My Girl

Joe hadn’t said one word the entire time he drove the four of us to the movie theater. Which was odd, because ever since him and I had gotten on good terms, it seemed like that boy never shut up.

Even when he walked out of the house, he had been turned to Nick, telling him some funny story about what happened last night while Nick was over at my house. But when he finally glanced at Steph and I, who were sitting in the back seat of Kevin’s old car, his mouth shut, and his focus seemed to be on only one thing.

Glancing up from my lap, I looked at the rear-view mirror, where Joe was staring at. His eyes were tilted toward Steph in the backseat, who was silently looking out the window as the radio played quietly in the background. Nick and I had both tried to make small talk, but the only answer we ever got from either of them was a simple one word answer.

“Eyes on the road, slick.” Nick reached out for the steering wheel and steadied the car as Joe sped down the freeway. I smirked slightly but didn’t make any noise, afraid that it would embarrass either Joe, or maybe even Steph.

“So what movie are we going to see?” I questioned, spotting the exit off the highway a few miles ahead. Joe shrugged his shoulders, causing the car to swerve again.

“What about that pregnant teenager one?” He suggested. I glanced at him and laughed shortly. “Jino.”

“Juno.” Nick corrected, grabbing onto the side of the car as Joe exited off the ramp. We came to an abrupt stop and Joe slightly turned his body toward everyone else.

“Juno?” I looked over at Steph. “I’m in, is that okay with you?”

Steph looked away from the window and to the front seat, where Joe had finally started driving again.

“Anything is fine.” Joe parked the car, in the lot furthest away from the front doors of course, and took the key out of the ignition.

Nick stood up from the car as soon as it was parked and quickly opened my door behind him.

“Thanks.” His hand found it’s way around mine as soon as I was on my feet and we started walking away, almost forgetting about Joe and Steph.

Joe was awkwardly standing behind the open door, and Steph was smiling slightly as she stood up.

Shoving his hands into his pockets, Joe glanced through his hair over at Steph and said something too quietly for either Nick or me to hear, but it made Steph smile grow bigger as they came up next to us.

Completely ignoring us, the two continued to make their ways to the front entrance. Nick glanced at me, his eyebrows raised and we followed a distance behind them.

“Joe likes Steph.” I said in a sing-song voice, smiling over at Nick. He laughed and continued to watch the two people in front of us.

“Steph likes him back.” He said in the same teasing sound.

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We were in the dark room, talking quietly in the theater seats, when I felt my phone in my jeans pocket start to vibrate.

Pulling it quickly out in one swift move, I stared down at the caller ID and slid the phone open.

“Hello?”

“Elise. Hello, this is Doctor Westmoreland, I am currently caring for your mother.” Hearing the voice on the other line, Nick stopped talking and turned his head to face me.

“Hey.” I cleared my throat, glancing at the exit of the theater. I stood up and quickly climbed over Nick’s legs, stumbling my way out of the theater. “Is my mom going to be okay?”

“She seems to be doing just fine.” He replied. The sound of ruffling papers started in the background. “We will need you to come in later this afternoon to learn about your mothers condition.”

My stomach flipped. “Condition? What condition?”

“Your mom was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.” My thoughts instantly flashed back to the pod on Nick’s back that he showed me last night in the elevator. “It is nothing serious, we just need to meet and make sure that everything is treated correctly.” The doctor cleared his throats. “We have set an appointment for two-thirty this afternoon. Is that convenient?” I didn’t even look down at my phone before answering.

“Y-yeah. Two-thirty. See you then.” I shut my phone and quickly walked through the doors to the theater before one of the workers shut it completely.

It was only then, when I sat back down next to Nick, who rested his arm across the top of my chair, did I check to see what time it was. 11:30.

“Everything okay?” The lights in the theater turned low and Nick’s face becoming less visible in front of me.

“We have to be at the hospital by two-thirty.” I whispered, ignoring the questionable glances I got from Joe and Steph, who were sitting in the row behind us. Nick continued to watch me, but finally turned back to the screen as the movie began to play.