Conversations With Ana

26

For a while, I did.

For a while, I wanted to strangle the life out of that boy, I wanted to hit him and scream at him.

But in all honestly, I was now in love with him.

Those fights and that taunting and teasing wasn't in the past though.

I realized, it was what made me love him.

Yes, I fell for him completely when he began to open up to me, but I never would have gotten to know him like that if it weren't for the teasing and the complicated friendship.

I was no longer fighting with Gordon, fighting my feelings for him, or anything else in between.

I was fighting for him and with him and that was the best feeling ever.

I was abruptly snapped out of my Gordon revolved thoughts when my wheelchair was tilted back.

"Ana, you've got to promise you won't scream at them, okay?"

I glared at Rose over my shoulder.

She was pushing me through the halls in my wheelchair while Rena and Shane walked in front of us.

We were on our way to go talk to Gordon's parents.
Rena informed us that they were down in the cafeteria, talking to Dr. Arden, making arrangements and such.

Before I could snap at Rose, Rena spoke up.

"Red is right, Ghostie. You can't scream or flip out unless the rest of start screaming and flipping out. We remain calm until they give us a reason not to."

I rolled my eyes and said: "I'm not going to flip out."

Shane and Rose snorted, obviously not believing that I could keep my cool.

I flipped them both off and pouted, childishly.

I had a great temper.

I don't know why they were worried.

While I kept repeating this to myself in my head, the moment I saw Gordon's parents, I couldn't help the hot rush of anger that went through me.

How could they not consider what Gordon wanted?

I understood that they were trying to do what they thought was best for him, but they were wrong.

Shange gave me a reassuring look and Rose rested a hand on my shoulder, squeezing lightly, reminding me to stay subdued.

I took a deep breath and shrunk into my wheelchair as we stopped in front of them.

Rena crossed her arms, waiting for the three adults that sat at the table to notice us.

It took them several moments but when they finally did notice us, there was a variety of reactions.

Dr. Arden look irritated (which was probably expected after all that happened earlier).

Mrs. Abel looked confused, her eyes darting back and forth as she looked between us all.

Mr. Abel sighed and crossed his arms, probably waiting to see what we had to say.

Rena talked first.

"You can't send him back there. He wouldn't be happy there and I think deep down you both know that. Are you really both that scared of losing another one of your kids that you're willing to torture him just so he won't kill himself? News flash: he's going to kill himself if you send him back there!"

The confusion on Mrs. Abel's face faded and was quickly replaced with frustration.

"Rena, I know you care for my son greatly, but it's not your decision, sweetie."

Shane's turn.

"Sir. Ma'am. I know you don't know me, but I know your son pretty well. I was the first friend he made at the group home. He was miserable there! You could tell. The first time he actually laughed was four months into being there and it was only when she",pause to point at me, "showed up! And you're taking her away from him by making him go!"

I blushed and looked down, using my hair to shield myself from their looks.

Mr. Abel scoffed.

"That girl is temporary happiness for him. She's going to leave him eventually. I bet she does this to all the sad boys!"

My head jerked up, my hands curling into fists.

He accused me of using Gordon.

How low did he think I was?

Rose lunged forward, slamming her hands against the table.

She glared at them and hissed: "Ana has done more for your son than you have. And I think you're forgetting the fact that she sobbed when she found out that he had woke up from his coma. She's in love with him and pretty sure he's in love with her too. We make him happy. Why can't you accept that?"

Gordon's parents stared at her, dumbfounded.

I took it as my chance to talk.

"Rena, Shane, and Rose are right. I love Gordon. And if he goes back to the group home, I know he'll probably kill himself. He's not happy there but he's happy with us. He'll be 18 in two months. I think he's old enough to make the decision. Send him back if you want, but if he kills himself while he's there, I'm going to stand up at his funeral and tell everyone it was your fault. Your choice, but just know, my friends and I love him and want him to be happy."

The Abel's exchanged glances, their eyes wide.

We'd obviously impacted them somehow and I hope we impacted their decision too.

We waited in silence, staring at them.

I clenched Rose's hand tightly, my stomach twisted in knots.

They couldn't send him back after everything we just said.

They just couldn't.

Rena rolled her eyes and snapped: "So? What's your decision?"

Mrs. Abel sighed and hesitated for a moment before saying: "I love Gordon and I want him to be happy. Which is why I'm not going to make him go back. My husband might try to argue with me now, but you kids are right. So I'm not going to make him go back."

Tears formed in my eyes and a smile spread across my face.

He didn't have to go back.

He was going to be okay.

I let out a sob of relief and hugged Rose tightly.

"He's going to be happy, Rosie. He doesn't have to go back."

"I know, Ana. I know. You're going to be happy too."

"Yeah I know. I've got you guys. How could I not be happy?"