“Come on, I want to know how everything at school is going,’’ she smiles sitting up and taking her glass of water from me.
“It’s going good. I’ve caught up on all the work I missed with the trial going on, and only have a few assignments. How’s college?’’
“Boring,’’ she groans. “And I didn’t mean your school work, I meant being there, after, you know…’’
“Oh! O-okay I guess. It’s been good. Myles is with me most of the time,’’ I shrug, ignoring the tingles I get from mentioning his name.
“Myles Carter?’’ she asks, her voice suspicious and my back straightens.
“Yeah, why?’’
“Oh, no reason. So who else have you made friends with?’’
I think about it for a few minutes and realise I haven’t actually made any other friends apart from Max. “Max?’’ I ask, more of a question. I want to bury my head in the pillow knowing what’s about to come.
“Are you kidding me? You’ve made no other friends what-so-ever?’’ she asks heatedly. “Kayla, we had a deal, when you came back you would make friends, go out, enjoy yourself. I’ve kept up my end of the bargain.’’
“Yeah, but you’re so good at being bubbly, outgoing, and a people person. It’s always been inside of you, Charlie. I’m lucky if I don’t have a panic attack asking for no gherkins on my double cheese burger. And technically I still made friends with Myles and Max. Plus, if you include Harlow then that’s three people I’ve made friends with since I got back. I’d say that’s progress.’’
She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind and then sighs, thankfully giving in. “Okay, I’ll let it go, but you need to at least make a few more out of the Carter family,’’ she tells me and I smile, then remember the dinner I had with Lake on Saturday.
“Oh, and I made a friend at the church food bank. A girl called Lake who volunteers there. Some of the girls were being mean to her for no reason. We went out for lunch together,’’ I smile big, feeling like a nursery kid needing praise for the painting they’ve just done.
“See, that’s progress,’’ she laughs, most likely at my enthusiasm. I ignore her and sit so that my back is against the bars of my bed and cross my ankles. “Oh, and talking of the trial, how are you after all that?’’
“I’m still in shock, I guess. I know he would have been sent to prison with or without my testimony, but I’m still glad I did it. I just thought getting closure, him being locked away, would change things. Change me. But it hasn’t,’’ I tell her honestly, my voice quietening.
“What do you mean? Has someone said something to you at school? If they have I’ll come kick their asses,’’ she says vehemently.
I laugh. I can’t help it. “No, Rocky. No one has said anything. I had people stare at me the first week or so, but it died down after that. I think the fact that whenever Max would catch someone staring, he’d walk right up to them and stare right in their face for a good five minutes.’’
“He didn’t?’’ she laughs loudly, rolling to her side.
“He freaking did. One girl turned bright red, trying to getting away from him, but he just followed her, getting in her face,’’ I laugh back, remembering all the times the crazy boy did that for me.
“It seems like those Carter boys care about you, she smiles, her laughing dying down to a contented chuckle.
I shrug. I try to come off not affected, but I can feel the blush rise in my cheeks when I think about Myles and him caring about me. I know he must in some way, but I fantasise about him caring about me in other ways. I know it will never be more than just friends, boys like him don’t like girls like me, especially not broken ones.
“Oh come on! We both know Max doesn’t associate with girls unless it’s to do the nasty, and even then he never sees the same girl twice. For him to be friends with a girl is a miracle.’’
“He’s friends with Harlow and Denny,’’ I tell her dryly.
“That’s different… Oh no, it’s not. See, they’re all dating his brothers, and Myles has a crush on you,’’ she smiles looking giddy.
“Myles does not have a crush on me,’’ I shout at her, my eyes wide, but I can’t deny the rapid pulse that happens thinking that it’s true.
“Pft, please. He so does.’’
“How would you know?’’ I say defensively.
“Oh come on, he was always making googly eyes at you. He could never keep his tongue from hanging out whenever you were around. I even heard he got into an altercation with Davis once, too, when, you know…’’ she doesn’t finish. She doesn’t need to. She means when he raped me, when he bullied me. The news that Myles would stick up for me against him surprises me. I didn’t think anyone really believed me at the time. I remember the conversation I had once with Myles. I was sitting outside one of the school building and he came and sat down next to me. He was the first person I really opened up to. Yeah, I told Charlie what happened, but not the same way I told Myles. It was like everything came pouring out when he was there.
“He doesn’t make googly eyes, you’re mistaken,’’ I roll my eyes, not wanting to talk about Davis.
“Keep telling yourself that, Kayla.’’
“Whatever.’’
“So, where is your dad?’’ she asks. I notice her fiddling with her fingers in her lap, she’s nervous. Why she’s nervous I have no clue. She has nothing to be nervous about. It’s just me here.
“At work,’’ I say gritting my teeth. He said he wouldn’t be working so many hours, but he lied. Again!
“Take it things haven’t changed? How about your mom?’’ she asks softly.
“I don’t want to talk about them. What about you? How are you? You said you had some news to tell me.’’ I’m hoping she doesn’t call me out on changing the subject, but I really don’t want to talk about my parents as much as I want to talk about Davis with her, or anyone.
“About that…’’ her tone doesn’t sit well with me, and I sit up straighter feeling concerned.
“Go on.’’
“I had my check up a month ago. Things still haven’t been going too well, and I didn’t want to say anything until I knew for sure, but-” she chokes on a sob, not able to continue and I immediately crawl across the bed to her side and place my arm around her.
“Hey, it’s okay. Take your time,’’ I soothe.
“My body is rejecting my new heart,’’ she sobs shoving her head into my chest. Charlie has dilated cardiomyopathy which weakens the heart muscle. Her father suffered the same diagnosis when he was younger. She had a transplant last year, so I know whatever else she is about to tell me is going to be bad.
“Shhhh, it’s okay. Everything will be okay. They’ll put you on the waiting list and you’ll get a new heart and everything will be fine,’’ I tell her, trying to sound convincing, but I don’t know who I’m trying to convince…her or me.
“That’s it though, Kayla. I don’t think it will,’’ she says, looking at me sadly. “I’m getting weaker and weaker by the day. I’ve already had a heart transplant. The chances of me getting another are slim.’’
“We can Google it. Find out what your options are,’’ I tell her softly, feeling my own tears fall from my eyes.
“I have. It’s rare, Kayla. I read this one story, though; it was about a woman who suffered with the same condition as me. Five years after her first transplant she got chronic organ failure that attacked her heart. She got put on the waiting list and received her second heart transplant. She died waiting for her third heart transplant.’’
“But it might not be the same results, Charlie. You can’t worry like this, it won’t do your heart any good,’’ I tell her.
“I know. I know it’s different, but reading her story, the way she was, how inspiring she is, it made me see things a little differently. I may not pull through this; the chances are really slim at this stage. I guess she inspired me. She helped me understand certain things. I even found myself looking up all the ar
ticles Google had on her.’’
I quickly jump off my bed and grab my laptop before bringing it back over to the bed and sitting down next to her. I don’t know all that much about Charlie’s condition. Yeah, I know it’s serious, but I still don’t feel like I understand it. When I load up Google, I ask her to show me. It’s then we read through all the articles on this woman. I can see why Charlie got fixated on her. She really is an inspiring woman. She went through so much treatment, surgeries and hospital stays. She married a few months before she died from what we could make out. She was beautiful. She didn’t look like a person who had a heart problem; she looks radiant, glowing, and full of life. We talk about it for an hour, both of us soaking in what we can.
“Everything will be okay, you can fight this,’’ I tell her when I shut the laptop down.
“I’m scared. I’m eighteen, nearly nineteen, and I’ve not even been kissed. I haven’t had a boyfriend, had sex, or hell, I’ve never left the UK. Reading about this woman, Donna, made me realise just how much of my life I’ve wasted away. Look at everything she achieved in life. She left this world knowing there was a man who loved her, had a child she could influence even after she was gone. She was looked up to. She’d be remembered for all the greatness and help she did. This website isn’t just about her, it’s about everything and the support on there is out of this world. I’ve read so many other people’s heart transplant stories on there, and for me, she started that, and I want to do something so people will remember me.’’
“Even if you were going to die, but you’re not…’’ I choke out. “…you’d always be remembered, Charlie. You’re more special than you give yourself credit for. I’m lucky to have you in my life. If it had not been for you I wouldn’t have made it through the past few years,’’ I tell her honestly.
“I’m just so scared,’’ she sobs and together we lie down and cry. I hold her in my arms and try to soothe her the best I can, but the whole time my heart is breaking for her. Charlie doesn’t deserve this; she deserves a long, full, happy life.
I don’t know how long we lay there holding each other for, but it’s not until Charlie’s phone rings that I move for the first time. When I look over to Charlie, wondering why she isn’t moving to answer her phone, I find her asleep. I shake her tired body and she wakes up slowly, looking disorientated and pale.
“Your phone. It was ringing,’’ I whisper to her, just as her phone starts ringing again.
“Shit, I must have fallen asleep. Mom is going to kill me,’’ she mutters before answering her phone. “Hey mom… Oh! Okay, yeah. I’m sorry. I fell asleep. I’ll be down in a second,’’ she tells her mom before ending the call. “She’s downstairs waiting for me. When I didn’t come home by curfew she started to get worried, hence the reason she’s downstairs waiting for me.’’
“Come on. Let’s go downstairs before she starts banging the door down,’’ I laugh, but the sound is sad and distant.
We both get up off the bed, stretch our taunt muscles before heading off downstairs. Her mom is waiting outside in the car, and before heading down the path, Charlie turns around and embraces me in a tight hug.
“Thank you for being my friend. I love you,’’ she whispers, before slowly turning around and heading to the car. Once she opens the door she gives me one last teary goodbye with a wave, and then gets in the car.
I watch as the taillights disappear in the distance, my heart aching that much more the further away they get.
Shutting the door, I sink down to the floor, my head resting on my knees and I let out the most blood curling sob I’ve ever heard. I choke on another sob, my chest heaving as I struggle to catch my breath.
Charlie could die.
Heart transplant.
I can’t lose her. She’s been here for me through everything, but it’s more than that. Charlie has so much more to give in life. She doesn’t deserve any of this.
With shaky hands I grab my phone from my back pocket. I don’t even think about what I’m doing, I just dial the number I’ve somehow memorised off by heart and put the phone to my ear.
“Hello?’’
“I need you…’’ I sob.
Chapter Eight
MYLES
The phone call from Kayla has me breaking in a sweat as I run through the streets to get to her house. Her sobs still echo in my ears. I hate knowing she’s alone and hurt when there’s nothing I can do. As soon as her words broke through the phone I was out of bed and rushing for my shoes and jacket. I never even explained to Mav where I was going when I rushed out either, but I know I’m going to have to give him a text when I find out what’s wrong.
I rush up the pathway to her house and bang on the front door loud enough to wake up the neighbours. I hear a whimper on the other side and my heart clenches.
“Kayla? Kayla, are you okay? Open up,’’ I shout through the door, and I sag with relief when I hear her start to unlock the door. As soon as it’s opened I rush through the door, gently pushing her back and slamming the door shut behind me with my foot.
Kayla’s eyes are red and swollen from crying and I take in every inch of her body for any signs of injury, but when I see none I take a quick glance around the room, noticing nothing out of place.
“Hush, baby,’’ I comfort her, taking her in my arms. “Can you tell me what happened?’’
“I-it’s Charlie…her heart, her body’s rejecting it and she may not survive,’’ she sobs and my breath hitches. Shit! I know now why she’s so upset, why she is so worked up. Kayla may not know this, but when she left before, I got updates from Charlie to see how she was. It ended though some time a year and a half ago when Charlie stopped coming to school. I understand now why. She’s obviously been hiding her own secrets.
“I’m sorry,’’ I tell her honestly, knowing how much Charlie means to her.
“She’s scared, so scared she’s going to die and all I can say is ‘everything will be okay.’ How lame is that?’’
“It’s not lame. No one can predict what’s going to happen, baby. Come on, let’s go lie down, you look knackered.’’
She nods her head and doesn’t fight me when I lift her into my arms. She wraps her arm around my neck and cradles her head into my shoulder seeking comfort. I’m not going to lie and say I don’t feel anything with her in my arms because I feel everything. How her body fits perfectly against mine and I love how her breath feels against my neck and how warm her hand feels palming my heart. Its heaven and no guy on this earth could resist feeling something for her.
“Did I disturb you?’’ she whispers once I lie us down on her bed.
“No you didn’t,’’ I tell her, pulling her back flush with my front. She stiffens at first, but soon relaxes when I run my fingers soothingly down her arm. I’m not going to lie; it feels good that she’s comfortable around me to even relax after what she’s been through. “What did Charlie tell you about her condition?’’
“I already know some about it. When they first found it they thought it was due to stress from losing her Granddad, but then when they did some farther tests they found out she had Dilated Cardiomyopathy. They did a heart transplant around five months later. She called me to tell me and I wasn’t here for her. My mother wouldn’t let me come visit her and to be honest I wasn’t in any fit state to leave on my own.’’
“If she’s already had a transplant then, what will they do now?’’
“Honestly? I don’t know. She said they will be doing some more tests, and she’ll be put back onto the transplant list. She’s been getting short of breath easily and has been getting severer chest pains. It’s not looking good.’’
“There has to be something we can do,’’ I mumble feeling useless to her. She’s called me because she needs me, and all I can do is hold her, I can’t make this situation right.
“Nope, nothing but sit and wait to hear what the doctors have to say,’’ she says wiping her eyes. “All I keep thinking is how scared she mu
st be, how scared she was when she told me. She’s so young.’’
“Has she always had heart problems?’’
“Yeah. She was born with it, I think, but with the right medication she’s been able to control it. When she came tonight I knew something was wrong the second I saw her. She looked drawn, pale, and even though she had put on weight due to the tablets, she looks so freaking fragile.’’
“God, this sucks!’’
“Yeah, it does. I just wish I knew how I could make it better for her.’’
“How about a girl’s night out?’’ I mention.
“We can’t. She can’t do anything that will exhaust her,’’ she sighs, rolling over so she’s facing me. I move down the bed a little so that my face is level with hers, our bodies not far away from each other, but close enough so I can still reach out and touch her.
“Okay, so what about a girl’s night in? I know Denny could use one; she’s been bored with Harlow at college all the time. Harlow would love one, too. She’s been moaning about college,’’ I shrug.
“Really? You think they’d be up for it? We could meet up here or something,’’ she smiles, and it’s genuine and I feel an accomplishment in that when she’s just got bad news about her best friend.
“Denny will most likely have it at hers because of Hope. There is no way she will leave Hope.’’ I smile, remembering the argument about leaving Hope with Grams while we all go away for the weekend. I’m hoping Kayla can come. I’ve asked, well, mentioned it to Denny. She said she would ask her, that it’s a good idea, so I’m hoping she does it soon so that Kayla doesn’t use ‘it’s too short notice’ as an excuse.
“Yeah, okay, that sounds like a good idea. Let me text the girls,’’ she smiles and my chest nearly bursts by the beauty of it. God, she’s like sunshine on a cloudy day.
She leans over me and I suck in a sharp breath, her scent surrounding me, making me feel intoxicated.
Myles (Carter Brother#3) Page 9
