Page 35 of Eleanor & Grey

“What’s that?”

“Everything.”

11

Eleanor

By the time Mom’s sixth chemotherapy appointment came around, school was back in session. I’d never thought I’d say it, but being back at school was the kind of normal activity I needed in my life. It distracted me from worrying, and I needed a break from worry.

Shay and Greyson made sure to keep my mind busy, too. They’d come over to my house and read books with me, and they’d sit with me during lunch. They’d talk about anything and everything to keep me laughing. Turned out Greyson was the master of telling really bad jokes that didn’t make sense but, somehow, were still funny.

Even on the days when I wasn’t feeling happy, I’d give them a small chuckle.

If Shay wasn’t checking in on me, Greyson was looking for an update.

I needed that. I needed their check-ins to remind me that I wasn’t alone.

One Saturday afternoon, I sat at my computer researching cancer. My parents told me not to search anything on the internet anymore, but I couldn’t help it. It was like an odd addiction that I couldn’t break. Even though it made me sadder, I kept hitting enter on the search engine.

When the doorbell rang, I sat up a bit as Mom called my name. I hurried into the living room, and I stepped back a bit when I saw Greyson standing there in a suit and tie with a corsage in his hands.

“Hey, Ellie,” he said with that Greyson smirk of his.

I raised an eyebrow. “Hi…?” I lowered an eyebrow. “What are you doing?”

“Oh, I was just in the neighborhood and wanted to see if you wanted to be my date to homecoming.”

“Uh, homecoming is tonight,” I told him, confused.

“Yeah. I bought the tickets a few weeks ago, but didn’t want to tell you, because I was pretty sure you’d find a way to talk yourself out of it. So, now it’s too late to say no, and seeing how I’m already in a suit, you have to come.”

Mom snickered a little while I shifted around on the carpeted floor. “I can’t go to homecoming with you.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know, I just can’t. I’m actually busy doing some research.”

“On what?” Mom asked with an arched eyebrow.

“Nothing,” I sharply responded, knowing she would’ve killed me if she found out. “Plus, I don’t even have a dress.”

“You can borrow one of mine,” Mom said, giving me a smile. “I’ll even help you get ready.”

“But what if you need something? What if you and Dad need my help?” That was my biggest fear: something going wrong while I wasn’t around.

“I’m fine, Ellie. Still here,” she said as she walked over to me. “Now, I think you have to give this nice boy an answer. Are you going to homecoming with him?”

I bit my bottom lip as my stomach twisted up with butterflies and worry all at once. I glanced over to Mom and then over to Greyson. Then back to Mom. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“One hundred percent.”

“And if you need anything you’ll call?”

“One hundred percent.”

I sighed and let the worry kind of slide away as more butterflies came in. I turned to Greyson and smiled. “I need a few minutes to get ready.”

“Take your time.” He walked over to the couch and took a seat. “I’ll wait.”

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