice. "I don't think I can't."

"We'll I'm sure we can't," I start slowly. "But I just saw him, like, a few minutes ago."

I hear her gasp. "How's that possible? Seriously? What did he do? Isn't he the guy who cheated on you? What did he say? 'Hi, it's been a long time, how are you' like the asshole he is?" Kate doesn't know Dexter wasn't the only person who cheated that day. "What happened? Sam, tell me what happened."

"Well, long story short, I live with him."

"Huh?"

"I moved to Philadelphia over the weekend, by the way."

"What?"

"And when I came here, he was living here."

"Wait, I thought you said you lived with your mom."

"I do."

"What?" I could hear her voice rising. "How's that possible?"

Silence. "Well, I think you'll be surprised when you hear this."

"Hear what?"

"He's kind of one of my new brothers now."

Silence. She was silent. And minutes later I could hear her gasp on the other side of the call, and then the laughter came. "Oh my God!"

"I know right?"

"Oh my God!" She repeated, still laughing. "What luck you must have! What did Max say?"

"Max's just super chill-"

Kate hushed her voice. "Chill? As if."

"He's probably mad," I guessed aloud. "But it's not like he could do anything with the way things turned out. He isn't unreasonable. He just seemed chill though, when we were talking on the phone. But he was surprised."

"He hates Dexter."

"I know,"

"That's so weird. Dating your brother. You kissed!"

"Step-brother," I fixed her words. "I meant, step-brother."

Kate paused for a moment. "Oh, well, that's okay then. I thought you were serious when you said he was your brother. Boy would that have been weird." She added a second later. "But you're over him, right? It would be super weird if you weren't though."

I nod my head. "I am, no worries."

"So when are you coming over for the checkup?" Kate asked, and I could imagine her checking out her calendar already. "In six days? I hope I'll be in the hospital by then. I miss you so much. You and Max. You hardly come by anymore, especially since the doctor told you to come every thirtieth now."

"Yeah, I'll be there." I reply softly. "I'd love to see you too. It's kind of nice, having a female friend."

"Yeah?" Kate chuckled on the other side. "Well, it's kind of nice having male friends too you know. Especially since I go to an exclusive school for ladies."

"I can't believe you just called yourself a lady," I laughed out loud.

"What? I sort of am!" She responded with a giggle. "Anyways, I got to go now. I'm attended a lot of seminars over the summer, and this week's my last few. Don't want to miss it. See you soon? On the thirtieth? Let's go grab something eat when you're done with your checkup, Sam."

I pull out my notebook and encircle the thirtieth. "Sure Kate," I respond, smiling. "Whatever you say."