Summerfield (8 page)

“And the fatigue?”

“It’s been kind of bad the last week. But I haven’t passed out before now.”
"Anything else we should be aware of?"
I shook my head. I had found it a bit over dramatic to have been
brought here, but Kara had insisted. She even stayed in the room with
me to make sure I didn't run out screaming like a baby.
I hated hospitals.
I hated sickness.
I hated seeing doctors.
The last time I had been in a hospital was when my mom had died. I hadn’t set foot in one since that day. I shivered involuntarily at the thought. I was in a hospital, thinking
about my mom's death. That could only cause bad memories. I was just
glad that this wasn't the same hospital Mom had been. I wouldn't
have been able to keep any kind of composure if that were the case.
"She can't sleep well." Kara tossed in. I resisted the urge to glare
at her, because she only wanted to look out for me. I would have done
the same. "And she's been getting kind of dizzy sometimes and she'll
need to rest."
The nurse nodded. I couldn't remember her name. "Okay, the doctor will
be right in." That was a very cliché line.
Boy, I was grumpy today.
The nurse left us and I collapsed back onto the uncomfortable, tissue
covered bed. "These are really annoying."
Kara paid no attention. "Are you sure you're okay? Don't you think you
should call your dad? Do you want me to do it for you?"
Kara was a very sweet girl and a very good friend and I loved her so
incredibly much for it, but I think she was blowing this just a wee
bit out of proportion. So what if I fainted? People do all the time.
Well, I'm guessing anyways.
I shook my head. "No way! My dad is to never know about this, okay? He
would totally freak and I don't want to put him or me through that."
She nodded. She understood. "Okay, if you're sure."
I smiled. "Sure am."
***
That doctor was mean.
Dr. Howers. He even has a weird last name.
We had already left the hospital and I was still picking on the
doctor. "Did you see his mouth?" I asked Kara as she drove through her
hometown on our way to her house. "It was really droopy."
She glanced at me, smirking a bit. "Did he give you any kind of drugs?"
"There were these pills." I remembered, scrunching my fingers to show
the size of the white pills I had taken earlier. I didn’t know what
they had been, but they had worked.
Kara nodded, solving her own mystery. "Uh-huh. So did the droopy
doctor say when you got your results back?"
I shrugged. "He just said he would fax them to Summerfield." I yawned.
Kara's brown eyes flickered to me for a split second, her lips curved
into a smirk. "I think doctor droopy gave Belle too many pills."
I simply yawned in reply.
"We're almost back to my house and you can crash, okay?"
I nodded, and yawned yet again.
***
It was time to go back home again. My and Kara's week had ended, but
not without a phone filled beyond belief with pictures of us together.
But as sad as I was to leave her again, I was happy to be going home.
I had actually begun to miss everything this past week. Which trust
me, was a bit surprising.
I had already bid my best friend goodbye, boarding my flight and
heading back to good old Summerfield, Ohio.
Just like before Ella was the one to meet me at the airport
again, bringing me into a bear hug like she hadn't seen me for a year
instead of one week.
"Aunt Ella," I tried to breathe. "We've discussed the air issue, haven't we?"
Ella laughed brightly, letting me go and helping me with my
things out to her mini-van, just like the first time I had come back
to Summerfield.
I was only slightly surprised to see Lance waiting in the mini-van for
our return. I flashed him a smile, as I crawled into the backseat.
"Hey Lance."
He glanced back a smiled also. A friendly and warm hearted smile.
That's part of what I liked about Lance. He was in no way fake and he
never pretended. His emotions were almost written in pen on his face,
which made him honorable. "Hey there Belle. How was your trip?"
"It was really good. I had a good time."
Ella and Lance both smiled, looking pleased. I could only smile
back at how cute they really were together.
That thought only increased when Lance took Ella's hand and
kissed her palm gently before lacing their fingers together. I don't
think Ella could have grinned or shined any more than that
moment.
***
"Hey, Hun." Dad greeted, opening his arms for me to allow myself to
snake into them for a hug. I was glad this wasn't as awkward as the
last time. "How was California?"
I smiled as Dad wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "It was pretty
awesome. Kara and I had a lot of fun. We took so many pictures,
they're hilarious. I'll show you them later."
"How's your friend doing?" He asked with concern. Even though he had
only met Kara once during a parent's weekend at Lavance, he had really
liked her. He thought she was a sweet, good girl. Which, without a
doubt, she was.
I shrugged a bit. "I think she's doing okay now. She's still kind of
upset though. It was the first time she's ever gotten her heart broken
by a guy."
Dad gave me a lingering, meaningful look. "Boys at this age are just
trouble. Out for only one thing."
I rolled my eyes, groaning. "Dad, please. Can we not?"
"Right, right. Sorry." He paused a moment before his former look
returned, only this time it was mixed with slight suspicion. "You meet
any boys in California?" He asked, his over protectiveness not
bothering me as much as it would have a month ago.
I shook my head. I honestly hadn't. "Nope. Besides, I'm not really
into surfer California dudes."
Dad seemed pleased by this. "Good. Now, I have a special surprise for
you that I think you're going to really enjoy." He said, leading me
away from the house and heading in the opposite direction.
The word surprise brought me back to my phone conversation I had had
with Ben a few days ago. It had been right before I had fainted. "What
is it?" I asked, anxious for the answer.
"Just wait." He covered my eyes with his large rough hand. Dad had
worked on a farm for many years and almost never did he use hand
cream. He led me a few more steps and made a right turn. "Okay, here
you go."
I opened my eyes to only find myself standing in front of the green
evil monster, aka, the green truck, that I had learned not too long
ago to drive in. The one I found scary. That I disliked so very much.
I had a bad feeling about this..."Um, it's...hmm." I furrowed my
eyebrows. It was really hard to think of anything good to say about
this truck.
"It's yours." Dad announced with joy.
I tried my hardest not to sigh in distaste. "My surprise is a truck?"
I asked cautiously.
"Yup." He grins. "You like it?"
I looked at the truck then to my dad. His features are bright and his
eyes are shining and there's nothing in this world that could get me
to disappoint him by saying I didn't. So, I do what any good daughter
would do. I lied. "Oh my gosh Dad, I love it. I'm in utter shock right
now." Okay, maybe I should pull back. That may have been a bit much,
but it seemed to only make Dad happier. "Thank you so much." I force a
big grin onto my face and hug Dad tightly.
I knew he only had the best of intentions and I was honestly very
touched that he had done this for me. It really did mean a lot.
"Oh, not a problem. I figured it's about time you got your own truck
so you can start driving without Ben hauling you around everywhere." I
faked a smile. I actually really liked that Ben would have to take me
everywhere. It only meant more alone time. "Actually, this was Ben's
idea."
That got my mind slightly swirling. It was Ben's? He knew my dislike
for the truck. What was he thinking? Was it because he didn’t want to
have to take me places anymore? Because he didn't want to be alone
with me? Because he was breaking up with me? When did I become that
annoying, stalkerish, paranoid girlfriend that I always swore never to
be? I stepped away. Oh no, I was getting dizzy again, my stomach doing
this flip-flop thing that I really didn't appreciate.
Oh, God...please don't let me faint again.
I felt two warm hands cover my eyes and I instantly eased a bit at
feeling I could trust the familiar touch. My breathing began to return
to normal rate, along with my heart. My stomach settled unbelievingly
fast and instead of dizziness all I could feel was a slight pounding
of my head. I had grown use to that though.
"Guess who?" I knew the soft, velvet voice in a second, smiling at his
touch. His effect on me was just absolutely insane.
"Oh God, is it Matt Damon? I just want you to know that I am just fascinated by your body!" I put on a
fair show for my dad and Ben, hearing both of their chuckles as Ben
lifted his hands and simply turned me to face him.
"Well, sorry to disappoint." He teased, a secretive smirk on his face
that only I could decode.
"Yeah, Ben, I heard you had the idea to get me the truck. The one so
special to me." I smiled throughout my statement, but my teeth were
clenched.
Ben grinned and I tried not to get too lost in him. "I thought you
would love it."
I nodded, fully glaring at him now, but keeping my voice pleasant for
Dad's sake. "Yeah, it's perfect."
"Great, good to know."
Either he was really bad at detecting sarcasm, or he really just loved
to mess with me.
"Well, I've got chores to do. Ben you can show her the ropes of the
truck. Glad you like it Hun." Dad spoke, snapping my attention back
towards my father who still had a bright gleam in his eyes. Lying had
been worth seeing him happy, I do admit that.
"Okay, thanks again." I waved goodbye until he was out of ear shot,
turning to look at the truck in pure horror. It was my truck. That was
enough to make me shudder.
From the corner of my eyes I saw Ben smile gently and move towards me,
his arms open.
I stepped away from him, starring daggers. I was mostly bluffing and
even though I wanted more than anything to feel his embrace, his
warmth, his hug, his kiss...I was still mad. Jerk set me up! "Don't
even."
He dropped his arms, looking innocent and clueless to what he'd done
wrong. "What?"
"The truck? Are you freaking kidding me? Not only did you get me roped
into driving this...thing." I say, looking at the truck in disgust.
"But I have to lie to my Dad."
"No, you don't. And the truck is fine, by the way. He fixed any
problems with it so it runs great."
"Did you see how happy this made him? I could never tell him that I
don't like it. You knew I didn't, so why did you suggest it? Because
you don't want to drive me places? Because you're sick of being alone
with me? Because you didn't want to get stuck with me in awkwardness
when you break up with me for someone else and break my heart just
like Anthony did to Kara and oh, boy..."I gasped. "I need to breathe."
Ben was staring at me with worry and shock, obviously not sure what
to say or do next. I was partially shocked myself that I had gone off
like that, but I was a little more concerned that I couldn't breathe.
I leaned against the truck, taking as deep of breathes as humanly
possible, just trying to get some sort of air to supply my lungs. My
chest burned and my head was pounding even harder than my heart. I was
bent over slightly, one hand on my chest and the other on my knee for
better support. My stomach started doing the knotting thing it always did
when I had these little attacks. I still didn’t understand why I was
having them.
Ben seemed to finally snap out of his state of surprise to take in my
sight. I must have looked kind of pathetic right now. "Belle?" He
voice was alarmed and tense. He was quickly at my side, holding me