Thank goodness for Tina.
That's all I have to say.
Flames were all around her. She held onto an arm, it was pulling her through, saving her. Suddenly, it was wrenched out of her hand, and she was left to run alone. Her feet were rooted to the ground, she couldn't move. She could hardly breathe, her head was spinning. With what she thought her last breath would be, she screamed Will's name out. Her knees suddenly bent, and her face fell into a flame. She lifted her head, her long hair in her eyes, to see Will standing just out of reach, just outside the fire, laughing.
And now you're nothing without me…
You said you wanted to be friends! She screamed at him.
He just laughed as the flames engulfed her. It was hot, too hot for her. She put her hand to her forehead, and found that she was drenched in sweat. Her hair suddenly caught fire it was burning shorter and shorter- it was about to reach her scalp! She could feel the heat at very close range-
BANG
She dropped off her bed to the cold floor. Her arm and knees throbbed as she looked around, reorienting herself. She found the edge of her bed again and, careful not to wake her sleeping sister, she climbed back into bed. She could not sleep again; every time she closed her eyes, she saw Will's laughing face jeering back at her.
She watched as sunlight poured into the room, counted down the seconds until the alarm for Angel to wake up went off and as soon as she heard water running, she got out of bed and rubbed her eyes.
This is going to be a long day.
-
"Miss Marquez?"
"Hmm?"
"Can you tell us what is wrong with this sentence?"
The dogs lifted up his paw and they jumped over the fence. Was written on the board.
"Uhm… no?"
"Well you have obviously not been paying attention."
"No, Mrs. Stou. Lo siento." (I'm sorry)
"Please see me after class, Miss Marquez."
"Si, Mrs. Stou."
"Now, Sir Veagas, please correct the sentence on the board."
-
Mimi stayed in her seat as everyone filed out of the classroom. Angel mouthed meet you at lunch at her on her way out. Mrs. Stou closed the door and walked over to Mimi's desk.
"Mimi, I'm worried."
"Mrs. Stou, I know my grades are not the best in English, but I am trying. Honestly-" Mimi began, sounding almost desperate.
"Shhh. That's not why I'm worried, Mimi. You don't seem well at all."
"What?"
"All I'm saying is that for the past week or so, you haven't been doing as well as you did earlier. Are you getting enough sleep?"
"Si, senora. I'm sure I'm quite healthy," The needle flashed through Mimi's brain.
"In any case, I think you should take tomorrow as a sick day. For your own health." Mrs. Stou honestly did look concerned.
"I'll see what Angel thinks." The teacher smiled.
"Thank you, Mimi." She opened the door for the girl, who scampered off to lunch.
-
Mimi slid into her usual seat, scowling.
"What did she want, chica?" Angel asked immediately.
"She said I looked sick," Mimi replied. "She wants me to stay home tomorrow and catch up on sleep."
"You do look pale, Mimi." Gaby pointed out. Street nodded, then looked at Angel. Mimi looked at her, too, begging her not to agree. Angel bit her lower lip, and slowly nodded. Mimi slumped in her seat. They had obviously talked about this.
"Fine," she said tersely.
-
A week passed since Mrs. Stou expressed concern. Mimi wasn't getting any better – now she had developed a cough that just wouldn't go away.
"Mimi-chica, I think you need to see a doctor…"
"No. No, chica. No deseo ver a un doctor." (I don't want to see a doctor)
"Honey… you could be seriously sick."
"No! No, I'm not!" Angel glared at her little sister. Mimi backed down.
"Bien," (okay) she said resentfully.
-
"So when did this start?" The doctor asked.
"A few weeks ago. One of our teachers noticed it first."
"And you say you are the patient's legal guardian."
"Si."
"As well as her brother."
"Sister."
"Alright, sister."
"Si."
"Alright. And she has not been getting better?"
"Correct. If anything, she's been getting worse." They spoke in undertones just outside the shut door where Mimi was getting changed into the little gown she had to wear. The doctor knocked on the door lightly.
"It's okay!" Mimi called from behind the door, and then coughed. Angel could tell she was trying to swallow it.
"Mimi, I am Dr. Bennick. We are going to run a short series of tests to see what might be the problem. The fact that this simple cough has not let up is slightly concerning me… I think it's only fair for you to know it might be AIDS." Mimi's eyes filled to the brim with fear at these words. Dr. Bennick paused a moment, then said,
"So, Mimi, if you will sit on the table-bed just there…"
-
"Your results will come in a few weeks. We will call you when they arrive. Thank you!" a fake doctor's smile followed them out the door.
And with that, I am leaving for Montana for a week. Shootmenow. Reviews help me be happy!