We came back from the hospital, and Mom and Dad were doing some light cleaning. They stopped when they saw us walk in the door.
"How's Danielle?" they asked simoltaneously.
"She's just in for tests right now, they won't know anything until later," Ike said.
"Oh," Mom said. "How are you boys feeling?"
"All right, I guess," Taylor said.
"Pretty much the same," Ike replied.
"Zac?" Dad asked after a few seconds.
"A little surprised, but okay," I said. "I think I'm going to our room," I said. I headed up the stairs before anybody could object. I opened the door and saw the sight of a single bed and a set of bunk beds. Isaac was in his new place, but he'd be over here pretty often. We still had his old bed set up in here. I sat on the higher bunk and took out my laptop. I opened it up, and I clicked on the WordPad document entitled "Journal".
"Dear Journal,
Well, today was one of those days that starts out boring but ends up exciting. Too bad it ended exciting, in a bad way. There was a huge storm outside. It was truly a work of art. Then, Taylor wrote a new song, and unlike some of his others, this one was pretty kickin. We worked on some music for it, and then the day turned to a bad exciting. We got a phone call from the hospital. Danielle was back there, for tests. She has a high fever, abnormally high. They're not sure what's wrong with her. I hope the cancer isn't coming back. I know she'll be okay, though. She said she would be."
I closed my journal. I laid on my back and sighed. Mom knocked on the door and brought me a tray of food.
"I thought you might be hungry," she said. She made me a peanut butter and banana sandwich and brought me an apple and some chips.
"Thanks," I said. I set the tray on the bed. Mom rubbed my head.
"She'll be okay, Zac. I know she will be," Mom said.
"Thanks," I said again. Mom left the room and I ate the food and drank the can of soda that accompanied the meal. I wasn't worried about Danielle being in the hospital for tests, tests are something of everyday life. I was worried about the results of those tests.
I heard the phone ringing. A few seconds later, Dad handed me the cordless phone.
"It's Molly," he said.
"Okay," I replied. Molly's my girlfriend. She's my age, but she turned 15 a few weeks ago when my birthday is next week.
"Hello?" I asked.
"Hey Zac, how are you?" she asked.
"I'm doing all right. Danielle's back in the hospital."
"I'm sorry to hear that," she said. Molly understands about Danielle, which I am greatly thankful for.
"Are you doing okay?" she asked me.
"I'm worried, but otherwise yeah," I said. "You gotta hear the new song Taylor wrote for the band, it's intense," I said, to change the subject.
"Oh really? Taylor wrote a good song? By himself?" Molly asked. That's one of the things I really like about her. When the subject's changed, she doesn't question it, she just goes with it.
"Yeah, major surprise," I said. We talked a little more about the song, then discussed a dance we were going to at her school next Friday, then plans for my birthday on Saturday. Finally, we hung up. I went downstairs and saw Mom and Dad in the living room, with Zoe and Mackie playing with blocks.
"Feeling better, sweetie?" Mom asked me.
"Yeah, thanks," I replied. I gave her a hug and kiss, and did the same to Dad.
"I'm going to get my shower and go to bed now," I said.
"That sounds like a good idea, get some rest," Dad said.
"Okay, good night," I said.
"Good night," Mom and Dad said. I headed upstairs and I got in the shower. I made it quick, then I headed to my room. I put on a pair of boxers, then a pair of pajama pants. Taylor wasn't in the room yet, so I laid on top of my bed. I ran my fingers over the slight tuft of hair that I had under my arms and over the little chest hair I had. It was soft, since it hadn't been there long, but it was a light color, which I liked. I have thankfully lost most of my baby fat. I'm nowhere near as thin as Taylor or Ike, but I have a better build than them.
I heard someone heading toward our room, so I quickly got under the covers. If someone walked in, I didn't want them catching me like this. Sure enough, Taylor walked into our room.
"Did I wake you?" he asked.
"Nah, don't worry about it," I said.
"All right, well, I'm going to bed too," he said. He changed into his pajamas and then the light was turned off and the TV was turned to a movie, Adam Sandler's Big Daddy. I fell asleep shortly after that and didn't wake up until morning.
Chapter 4 *not yet up*
Chapter 2
Watching Me Now
While We Grow
