Chapter 20
Roses and daises
Won't do the trick
Lia and I stand in the lunch line, just coming from Drama class. Harry is already sitting at our table, claiming to only want a fruit, and I said he can take mine when I get my plate. It's become a regular thing for Harry to near me now, in Drama class, at lunch ─ even with Christopher sitting at the same table ─ and we will usually walk in and out of school together.
Even though I know Harry isn't trying to make a big deal out of it, I know he's still stressing over what happened yesterday at my house. In class, his hand held mine, and he subconsciously rubbed circles into my knuckles whilst listening to Mrs. Lawson. I didn't stop him. I had tremors when I woke up this morning.
"Sorry I couldn't make it to your party yesterday," Lia says as we are handed a ham and cheese wrap from the lunch lady. "I had to stay with my gran. But I still feel bad about not getting you a present, so how about we go out to see that new movie playing uptown? On me."
I grab the fruit of the day, a banana, and put it on my plate. "Um, can I give you an answer later? I don't know if my parents have plans or anything, you know."
"That's fine," she says, and we pay for our food and go sit down. It's odd how quiet she is today, but I can't ask her before we're sitting down with Harry and Crystal. I nudge him with my shoulder to make him look up from his phone. He smiles at me and takes the banana from my plate with a 'thank you'.
"You good?" He asks quietly. My lips purse together as I tuck a strain of my red hair behind my ear and tilt my head, giving him a pointed look. "I take that as a yes then," he says under my gaze.
I nod and hum. I love that he cares enough to make sure I'm fine at all hours of the day. I really do. But ever since I was diagnosed with Parkinson's, that's all the doctor's ask me. How are you feeling? Are you okay? Eventually it gets annoying, and some people just don't realise they do it. If I'm not feeling well, they'll either notice, or I'll tell them. But I keep in my annoyance because Harry is new to this.
I'm just glad he's talking to me. After my confession yesterday, I was afraid he'd become distant. That's my greatest concern: that he'll act different around me just because I'm in love with him.
And honestly, if he were to ask me how I knew or when, I wouldn't be able to tell him. The night of his birthday did begin the domino's effect, but the past three weeks was when it really kindled inside on me. I don't think I realised it either, until I was saying it. That's when the world came crashing down on me ─ at least it seemed that way.
I have never felt this kind of love, giving or receiving. Not to my parents, friends, Christopher. I don't know why Harry's different. Or maybe I do. Maybe it's just the fact that's he's different, something so far off than what I use to. The fact that he's able to give me something I never knew I needed, and now I can't get enough of it. That he showed me in the simplest way that the future that was set out before me isn't the one I want.
I don't know his father, but I am damn glad that he pulled Harry out of school, because I don't want to go back to the life I was living.
I'm pulled from my trace by Harry muttering, "Great," sarcastically under his breath. I'm momentarily confused until I hear Christopher calling my name.
"Rae!" He exclaims, sitting between Jamie and Lia, two seats from me. "Happy late birthday, and I'm so, so, so sorry that I couldn't make it to your party. Family gathering, you know."
I force a smile, and use my acting skills to make it seem like I was trying to make it seem like I'm not disappointed. In all honesty, I barely noticed his absence yesterday. I was mainly focused on Harry, or finding the right things to say to the guest. "It's fine, Christopher."
Christopher seems to buy my act, and so does everyone else, but when I look over to Harry, a smirk is playing on his lips. Smug bastard.
The rest of school went by seemingly uneventful except for a test in my last class of the day. When the announcements are over and the final bells rings, I start for my car, knowing Harry will most likely already be waiting along the way.
The wind hits my exposed calves and whips the ends of my curls behind me as I wear a teal beanie and matching loose shirt that hangs off my left shoulder. Oddly, when my car is in sight, Harry isn't, unlike other times I've exited school. I spot his motorcycle still parked, but no signs of him around.
Then there's someone beside me, but not the person I want it to be. "Hey," Christopher says.
"Hi," I respond kindly. "What's up?"
I make it to my car with him still following me. I lean again the hood, waiting for his answer. "Nothing much. It's just that lately I've noticed you haven't been wearing the necklace. You know the one I gave you."
I twirl the ring Harry gave me on my index finger, nervously. I can't say that it didn't match my outfit today because it did, and I just can't say that I don't like him, although that's true. "Oh, it's just that it's a really nice necklace, it should only be worn with the best clothes, you know?"
He nods in comprehension, and just when I think he's going to leave, he looks down at my hand. "Who gave you that?" He nods at my ring.
"Um," I hesitate. "It was a birthday present from Harry."
"Harry, huh?" Christopher questions. "You guys are getting quite close, aren't you?"
I shrug, acting as if it isn't a big question, when he unknowing gets it right. Harry and I are getting closer, closer than anything he and I have ever been. I love him for God's sake! But Christopher mustn't know these things. I don't want anyone to except for Harry and me. "I mean, we're just friends..."
"Good," he says. "I guess I'll see you later, yeah?"
"Sure," I reply, seeing no way around it.
But what he does next catches me off guard and I'm able to turn my head fast enough so his lips make contact with my cheek. He tried to kiss me.
"What the hell?"
I jump with the voice I've wanted to hear since lunch only a few feet away. Christopher, however, doesn't move. I want him to back up, but to him, Harry is just another guy I'm friends with. He's more to me that Harry is in his mind. He's completely wrong.
Harry's eyes are livid, dilated to extreme and it's not because of the lighting. I notice his fisted hands as he looks back and forth between us, a few pieces of his hair falling in his face due to not being pulled back with a headband.
Harry breathes deeply, "Get away from her."
"Last time I heard, you were just friends," Christopher chuckles. "Right, Rae?"
I clench my eyes shut; hoping Harry won't believe that I actually meant it.
"I said to get away from her," Harry growls, stepping closer minutely.
Christopher finally straightens up but doesn't go far. I would go to Harry, but I'm partially blocked by Christopher and my car. "And if I don't?"
Harry starts for us faster, "Do you want to find out?"
Jamie is suddenly at Harry's arm, grabbing him tightly and telling him to stop. I know that if Harry wanted, he could get past Jamie, punch Christopher and leave with me. But he didn't do that, he stayed a foot away from us, halted by Jamie, as he no longer stares at Christopher, but at me. I don't know what he's seeing, I can barely feel anything right now except that my hands are shaking and my knees could give at any moment, but that's it.
"Jamie, let me go," Harry says relatively calm. He breaks eye contact with me, looking to Jamie and, reluctant, Jamie let him go. Everything seemed quiet for a minute, but I know that there are other people leaving the lot, unaware of what's happening. I actually think Harry will walk off, let off steam and call me later, but just as quick as he turns around to head for his bike he spins around too fast for Jamie to catch. This time, he actually makes it to Christopher, and I gasp when Harry's hand curl at his chest, bundling his polo.
"Listen here, prick. That's my girl you just touched. I advise you to not do it again, or you'll become great mates with the ground with a mouth full of rocks."
When Harry finally let's go of an emotionless Christopher ─ though I'm sure he's terrified ─ he stalks over to me and wordlessly presses his warm lips to mine, hands on my cheeks. My eyes shut like always when I kiss him, but it was short lived when Harry pulled back, and whispered in my ear, "I'm sorry. I'll call you later."
And then he stalks off, kick starts his motorcycle and rushes out of the lot, leaving me to deal with the many confused faces standing in front of me.
***
My hand tries to grip the rail, but the tremors don't help. Only my palm can touch the banister, but my digits cannot curl around it to give me strength. My knees feel like they can give out with every step I take down the stairs, trying to get to my destination. The kitchen.
I woke up only minutes ago in what I could only describe as pure pain. But in order to not wake up my parents, I stay quiet. I only need to get to the cabinet that holds my medicine and then find some pain medicine to ease the sore ache for the moment being, until the actual meds kick in. I'm old enough to take care of this without my parents having to worry.
When I reach the bottom step, I pause to catch my breath that has been shaking the whole way down. The violate trembles shake me hard although it's only in my hands. I should've taken the medicine this morning.
I stumble into the kitchen, and will myself to move just a few more steps. My hand makes it hard for me to reach up and grab hold of the handle to open the door, and finally after being able to wrap my pinkie around the knob, it's opened. It takes only a moment to awkwardly grasp my pill bottle, but the task of opening the child safety cap proves to be difficult with tense, shaking hands.
I let out a stressed and frustrated sigh. It's never been this hard to open a bottle for me, maybe because I've never let it get this bad. As I watch my hands, they move in the most inhuman like way, twisting and bending, unable to do the simplest things. I close my eyes and force myself to open the bottle.
I breathe out in relief when it's off and I shake out a capsule into the palm of my hand. I don't bother with putting the cap back on, knowing it would be an even bigger challenge to accomplish, so I go to the glass cabinet. I'm able to grab a glass for the water with my jaw clenched and then turn on the faucet and unsteadily hold the glass under the stream.
Before I know it, another strong wave of shakes take over me and the pill drops. Like it caused a chain reaction, the glass of water in my other hand falls without consent, and the glass shatters into tiny pieces on and around my feet. This causes me to scream, but whether it's from the pain that I don't feel or the frustration that bubbled within me finally being pushed over the edge, I don't know. But I scream and fall to the floor, giving into the weakness wanting to pull me under.
"Rae!" My father's voice finds my ear.
There is more said, questions and frantic shouts of worry, but my cries and sobs dominate the air.
+++++
SO YEA
Heyyyyyy, it's been a while it feels like and I'm currently typing from the kitchen of the beach house I'm staying at for a week. Unfortunately, I won't be able to update in a few days (mostly because I'll be writing the deleted scene THAT WILL BE POSTED ON 1dhazboo 's PAGE!!!!! and my week will be busy, so yeah) I'll tell you guys when Chapter 19 deleted scene is up
QOTD (from everyone): What is Parkinson's disease?
Answer: A progessive disease of the nervous system marked by tremor, muscular rigidity, and slow, imprecise movement, chiefly affecting middle-aged and elderly people. It is associated with defeneration of the basal ganglia of the brain and a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine.
In other words, Parkinson's is a condition in which makes you shake in joints (mainly hands, feet, knees and elbows), and can also affect your speech and overall motor ability. It's more common in the elderly, and is VERY rare in people of Rae's age, although it can happen. It can be passed down from family members, or you can get it with age. There is no cure for it. Rae is in stage one of Parkinson's and more will be explained in the next chapter. If there are anymore questions you have, you can PM me!
HIGHLIGHT THIS LINE TO ASK A QUESTION (or just comment if your on PC)
Please vote and comment!!!!! Thank you guys for getting Salvation to 3K and if anyone read Toxic, it just reached 24K, so THANK YOU SO MUCH :)
Rae's outfit on the side or top
-A xxx