This Ordinary Life Read Online Free Page B

which, I see now, isn’t a comic, but a thick text book. I slip into the chair at the foot of Danny’s bed and take a big sip of my coffee. Scalding liquid scorches my mouth and I jump in my seat and spill even more of the steaming coffee all over me.
    â€œDamn it,” I mutter, wiping the burning liquid from my chin. I pull my wet shirt away from my skin, wincing at the heat. I toss the offending Styrofoam cup of too-hot-and-gross-besides coffee into the trash. A few droplets splash up and hit my hand, burning me again.
    Comic book boy chuckles and I look over at his bed, but his eyes are still on his book, his face serious as anything.
    I narrow my eyes. Did I imagine that? He better not be laughing at me.
    His lip twitches, just slightly, but it’s enough for me to see. I stand abruptly and pull the curtain between the beds closed with so much force I’m surprised it doesn’t come off the track.
    â€œMy brother needs to sleep,” I hiss.
    I search my bag for napkins and frown at the coffee stains on my shirt, keeping one ear turned toward comic boy’s side of the room. He doesn’t say anything else, thankfully.
    After a few minutes, I feel a little bad. I mean, the guy is obviously in the hospital and I hope he’s okay. But still, if there’s one thing I hate, it’s being laughed at. Especially after the utterly craptastic day I’m having. I plop back into my chair and roll my eyes to the ceiling.
    Come on universe, make something good happen.

3
    D ANNY IS SET to leave the next day. The tech removes the cap and wires and I wash the glue out of his hair. We’re both exhausted and badly in need of showers. I stand by the window in Danny’s room while he colors and we wait for mom to sign his paperwork and pick us up.
    â€œWant me to make you an Iron Man one?” Danny nods to the coloring book.
    â€œOf course. Make a good one. I’ll hang it up at home.”
    With his tongue caught between his teeth, he frowns in concentration at the page he colors.
    â€œI’m still confused about the knights,” he says, still coloring. “I get the other pieces, but why does the knight move that way?”
    We’d been over this about a billion times since I attempted to teach him chess in a marathon session last night.
    â€œYou just have to practice and get used to it. All the pieces have their own way to move.”
    â€œNo, I
know
that.” He looks up at me and rolls his eyes. “But the knight is
confusing.”
    â€œWe have a set at home. We’ll play tonight, okay? We’ll practice some more.”
    This seems to satisfy him enough to go back to his coloring, and I look up at the clock. School is probably out for me today, but I’d like to at least try to call Ms. Hudson to see if I can salvage any hope for the Get Up and Go internship.
    Fat chance.
    At least I get another day without seeing Sebastian. Him and whoever that girl was. Who knows how far the gossip has spread. Another day out of school and maybe it’ll be old news by the time I get back.
    I bend to touch my toes, trying to stretch out the ache of sleeping in the hospital recliner-bed thing. It’s cracked leather and stiff, even if it does open pretty far and they do provide sheets and pillows. And anyway, it was only one night this time.
    Mom got called into work last night. She works as a bartender, not coincidentally, I’m sure, and works tons of late nights, as well as some afternoons. On one hand, I know it seems way messed up of her to leave the hospital when Danny was doing an overnight, but on the other, even I have to admit, we need the money and she does make decent cash in tips. And Danny was stable, not a single seizure after that one at home. Plus, I’m here for him.
    â€œI’m gonna go get a drink, Danny. Be right back?”
    My brother smiles widely at me and nods. My stomach squeezes on itself. He’s such a sweet kid. What