Please R&R thanx!
"Hey anybody home?" Amanda asks opening the door to her house
"In here" Grace calls
"I was hoping for no one" Amanda mutters to herself.
"Amanda, sweetie it's so nice to see you, so nice to be home" Grace walks into the foyer.
"Are you all right mom?"
"We'll talk about that when we all sit down, your brothers are already here." Grace goes into the living room.
Amanda takes a seat next to Robbie, facing Rick.
"Hey Amanda" Rick attempts a smile
"Shove it Rick." Amanda replies
"Amanda, can you at least try to be nice to your brother? It's bad enough all of this dispute I want an end to be put to it." Grace announces "I'm sick, I'm not going to get better at this point and if something happens to me all you three have is each other."
Amanda sits back and crosses her arms stubbornly, Robbie nudges her.
"Amanda" He hisses
"I'm sorry mom." Amanda says as though on cue.
"Listen Amanda I know things haven't been especially easy for you. You had the hardest time out of all of you three" Grace tells her "Being the youngest or whatever the reason is why."
"I'm fine." Amanda answers evenly
"Mom, New York was hard on her." Robbie starts and Amanda flashes an angry look at him to silence him.
"What happened in New York?" Rick asks
"I was working all the time, I had to pay the bills and for the food and such. I wasn't around much, Amanda got into a little trouble that's all" Grace says simply
"At all" Amanda cuts in "You weren't around at all, but it's all right. I'm fine, we're here and everything is fine." Amanda says looking at Robbie.
"Amanda"
"Robbie." Amanda glares at him.
"Listen Amanda" Rick starts
"Don't Rick." Amanda holds up her hand "Are we done here?" She asks standing up
"Wait, there was something I wanted to tell you all." Grace stops her "I'm very sick right now. More then I was before."
Amanda looking shocked sits back down "How sick?"
"I'm going to be admitted into the hospital tomorrow evening." Grace answers
"When were you going to tell me you were this sick?" Amanda demands "I knew you wanted me out here so Robbie and Rick could take care of me, but how could you not even mention this? How long have you known?"
"Amanda quit it" Robbie grabs at her.
"It's all right Robbie. Before we moved the doctor told me I had, had a relapse and I would need to be admitted into a hospital soon and that it was worse- the cancer had spread. So we moved out here and I've been an out-patient since we moved." Grace tells them
"So you just lied to my face." Amanda asks angry "How could you lie like that?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't want to upset you."
"Yea well I think you failed with that notion." Amanda gets up and stands by the door with her arms crossed.
Grace looks at Robbie and Rick "What are you two thinking?"
"I'm thinking this family is doing a lot of lying and needs to start being honest with each other." Robbie stands up
Rick looks angry "How could you just move out here and dump this on us? Tear Amanda from her home and tell her you may not be there for her? Mom what were you thinking?"
"I was thinking that I'll be in the hospital the day after tomorrow and I need someone to stay here with Amanda so she's not out on the streets." Grace answers
"I'll stay" Robbie assures her.
"I'll stick around too" Rick adds
"Great one big happy family" Amanda says sarcastically then leaves and slams the door to her room.
Robbie looks over to Rick who says "Hey I'm not going in there, she'll bite my head off."
"You're her brother you can't just let her go like that" Robbie pushes him
"Sorry man, I mean I want to know what's going on and I know something is but she wont tell me"
"I'm going to go and get some rest" Grace gets up and goes to her room.
"Simon?" Amanda asks
"Hey"
"Did I wake you up?"
"No, I was up" Simon answers "How'd it go?"
"Horrible, but I'll live, I'm not sure my mom will but…." Amanda trails off
"She's that sick?" Simon asks
"Yep. You want to hear something crazy?" Amanda laughs "I want a drink, it's a vicious circle."
"You're not going to right?" Simon asks concerned
"No, mixed with the painkillers? Do you know what a bad mix that would be? Don't worry about me Simon. So you going to be in school tomorrow?"
"Yea, are you?"
"I don't see why not" Amanda replies "I'll see you tomorrow."
********************
"Hey Luce, have you seen Amanda today?" Simon asks the next day in school.
"Sorry, maybe she stayed home her mom is going into the hospital tomorrow" Lucy suggests
"She said she'd be here" Simon says wishfully
"Ask and you shall receive" Lucy smiles
"What?" Simon asks confused
"Look" Lucy points, Simon turns and sees Amanda walking down the hall. He goes over to her.
"Hey Amanda"
"Hey Simon" Amanda's face breaks into a smile "What's up?"
"Nothing school same'old same'old" Simon replies
"I wish I could say the same, how do you feel today?"
"Not like I may pass at just because I'm standing up, so much better."
"Great. I've got to get to class, and I'm not going to be here tomorrow so I'll call you tomorrow night I guess all right?" Amanda smiles
"All right" Simon gives her a kiss and watches her disappear into a classroom.
*******************
"Here's your things" Amanda hands her mother her bag.
"Thanks" Grace goes into the bathroom to change.
"I don't know how you're so calm" Robbie says to her "I was nervous this morning just packing my things."
Amanda smiles "Unfortunately it gets easier with time"
Grace comes out in a hospital gown and gets into bed. "I'm going in for tests in a few minutes, and if everything is a go-"
"You'll be in surgery tomorrow, and if that goes good you'll be home next week" Amanda finishes
"Exactly, I don't know how I'd do this if you weren't here Amanda" Grace smiles
"Don't give up hope mom" Amanda answers as a nurse comes in to get Grace. Robbie and Amanda go out into the waiting room. "Where's Rick?" Amanda asks
"Home- er your house."
"That's kind of weird, it's his home now too isn't it?" Amanda asks making a face.
"Yea, sounds off doesn't it? I guess we'll get used to it eventually."
"Thanks for not saying anything yesterday, I don't want to burden mom with anything, worry doesn't make someone get better."
"I'm not saying it's good, but I do understand you're point and you have to be the person to tell her."
"Which I'm not going to." Amanda says firmly
"So how long does this take?"
"An hour or so. Depends if they think they've found anything."
"Want to go and get something to eat?" Robbie asks
"Sure" Amanda agrees
"Does your knee still hurt?" Robbie asks her as they go down to the cafeteria.
"It's not that bad anymore, does Matt work here?" Amanda asks looking around
"Yep, that's him the guy giving us that look" Robbie points "The one trying not to be noticed."
Amanda smiles "Is he always that- off?"
"No, he just has his moments."
"All right" Amanda replies following him.
****************
"That was the longest day I've ever endured" Rick yawns as they walk into their apartment.
"That's nothing compared to some days" Amanda remarks throwing her jacket over a chair.
"Not possible" Rick sits on the couch
Robbie laughs "She's been doing this longer, she'd know"
"Maybe. So what was it you two weren't telling mom yesterday?" Rick asks
Amanda raises her eyebrows and looks over at Robbie who smiles. "I guess you're not as out of the loop as we thought you were."
"Yea Rick I should of given you more credit" Amanda laughs
"Good try Manda, talk to me" Rick crosses his arms stubbornly
"Rick you do know that Amanda is about as stubborn as you if not more." Robbie tells him.
"Amanda" Rick says "I'm still waiting you can fool mom but not me"
"What is it with you two? You both just like know everything? Have this dog like intuition?"
"So I'm right?" Rick asks
"Yep" Robbie tells him "Amanda got into some trouble in New York, I knew we should of stuck around longer."
"You told him didn't you?" Amanda says accusingly "About the drinking and sneaking out or-"
"Not coming home at all, fights, suspensions……. Jake? Yea Robbie pre-warned me last night when I confronted him" Rick tells her
"He would of beaten the crap out of me" Robbie defends himself "Besides you had no intentions of telling him, you're still stuck on being mad at him."
"I'm not mad at Rick, I just think that you're doing this only because mom wants you too and I'm holding you back. Like you don't want to leave mom hanging again." Amanda says sincerely.
"Well that's not how I saw this and I wished you had called me and told me or asked for my help."
"I'm sorry" Amanda apologizes "Really"
"It's all right." Rick accepts "Truce?"
"Truce" Amanda agrees.
To be continued…. Please R&R
"Hey anybody home?" Amanda asks opening the door to her house
"In here" Grace calls
"I was hoping for no one" Amanda mutters to herself.
"Amanda, sweetie it's so nice to see you, so nice to be home" Grace walks into the foyer.
"Are you all right mom?"
"We'll talk about that when we all sit down, your brothers are already here." Grace goes into the living room.
Amanda takes a seat next to Robbie, facing Rick.
"Hey Amanda" Rick attempts a smile
"Shove it Rick." Amanda replies
"Amanda, can you at least try to be nice to your brother? It's bad enough all of this dispute I want an end to be put to it." Grace announces "I'm sick, I'm not going to get better at this point and if something happens to me all you three have is each other."
Amanda sits back and crosses her arms stubbornly, Robbie nudges her.
"Amanda" He hisses
"I'm sorry mom." Amanda says as though on cue.
"Listen Amanda I know things haven't been especially easy for you. You had the hardest time out of all of you three" Grace tells her "Being the youngest or whatever the reason is why."
"I'm fine." Amanda answers evenly
"Mom, New York was hard on her." Robbie starts and Amanda flashes an angry look at him to silence him.
"What happened in New York?" Rick asks
"I was working all the time, I had to pay the bills and for the food and such. I wasn't around much, Amanda got into a little trouble that's all" Grace says simply
"At all" Amanda cuts in "You weren't around at all, but it's all right. I'm fine, we're here and everything is fine." Amanda says looking at Robbie.
"Amanda"
"Robbie." Amanda glares at him.
"Listen Amanda" Rick starts
"Don't Rick." Amanda holds up her hand "Are we done here?" She asks standing up
"Wait, there was something I wanted to tell you all." Grace stops her "I'm very sick right now. More then I was before."
Amanda looking shocked sits back down "How sick?"
"I'm going to be admitted into the hospital tomorrow evening." Grace answers
"When were you going to tell me you were this sick?" Amanda demands "I knew you wanted me out here so Robbie and Rick could take care of me, but how could you not even mention this? How long have you known?"
"Amanda quit it" Robbie grabs at her.
"It's all right Robbie. Before we moved the doctor told me I had, had a relapse and I would need to be admitted into a hospital soon and that it was worse- the cancer had spread. So we moved out here and I've been an out-patient since we moved." Grace tells them
"So you just lied to my face." Amanda asks angry "How could you lie like that?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't want to upset you."
"Yea well I think you failed with that notion." Amanda gets up and stands by the door with her arms crossed.
Grace looks at Robbie and Rick "What are you two thinking?"
"I'm thinking this family is doing a lot of lying and needs to start being honest with each other." Robbie stands up
Rick looks angry "How could you just move out here and dump this on us? Tear Amanda from her home and tell her you may not be there for her? Mom what were you thinking?"
"I was thinking that I'll be in the hospital the day after tomorrow and I need someone to stay here with Amanda so she's not out on the streets." Grace answers
"I'll stay" Robbie assures her.
"I'll stick around too" Rick adds
"Great one big happy family" Amanda says sarcastically then leaves and slams the door to her room.
Robbie looks over to Rick who says "Hey I'm not going in there, she'll bite my head off."
"You're her brother you can't just let her go like that" Robbie pushes him
"Sorry man, I mean I want to know what's going on and I know something is but she wont tell me"
"I'm going to go and get some rest" Grace gets up and goes to her room.
"Simon?" Amanda asks
"Hey"
"Did I wake you up?"
"No, I was up" Simon answers "How'd it go?"
"Horrible, but I'll live, I'm not sure my mom will but…." Amanda trails off
"She's that sick?" Simon asks
"Yep. You want to hear something crazy?" Amanda laughs "I want a drink, it's a vicious circle."
"You're not going to right?" Simon asks concerned
"No, mixed with the painkillers? Do you know what a bad mix that would be? Don't worry about me Simon. So you going to be in school tomorrow?"
"Yea, are you?"
"I don't see why not" Amanda replies "I'll see you tomorrow."
********************
"Hey Luce, have you seen Amanda today?" Simon asks the next day in school.
"Sorry, maybe she stayed home her mom is going into the hospital tomorrow" Lucy suggests
"She said she'd be here" Simon says wishfully
"Ask and you shall receive" Lucy smiles
"What?" Simon asks confused
"Look" Lucy points, Simon turns and sees Amanda walking down the hall. He goes over to her.
"Hey Amanda"
"Hey Simon" Amanda's face breaks into a smile "What's up?"
"Nothing school same'old same'old" Simon replies
"I wish I could say the same, how do you feel today?"
"Not like I may pass at just because I'm standing up, so much better."
"Great. I've got to get to class, and I'm not going to be here tomorrow so I'll call you tomorrow night I guess all right?" Amanda smiles
"All right" Simon gives her a kiss and watches her disappear into a classroom.
*******************
"Here's your things" Amanda hands her mother her bag.
"Thanks" Grace goes into the bathroom to change.
"I don't know how you're so calm" Robbie says to her "I was nervous this morning just packing my things."
Amanda smiles "Unfortunately it gets easier with time"
Grace comes out in a hospital gown and gets into bed. "I'm going in for tests in a few minutes, and if everything is a go-"
"You'll be in surgery tomorrow, and if that goes good you'll be home next week" Amanda finishes
"Exactly, I don't know how I'd do this if you weren't here Amanda" Grace smiles
"Don't give up hope mom" Amanda answers as a nurse comes in to get Grace. Robbie and Amanda go out into the waiting room. "Where's Rick?" Amanda asks
"Home- er your house."
"That's kind of weird, it's his home now too isn't it?" Amanda asks making a face.
"Yea, sounds off doesn't it? I guess we'll get used to it eventually."
"Thanks for not saying anything yesterday, I don't want to burden mom with anything, worry doesn't make someone get better."
"I'm not saying it's good, but I do understand you're point and you have to be the person to tell her."
"Which I'm not going to." Amanda says firmly
"So how long does this take?"
"An hour or so. Depends if they think they've found anything."
"Want to go and get something to eat?" Robbie asks
"Sure" Amanda agrees
"Does your knee still hurt?" Robbie asks her as they go down to the cafeteria.
"It's not that bad anymore, does Matt work here?" Amanda asks looking around
"Yep, that's him the guy giving us that look" Robbie points "The one trying not to be noticed."
Amanda smiles "Is he always that- off?"
"No, he just has his moments."
"All right" Amanda replies following him.
****************
"That was the longest day I've ever endured" Rick yawns as they walk into their apartment.
"That's nothing compared to some days" Amanda remarks throwing her jacket over a chair.
"Not possible" Rick sits on the couch
Robbie laughs "She's been doing this longer, she'd know"
"Maybe. So what was it you two weren't telling mom yesterday?" Rick asks
Amanda raises her eyebrows and looks over at Robbie who smiles. "I guess you're not as out of the loop as we thought you were."
"Yea Rick I should of given you more credit" Amanda laughs
"Good try Manda, talk to me" Rick crosses his arms stubbornly
"Rick you do know that Amanda is about as stubborn as you if not more." Robbie tells him.
"Amanda" Rick says "I'm still waiting you can fool mom but not me"
"What is it with you two? You both just like know everything? Have this dog like intuition?"
"So I'm right?" Rick asks
"Yep" Robbie tells him "Amanda got into some trouble in New York, I knew we should of stuck around longer."
"You told him didn't you?" Amanda says accusingly "About the drinking and sneaking out or-"
"Not coming home at all, fights, suspensions……. Jake? Yea Robbie pre-warned me last night when I confronted him" Rick tells her
"He would of beaten the crap out of me" Robbie defends himself "Besides you had no intentions of telling him, you're still stuck on being mad at him."
"I'm not mad at Rick, I just think that you're doing this only because mom wants you too and I'm holding you back. Like you don't want to leave mom hanging again." Amanda says sincerely.
"Well that's not how I saw this and I wished you had called me and told me or asked for my help."
"I'm sorry" Amanda apologizes "Really"
"It's all right." Rick accepts "Truce?"
"Truce" Amanda agrees.
To be continued…. Please R&R