Cursed (8 page)

I put my IV free hand out to Giselle’s on the
blankets, “Giselle I am so sorry. I had no idea.”

She shook her head almost as if it twitched, “No
one does. He said she went to visit her sister but she just left.
He left her one credit card so he can track her. He took her name
off everything else. She’s been in Mexico for a week, paying for
two people. I phoned Aunty Pilo and she said that mom hasn’t even
called her, she never knew mom left.”

I didn’t know who the aunt was but I knew
Giselle’s mom was Filipino so I assumed she must be her mom’s
sister.

I nodded, “My dad isn’t taking moms’ death any
better. I don’t think any of us are. My family is a mess too.”

Giselle looked at me with glistening eyes; her
long silky black hair framed her perfect oval face. Her skin was an
olive color with naturally pink full lips and eyes so black the
pupils were not visible. She had big eyes and perfect cheekbones.
Even heartbroken and horribly sick she was stunning.

“We have each other it seems Aimee.” She gripped
the hand I had given her.

I pressed the button for the nurse who came
running in as fast and breathless as she could.

“Oh thank heaven you girls are both awake.” She
looked at Giselle specifically, “How are you feeling sweetie?” She
put the tools to work and checked Giselle’s vitals.

Giselle nodded, “Okay, but I was wondering if we
could share a room. We’re both pretty upset.”

The nurse nodded at us, “I’ll have your stuff
moved over right away, since you’re already here. I can’t believe
you made it all that way Hun, it’s a long walk for a sick kid.” She
smiled at us both.

I patted my trusty IV cart, “It helped me the
whole way.”

The nurse laughed at me and shook her head.

Before we knew it we were sharing a room and
Giselle was regaling me with tales of boys and shopping discounts.
There was no more sad talk about moms and dads or boys who like to
drug girls.

I listened happily for the first time to be
distracted by simple things that really had no bearing on my
world.

Normally I liked to surround myself with
intelligent people who only talked when important or interesting
things were to be said but in this moment a story of drinking while
in Cuba, and a few helpful hints no doubt, was extremely
entertaining.

In the midst of the peace of us both taking an
afternoon nap I heard her before I saw her, which was usually the
case, “They’re sharing a room?” my sister asked quite rudely, also
usually the case.

I opened my eyes to see the nurse talking to my
sister and dad just outside our room, “Yes they’re scared. They’ve
had something horrid happen to them and they’re alone here except
for each other.” The nurse was polite but letting my sister know
she could be a snotty bitch too but with a smile and actual
authority.

My dad smiled at the young nurse, “Thanks I
think we will see if they’re awake then.”

I smiled as I watched him light up as he entered
the room seeing my face.

“You have color and your eyes look clear again.
How are you feeling kiddo?” He asked sitting at the end of my bed.
I nodded at my dad feeling sick for him and what he had been
through in one year.

My sister’s face still looked as haunted as it
had the morning leaving Shane’s.

I frowned at Alise’s odd look but answered my
dad, “Good. We both seem to be coming around. I’m ready to get out
of here though. The nurse said tomorrow if the liver tests come
back normal.”

“Your livers?” my sister asked looking like she
might throw up.

I nodded giving her a confused look, “Yeah did
you even show up for bio? The liver is the filter for the blood,
drugs and alcohols are filtered through the liver. That’s why
underage drinking is so bad. You’re damaging a developing
liver.”

My dad laughed, “Well good to see you’re feeling
like yourself again. We’ll come back tonight with some food if you
want.”

I nodded, “Yeah I’d love something I can
actually eat. Maybe bring Giselle something her dad has been really
busy lately.”

Alise rolled her eyes at the comment, which
angered me in ways I couldn’t describe. I felt so irate with Alise
over the small gesture I literally had to count backwards from ten
to stop myself from lashing out at her or throwing something at the
very least.

Alise looked apprehensively at me as she asked,
“How’s the memory coming?”

I furrowed my brow further I realized Alise was
up to something. “Good I’m remembering little bits more and more
every day.”

She nodded completely obvious that this news
made her uneasy, “Oh good.”

I snorted shaking my head, “Did you poison us
Alise? You’re being weird.”

She shook her head violently.

Our dad looked at her suspiciously, “Alise I
agree you’re acting very oddly, this is the moment to confess if
you know anything about this.”

She started to cry, “I never did this to you
Aimee I would never hurt you. I can’t believe you two would think
this of me.”

I was taken aback, she barely cried when our mom
had died and here she was sobbing.

Our dad grabbed her by the arms not moved by her
display; he looked deeply into her eyes and then nodded. He pulled
her into him and stroked her head. I looked around wondering if
anyone saw this circus I called family.

“You just don’t take things seriously Alise, you
do things so recklessly.” our dad soothed her as she cried into his
shoulder. Honestly it wasn’t a stretch for me to believe that my
sister had drugged me thinking it would be funny.

I had never seen my sister this vulnerable
though, being caressed and hugged by our dad. Suddenly our dads
armpit where Alise snuggle whispered, “I kissed Blake.”

My stomach lurched forward threatening to escape
my mouth. I felt a small crack in my heart as I processed the
words. My sister had tainted the one guy who I had always sort of
thought of as mine. Even if he wasn’t my boyfriend he was mine, my
best friend, my rock in all of the extra crappy things that seemed
to seek me out.

I screamed, ‘MINE.’

Still hiding in our dads armpit she cried
harder, “I was drunk and I never thought about what I was doing
until it was too late. I’m so sorry.”

Suddenly she had let go of our dad and was
kneeling at my bedside.

Alise’s guilty behavior suddenly made sense and
Blake not being at my bedside also made sense. I felt sick for
myself and Shane who was no doubt heartbroken my sister had hurt
him that way.

I felt my natural instinct kick in and pushed
the feelings down like swallowing acid until I was fine. I nodded,
“Well you have everything else Alise, every boy in school is in
love with you or her” I pointed at the sleeping Giselle, “So I
guess why not take the one boy I had too.”

Our dad sighed disappointment as he hung his
head, “Alise I will leave you to apologize to your sister properly.
Aimee I love you kiddo and I’m really glad you’re going to be
coming home tomorrow. We will bring you something tonight to eat.”
He kissed my forehead and left the room.

My sister’s eyes shimmered with the tears as she
grabbed my hand desperately, “I am sorry Aimee. I have never been
this sorry in my whole life. It just happened and it will never
happen again. I didn’t know he had been in love with me all these
years.” The words came spilling out before she could damn up her
mouth.

I watched the regret as Alise said the words
that cut me so deeply.

I pulled my hand away from my sister and nodded,
“It’s not your fault. You can’t even help yourself. You ooze sex
and punishment, which is something boys seem to want. I don’t care
but I’m glad I know.”

Alise nodded along like a stupid puppet with my
words not even comprehending them but then the weirdest thing
happened, something I never expected.

Alise snapped and lost it, “I am so jealous of
you little sister. You’re so smart, you’re still a virgin, and you
are funny in a way only smart people get.”

“Witty.” I interrupted.

Alise nodded as a few more tears rolled down her
cheek, “When this day is over I will lie and say none of this ever
happened but I need you to understand that one day when you fall in
love it will be the most amazing thing that ever happened to two
people. You have your wall up and one day when someone manages to
get over the top they will love you forever. You are the kind of
girl that every MAN dreams of and I am the kind of girl that every
boy dreams of, this is my time to shine and its going to be nothing
compared to yours when you shine.”

It was the kindest and most loving thing my
sister had ever said to me. I should have responded back lovingly
and we could have had a moment but I was still too angry. I
couldn’t help myself, I was so furious and defeated, “You have
Shane, how could you do this to him Alise?”

Alise frowned, “I only dated him because it
seemed like the right move, like we should be together. I honestly
don’t think he even likes me. He doesn’t even kiss me. It's been
like nine months and nothing, I get it though his parents have a
lot going on but come one nine months and nothing.”

I blocked out her ramblings. I felt tears escape
my eyes, I was trying so hard to rein them in but they were
rebelling and streaming down my cheeks.

“I love you Aimee and when I find out who did
this to you I will make them pay forever.” Her stare became
malicious and sinister as she looked off for a split second.

As suddenly as it all started it was over and
Alise stood up and left my room, waving goodbye to me. I understood
her less it seemed than I had thought I did and oddly enough felt
better from the weird moment. Alise truly did have a magic about
her, being angry with my sister was near impossible.

I didn’t know what to do about Blake, I felt
betrayed but for some reason it felt like I knew this would
happen.

I looked at Giselle who suddenly smiled, “ok
that was weird.” She whispered.

I laughed feeling about the same, it was as if a
truck had hit me and I was left with all the pieces sitting on the
floor, “I’m sorry. My family has been a little freak show lately. I
really didn’t see that coming though.”

Giselle nodded smiling, “Yeah dude your sister
has never cried in front of me except at your mom’s funeral which I
will say was not as many tears I would have thought she would have
shed. That was awkward, so you like that Blake kid?”

I nodded my head slowly, “Yeah I did and she
knew I did, I thought I did. It just seemed like the way things
would go, a natural progression I guess. We make sense to be
together. We are both smart and easy going but passionate about
things we believe in. I’m a vegetarian and he doesn’t eat red meat.
Sort of like her and Shane I guess.”

She laughed, “That is the dumbest thing I have
heard a smart person say. You can’t build love and a relationship
on facts and statistics and similarities. I think it’s safe to say
you’ve never been in love Aimee. But your sister is right you will
have an amazing love when you find it. You’ve held out for so long
when it happens it’s going to rock your world.” I laughed more at
Giselle than with her. Alise and Giselle treated me like a spinster
because I had yet to fall in love at eighteen. They acted like it
was thirty.

I shook my head, “I think I will probably end up
the lonely old Miss Havisham with cats and craziness.”

She frowned, “I don’t know this Havisham lady
but I doubt you will be lonely.”

The doctor came into our room smiling but his
eyes looked off, “Girls do you want your assessments alone or
together?”

I looked at Giselle and shrugged, “I’m good
together, we are in the same boat.”

Giselle agreed, “Yeah go ahead.”

He swallowed hard, “Not really the same boat
unfortunately but if you want your parents here let me know now,
you're both eighteen so they don’t have to be here unless you want
them here.”

I shook my head and Giselle looked down shaking
hers knowing her parents wouldn’t come anyway.

He cleared his throat and smiled weakly, I got
scared.

“So Aimee your liver appears to be on the mend I
wouldn’t recommend drinking again for a long long time. You may not
ever be able to tolerate fatty foods and drugs and alcohol ever
again. But we are seeing a reduction in ALP levels and your
symptoms are diminishing rapidly. We have every reason to believe
you will make a full recovery over the next few months, very
limited exercise and a lot of sleep.”

I nodded, “okay I’m a veggie anyway and I never
do drugs or drink so basically live my life the way I do anyway and
avoid parties. Yeah I’m good with that.” I nodded feeling the clean
bill of health just around the corner.

He smiled at me, “Yes that’s excellent that
you’re already used to this because there is some permanent damage
to your livers bile ducts at this point but you seem to be having
some regeneration.”

He cleared his throat again and shook his head
staring down at the floor, “Giselle your body seems to have had
something we almost never see. You’re going to be transported to
the main Children’s in Portland. You seem to have had an allergy to
the drugs you were given. This is not something we see often. Your
liver is reacting like it has cirrhosis of the liver, liver
disease. We have found your ALP levels are very high and your
direct bilirubin is normal so we think it's a cirrhosis type of
reaction. Your symptoms are not decreasing at all. I am so sorry.
Do you have any questions?”

Giselle looked at him and then at me and shook
her head, “No, no this isn’t right. Your tests are wrong. I feel
great.” Tears sprang from her eyes and then mine.

“Giselle we are heli transporting you within the
hour to Children’s because we want those tests to be wrong. I have
left messages at your home but no one has returned the calls. Are
your parents away? We haven’t been able to reach anyone for you.
Your friends handed in your medical information from your purse
when they checked you in but no one is answering the numbers we
have on record.” He spoke softly, the news was so bleak it was
bothering the heartless doctor.