Mackenzie

Chapter 11

"I never thought about this, but what hospital asks you to pay to stay in their hospital?" Ryan asked, throwing a quick glance at me as he drove.

I rolled my eyes, "First off, this hospital is our family hospital, and it's a private one, c'mon, Ryan.. you know how they do their stuff.."

"Forgive me, okay?" A small smile played on his lips, "Forgive me for forgetting your hospital's a private one."

I laughed, "You didn't forget, you just have some things on your mind," I tried to hint.

Easy, Mackenzie. He'll tell you..

I chuckled lightly. Damn, I really wanted to know what he was thinking about that girl... I guess I just expected Ryan to tell me what was up with him.

"I thought Bambi was to meet us at your house. We're almost there," Ryan said.

"She'd be joining us at the hospital."

"Oh, right."

I sighed, "I really hope mom's given a good ward."

"Are you paying for feeding too? Or treatment?"

"Yes. Treatment until I'm able to get money for the real treatment in India... Or some where here, y'know.. just a place where she'd get good treatment and be okay." I closed my eyes, then opened it, "And feeding.. I could only afford breakfast and lunch."

He looked at me, "Can I pay for her dinner?"

"No!" I said a little too loudly and quickly.

"Why?"

"Just.. just never mind about it. I'd make her dinner, then take it over to her."

"Even on school nights? C'mon, Kenzi, I'll just pay for it. It's no problem."

"Yes. I'll do it, even on school nights.. don't worry about it, please."

He looked at me for a was quiet for a while, then said,"Fine," then said again, "Wait.. Bambi gave you some money today, why don't you use it?"

My eyes widened as I gasped, "You won't believe I left it in my locker!" I groaned.

"See? Let me pay for it."

"Okay, but remind me to pay you back tomorrow."

He was about to object, but then he said, "Alright."

"Thank you," I rolled my eyes.

Ryan soon pulled up to my house and we got down.

"I think you should put up the trunk so mom's stuff go in there. I'd just go get mom," I told Ryan and he nodded.

I walked to the door and yanked it open in impatience. I honestly felt that keeping her in this one more minute would do some damage.

"Mom?!" I called as I got to the living room and looked around. "Mom!"

"M-MZ?" I heard her faintly call from her room.

"Mom!" I shouted as I ran to her room.

No. No. No, please, no.

The door to her room was wide open and I could see a few bags packed by her wardrobe, but where was she?

"Mom?" My voice shook.

"M-M-MZ?" I heard her call and next thing I knew, I was on my knees beside her on the floor. She was breathing heavily, closing her eyes and holding her tummy.

"What happened?" Tears welled up in my eyes.

"I- I w-was on-only trying t-to-"

I realized I really didn't have to hear what happened, and so I got up and ran out.

"Ryan! Ryan!!" I cried

"Kenzi?" Ryan ran to me, "What is it? Where's she?"

"We've got to carry her." I wiped my tears, "She's on the floor in her room..."

"What?" He squinted as he ran past me, leaving me shaking in tears. I couldn't move. I buried my head in my hands. Why was this happening? Why-

"Kenzi, go get her bags.. now!" Ryan came out, carrying mom, while she grabbed his jacket.

I ran to her room, packed up her bags and ran back out. When I got out, mom was seated at the back, coughing and Ryan was already seated in the driver seat. I threw the bags in the trunk and got into the car.

....................

"What happened?" I heard Bambi ask impatiently as she ran into the waiting room and to Ryan. I didn't have the time to run to her and hug her, cry and tell her what happened. Instead, I walked after a doctor.

"Look, she needs to get a ward here.. she can't stay home. You have to take care of her, doctor, uh..." I looked at her coat, "Doctor Colt."

"We'd put her in a ward, young lady, please be patient," She said.

"Yeah, I know.. but I have to be sure where you're putting her. I want to see her in a hospital bed before I leave," I said

She sighed, "You will. All you have to do is wait.. we have so many patients here, we have to get a ward for her."

"How long is this gonna take then?" I asked.

"Not so long-"

"But long, then"

"Please just hold on"

"You can't tell me to hold on! She's practically wheezing! She's struggling to breathe." Tears rolled down my eyes,"I just need you guys to get her a ward quick.. do anything to make her feel better, that all.. watch her."

Doctor Colt rested her hand on my shoulder, "I get that, miss.. and we will, there's time to-"

"No. There's no time... She has cancer. She doesn't have time." I shook my head fiercely.

Doctor Colt's eyes widened in surprise, "Right. Follow me." She said.

.................

I looked at mom as she laid on the hospital bed. I took a seat beside the bed and held her hand.

"You'd do better here, mom," I told her.

She nodded and forced a smile.

"I'd come to see you everyday-" I started.

"No... No, y-you've got school. I'd be fine here."

"I'd come when I have to, okay?" I sniffed,"Just.. just eat what you're given and use your meds. I covered your meds too.. you'd stay here until I'm able to get more money for your treatment."

"Oh, look at you, MZ... taking care of me," she smiled weakly, using her free hand to touch my cheek.

Tears rolled down my eyes. I hated seeing her like this. Hated that she was so weak.

"I don't want you to stress," Mom said, "Focus on schoolwork... Your scholarship, please don't overstress yourself about it, just be okay, and don't go looking like a mashed potato in school because you read too late into the night." She laughed lightly and I also laughed through my tears, "Be careful... Remember, the asthma," she used a finger to playfully tickle my nose and I giggled like a child, "Lastly.... Tanner. Be nice to him."

I rolled my eyes and sniffed, "You actually don't expect me to do that, mom. He gets a lot on my nerves."

Mom chuckled and shrugged.

"Anyway, Ryan's still here... And Bambi's here too... You wanna see them?" I asked her.

"Yes, I do.. you know I want to," she smiled.

"Alright. I'd go get them," I said and got up.

I closed the door quietly and looked into the hallway. Bambi was seated beside Ryan. His arms around her neck. I had to say that Ryan was the best guy friend anyone could ask for. He always took me and Bambi's s**t. We drove him crazy and so mad at times, but in the end when we were crying, he was always there for us to soak up his shirt.

"Ryan. Bambi," I called and they both looked at me, "What's up? Is she okay?" Bambi asked.

"Yes. She wants to see you two," I nodded and they got up and followed me.

I led them to the ward and opened the door quietly. Bambi and Ryan walked to her.

"Bambi... Ryan," Mom called, smiling.

"Hey Mom," Bambi smiled at her, while Ryan gave her shoulder a small squeeze.

"I'm so embarrassed right now, you guys have to see me like this," Mom chuckled lightly. Bambi and Ryan chuckled too, "It's nothing. You've probably seen us in worse conditions." Ryan said.

Mom smiled as she looked from Bambi to Ryan, "Would you guys do me a favor?"

"Sure," they said in unison.

"Take care of MZ... See that she isn't stressing herself-"

"Mom!" I groaned, "I'd be fine-"

"That's no problem, we'd do that," Ryan smiled and Bambi nodded as they both looked at me. I rolled my eyes at them and they chuckled.

We spent a few hours with Mom, just talking about random stuff and reminding her from time to time to eat well and take her meds when she was meant to. When it was time to leave, I had tears in my eyes again. Bambi and Ryan hugged mom and left the ward so I could have some time with Mom again.

"Life without you in the house with me would be so hard." Tears rolled down my cheeks as I hugged her.

"You'd be fine, my love.. you will," she kissed my head.

"I love you," I whispered.

"I love you too, MZ.. I do."

.................

"Thanks Ryan," I said as he pulled up to my house. I rode with him since I came with him. Bambi had gone home in her car.

"Sure," he smiled, "See you tomorrow."

I nodded​ and opened the car to leave.

"Kenzi?" Ryan called.

"Yeah?" I looked at him.

"Promise me you wouldn't cry at all."

"I promise," I smiled lightly.

"Right."

I got down from the car and watched him drive off. As soon as I turned to walk to the doorstep, I already broke my promise.

..................

"You broke your promise," Ryan slipped into Tanner's seat the next morning.

"It's... It's hard, Ryan," I said.

" Hey... I understand that.. but you have to stay strong, please.. you're not alone in this. I want you to know that."

I nodded and smiled at him,"Thank you, Ryan.. sometimes I wonder what I'd do without you or Bambi."

"Let me see.." He ran a hand through his hair, smiling, "You'd still be sleeping in that hideous TMNT night wear-"

"You know that was my favourite night wear, right?" I said and Ryan laughed.

It was when things were good . The night wear was actually hideous and I couldn't deny it. It was baggy and it didn't even reach my ankle. It stopped between my knee and ankle.. and it had turtles all over it. Ryan and Bambi had come over to my house at night for an assignment. Throughout the time, the two had laughed at how I looked, and they asked me never to wear it again. Two more times and they saw me in it. And then, one Saturday the two came over again, and that night, I was going to wear my TMNT night wear, but I couldn't find it.

Bambi and Ryan had done a job well done.

"We just had to take that nightie," Ryan chuckled, then looked at me again, "But.. really, Kenzi.. I don't want you thinking about it."

I nodded.

......................

I looked at my wrist watch for what seemed like the hundredth time that period. I felt dizzy.. I hadn't gotten enough sleep last night. I was too busy thinking. Right now, all I could see was a blurred figure in front of me, wearing a blue gown.

"No, Micah, how many times have I told you guys that you can't take that kind of step in Trigonometry. This is basic!" She sighed, "Mackenzie, what's the answer?"

What answer? What was the question? I wanted desperately to ask Tanner what the question was, but I couldn't bring myself to. I didn't want this to happen again. I turned to take a quick look at Ryan and he looked so damn clueless I could laugh.

"I don't know," I mumbled.

"Mackenzie?"

I was kind of tired of the way she put me on the spotlight sometimes. There were other people she could call. "I do not know." I said in frustration, my voice shaky as I clapped my hand once. I saw Tanner look sharply at me. I wanted to scream and run out of the class. Go home, sleep, get rich and pay for mom's treatment.

"Mack-"

"She said she didn't know the answer to the damn question."

My eyes widened as soon as I heard that voice. His voice. He was beside me. Tanner.

"Language, McCann," Mrs Martinez said sternly.

"It's just language," he said mindlessly, "You really should ask someone else. You asked Matt and he said he didn't know, you didn't call his name a second time. So why her?"

If I didn't know better, Tanner was defending me.

"Alright, McCann.. maybe if you will tell us the answer, then maybe-"

"It's thirty-two point five three. That's your answer," he fired.

My eyes widened again. Did he just say the answer? I knew he got the answer when I saw the look on the face of Mrs Martinez. Tanner got the answer!

.....................

When the bell rang, I made sure I was in the midst of everyone leaving the class. I didn't want Mrs Martinez calling me. I honestly wasn't ready to face her after what happened.

I walked to my locker and offloaded my books into it. As I hummed quietly to myself, I felt a presence fall beside me. I didn't need to look to know it was Tanner. His cologne hit my nose and I couldn't even suppress my sneeze. Beside me, Tanner moved uncomfortably, like he knew it was because of his cologne I sneezed. Maybe I should thank him for what he did for me in class? Without thinking, I turned to him.

"Hey," I smiled lightly.

He looked at me, a little startled, but he got back his look immediately.

"I just wanna thank you for what-"

"Next time, you should scream at her face and tell her you don't know the answer," he shut his locker and walked away.

Why did what he just said seem funny to me? He was a jerk once again, but this time I found myself smiling like a total i***t.