Strangers With Memories

Eight

8 • When she suspects
Ricky point of view
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⠀⠀⠀Chloe is still in the hospital, it worries me to know that. Maria is staying with me after school, at night she goes to the hospital and sleeps with Chloe. I've offered to keep her here with me, but they prefer to sleep together.
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⠀⠀⠀It’s Friday and Chloe is finally going home, she's been talking about it so much. Maria and I decorated the house for her. We bought a bunch of pink balloons and cupcakes. Unfortunately, Mary's mom is sick and she went back to England, so she isn't going to celebrate with us.
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⠀⠀⠀I knock on Chloe's door with Maria jumping up and down in excitement behind me.
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⠀⠀⠀”Come in.” Chloe's beautiful voice said.
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⠀⠀⠀I smile and open the door, allowing Maria to run in and give Chloe a big hug. I close the door.
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⠀⠀⠀”So can we go now? I hate hospitals.” I ask.
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⠀⠀⠀Chloe bites her lip. “Maria, please let us talk alone.”
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⠀⠀⠀Maria sighs and walks out sad, she'll probably listen to our talk one way or another.
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⠀⠀⠀”I need to have surgery. My body hurts like hell, I can barely move. This surgery can fix everything, but it can ruin things as well…” She looks down playing with her fingers, she used to do that when she was nervous. I guess she still does.
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⠀⠀⠀”What do you mean by that?”
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⠀⠀⠀”I mean that I have 67% chance of  dying.”
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⠀⠀⠀•••
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⠀⠀⠀”You really can't come? We could talk to the doctors and-”
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⠀⠀⠀”Maria, don't insist. It's better if I stay, you guys can go have fun without me. I promise that when I get better we will have lots of fun.” Chloe calms Maria.
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⠀⠀⠀”But momma…” Maria insists, making a extremely cute face.
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⠀⠀⠀Chloe sighs. “Don't do the sad face, it doesn't work with me anymore.”
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⠀⠀⠀Maria rolls her eyes. “Fine! Ricky and i will go have fun without you.”
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⠀⠀⠀The child is small, but she's strong. Maria drags me out holding my hand.
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⠀⠀⠀We walk to my car. Maria has a frown on her face. “So since when are you and my mom friends?” She asks getting in the car.
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⠀⠀⠀I start the car. “We met in high school, she was a cheerleader and I was a basketball player.” I explain.
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⠀⠀⠀”Were you friends?” She questions.
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⠀⠀⠀”Sure, you could call it that.” I chuckle. Oh sweet child, we were more than that.
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⠀⠀⠀”What's with the chuckle? Are you hiding something?” Damn it, the kid's smart. Well she is Chloe's daughter, makes sense.
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⠀⠀⠀”Nothing, I'm simply chuckling.” I explain.
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⠀⠀⠀”Mhm.” She says crossing her arms. “I bet you hated her, that's your secret.” Yeah, I hated how she danced with other guys.
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⠀⠀⠀”Me? What? Nonsense, Maria.”
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⠀⠀⠀”So you liked her.” Maria winks. She's fast at this question game. What does she even want to know?
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⠀⠀⠀”Never said that.”
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⠀⠀⠀”So you hated her?”
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⠀⠀⠀”Also never said that.”
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⠀⠀⠀She groans. “Well you're on her old Facebook, I'm guessing you were at least a friend.” Maria says looking at her phone.
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⠀⠀⠀”There's a picture of you shirtless. Too much info! Wait!! You were her boyfriend?!!” She shouts.
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⠀⠀⠀”What?! No! The fact she liked looking at me shirtless doesn't mean we dated.”
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⠀⠀⠀”Sure… What was she even like in high school?” She asks.
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⠀⠀⠀”She was always the smartest in class. She was a good cheerleader too, she'd usually cheer for her boyfriend.”
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⠀⠀⠀”Boyfriend? She never told me about boyfriends, nor any guy at all.” Maria laughs.
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⠀⠀⠀”Well you're 11, she doesn't want you dating. I think she should worry, I always see you and that boy talking at lunch.”

⠀⠀⠀”He's rich, nice, funny and good looking, why wouldn't I like him?” She asks.
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⠀⠀⠀”You're 11, kids your age are at home coloring.”
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⠀⠀⠀”Ew! I hate coloring.” Maria groans.
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⠀⠀⠀A/N- I like dialogues😂😂
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