Chapter 11 [[Year 13]]

Chapter 11 [[Year 13]]

Marc-Andre’s POV

 

I stared at Vero and I clutched onto Victoria’s hand tighter. Something must be really bad, I’ve never seen Vero like this. She’s always been collected, no matter how mad she has gotten at me.

“Thank God you’re home Marc!” Maman exclaimed before seeing Victoria “Oh..and you brought Victoria too.” I know Maman didn’t like Vicky, she thought she was “loose.” That was personally my favorite part.

“Yea…I was just wondering..if I could go to Vicky’s house..” I said trailing off and Victoria giggled. How could she be laughing when Vero was trying to stop her tears?

“Marc-Andre, can I talk to you in the living room?” My maman hissed at me, trying to keep her voice calm. I nodded, oh man, was I in for it. I walked into the living room as slow as possible.

“Don’t you see that Vero’s distraught!” She whispered-yelled.

I picked my nail beds self-consciously, trying to act like it was no big deal. “Yea, what’s up with that?”

“Marie is going to the hospital and I don’t know what kind of condition she’s in. Apparently Veronique found her.” Mom explained.

I locked up in shock. “What’s wrong with her?” I asked.

“I don’t know, I was thinking you could ask her. After you send Victoria home of course.”

“About them Mom…can I please go to her house, her parents are home, I promise.” I begged.

She stared at me in shock. “You’re best friend is crying at our kitchen table and you don’t want to stay with her? She’s always been there for you Marc-Andre!”

I shrugged, “Well my girlfriend needs me so..can I?” I asked.

Mom looked at me in disgust. “Sure Marc-Andre Fleury, go. You’re obviously not the young man that I raised.” She said before standing up and going back into the kitchen. I followed her and saw Victoria gabbing to Vero at the kitchen table.

“So oh my gawd, Vero, where did you get that bag I saw you bring to school yesterday? It was so ca-yoot! I just have to get it.” She exclaimed.

“Oh um, I dunno.” Vero said shrugging and looking down. I shook my head in disbelief before saying. “Come on Victoria, my mom said I could go.”

She immediately jumped up. “Sweet! I hope your brother..or sister..or whatever is okay, Veronique! See you at school on Monday.” Victoria said before jumping up. I took her hand and walked out of the house, trying not to drown in guilt.

 

Vero’s POV

 

I glared at the back of Marc’s back, I can’t believe he was picking that sluts side over mine. M. Fleury came in the kitchen holding keys, “Hey Vero, I can drop you off at the hospital now.” I nodded my head glumly and followed him to the car on autopilot. We drove to the hospital in silence. “Merci,  M. Fleury, I appreciate everything.” I told him.

He shook his head. “It was nothing Vero, please update us when you get information.” I nodded my head and ran into the waiting room where my papa was pacing around anxiously. “Veronique!” He yelled out before enveloping me into a tight hug.

“Is she going to be okay?” I asked, letting the tears fall down my face.

He hung his head. “She’s anorexic. Her body literally ran out of juice to fuel her..I’m her dad..I should have noticed.” He said before crying also.

I had no idea what this medically means, but all I know was that it was bad.

“Can I see her?” I begged.

Papa nodded, “She’s in the ICU unit though and she’s hooked up to a lot of different wires. She’s been put on sedatives, but I think she likes having her hand being held.” He told me. I walked to her room and gasped at the sight of my big sister lying so pale and weak on the hospital bed. I suddenly got angry, Marie was supposed to be my big sister that protected me. She wasn’t supposed to be in this hospital bed. Instead of letting it out though, I just held her hand and wept.

 

Next Morning

 

         Time seemed to go by dreadfully slow last night. I only dozed off for a few hours. I was alone with Marie, because maman and papa had to go to work. I know that they are secretly stressing about the hospital bills. I heard footsteps coming into the room and I assumed it was one of Marie’s friends, they have been dropping in and out regularly this morning.

“Vero?” A voice so familiar to me I could remember it in my sleep asked me cautiously.

“What are you doing here, Marc?” I hissed, still not facing him.

“Why do you think silly? I just love walking around hospitals. No, I wanted to see how you and Marie are doing. I brought flowers…” Marc-Andre said, acting like nothing had happened last night.

“I’m surprised you’re not too busy with Victoria.” I retorted before spinning around and finally facing him.

“V, I’m so sorry last night. I just didn’t know what to do. Hey, I promise I’ll make it up to you.” He explained.

“You’re not going to have that chance.” I said flatly.

He looked bewildered. “Why?” He asked.

“The second you chose her over me, we stopped being friends.” I said.

I heard him gasp, “Veronique, please no! You have to be kidding!” He begged.

“I mean it Marc-Andre. Get out.” I said coldly.

 

And then I had to pretend that every step that took him further away from me, didn’t break my heart.

Chapter 10 [[Year 13 and 14]]

Chapter 10[[Year 13]]

Marc-Andre’s POV

 

         I let go of Vero almost immediately, I was shocked. It had never occurred to me to kiss her, she was always just my best friend. I had no idea why that had come upon me. I do have to admit, when she was defending me it was a bit….sexy. I shook my head, I HAD to stop thinking like this. I mean Vero’s the girl that sees me when I first wake up the morning and I let her do things to me that I would never let any one else with boobs to do to me. I now had to turn my attention to her.

She was bright red and was tucking a strand of her long, dark hair behind her ears. “Um..Marc-Andre, what was that?” She asked timidly.

I self-consciously ran my hand through my hair. “Uhh, it was a thank you.” I tried to explain.

She smirked at me, “You thank all of your friends like that? I’m sure they love that.” She commented trying to lighten the situation.

“I mean, it was just a really important thank you. I mean like, there was no tongue or anything. It was like a thank you hug…just with our lips.” I tried to explain, but failed miserably.

“If you would have used tongue, I would have smacked you.” Vero said gagging. I was slightly offended by this comment. Sure I was lanky and had skinny legs, but in my opinion I was pretty good looking.

She immediately saw my hurt and spoke up. “ I mean if I had to kiss any one with tongue, I mean I would kiss you! Not that I want to kiss you with tongue or anything because you’re my best friend! But I mean if I had to..” She smiled sheepishly, “just forget that I ever said anything.”

I nodded, “Forgetting this past twenty minutes would be a good thing. Deal?” I asked holding out my pinky. She took my pinky with hers and we pink swore.

But it was back to being awkward. “I’m just gonna go…over there.” She pointed to a direction behind me.

“Ya, and I’m just uh going to go over there…” I said pointing in the opposite direction of her. We both went to move and bumped into each other. I grabbed her arm and pulled her to the left slightly, and I went to the right. I never thought a kiss I did could be so awkward.

 

[[Year 14]]

Vero’s POV

 

         For the first couple weeks after that kiss, it was pretty awkward. Marc-Andre and I skirted around each other for a while, before he got a girlfriend. His girlfriend is Victoria, and she just hated me. I had finally become popular. I was the girl every one wanted to have sleepovers with and I had the “wardrobe to die for.” I thought I would be so excited when this day happened, but I was actually sad. Marc-Andre and I never hung out like we used to do, just spending all day Saturday’s hanging out in my room. I was thinking about this when I walked to go to the bathroom and I turned the doorknob. To my surprise, it was locked.

“Marie! Hurry up, I really have to go!” I whined impatiently and began jiggling the handle. There was no reply.

“Marie come on, just tell me if I should go downstairs?” I asked while still jiggling the handle. No reply again.

“Marie…” I asked starting to get worried. I ran into my room and got a hairpin and then picked the door open. I almost fainted at the sight in front of me. The toilet lid was open and there was blood and other particles in the toilet. Marie was passed out next to the toilet with a toothbrush in her hand. She looked so pale and I could see every rib in her. I screamed loudly.

“Marie Oh my god! Maman, papa, au secours! Marie, réveillez-vous s'il vous plaît! Marie! Quelqu'un de l'aider, s'il vous plaît!” I screamed panicky and began to sob. I knelt down her and put my fingers to her neck, she had no pulse. My Maman and Papa came running upstairs. Maman immediately began crying when she saw Marie and ran to go get the phone. Papa wrapped his arms around me and wrapped his arm around me, taking my down the stairs. He opened the front door and we started to cross the street. I just realized then he was taking me to the Fleury’s house. He rang the doorbell and Marylene opened the door, her eyes widened in surprise when she saw the state I was in. Mme Fleury was right behind her.

“John, what’s wrong?” She exclaimed.

My dad sighed. “Veronique found Marie in the bathroom…” he paused because his voice got shaky and he dabbed his eyes, “it doesn’t look good. I don’t want her to be around.” He said barely being able to finish.

Mme Fleury nodded and immediately wrapped her arms around me and I saw my dad sprinting across the street before she shut the door. She sat me down in the kitchen table and wrapped a blanket around me before setting down a large steaming mug of hot chocolate. I just sat there, staring ahead. I heard the whines of a siren from outside my house. I could just imagine them loading Marie’s slim, easily breakable body onto the stretcher. Marie and I fought a lot, but I couldn’t imagine life without her. I began to weep silently again. Mme Fleury just sat at the table with me, handing me tissues and making “shhh” noises. Marylene was watching me from the steps.

 

That’s when Marc-Andre came in laughing and spun Victoria around while holding her hand the whole time. The smile died on his lips when he saw me.