Sleeping Handsome by Jean Haus Read Free Book Online

upset with him were also there.
    On the day he fell from
a cliff.
    “So what happened,
Zach?” I ask the boy on the bed in a coma who can’t answer me. “Was it an
accident? Did you get pushed? Or,” I swallow the lump in my throat before
finally whispering, “Did you jump?”

~9~

 
 
 
 
    I practically dance into Zach’s room the
next day. “You’re not going to believe it, but I did it!” I throw my keys and they
land on the dresser with a thud. “I told Amanda off!”
    At the end of his
hospital like bed, I grab the rail and swing from it. “I didn’t plan it or
anything. It just happened. She was waiting at my car after school. She wanted,
kind of demanded, we go to the coffee shop where the college guys she likes
hang out. I told her I couldn’t today or tomorrow or the next. She gave me a
weird look and asked me what my problem was. And then it just came out. Like
majorly came out. I told her being the used, bitchy sidekick didn’t interest me
anymore and I was done hanging out with her.
    “After her face twisted
into pure evil, she started threatening me, telling me how she was going to
destroy me. And you know what? I had a revelation. I didn’t want to be a jerk,
but fight flames with flames, or however that goes. So I got in her face and
told her between the multitude of guys she’s done, the twenty some puke
pullovers, and the four pregnancy tests if I were her, I’d keep my mouth shut.
In fact, I’d be real nice to not just me, but everybody in school. Because the
thing I learned best from her is how to spread gossip.”
    I nearly jump off the
bed like a gymnast and twirl over to the bookshelves. “Ha, you should’ve seen
her face. She about blew up.” I squat but look at him. “And you’re so right. I
feel free. And I have to thank you because you inspired me. So thank you,
Zach.”
    I peruse through titles
on the shelf until the sound of a throat clearing almost has me teetering over
into the plush carpet. I use the bookshelf for support and look over my
shoulder to see Mrs. Wallace in the hallway.
    “Paige, can I talk with
you for a moment?” she asks, but doesn’t step into the room.
    “Ah, sure,” I say and
bounce up.
    “How about down
stairs?” she asks.
    I glance at Zach.
“Um…okay.”
    Down the stairs, past
the living room where the nurse reads the paper on the couch, we enter the
kitchen. I’ve never been in here before. I usually just go from the front door
right up the stairs. Though much smaller than our kitchen at home, the room is
nice with warm wooden cupboards and a creamy tile on the counters. She motions
to the small island in the center and I sit on a stool. She leans on the
counter across from me and the tight expression on her face has a streak of
apprehension moving down my spine.
    She takes a deep
breath. “Today’s the last day we’ll need you.”
    My fingers grip the
edge of the counter. Did she find out about the journal? Is she mad I didn’t
tell her? Whatever the reason, I have to talk her out of it. “Why?”
    “Because…” she says as
tears begin to well in her eyes and my apprehension turns to fear. She takes
another breath and the tears flow freely. “Because he’s coming off all of the
machines tomorrow.”  
    For a moment I’m as
still as Zach. Then I jump up, knocking the stool over in my fury. “You can’t
do that!”
    Mrs. Wallace shakes her
head. “I’m sorry, Paige. Zach’s father and I have made our decision.”
    The image of Zach lying
there without breathing and my life without him has me yelling, “No! No! No!
You’ll kill him.”
    Her fingers now grip
the counter as her expression lines with anger. She takes another deep breath
and clears her face. “I understand this is hard for you. I never imagined we’d
come to such a decision, but it’s time. I’m sorry.”
    “Is it about money?
I’ve got money. I could help.”
    She wipes her face. “Oh
Paige, that’s so sweet. But no, it’s not about money,