Chapter 61

Nadine's sitting up in bed smiling with pride as she watches Corrine and Missy help Adele get ready. She tells her… "You're going to be the prettiest girl at the prom, Adele." "Do you really think so?" "I know so." Adele smiles slightly as she starts to blush. "Thank you." After a little bit of primping of her dress at the deftly hands of Missy, Adele turns to Nadine and suggests, "Maybe I should stay here with you tonight, Nadine." "No…don't be ridiculous. You helped out so much on the prom committee to prepare for it. You're going." Adele points out, "Yeah; but you helped, too." "I know…but I'm a little tired tonight. I just want to stay in bed and watch some TV." "I can watch TV with you and…" Nadine, using an amicable tone, firmly insists, "You're going to prom, Adele…end of discussion." She shoots a smile to Adele; who quickly returns one back. "Okay…if you're sure?" "Positive." Missy finishes adjusting the dress, then tells her, "Alright, Adele; let's go to the bathroom and do some finishing touches to your hair and makeup." Just as Missy and Corrine take Adele into the bathroom, Nadine hears a light knocking on her bedroom door. "Come in." Sarah enters the room, closing the door behind her. When she turns around, she's slightly taken aback; but quickly recomposes herself. At this stage in Nadine's illness, Sarah…like most of the students at Roosevelt High…finds herself a little distraught over Nadine's frail, sickly state; especially now, after not having seen her for a couple of weeks. Just like Eddie…Sarah, Trish and Janice are having a difficult time when in Nadine's presence; because it breaks their hearts to see her in that condition. So, none of them had come to visit Nadine during her absence; and Sarah needs a moment to readjust to looking upon Nadine's near death-looking appearance. Once she does, Sarah manages to uncomfortably eek out a… "Hey." "Hey." "So…how are you doing?" Sarah can't believe what she just said; wishing that she could take it back while shaking her head slowly and lightly knocking her fist on her forehead a few times as she apologizes, "That was stupid. Sorry, Nadine; I didn't…" Nadine softly laughs. "It's okay, Sarah. Actually…besides the whole dying from leukemia part…I'm doing pretty good." At first, Sarah looks a bit aghast over her morbid glib; but when she notices Nadine smile at her, she relaxes and smiles back. "Glad to hear it." Sarah opts to change the subject. "So…is Adele ready?" "Almost." Nadine reaches out and takes a hold of Sarah's hand in a noticeably weakened grip. The first glaring physical deviation from the last time they held hands is how emaciated Nadine's hand , like the rest of her body, has become; due to both her lack of appetite and difficulty her system has absorbing the nutrients from the food she does manage to force herself to eat. Then there's the unnerving clamminess constantly present in her palms these days. Sarah's a little apprehensive over it, and wants to take her hand away from Nadine. But she soon begins to relax…remembering that despite the distressing, deathly attributes, this was still Nadine…and instantly feels comfortable once again holding onto her dear friend's hand. So, instead of pulling away, Sarah slightly tightens her grip on it. "Look; thanks for taking Adele with you guys to prom tonight." "Sure…no biggie." "Also…Adele told me that you, Trish and Janice have been hanging out with her at school since I've been out. Thanks, Sarah. It really means a lot to me…to know that Adele isn't by herself all the time at school." She adds, "Oh…and thank Trish and Janice for me, too; okay." "Sure…I will. But really; it's okay…even kinda cool. I mean…you were right, Nadine; Adele's sweet and…well…I kinda see now why you like being friends with her. She's really nice…and a good friend."