My Sister's Keeper

Chapter 9

“So how has this week been?” Dr Crawford asked.

“It’s been really good actually. Almost too good.”

“How so?”

“I made up with my best friend, I’m back on the cheer squad, my dad is paying attention to me, and my lifelong crush kissed me.”

“Well, that’s good, isn’t it?”

“I dunno it feels wrong. It feels like I’m getting everything I wanted, but without Isla.”

“Did you feel competition with your sister?”

“Only all my life.”

“And so now you feel like you are getting all the attention that she would have gotten.”

“Yes exactly. Is it wrong that I like it?”

“It’s not for me to say. I get paid to listen and analyze. But I personally do not feel like you being happy is wrong. Would Isla be happy for you if it was happening when she was here?”

“She would be ecstatic. She never meant to be perfect, she just was.”

“Well keep doing everything you are doing. I have seen a great amount of improvement. I’ll see you next Monday.”

Monday morning Spencer was waiting for her at her parking spot. He took her backpack and slung it over his shoulder and held her hand. They went into school and there was Josie sitting on the arm of Remi’s chair. Josie stood and Remi got up and put his arm around Josie’s shoulder and everyone was gaping and staring at the group. They passed by Sophia who was literally caught with her mouth opened and Nora thought Spencer returned a look to her.

It probably shouldn’t but it was a little satisfying to see sophia off her game. It gave Nora a confidence boost. She knew Spencer is one of the hottest guys in the high school and he had chose her. But a little voice in the back of her head was telling her that the look shared between wasn’t nothing. But she was too damn happy to ask what it actually was. So instead she pulled spencer closer and nudged her head into the side of his jacket, breathing in his intoxicating scent. She smiled and looked over to Josie who had a matching grin stretched across her face.

***

That was 4 days ago. Since then, Josie, Remi, Spencer, and her were always together. They wound up all having gym together at 4th period. So, lunch, 2nd period, 4th period, and any other times in between they were inseparable.

Today the girls were getting ready for the pep rally. So, they wore their cheer uniform and jackets. They had a swirl of purple and gold dots over one and under the other eye. The boys were in their jerseys and a pair of jeans and their bomber jackets with a black stripe on both cheeks. They were all the epidemy of jock royalty as they strutted through the halls.

At the pep rally the cheer squad was waiting in the tunnel for them to be called out. The announcer started calling them out one by one introducing them to their school. Nora’s adrenaline was starting to ramp up. She loved the thrill of flying in front of the crowd. More names were called until it was Josie, Nora, and Sophia were the only girls left. Then announced was Josephine Alexandria Rudolph and Josie put on her winning smile and spirited into the crowd. Then Elenora Harper Quinn boomed in the speaker and Nora’s feet began moving. She took off in a sprint and done a round off landing on her feet. She then done a back flip on her dismount stepped out into a back handspring landing in her spotter’s hand. She was smiling so big. This was what she lived for.

Then they called for Isla Elizabeth Quinn and everyone stalled. A gasp from the crowd ignited. Suddenly Elenora felt dizzy and then the last thing she saw was the ground right before darkness.

When Nora came too her whole body felt like she had been run over by a bus and then that bus had backed back up over her and then put it back in drive and ran her over again. It seems dramatic however that is the only way to describe how incredibly sore and drained she felt. Her eyes adjusted and somehow, she was back in the hospital.

She was alone in her room. She heard yelling in the hall. She quietly got up and placed her head against the door to eavesdrop.

“Spencer, what the hell happened?”

Josie cut in and said, “they were announcing us at the pep rally, and they went through all the names but Sophia, but instead they said Islas name. Nora fainted from her flyer position and hit the ground, hard.”

“Mr. Quinn, umm sir, the moment I realized what had happened I ran and scooped her up and brought her here,” explained Spencer.

“Why the hell would they say Isla’s name?”

Remi said, “I don’t know but I promise we will get to the bottom of it.”

“Well, is she ok?”

“Yes sir, they said that she had had a panic attack. They are checking her for a possible concussion. But she is fine.” Spencer said with concern in his eyes.

“Ok, okay,” he sighed in relief, “then when can I go see her?”

“Now!” Said Dr. Crawford

Felix’s cheeks blushed, “oh uhm, hey Dr. Crawford.”

“Felix, I wish you would call me Charlie.”

He cleared his throat, “Charlie.” Everyone in the group was looking at each other from the flirtation.

Nora practically sprinted back to the bed when she heard the door handle turning. She was just about to sit down when everyone came into the room.

“Well, it is good to see you up and about,” said Dr Crawford.

“I don’t even know what happened. One minute I’m at the pep rally and the next minute I’m here. I feel fine honest. I would like to go home now please.”

“Nora we aren’t going to keep you here this time. You are free to go. Your scans came back clean, but you did take a nasty fall so maybe go home and rest.”

“Will do, scouts honor.”

Felix told her to get changed and they would go home.

Spencer said, “and I’ll be right behind you.”

Just as promised Spencer’s Land Rover pulled into the drive right behind Nora and Felix. Spencer ran to open the passenger side door and helped Nora up the steps to the door.

“Spencer, I wish you wouldn’t fuss over me, I’m fine.”

“I’ll be the judge of that. Will you just let me be the overprotective boyfriend please?”

Nora stopped, “boyfriend?”

Felix said, “I’ll uhm be in the house.”

“Well yeah Nora, what am I to you then? If not your boyfriend?”

“I just didn’t know you wanted to put a label on it.”

“Well, I do.”

“Oh, uhmmm ok.”

“Okay? Really?”

“Do you want a parade?” And they both started laughing.

“Maybe I do. Maybe I want to scream it to anyone who will listen to me that I Spencer Isaiah James am dating the gorgeous Elenora Harper Quinn. Imagine floats baring our likeness. The band will play Elvis.”

“Ok Romeo, can you please escort me to my room, I have an appointment with my bed and I mustn't be late.”

“But of course my lady.”

He picked her up and carried her to her bed. He pulled up her computer chair and set it at her bedside. He flopped down in it and put his feet on the foot of her bed.

He stayed like that all night.

***

She woke up to Spencer asleep in the same spot he was at last night. She stretched out and went to get up, that woke up Spencer. “Hey you,” he said smiling, “you snore.”

“Excuse me sir, I do not.”

“You do and it’s adorable.”

She rolled her eyes, and he looked her over. “How are you feeling Nora?”

“I'm ok I guess. I’m extremely sore all over. And I hate hospitals.”

“You want to talk about it?”

Nora made an internal decision. “About a month after Isla disappeared there was a body reported in Baxter County. We made the 2-hour drive in silence, both not wanting to discuss if we thought it was Isla. What we would do if it ended up being her. What we would do if it wasn’t her. We went through the doors and there laid the body of a young woman who fit Islas description. Dread and tension were drowning us and when they pulled back the white sheet I seen red hair, pale skin, and by the time it was at her chest we sobbed just holding each other. It wasn’t her. I felt a mix of relief and guilt. A part of me wished it was her so it would be over. When we got home, I felt nothing. I was numb. I just wanted to sleep because I hadn’t slept in so long. So, I went to the medicine cabinet and took the rest of the sleeping pills. I don’t know how many was in there. I just needed to sleep. When I woke up, I was in the hospital and not able to leave. They thought I tried to kill myself. Maybe I did I dunno. But when I woke up in the hospital yesterday, I was so scared.” She started sobbing.

Spencer sat on the bed, grabbed her and put her in his lap and running his fingers up and down her back making shhhhing sounds. Letting her cry in his chest. Her dad came to the open door, realized what was happening and tilted his chin up at Spencer. Spencer did the same to Felix with an understanding occurring between the men.

“Breakfast is ready when y'all are.”

“Thank you, Mr. Quinn.”

“Call me Felix.”

“Felix”

Nora looked up from his chest. “Ok daddy, let me take a quick shower. I’ll be right down.”

“I need to go by my house and shower as well. I’ll be back in a bit. You going to be, ok?”

“I believe so, I can walk so that’s a start.”

He got up and gave her a kiss and left.

When she went to the bathroom to take off her clothes her whole body ached. She looked in the mirror to access the damage. She had bruises running down her whole left side. She also had a knot right beside her left temple. Although she had a headache and her body hurt, she seemed to be ok and stable enough that she thought she could take a shower. She turned on the water and stepped in. It felt soooo good. She washed off her face and got the dirt out of her hair. She then sat down to let the water run down her back. The steam was a welcomed distraction. She felt like a brand-new person by the time she got out of the shower.