Page 15 of Rescuer

CHAPTER7

Do It

“So, you guys are cool then?”Angel asked as she played with my hair. She’d come to the hospital a few times to check on me and spend time with me.

“I guess so. Renee is still in denial about it for some reason, while Charlie claims he knew it was coming.”

“Are you happy?” she asked a moment later.

“Yeah, I am.” And I was. We still saw differently on the surgery issue, but we were okay otherwise.

We were silent for a while. There was music playing in the background, and we were happy to just be in one another’s company.

“Lee?”

“What’s wrong?” I asked her.Something about her voice told me something was going on.

“Don’t hate me,” she suddenly said, her voice rising in fear.

“Why would I hate you? You're my best friend.” Now, I was worried. Over the past week, Angel and I had grown so close, staying up late at night and talking endless hours on the phone. I told her she could tell me anything.

“I think I like your brother—like really like him.” I knew it. Well, I had sensed it. Charlie had hinted at me as well about Angel after meeting her at the hospital.

“That’s great. He’d be lucky to have a girl like you as his girlfriend. I think you guys would make a cute couple.” Her liking my brother didn’t bother me. I just wanted everyone I cared about to be happy.

“Thank you, Lee. Do you think you can help me?” I smiled, feeling her excitement.

“You bet!” We continued to talk about Halt and my brother for the rest of the evening. It was sometimes awkward when she brought up cute things that my brother did, but I couldn’t stay grossed out because she was so excited, and I was genuinely happy for her.

We had our first sleepover that night, and the next morning, Halt was at the door as Angel left.

“See ya, Angie!” Halt called to her, never picking up on my nickname for her, which was fine by me.

“Later, Halt!” she yelled back.

“So, you wanna just hang around the house today?” I asked, holding his arm as I pulled him into the house.

“Sure, but I want to talk to you about something.”

“Anything,” I said instantly, letting him lead me through the empty house. Everyone had gone out to run errands.

“I want you to go see the doctor in charge of the eye surgery—just talk to him, hear what he has to say, and if you still don’t want to do it, then I won’t speak about it ever again.”

I sighed. He really wasn’t going to let this go. “I need to speak to my family first,” I told him. “I don’t think they will oppose, but they have to know.”

“That’s fine. As soon as they get home, we can talk to them together.” We sat on the couch, and I grasped his hand.

“I’m scared,” I whispered.

Halt drew in a deep breath. “Me, too.”

——

Two hours later, I heard the front door open, and my family’s cheery voices filled the air all at once, bringing a smile to my face. “You can do it, and I’m right here beside you,” Halt whispered into my ear.

“Guys?” I questioned, feeling their presence in the room.

“Yeah, Lee?” they all asked, just about in unison.

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