Drowning | Calum Hood

one

Aidynn's POV

"Are you sure you're ok?"

"Yes I'm fine!" I reassure my big brother over the phone.

"Ok. I'm only a phone call away if you ever need me."

"I know." I giggle at his concern.

"Ok... I love you Aidynn!"

"Love you too Calum," I say softly before handing the phone back to my mom who began talking to Calum but not before making sure I was ok... Again.

It had been like this ever since 2 months ago when we found out that I had lung cancer. My life had become attempting to sleep and eat, breathing (sorta), school, and doctors appointments.

I loved that my parents and siblings cared about me but I wasn't treated like a normal kid anymore. I was the "sick" child and the "sick" sibling in their eyes.

Don't get me wrong, it's lovely to get attention... Just not like this. I tried to tell my mom not to be so worried but she told me not to be silly and that "It is a mom's job to worry."

After that I stopped trying. I played "sick kid" even though I hate it with a passion. I'm not allowed to do sports anymore. I go to school about once a week to turn in the packets they give me. Other than that, my life is boring.

My mom does little things with me like takes me on walks, to the movies, and little shops. Mali visits me a lot as well.

Not going to lie, she spoils me a bit. She loves to practice makeup on me and do mini photo shoots. It's always a good time with Mali-Koa.

I decided to eavesdrop on my mom and Calum's conversation cause I'm 11, I can get away with that stuff. I sneaked down the stairs and stood by the wall blocking the kitchen.

My mom was cooking and she had her phone on speaker.

"How's Aidynn really doing?" Calum asked.

My mom sighed, "She's ok. I'm a little worried though. She gets upset because she can't do a lot of things that she did before. Like play football or run around the playground. I just- I need to find something that she can do that doesn't require her to exhaust her body."

"I know it's hard on her...Wait, remember when I sprained my ankle during football? All I did that one week while I was recovering was play guitar. Maybe she would be interested in trying an instrument?" He suggested.

"That's a good idea Calum. I'll talk to her about it."

"Ok! Well I got to go to sound check, Love you Mom!"

"Love you too Calum"

She hung up the phone and I quietly ran back up the stairs. I went to my room and finished my homework packet before my mom called me down for dinner.

The two of us talked while we ate. Well while she ate and then forced me to eat a portion of my food. Having cancer decreases my appetite so meals are a struggle for me.... And my family.

My mom cleaned the dishes while I opened the book I was reading and sat on the counter next to her.

"So you have to go into school for about 2 hours tomorrow," she tells me.

"I know. They are reviewing my packet and then having me take 2 tests."

"I think Mali is going to come over when we get back," my mom informs me.

"Really?" I ask excitedly.

"Yep! And she says she has something special for you,"

"What is it?" I ask.

My mom just smirks at me, then goes back to the dishes. Not saying a word.

»-»

The next morning my mom woke me up around 7:15 ish. I got ready and then hopped into my mom's car with my homework packet.

When we pulled up to the school I unbuckled my seatbelt.

"Love you! Pick you up at 10, ok?"

"Ok, Love you too," I answer my mom and then shut the car door. I walk into the building and turn around to see my mom driving off. I turn back and see Ms. Paige sitting in her usual spot.

"Hi Aidynn! How are you today?" She asks me in her usual cheery voice.

"I'm good. And you?"

"I'm good. Ms. Green is all ready for you. Want to head back there and I'll check you in?"

I nodded and headed towards the math door. I was about halfway there when I was stopped by Christine Saunders.

I didn't really know her, maybe I've seen her around once or twice, but she knew me. Everyone did at this school. Well for one, I was Calum Hood's sister. Sadly, I was also "the cancer girl".

"Hey Aidynn," she said in a sickly sweet voice.

"Uh, hi Christine"

"So I have a question for you," she tells me. Her 2 friends sitting in chairs, doing work, giggled.

"Ok...?" I say nervously.

"Well, everyone wants to know why you're SO skinny?"

I awkwardly look down at my shoes. I was really skinny but it was pretty obvious as to why.

"I don't know," I respond, not wanting to talk about cancer at the moment.

"Are you- Are you anorexic or a depressed emo freak or something?" She "whispers" loud enough for all of the kids to here. It goes silent and then all of the kids start laughing. She just stares at me with a smug look on her face.

I keep my head down and quickly push past her into the math room. I feel tears gather in my eyes but I quickly wipe then away, not wanting teachers to see me. I got made fun of a lot. I had a different music taste because Calum always played his pop punk bands for me and bought me clothes that were similar to his and the boys. Not to mention I had cancer...

It wasn't weird to me, it was just how I was and how I dressed. But it was weird to them and they didn't like it.