Chapter 15

But now there's the "Retard"…the "Freak". Nadine has made the greatest strategical blunder in the ‘Popularity War'. She has openly befriended Roosevelt High School's #1 Pariah…Adele Wilson. Even the slightest association with the "Freak" will bring on an unpleasant ribbing from fellow classmates…but to admittedly be her friend…this surely is more than enough to tarnish anyone's popularity…even someone as well-liked as Nadine Martin. And Christy's ready to see to that by setting things in motion during gym class. As the cacophony of shouted, multiple directing orders; the high-pitched squeaking from the rubber soles of dozens of pairs of sneakers; and a bouncing ball feverishly pounding against the hardwood floor reverberates throughout the entire gymnasium while the boys play basketball on one half of the gym floor…the girls are preparing to engage in a game of volleyball on the other half. Christy's up as server; with Nadine standing directly in front of her in the next row. She intentionally aims and slams the ball into Nadine's upper back. An irate Nadine spins around and faces Christy, as she feistily shouts… "What's your problem?" Christy maliciously retorts, "No problem. I guess I'm just retarded…so I suppose that means you'll be asking me to the movies and having lunch with me?" All the other girls laugh while a mortified Sarah, who's standing beside Nadine… embarrassed for her friend…remains silent. Nadine turns back around. "Whatever." After class, Nadine's at her gym locker getting ready to get changed, when Sarah sits down on the bench next to her and says, "We need to talk." "Okay." Sarah scans the area to see if anyone's in earshot before she continues… "Look; I know Trudeaux stuck you with Adele Wilson for that class project…but maybe you should back off this whole ‘friends' thing with her a little." "What do you mean?" "I mean…" she quickly looks around again, "people are starting to talk." "So?" "So…come on, Nadine…this whole thing's ridiculous. I mean; him forcing you to be friends with her like…" "I like being friends with Adele. And I think you would too, Sarah; if you'd just give her a chance. She's a really nice girl." "Look…I'm sure she is. The thing is…" Sarah becomes quiet. "What?" "Nadine…hanging out with her is starting to ruin your reputation." "Ruin my reputation? What reputation?" "You know…your popularity." She sheepishly explains, "People see you hanging out with the weirdo…they see you differently. You're not as popular anymore, Nadine… and the more time you spend with Adele, the more popularity you lose." Nadine indignantly responds, "First of all, Sarah; Adele isn't a weirdo…she's a kind, sweet person. I'm proud to be her friend. And I really don't care if that makes me less popular. Besides; what does popularity have to do with anything anyway?" Sarah defensively rationalizes her position, "Popularity has to do with everything, Nadine…after all, this is high school; you know. Whether you like it or not, this is one big popularity game here. And having the wrong people on your team will cost you the game." Nadine lets out a short laugh…not one of amusement; but more like one saying ‘I can't believe what you just said'. "Whatever…I don't care. I'm going to stay friends with Adele no matter what people say…even you, Sarah." Nadine removes her gym uniform shirt, just as two girls walking down the aisle are passing by. They suddenly stop and gawk at Nadine's back. The first girl exclaims, "Jeez, Nadine; how hard did Christy hit you with that ball?" "Not that hard; why?" The second girl doubtingly remarks, "You sure about that?" Nadine immediately looks over her shoulder, down towards her back, to see what they're talking about. Sarah also examines Nadine's back. Nadine possesses a melancholic air about her, looking extremely pensive; as she waits on the sidewalk in front of the school for her mom to pick her up. Cheryl's car pulls up, and Nadine listlessly enters it. As they drive off, Cheryl begins speaking to Nadine; who seems to be detached from her surroundings while remaining in her own world. "Guess what…I finally sold the Donnelly house…which means I'm looking at a nice, big commission soon. So, I was thinking; since you missed out on seeing the movie last week…what do you say we go to the mall this weekend for a little shopping spree?" There's a brief lingering of silence before Cheryl looks over at Nadine; who still appears to be deep in thought. "Okay; what's the matter?" Nadine suddenly emerges from her trancelike state. "Huh?" "I asked you what's wrong." Nadine unconvincingly replies, "Nothing's wrong." "Oh really…because I mentioned the words mall and shopping spree; and I got no reaction from you whatsoever…you just sat there like a bump on a log. So spill it… what's going on?" Nadine hesitantly begins to respond, "It's nothing; really. It's just…" She becomes silent again. "Just what?" "Remember when I told you how the kids at school are always picking on Adele?" "Yeah." "Well…some of them are starting to give me a hard time about being her friend. Even Sarah thinks that I should stop hanging around Adele because I'm becoming ‘less popular' because of it." "I see. And what do you think?" "I think that they're wrong…and I really don't care what they think. I like being Adele's friend…and I'm going to stay friends with her; no matter what." Cheryl proudly smiles at her daughter as she tells her, "And that's what makes you the special person that you are. That's one of the reasons why I love you so much." A partial smile emerges on Nadine's face. "Thanks, Mom." "So, that's it then…that's what was bothering you?" Nadine sullenly admits, "Actually…no…that wasn't it…really…" there's a lull in the conversation before she continues, "Today in gym, Christy Rosenberg hit me in the back with a volley ball…" Cheryl exclaims, "That little…well, what else would you expect from her. You know; her mother was the same exact way back when we were in high school, and…" Nadine cuts off Cheryl. "Mom…" There's another brief moment of silence as Cheryl looks at an apparently distressed Nadine. She asks her mother… "Can you pull over for a minute?" With growing concern evident in her voice, Cheryl asks, "Why; what's going on, Nadine? You're starting to scare me now." "Mom…please…just pull over, please. I have to show you something." Cheryl pulls the vehicle over the first chance she gets. There's a worrisome look on Cheryl's visage as she watches her daughter, who remains solemnly sitting in silence, for a couple of minutes before finally asking… "Well?" Moving very slowly; Nadine turns her back towards Cheryl and pulls the back right side of her blouse down far enough to reveal a large, dark-bluish bruise covering part of her upper back. Cheryl's eyes shoot open and immediately begin tearing up as she instantaneously draws both hands over her mouth and gasps… "Oh God, no!" She begins to slowly shake her head in disbelief. "No." Cheryl and Nadine are holding hands, sitting in front of a large mahogany desk; each wearing a transparently contrived smile in a desperate attempt to reassure the other. It's been about nine years since they've been in this office; and even though the room's décor has changed several times over the years, the aura remains the same…a morose, burdening sensation of unrelenting despair mixed with a fleeting desire for an optimistic outcome. Dr. Minoit enters the office from the exam room, flipping through her file; then takes a seat behind the desk and continues skimming through the pages. Cheryl and Nadine take one last quick look at each other, release hands, then turn and watch Dr. Minoit. When he finishes reviewing the results, he soberly looks to them. "There's no easy way to tell you this; so, I'll just come out and say it. I'm sorry, Nadine; but it looks like its back." Cheryl shoots rigidly upright in her seat and begins to vehemently dismiss the diagnosis. "No! It can't be…it just can't. You told us it was gone. She's been fine. She's fine." Dr. Minoit reaffirms, "Cheryl; there are no hard set rules when it comes to dealing with cancer. Again…I'm sorry…but it looks like she's out of remission. The leukemia's returned."