Backstage by Mandy Bee (guided reading books TXT) 📕

sick all my life. My lungs are not healthy. I have chronic bronchitis and cough variant asthma, the doctors give me meds that can help but these illnesses can’t be cured. I guess I coughed hard in my sleep, again not new to me, and the blood and phlegm ended up on you and me. I’m really sorry.” I look at the floor, I can’t believe this is happening.

“Hey, it’s okay, it’s not your fault.” He puts an arm around me and holds me close. “What does she need? Do we need to call a doctor or something?” He asked Chris.

“No, I listened to her lungs, she is congested but not too bad. She has to start taking her cough syrup, and get plenty of rest. If she is no better in a few days I’ll take her somewhere to get an x-ray. I think this may be a small chest cold starting but she’ll be okay.”

“How do you know how to listen to her lungs? Are you sure we shouldn’t take her to the ER or something?” Justin is still holding me, it’s sweet how worried he is.

“No, she will be okay, I just need to watch her. Her doctors back home taught me what to listen for and told me what to do. Like I said none of this is new to us.”

“Okay, if you’re sure.” Justin says to Chris. “Do you need anything? Something to drink or eat?” He asks me, I can see now I’m going to have two worried boys watching me.

“I’m fine, but it’s late I think we all need to go to bed.” I start to stand up and they both jump up with me, I just roll my eyes at them.

“Flower, how did he get blood on his shirt?” Chris asks as if it just hit him. Oh this could be bad.

“Um, we were watching TV and I guess I fell asleep, I must have leaned back onto him.” I’m biting my lip.

“You leaned back onto him? You mean you two were cuddled up watching TV and y’all fell asleep together.” I glance up and Chris has his arms crossed and Justin is behind him trying not to laugh.

“That’s one way of looking at it, I guess.”

“Well lets just get you to bed. But I want a word with Justin.” He looks back at him.

“Please be nice, we were just watching TV.” I hug Chris and tell him goodnight and wave at Justin. Once I’m in my bunk I hold my breath trying to listen to what they are saying, but it couldn’t be too bad because I hear them laughing. With a sigh of relief I snuggle into my bed and drift off to sleep.

TODAY IS ANOTHER driving day, but I don’t care now that I have my back room. When I woke up I could feel the congestion in my chest. I was honest with Chris and he said we would get an x-ray tomorrow. He told me that he let Dave and Scott know about what was going on, and about my past health problems. I wasn’t really okay with this but there was really no reason to keep hiding it from them. Once I showered, ate and took my meds I grab my blanket and headed to the back room. When I opened the door I was shocked to see Justin in there.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll come back later.” I said and went to turn around.

“Wait, you don’t have to go. I was just working on a new song. If anyone should go it should be me.” He gets up and starts cleaning up some papers.

“If I promise to be quiet can we both stay?”

“Why would you need to be quiet?” He asks half laughing at me.

“You are working on a song, I don’t want to distract you.”

“It’s fine, please come in. Are you going to work on your cross stitching?”

“Yeah, that’s what I had planned…..” I walk in and shut the door, I toss my blanket on the end of the couch, but I just stand there.

“Flower, I don’t bite you should know this by now. Just sit down, you need to be resting anyways. Chris told me you weren’t any better today.”

“When did you talk to him?” I snap, I don’t want them talking about me behind my back! My health has always been something that was just between Chris and I. Having others know about it, and actually worry about me is still new and scary to me.

“While you were in the shower, I went up to get a drink and asked about you. Why are you getting upset?”

“Because I don’t want you two talking about me being sick behind my back! This is not something I let a lot of people know about and I never thought I would have to tell you so……just don’t talk behind my back! If you need to know something ask me!” I grunt and go sit in my corner of the couch. I know I shouldn’t be upset but I am. I’m upset and scared and I hate feeling this way.

“Okay calm down, I’m sorry.” He’s right beside me once again, usually I love this but right now I want to punch him.

“Whatever, I’m going to put my earbuds in and work on this project for your mom. Just go work on your song.” I’m trying to be nice but it is hard for me when I’m upset.

I stick my earbuds in and crank my music, I start stitching and before I know it I’ve lost myself in my work. When I look up I see that Justin is no longer in the room, when did he leave? I look at the clock, it’s a few minutes after two in the afternoon. I get up and stretch my back, I need to eat and take my cough syrup. I head up front but I can’t see anyone, then I notice we aren’t moving. I’m so