Six Like The Number

Get Some Sleep

*Six's POV*

I get off of my chair and move to sit on Axle’s lap. He cradles me close to his chest and I lie my head on his shoulder and put a hand on his chest over his heart. I’m not sure how long we sit like that when Jordan comes back over. I lift my head and try to ignore the hurt in his eyes when he looks at us.

“Here, I stopped by your house and grabbed you some comfortable clothes and coffees. I didn’t know what you take, so yours is just black,” He says to Axle.

“Uh, yeah, black is good. Thanks man,” I can tell he’s surprised that Jordan thought to get him one but I’m not. Jordan can be really kind and thoughtful when he wants to be.

I get up and take the bag to the bathroom to change. I peel off my jeans, remove the pink blouse I was wearing to dinner and throw on the black leggings and pull the purple hoodie over my head. No surprise Jordan picked this one. he bought it for me and it was always my favourite.

I scrape my hair up into a ponytail and then stuff my clothes into the bag and head back out, hoping they haven’t killed each other. I go out to find them sitting down sipping their coffees in silence with a seat left in between them. I sit down, crossing my legs under me and take my coffee from Jordan.

“Thank you for, you know, this,” I say, gesturing vaguely to my clothing and the cup of coffee.

“Of course.”

We don’t sit there too much longer when a doctor comes out from a hallway carrying a clipboard and says, “Miss Keller?”

I stand up quickly, “Yes, that’s me. How’s my mother?” I walk over to him and I see him glance

nervously to either side of me, no doubt Axle and Jordan are standing there.

“Are you family?”

Axle says no at the same time Jordan says yes.

I roll my eyes, “They’re not family but it’s okay, they can listen.”

“Okay, well let me just start by saying she’s alive. She did, however, suffer multiple seizures. How long has your mother been an addict?”

“Since before I was born. She went to rehab a couple times when I was younger but she stopped trying a few years ago. That’s when it got really bad.”

“I see. In that case, very shortly, she will start to detox and often in cases this severe, that process causes seizures without medical supervision. I would like to admit her for a medicated detox. She will be supervised 24 hours a day and given medication to help her. The only thing is she has to be willing to do it. I can’t force her to stay here. Often people are more willing to agree to it if a family member brings it up.”

“I can try, but I don’t know if she’ll listen to me. She hasn’t exactly been involved in my life. Not for a long time anyway.”

“Trying is all I’m asking for.”

“Can I see her?”

He nods and says, “You can, but they’ll have to stay out here,” He says eyeing them.

“That’s fine,” I turn around, look between them and say, “Best behaviour, Got it?”

They both roll their eyes but nod and go sit down. I turn back to the doctor and he looks a bit worried, “They’re not going to cause any problems are they?”

“No, they’re fine.” I hope.

“Okay, right this way.” He leads me through a set of double doors and down a hallway to a room. We walk in and see her sleeping with a bunch of machines hooked up to her, a beeping sound coming from one of them. She’s pale. Very pale, and her eyes are sunk in further than I remember them. Her lips are chapped and cracked and I see the scabs on her hands from her scratching.

“That guy who brought her in here, what is his relationship to you mother?”

“He’s my ex-boyfriend. Why does it matter?” I say harshly.

“It’s just that having an addict’s dealer around is not exactly conducive to recovery.”

“If he was her dealer, do you seriously think I would let him stand there with me?”

“Okay, I just had to check.” Someone knocks on the door and he tells her to come in. A middle-aged lady in a pantsuit walks in and says, “Hi there, my name is Abigail. I’m from social services here.”

My stomach drops. I feel sick. I'm sure all of the blood has drained from my face. I look at the doctor and he says, “Don’t worry, I just called her to have a conversation. Nobody is in trouble here.”

“I’ll be 18 in like 3 months,” I say. Maybe they don’t know about Theo. No, she has to. He was here with us for a while. Definitely the nurses saw. Maybe they didn’t say anything? f**k! Why did I bring him?

“Yes, I see that. The nurses also mentioned that you came in with a little boy. How old is he?”

“I did, he’s 3.”

“What is your relationship to him?” Do I tell them he’s mine? Do they already know he’s not? No, I shouldn’t lie. There's no way that would go well.

“Theo is my half-brother.”

“Is his father in the picture?”

“No. I don’t know either of our fathers.”

“Who takes care of Theo at home?”

“I do.”

“I assume you’re still in school. Who looks after him then?”

“Yes, I go to Chelsea High on scholarship. He goes to pre-school in the mornings with my neighbour Shaunice who watches him in the afternoons as well. She has a daughter his age.”

“Is he ever alone with your mother?”

“Never.” She proceeds to ask me more questions about Theo and she asks about Jordan and Axle and I tell her about my plans regarding Theo and school.

“Alright, well from what I’m hearing, you’ve got the situation with Theo under control. I would however like to meet him and have a little chat just to be safe. Would it be possible to bring him by tomorrow?” I nod.

“Okay, just tell the front desk to page me when you’re ready.” She stands up and shakes my hand and then leaves. My eyes flicker back to my mother and I cringe a little.

“Unfortunately, visiting hours are over, and your mother is most likely not going to wake up until morning so you should go home and get some rest and come back in the morning. You can leave your number with the receptionist and we’ll call you if anything changes.”

I nod and he leads me back out. I’m relieved to find both Axle and Jordan in one piece. I fill them in on everything that happened and then say, “So, we should all go home and get some sleep and I’ll come back with Theo in the morning.”

“As if you think I would leave you alone right now. I’m coming with you," Axle says standing up from his chair. “Okay," I agree.

I haven’t let him inside our apartment yet, partly because I was embarrassed and partly because I didn’t want him to see my mom like that. But I could really use the company and my mom isn’t there right now.

We all walk out together and Jordan says, “I know you blocked me or whatever, but can you just text me or something when she wakes up?”

I nod. “And if you need anything,” he starts.

“I’ll call,” I tell him. He nods and then walks away.