Uniting the Souls (Souls of Chicago #6)(43)

Sean was really easy to talk to and I found myself laughing with him a lot. We had many things in common, including music, video games, and books. I was disappointed to find out that while we were the same age, he was home schooled and wouldn’t be attending the public school with me.

“I’m trying to convince my parents to let me go, but I don’t know if they’ll go for it,” he said.

“Why would they say no if they know you’d rather go there?” I asked.

“Because I get sick a lot.” Sean stared at the ball in his hand for a few seconds and then looked up at me as if he were deciding whether to tell me something or not. “I used to have leukemia,” he finally blurted out.

I’d heard the word before and I was pretty sure it was a type of cancer, but beyond that I didn’t know anything about it. My stomach knotted and I wanted to tell him I was sorry, to ask him if he was alright, but he was watching my face closely and I knew that how I reacted would make the difference in whether he stayed or went back to his own house. I liked him and I was in desperate need of a new friend so I kept my face blank when I spoke.

“You said used to, right?” I asked.

“Yeah, I’ve been in remission almost a year now,” he answered cautiously.

I shrugged my shoulders and then held my hand out. “They should let you go to school. Maybe we’d even end up in the same classes,” I said casually.

I held my breath, praying I’d said the right thing. Sean stared at me for what felt like ages and then the most beautiful smile spread across his face, lighting it up and it felt like Christmas and my birthday all in one. He tossed the ball to me and we resumed our game back and forth as we laughed and joked and got to know each other.

Sean went back inside when he heard his mom calling him, after explaining that she worried about him way too much and preferred it when he stayed inside where she could see him. He rolled his eyes and laughed, but I could tell it bothered him. I would’ve gone crazy if I could never go anywhere or do anything. Maybe his mom would let me come over to their house sometimes, that way Sean and I could still hang out.

I went back into my house and told my parents all about my new friend. I wasn’t even sure they got a word in during dinner, but they looked happy to see me finally smiling again. Their happiness turned to concern though when I told them about Sean being sick, but I assured them that he was in remission, because Sean had made that sound like a good thing. They frowned when I told them about Sean wanting to go to school and I saw them exchange a look. My parents did that a lot, communicating with each other with just a look. They said it was because they were in love, I just thought it was weird.

As soon as I got to my room, I logged onto my computer and searched leukemia, hoping to learn everything I could so I wouldn’t say something stupid in front of Sean. I was surprised at how many different types of leukemia there were though as well as things called stages and treatment options and big medical terms that I couldn’t even begin to pronounce. Frustrated, I shut down my computer and went to bed.

The next day, my mom baked a cake and asked me to carry it as we walked over to Sean’s house. She told me she wanted to introduce herself and get off to a good start with the neighbors, but I knew she was up to something. I didn’t get to ask her more about it though because the door swung open and Sean’s mother was standing there with Sean smiling at me over her shoulder.

Sean’s mom invited us in to have some cake and she and my mom seemed to hit it off. Sean took me to his room to show me his video game collection while our moms had coffee. By the time we left their house, Sean’s mother had invited me to come over whenever I wanted and had told my mom that she would talk things over with her husband. They’d hugged each other and then my mom and I walked back to our house.

“What was all that about when she said she’d talk to Sean’s dad?” I asked.

“Oh, I just talked to her a little about how it would be nice if the two of you could go to the same school. She said she’d talk it over with her husband,” Mom answered nonchalantly. I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and she turned back when she realized I was no longer beside her.

“Are you serious?” I asked, getting excited.

“Don’t get your hopes up too much, I don’t want you to be disappointed. They may still say no. I can’t imagine how difficult it is to let your child out of your sight after everything they’ve been through.”

I heard what she was saying, but all I could concentrate on was the fact that there was a chance, a possibility that Sean and I could spend the school year together. I grabbed my mom in a bear hug, not caring that we were standing out where anyone could drive by and see. At that moment, I wasn’t a fifteen-year-old boy trying to be cool, I was a fifteen-year-old with a mom who could work miracles.

I looked up and saw Hudson and Isaac each smiling as they listened intently to my story. My heart actually felt lighter as I talked about Sean, even better than when I had told Caleb and Giovanni. Of course, I’d given them a much more condensed version. With Hudson and Isaac, I found myself wanting to tell them everything.

“Sean and I saw each other nearly every day after that. The only time we missed was when he had to go to a doctor appointment, but each one of those ended in good news and finally, by the start of the school year, his parents had agreed to let him attend the public high school with me.” I smiled at the two men across from me.