Page 16 of Chase
“My sister is type one diabetic. I’m sorry I didn’t see the signs earlier. If I did, I could have stopped this. Why didn’t you tell us?” He looks away and I realise he’s hurt and he thinks it’s his fault.
“Arden,” I say.
He shifts but still doesn’t move. Yasmin places her hand on my arm and shakes her head. Very slowly she sits all the way up and scoots closer to Arden. Cautiously, she reaches her hand out and touches his arm. His finally looks at her just in time to see her throw herself at him for a hug.
I’m not angry, or jealous. Not like I was on the first day.
I’m confused. How did she know that was what he needed? He holds her tight for a few minutes and I notice him relaxing. “I need to check your sugars again and you need to eat something. You don’t want to crash again,” he says while guiding her back towards the seat. I hold her hand while he sets up the monitor and pricks her finger again. After the little machine beeps, he blows out a breath.
“4.2, better but you need to eat. Regularly.” His voice is now firm, and she nods. I have a feeling Arden may be watching her closer now and not because he wants into her pants.
He picks up the banana and hands it to her. Passing the glucose monitor to me.
“Make her finish the lemonade and check it again in half an hour and then an hour. If it drops below 4 call me. Make her eat some more fruit or some biscuits. Watch her though, the come down will be a bitch. Take my car, I’ll get Rhys or Ally to bring me around later. I’ll sort everything here. Just look after her.” He meets my eyes. We communicate without speaking. He knows and understands. Before he leaves, he kisses her forehead.
“Shit Arden, you sound like Mum.” It’s crazy how much he just sounded like Mum when she goes on a medical tangent. Arden ignores me.
“Please listen to Chase. I know this is new for you, but please just let us do this. Is Millie here?”
I’m confused. Who the fuck is Millie? Then it clicks. Her sister. How did he know her name? Is that what they’ve been talking about this week? I’ll press him for information later. I have a newfound respect for my best friend; he has thought of everything. She nods.
“Yeah she is in year ten. I need to stay. I told her I’d wait for her while she’s at practice. I promised her we could have a High School Musical marathon with junk food and chocolate brownies to make up for Dad not being around.” Her eyes start to water. “I can’t let her down. I’m the only person she has that cares.”
My heart breaks a little. I don’t know how to respond. I know what it’s like to only have a few people who care. I’m just lucky I found my best friends and created my own family.
Arden straightens.
“I’ve got it covered. We’ll see you later. Can you message her and let her know Ally will meet her after practice? Leave the rest up to us. Go and rest please. You are no use to her like this.”
She lets the tears fall. If I hadn’t just heard how sweet and thoughtful Arden was, I would punch him in the dick for making her cry.
“What about Wander?” she asks through her tears.
“Who’s Wander?” I ask.
She looks past Arden standing at the door and nods to the teal ’68 Volkswagen Beatle parked 3 spaces over. I don’t know how I missed that this week. That is one epic vehicle and not at all what I was expecting her to drive.
Arden looks over his shoulder and smiles. “Damn Shorty, aren’t you just full of surprises? Where’s your keys? I’ll drive her home.”
“In my backpack in shop class with my uniform.” She replies. He salutes her and steps away. “Eat.” He yells over his shoulder as he walks across the bitumen parking lot.
She sighs and closes her eyes. “What just happened?”
“I have no idea. I haven’t seen him act like that before and I’ve known him since he was five. Can you eat the banana please so that I can take you home to rest?”
She nods straightening in the seat beside me.
Her hand still rests in mine. It’s nice. Her skin is warm. Her hand sends small electric charges into mine. I help her open the banana, so I don’t have to let go of her.
“I don’t want to go to my house. Dad will be home. He doesn’t know about this.”
That shocks me a little. What kind of father doesn’t know that his daughter has some sort of diabetes?
“That’s okay. I’ll take you to my house. Mum is at work and Grandpa Wilson is staying in New Hope this week for a golf tournament.” I whisper as I lean down and kiss her forehead just like Arden did earlier.
“Okay.” She replies as she finishes her banana. I help her move to the passenger seat before getting in the driver’s seat.
“Will we get in trouble for leaving?” she asks as I drive out of the parking lot.
