If today was your last day chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

“Your father’s not here anymore.” Owen told me and I rolled my eyes. “Owen I don’t care if he’s here or not.” “What happened today?” he asked tucking my hair behind my ear. “I tried to talk to him into changing his mind about my college plans,” I said sitting up straight. “He didn’t agree because he thought that directing and golf was a waste of intellect and intelligence or whatever.” Owen stayed quiet as he thought of something to say, but since I was an impatient person, I sighed and did a few breathing exercises. My lungs acted up like this all the time but usually, a few inhales and exhales would set it right again. Today was different though, it hurt a lot more than usual. “Are you, by any chance, going through this dark phase where you deal with it in a really negative way?” He asked all of a sudden, catching all of my attention. “What’re you trying to say exactly?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. There never an awkward moment between us but again, today was different. “Are you anorexic?” he asked hesitantly.

All I could do was laugh. Really? I mean I might be self-conscious but I wasn’t that crazy about my weight. Besides, I’ve been losing weight since-wait a minute, was that why he was asking? I knew I was shedding some pounds by doing exactly nothing but then again, I wasn’t really eating as much anymore due to appetite loss, but I wasn’t purging or anything like that. “Owen, I’m not anorexic. I guess I’m just one of those girls that who has one of those really fast metabolisms.” “Um, I don’t meant offend you in anyway, but the last time I checked, you were a little chubby when we were younger,” he said with a full out poker face. 

“Fine, let me rephrase my statement: Maybe I’m one of those girls who magically developed a fast metabolism.” “Rileigh, I don’t want you lying to me.” “I’m not lying! How could you even think that Owen? We tell each other everything and we don’t hide things from each other, remember?” I was getting a little furious and I wasn’t planning on toning it down. I mean I’ve known him for so long and this very moment was the only time he doubted me. Why was everyone so against me today? “I didn’t mean to make you angry. I just wanted to make sure that you remembered what you stated.” Owen said

I blew out a huge breath as I tried to calm down but even my body was playing against me. My lungs ached and the taste of blood was still stuck in my throat. I knew that I had to get checked up but I just didn’t want to go because of bad memories. “So if you’re not anorexic then what happened right before you hung up on me?” I knew he was a little hurt or maybe really hurt. I never snapped at him like that before. I felt really guilty for doing it. “I coughed up a little blood okay? And eventually, breakfast came out as well. But I didn’t let it out intentionally. I just felt sick.” I said lying back down on my bed. “Do you know how bad that sounds?” “Yeah” I answered nonchalantly. “Then why are you being so calm about it? We need to get you checked out in a clinic.” Owen said with a caring tone.

“Owen, I already told you that I hate-” I started to say until he interrupted. “Your life is at risk here! Do you know what will happen if you don’t go to a doctor to see what this is about? You’ll get worse that small amount may turn into a whole bucket of it! You’ll be hurling everything in your whole body! Oh, and I didn’t ask if you wanted to go get checked out. I’m telling you to get checked out.” That outburst got me quiet. I have never heard or seen him angry like that and what mad me feel worse was the he was angry at me. The way he reprimanded me reminded me of how much he really cared. I didn’t want to disappoint him so I decided to do the right thing. “Fine I’ll go, but only on one condition: you have to come with me.” “I was hoping you’d say that” he said with that charming smile of his. He always knew what to say and I was glad to have a brotherly best friend like him. 

We entered the parking lot of the clinic and I was shaking like crazy. I was nervous and I wasn’t sure of what to do. I was thinking about hailing a cab home right when I got out of Owens car but if I did that, Owen would probably ignore me for the rest of my life and eventually forget about me and I didn’t want that. “Look, the clinic is not such a scary place” he told me as he intertwined his long fingers with mine. I looked at him from the passenger seat as he killed the engine. I bit my lip as I followed him out of the car, not letting our hands separate, which made me feel better because I knew that without him I wouldn’t be willing to do this. The feeling of his hand in mine made me feel safer but I still didn’t have the courage to face the doctors or nurses. Once we got into the building, we made our way the receptionist. It was funny how there weren’t many people in the clinic today. I thought this place was busy 24-7, but then they could all be scared like me. 

“Let me guess, she’s pregnant huh?” the receptionist said. Owen looked at me and laughed awkwardly as he watched me blush really hard. I cleared my throat as I looked down in embarrassment. “Um, we are actually here to check on her lungs.” Owen said to the rude receptionist whose name was Kaylee. “Oh, my bad” Kaylee mentioned. “Just fill in these forms.” She handed us a clipboard with a paper attached to it. Owen handed me the pen that was on the side and I started signing. I couldn’t help but laugh as I watched Owen and Kaylee flirt by staring each other down. It was awkward and downright HILARIOUS. The uneasiness slowly started fluttering away. I was starting to feel better already but there was no reason to back out and tell Owen that maybe I didn’t need this anymore. 

I handed Kaylee the form as soon as I signed everything that I needed to answer and she asked me to wait a while. We sat isn the ward they had set up right in front of her desk and I wondered how long it would take for them to prepare the examination that I needed.