This Ordinary Life Read Online Free PDF Page A

did he ever do to deserve this? To get stuck with a crappy mom, a dad who left when he was only a baby, and seizures on top of it? Poor kid. I pull open the curtain separating the beds. Looks like comic book boy is still sleeping, so I move quietly through his side of the room and into the hallway. I decide to forego the crappy coffee and grab a soda from the family fridge instead. Caffeine is caffeine, right?
    I stand in the hallway, drinking my soda and watching the banks of elevators. Thanks to my early birthday, a few more months and I’ll be eighteen. Then I’ll be able to sign Danny in and out as needed. Waiting for Mom is always ridiculously long. She is the Queen of oversleeping and running late.
    Whatever. I better get back. I slip quietly into our room.
    â€œHey Sunny.”
    My head whips to comic boy, sitting up in bed with a (I have to admit, though it pains me all the way down to my glittery painted toenails) cute smirk on his face. A handful of freckles dust his cheeks, which lift as his smile widens. His front tooth is the slightest bit crooked, I notice, but it gives his smile character. He’s definitely cute.
    â€œExcuse me?” I cross my arms, careful not to spill yet another drink and embarrass myself again.
    He casually tosses a paper airplane up in the air and catches it again. “That shirt,” he says. “I noticed it yesterday. Sunshine. Sunny. Cheerful. In a place like this, it’s kind of nice.” He winces when he says the words and I soften, hoping he’s not in some kind of pain.
    â€œUm,” I say. “Are you okay? I mean, God, that was rude. I’m not, like, asking why you’re here or whatever. I just noticed you made a face so I thought maybe you were hurting or something. Forget I asked. Sorry.”
    Oh my God Jasmine, can you stop talking now?
    But comic book boy laughs. “No, nothing hurts. I’m good. Was just wincing at my sort of awful line there about your yellow shirt being nice. I mean, what self-respecting guy says that? And I can’t even blame it on good drugs, because they didn’t give me any this time.”
    This time.
He must be a frequent flyer too.
    â€œAnyway,” he says. “If you can forgive my complete lack of coolness in conversation starters, I think we got off on the wrong foot yesterday when you slammed the curtain on me.” He shakes his head, mock serious. “I’m not always great with girls but I don’t usually get that kind of treatment when I’m in a hospital bed.”
    My ears burn. “Sorry,” I say. “Bad day.”
    The sarcastic look leaves him as his eyes slide to Danny’s side of the room, where my brother still colors, deep in concentration.“Yeah, of course. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be insensitive. Once again, my jokes fall on the dumb side instead of funny.”
    â€œIt’s fine,” I say, noticing how the blue of his eyes is almost precisely the color of the absolute best summer beach sky.
    â€œAnyway, I’m Wes.” He holds out a hand for me to shake and I walk to the side of his bed.
    â€œJasmine.”
    â€œWell Jasmine, it’s nice to meet you. Though if it’s okay, I prefer to call you Sunny.”
    O-kay. Considering I’ll talk to him for all of a few more minutes, he can call me whatever.
    His skin is really warm and dry and his fingers grip mine a second longer than they need to.
    â€œAlso, good to see you’re sticking with cold, non-burning drinks today.” His eyes dance with mischief.
    I roll mine and finally pull my hand away. He looks healthy enough and there is no sign around here of what’s going on. I’m actually considering how to ask when he opens his mouth.
    â€œI know what you’re thinking. Why is this perfect specimen of a guy holed up here at St. Bonaventure Pediatric ward?”
    â€œNo, I wasn’t. I was just going to say—”
    But of course