Read Perfecting Patience for Free Online Page B

everyday thing for someone to go into a full-blown panic attack around her.
    “Yeah. Just give me another minute.” My throat ached, so I took another swig of the water.
    A few minutes later, we were quickly making our way to the field. It took me a bit to get into the game, but soon I was running up and down the field and making goals. We played hard and won by three points. I was still feeling the relaxation from the pill she’d given me before the game when I made my way back into the locker room. It was as if I’d swallowed magic.
    When I got out of the shower, I made it a point to walk by Hope on the way to my locker.
    “Thanks for earlier,” I said quietly.
    “Anytime. If you ever need another one, just let me know. We all have our moments and my mom keeps me stocked. I have a little something to help you stay alert to study, too, if you’re ever in need of that.”
    The thought of being medicated all the time didn’t fly with me. I knew there were people who took things to bring them down and things to give them pep in their step. Every time I’d been around Zeke’s friends, it was obvious they were all on something, but that wasn’t for me.
    “I appreciate it, but no thanks. Could we please keep the earlier episode between us, though?”
    She nodded her understanding and gave me a friendly smile. “Of course, Patience. If anyone understands these things, it’s me.”
    After I was cleaned up from the game, I met up with Megan. We stopped by my mother’s grave. Megan stayed in the car while I sat next to my mother’s headstone and talked to her as if she were there with me.
    It was the first time I’d visited since we buried her and it was hard. I cried and explained the situation while wishing she were still there with me. She’d have excellent advice. I missed our talks and regretted the fact that I didn’t open up to her. The fact that I didn’t get to say good-bye still stung, but not as bad as it had when it first happened.
    I left purple roses on her grave, her favorite. After a while, I pulled myself off the grass by her headstone, told her I loved her and missed her, and made my way back to Megan’s car.
    Megan said nothing when I got into the car with red eyes, and we didn’t talk until we pulled in the restaurant parking lot for dinner.
    She looked different. Her hair had grown out since the last time I saw her and she lost the multi-colored strands and was going all natural on me. The honey brown suited her nicely.
    She was already in her third semester at the University of South Carolina and looked to be doing pretty well for herself. It was as if we’d gone off and switched positions. I was a mess and she looked like she had her shit together, but I knew better than anyone that it was easy to put on an act.
    It was like old times. Things seemed to be going well for her and I was happy to see her smile, but once I brought up Zeke and the rest of the boys, there was a tiny crack in her façade.
    “It’s good that you and Zeke are doing this. I think y’all are good for each other. So Chet’s doing well?” She nervously played with her straw.
    It took a lot for her to ask about him.
    “He seems to be. When’s the last time you talked to him?” I asked.
    She took a draw from her sweet tea. “Right before they left,” she said sadly.
    I tried to stop my jaw from dropping, but I didn’t catch it in time. “You mean he hasn’t contacted you at all?”
    She shook her head no and her curling-ironed curls fell a little.
    “I’m so sorry, Megan. Here I am talking about meeting up with Zeke and things getting better between us and you’re still pining over Chet.”
    I felt like shit officially. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to still be hoping to hear from or see Zeke.
    “Oh what-the-hell-ever, I’m not pining over his punk ass. I was just asking how he was doing. Honestly, I couldn’t care less.” She called the waitress over and ordered a piece of cake.
    “You