Hold on Till May

Irmarie P.O.V.

While Gerard was gone, I went through the bag that my Mom brought me. There was extra clothes, a book, my iPod, pencils, color pencils, and a sketchpad.

You may think it's not a lot, but for me, it's everything.

I pulled out my sketchpad and my pencils. I sighed and flipped it to an empty page.

Mom and Dad were sleeping still. It was good because I can have some quiet time to myself. Well, plus the machines.

I sat there, thinking what I should draw. I felt like drawing.

I looked outside for inspiration, but all I saw was the hospital building with other sick people.

I gave a small laugh.

Funny thing is that hospitals is where people are born, but it's also a place where it can be your deathbed.

There was a knock on the door. So I put my sketchpad and pencils away. Mom and Dad woke up.

"Sorry." Said the nurse, Emma. "How are you doing?"

"Fine." I said.

"Is the pacemaker okay? Don't feel dizzy or anything?" She asked.

"No, I'm fine." I said.

"Okay. By the way, you have visitors. Some one by the name Linda and Aaron-"

"Auntie Linda and Uncle Aaron!" I said.

"I'll bring them in." She said then left.

In came Frank and ran to me.

"Are you okay!?" He hugged me.

"I'm fine, Frank." I said.

"He was very worried about you," Auntie Linda said.

"I'm pretty sure everyone of us." Uncle Aaron said.

"So how long do you have to have the pacemaker?" Frank asked.

"Until May." I said.

"She can still do the things she used to do. Except play football or soccer." Mom said.

"You don't even play sports," Frank laughed.

"I know. But I skate." I said.

"Hey, we should go skating next week." Frank said.

"I think she needs to rest, Frank." Auntie Linda said and took a seat.

"No, it's fine. I wanted to go anyways." I said.

"Where's your friend," Frank said as he looked around.

"I sent him home so he can rest," I said.

"Wait, he was here since yesterday," Frank said.

"Actually, he brought me here, along with my parents and my brothers. And he hasn't left the hospital since," I said.

"Wow. He really does like you more than a friend," Frank said.

"You think so?" I asked.

"I'm pretty sure he does. I mean, he stayed here just for you." Frank said. "By the way, I brought you special paper so you can paint on since you're going to be here."

"Thank you, Frank. But, I'm only going to be here for two more days." I said.

"Count it as an early birthday present." Frank smiled.

"Yeah, too early, it's only the beginnings of February." I smiled.

"Hey, at least say thank you." Frank said.

"Thank you, Frank." I said.

"You're welcome." Frank smiled.

"Have you chosen a name for the baby?" I asked Auntie Linda.

"If it's a girl, we have decided Lily. If it was a boy, it's Miles." Auntie Linda said.

"Aw. Congratulations, Linda and Aaron." Mom smiled.

"Anyways. We should plan to go roller skating for Valentine's Day!" Frank said.

"Oh, you only want to go because you don't want to go alone with Jamia." I said.

"It can be a double-date thing!" Frank said.

"Double-date? Who's my date?" I asked.

"Gerard, Buddie!" Frank said.

"I said I like him, I didn't say I was dating him!" I said.

"Okay. Just tell him we're going to roller skate and you want to invite him," Frank said.

"Dude. Have you met me?" I asked.

"Oh, right." Frank said. "But, you guys are close now. So, he isn't a stranger to you anymore."

"Yeah..." I sighed. "Fine. But, what if he has a date?" I asked.

"Bring Mikey then." Frank said.

"Dude, Mikey likes Alicia." I said.

A smirk formed on Frank's face.

"Oh, I know that face!" I said. "I just gave you an idea and now you're planning it."

"You know me so well, cousin." Frank said.

I laughed. "Hey, maybe we can make it into a triple-date thing." I said.

"Triple-date? Who's the third couple?" He asked.

"Ray and Christa. And make it quadruple-date. I know you want Mikey and Alicia to come too." I smiled.

"Okay. Tell Gerard it's a triple-date plus two. And that you and him are the plus two. And that I was the one that invited you two. Okay?" Frank said.

"Okay."

A couple of minutes later, they left. Mom and Dad went to go eat. Lucky. So, I was left alone in the hospital room.

I sighed and grabbed my sketchpad and some pencils. I stared at the blank piece of paper for a while.

I grabbed my pencil as the picture I wanted to draw popped in my head.

I was going to draw a flowers growing in the middle of an old road. As I sketch the stem of the flower, I heard a knock on the door. I quickly put away my sketchpad and my pencils and got out my iPod and pretended to hear music.

"Come in," I called.

"Hey," I heard Gerard say.

"Hey, Gee." I smiled.

"I brought you something." He said and held up a McDonald's take-out bag.

"Oh my gosh!" I said and he handed me the bag. "I love you so much!" I opened the bag and saw the McChickens.

Gerard laughed. "I've never seen someone excited about food before," he said and sat down on the bed.

"You should see my family at dinners in the weekdays then," I said.

"I saw you putting away something." Gerard raised his eyebrow. Damn him.

"Uh. Just a book," I said and ate a chicken nugget.

"What book where you reading?" He asked.

"Uh, City of Fallen Angels." I said.

"Liar," he said.

"What?"

"You're lying. I told your Mom to get you The Fault In Our Stars. Not City of Fallen Angels." Gerard smirked.

"Damn you," I muttered.

"I heard that." Gerard smiled.

"Fine. I was drawing," I said and ate another nugget.

"What were you drawing that you didn't want me to see?" He asked. He looked a little bit hurt.

"Uh, it's just... I don't like it when other people see my art. That's all." I said.

"Oh. Why not?" Gerard asked.

"I don't know. It's just something I like to keep to myself." I said.

"Do you think you can show me one day?" Gerard asked.

"I can show you the one I was drawing." I said.

"Okay."

I wiped my hands on the hospital gown and looked in my bag to find the sketchpad. When I did, I flipped it to the drawing and handed it to Gerard.

He looked at the drawing.

"Wow. You're really good at drawing." He said.

"Thanks." I blushed.

"Why is there flowers growing in the middle of the road?" Gerard asked.

"It's a metaphor. The pavement is the tough time in life. The flowers represent that after the tough times, there are good times. Or that's what it means to me anyways," I said.

"Don't second doubt yourself about this drawing. It's amazing. And if that's what you wanted to draw, then it is." Gerard said.

"Thank you, Gee." I said. "Hey, you have a date for Valentines Day?" I asked. My palms were getting sweaty.

"No, why?" He asked.

"Uh, well, Frank didn't want to go alone roller skating with his girlfriend, Jamia. He came up with this plan that there's like this triple-date plus two more people." I said.

"Triple-date? Who are the couples?" Gerard asked.

"Frank and Jamia, Ray and Christa, and Frank wants Mikey and Alicia to happen." I said.

"Oh. He wants them together." Gerard smirked.

"Yep. So that's another plan. So, will you come?" I asked.

"Sure. But, who's the plus two?" Gerard asked.

"You and me." I said.

"Yeah. I'll be the plus two with you." Gerard smiled.

"Okay. If it gets too awkward, just tell me. Okay," I said and took a sip of my soda.

"Why is that?" He asked.

"Cause I've been in those double-dates plus two things with Frank. And I tell you, they're pretty awkward." I said.

"Okay. And lets say it does get awkward?" Gerard asked.

"We go to the park that is right next to the place and wait for them." I said.

"Okay. I look forward to it." Gerard said.

"Really?" I said.

"Really." He gives me back my sketchpad. "Keep on painting the flowers." He said.

I don't know if he meant it metaphorically or if he actually means for me to keep on painting the flowers. So, I took it as both.