CHAPTER 43

With a moan, Waawaate turned to face Bugz, who sat in a chair next to his hospital bed. A heart monitor beeped. An IV dripped. A fan on one of the electrical components whirred dimly in the background. His illness seemed to be progressing rapidly, and Bugz could read the signs on his face. Chapped lips, pale skin. He smiled. As weak as he looked, his eyes still twinkled. He’d gone home a few days after his collapse and diagnosis, but returned to the hospital after passing out again. The internet’s most dire predictions about his condition ran through Bugz’s head over and over again.

“Hey.” Bugz made note of Waawaate’s raspy voice as he spoke. “Do you think you could get me a pop from the vending machine downstairs?”

“Umm, are you allowed to have that?” Bugz asked.

“It’s not going to kill me.”

“Don’t talk like that.”

“I never knew you to be superstitious, Bugz. Well, get me a diet pop then. Seriously, diabetes is the least of my worries right now.”

“Waawaate, I was watching videos on cancer, and you have to eat right too…”

“I will. I just want a pop, okay? I’ll get right back to the straight and narrow after.” Waawaate grinned, flashing Bugz a glimpse of his charm. She relented with a nod and left to fill his order, scanning her phone the entire time. She bumped into Feng and together they carried two sodas to Waawaate’s room.

Pushing the door open, Bugz froze momentarily when she saw the visitors. Stormy, seated on the end of Waawaate’s bed, turned and flashed Bugz a huge smile. Chalice sat in the chair Bugz had occupied a few minutes ago.

“Hey, Bugz!” Stormy beamed, all of her perfect white teeth visible. “I figured we’d see you here. I’m really sorry for how things went down last time. Really sorry.”

Waawaate looked on with a faint smile.

“Me too, Bugz.” Chalice cleared her throat. “That wasn’t the real me. I get carried away sometimes, and I’m sorry for what I said to you. You too, Feng.”

“Did my brother ask you to say that?” Bugz claimed the chair on the far side of the hospital bed. Feng chose to remain standing. She handed a soda to Waawaate, who handed it back and nodded for her to open it. The bottle made the sound of an eager release.

“No, I didn’t ask them,” Waawaate said after taking a sip of his drink. “But I’m glad they did. Thanks, girls.”