Ellie Haycock Is Totally Normal by Gretchen Schreiber

Author:Gretchen Schreiber
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

Chapter Eighteen

Ryan stares dubiously at the door to the Family Care Home. Outside there is a bus. One we are definitely going to get on, which will then take us to the Moreland Mall.

As much as I want to just not be here, at Coffman, about to have surgery—seeing Jack one more time will be the boost I need to get through it. I nudge Ryan forward. We’re in this together. He glares at me, his brown eyes telling me to back off.

That’s just not in my nature.

“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.” He’s tense next to me, way more than he was when we parted last night. He’s on edge like I’ve never seen him before; Ryan Kim is losing his cool.

“What is it that you like to say? Teamwork?” He narrows his eyes at me and I just smile. Payback is evil and I quite enjoy it. “You need a break from this before it becomes your entire life.” Ryan’s fear is not going to stand between me and my boyfriend.

“We’re still in the hospital,” he grumbles, but inches toward the door.

Starbuck, give me strength.

Mom and Mrs. Kim trail behind us, both of them surprisingly cool about letting us leave the safety of the hospital. There’s a new sense of normal between Mom and me—like there’s nothing standing between us. I don’t have to watch myself around her in fear it will end up on her blog or be used to raise money to support others. If it weren’t for surgery in a few days, I’d swear I was living my best life.

“Got everything?” Mom reaches out to adjust the collar of my jacket, and I let her because this could be the new normal, where she’s just my mom and not my mom-plus-Ellie-blogger. The bombs I worried about when I told her to stop didn’t blow up in my face. She got it. And maybe, like Ryan suggested, I just need to have a little faith.

“Yup,” I say, backing up. Faith. But not that much faith yet.

“Cough drops and your extra battery pack?”

I nod.

“Money I gave you?”

Another nod. Plus an eye roll. This is Morelands, not a trek through the Sahara.

“Call if you need me? I can just as easily drive—”

“Mom,” I say, cutting her off.

“I know, I know you’re a big girl.”

I cover my eyes with my fingertips, embarrassed by her comment. “Mom,” I say, pouring every ounce of teenage annoyance I have into the word.

“I’m sorry.” But her smile peeks through. “Have fun.”

I flash her some finger guns and go rescue Ryan, who still looks five seconds away from giving up on this trip.

“Mind if I steal him?” I say, taking his hand, ready to drag him out if necessary. It’s a trick Mom used to do when I was a kid and thought throwing a tantrum could get me out of tests. His fingers tighten over mine and he shoots me a look. The touch grounds me, and for the

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