Thanks to the 8 people who reviewed! I hope you like it. Chapter 19...
Mack laid in the bed, she couldn't fall asleep. It wasn't that the mattress was hard, or that pillows were too floppy or that comforter wasn't pink and blue. She was alone, in a big room. She had been this lonely ever since she got to Boston. It was eleven, she'd been trying to go to sleep for two hours and it just wasn't going to happen. She picked up Troy's cellphone, which he had let her take in case she needed it and dialed home.
"Hello?"
"Troy?"
"Hey Mack, I saw the games! I can't believe they won both! Pretty cool, huh." He seemed excited that she called. She could hear voices in the background. "Wait, it's got to be late in Boston. What's up."
"I can't sleep... can you sing for me?"
"Of course. What song?"
She thought for a moment. "Sound the Bugle."
"Alright," he said before he started to sing.
"Sound the bugle now
Play it just for me.
As the seasons change
Remember how I used to be.
Now I can't go on
I can't even start.
I've got nothing left
just an empty heart.
I'm a soldier
wounded so I must give up the fight.
There's nothing more for me
lead me away...
Or leave me lying here.
Sound the bugle now
Tell them I don't care.
There's not a road I know
That leads to anywhere.
Without a light, I fear that I will
Stumble in the dark.
Lay right down
Decide not to go on.
Then from on high
Somewhere in the distance.
There's a voice that calls
Remember who you are.
If you lose yourself
your courage soon will follow.
So be strong tonight
Remember who you are.
Yeah, you're a soldier now
fighting in a battle.
To be free once more
That's worth fighting for."
"Thanks Troy."
"You sleepy now?"
"Yeah, I just needed to be sung to."
"Night Macky-Moe."
"Night Big T."
hsmhsmhsmhsmhsm
"Come on Chad! You're running like molasses out there!"
"You'd think she was the coach!" Chad yelled to Jason, who laughed. The Wildcats were ahead 74-68 with 1 minute left against a team from Florida. They were good, but they weren't as good as the other Florida team they would play if they won. Zeke stole the ball and passed it to Chad, who went zooming down the court and scored a lay-up.
Chad turned to Mack and yelled, "am I running like molasses now, Squirt?"
"Get'cha head in the game, Danforth!" She yelled back with a smile.
The Florida guard shot the ball as the buzzer sounded and missed. Zeke, Chad, Jason and the other two Wildcats who had been in at the end, were surrounded by people, cheering and laughing.
"Too bad Troy had to miss this," Chad yelled over the loudness to Zeke.
"Yeah," Zeke agreed.
"Guys!"
The two turned to see Jason dodging people to get to them. "We play the Sea Lions tomorrow. Excited?"
"Yeah!" They both said in unison.
"Chad!"
Mack ran up with a huge smile on her face and her arms behind her back. "Guess what?"
"What?" Chad said playing along.
"You got a package." She passed it to him. It was a small rectangular box. "What is it?" he asked shaking it back and forth.
"Open it," Jason said.
Chad ripped the red and gold wrapping paper off of it and stared strangely at the white box he had in his hands. He opened the box and smiled. "It's Troy's jersey." He looked at Mack as he lifted up the red and white Wildcats jersey. "Is this your doing Mack? It wasn't sent by mail."
"No. Troy gave it to me right before I left, told me to give it to you if you guys got to the semi-finals. I had no idea his jersey was in there."
"There's a note," Zeke said, bending over to pick up a piece of paper. "It's addressed to the team."
"We'll read it tomorrow before the game," Jason said. "Hide his jersey, we'll make the whole thing a surprise!"
Chad stuffed Troy's jersey in his bag, and the four of them walked toward the team, who were still jumping up and down with joy.
hsmhsmhsmhsmhsm
Elaine walked into the living room. Troy had been silent since Gabriella left a few hours ago. She was starting to get nervous. No matter how many times that doctor said he would be fine, there was a little voice in the back of her head telling her that she could lose her son if she wasn't careful. She walked over to the couch to find Troy curled up in a ball, sleeping. She looked at his peaceful face and smiled. He was fine, just like the doctor said he'd be.
She put a hand on his forehead and noticed that it was a little warm. She walked back into the kitchen and grabbed an ice pack to place on his face. "That's the last thing the poor boy needs is to get sick again," she muttered to herself as she approached the couch. She checked his pulse, which was normal and pushed a lock of hair out of his face.
She sighed. Troy was growing up way too fast. In two years he'd be off to college. "If he stays alive that long," a voice in her head said.
Elaine ignored it. "Troy," she said. "I want you to listen to me." The sleeping boy answered by staying asleep. "I want you to live. Do what you want for a change instead of what everyone expects you to do. Your whole life has been pleasing others."
She stopped and looked into his face. "And, I want you to love, don't be afraid of it. I can see the way you look at Gabriella, don't lose her." She took a deep breath. "But, what I want the most, is that you not struggle. If your ever in the hospital again and you can't fight anymore, let go." Tears were streaming down her face. "I want you to be happy."
She kissed his cheek and hummed the lullaby she used to sing to him and Mack when they were younger as she took a seat in the chair across the room and turned on the television, making sure to keep an eye on Troy's sleeping form.
So, what do you think...any suggestions, questions? I love hearing your ideas! The song was from Spirit Stallion of the Cimarron - yes the one about the horse. It is "Sound the Bugle" by Bryan Adams. I hope to hear from you and tell me how you like it! So review!
