Chapter 8

            The warm, calm evening brought about excitement for Jen.  Tonight would be her first date with Drew.  She had been waiting for this night ever since he asked her in the car while they were driving home from the hospital two days ago.  She decided to wear her favorite light blue dress.  It had thin straps at the shoulders and ran just above her knees.  Now it fit loosely around her waist, just how she liked it.

The only makeup Jen wore was her light red lipstick, blue eye shadow, and blush.  She adorned herself with her favorite pair of silver earrings and necklace along with a slight misting of Tommy Girl perfume.  "Drew's gonna love this," she said, looking in the mirror.

            "Honey, he's here!"  Mrs. Dawson yelled from downstairs.  Jen quickly slipped on the shoes that matched her dress and slowly made her way down the stairs.  Her short, blond hair swayed back and forth every time she took a step down.  She took the last step and looked towards the door.

            "You look more beautiful than words can describe," Drew commented.  He wore a pair of Kachke pants and light blue shirt.  His hair was slicked back and he was holding a single white rose.

            "You don't look half bad yourself," Jen answered.  She walked up to him and gave him a kiss.

            "Here," he said as he gave her the rose.  "The white rose is different from the red rose because it stands out.  You're like the white rose because you stand out in a crowd.  You're special and I wanted you to know that."

            "Drew. . .  You're too sweet.  That's probably why I love you so much."

            Drew smiled and said, "Let's go.  I'm taking you to dinner, then we can go for a walk on the beach in the moonlight."  He slipped his arm around hers and they began to walk out the door.

            "Don't forget, curfew is 11.  I want you home by then," Mrs. Dawson yelled.

            "I know, Mom," Jen yelled back.  Drew led her to his car, a shiny new black Corvette.  "Oh, my God!  How did you get this?"

            "I bought it.  Don't worry, it wasn't that expensive," he replied.  Jen didn't care.  She hopped in and they drove to one of her favorite Italian restaurants.  It was a cozy little place nestled next to the beach.

            They ordered their food and talked about how the summer was beginning.  June was almost over and the hot July weather was coming soon.  School was out, but Jen still needed to catch up with her subjects because of her stay at the hospital.  Their food came and they ate.  After they finished, Drew and Jen left the restaurant for the beach.  The moon shown clearly under a blanket of pure white stars.  They drove all the way out to the water's edge and got out.

            Drew turned up the radio just in time for a new song to start.  "I swear, by the moon and the stars in the sky. . . ," it began.  Drew took Jen's hand and wrapped his arm around her waist.

            "This song is so perfect for tonight," Jen pointed out.  She rested her head on his shoulder and they dance until the song was finished.  She reached up and gave him a long kiss.

            "I love you, Jen," Drew said, returning her kiss.

            Jen stared at him for a couple of moments, then laid her head back on his chest.  She felt a strong feeling to tell Drew the truth about her real problem.  Even though she hadn't had another seizure, she knew it would happen one day right in front of him.  The dirty little secret had to come out.

            "Drew, I need to tell you something," Jen began.

            "Go ahead and tell me," Drew said.

            She chickened out.  Jen didn't have enough courage to tell him.  "I love you," she covered up.

            Drew kissed her and looked at his watch.  "It's almost 11.  I need to get you home before your mom freaks out."  Jen got into the car and they drove away from the beach.

Hours Later in Jen's Room

            "Why didn't you tell him?  Why?  Why?  Why?"  Jen asked herself over and over again as she hit her head with the pillow repeatedly.  "I chickened out of telling the man that I love about my seizures.  How can I be so afraid?"

            "Jen, are you okay?"  Mrs. Dawson asked as she opened the door.

            "Yeah, I'm just telling myself how stupid I am for not telling Drew my secret," Jen answered.

            "You haven't told him about your epilepsy?  Honey, he needs to know.  What if you had a seizure during one of your dates?"

            "But Mom, what if he breaks up with me because of that?" she asked, almost beginning to cry.  "I love him."

            "Think of it this way, it's a test of your love.  If you tell him and he breaks up with you, then you don't need him.  If he stays with you and keeps saying he loves you, then it's worth it," Mrs. Dawson said.  She gave Jen a comforting kiss and began to leave the room.

            "Thanks for the talk, Mom.  I really needed it."

            "Go to bed and get some sleep," she answered with a large smile on her face.

The Next Morning

            Jen sat at the breakfast table picking at her stack of pancakes.  Even though they were drenched in syrup and powdered sugar, she wasn't hungry.  The medication for her seizures was taking it's toll on her.  With each passing day, Jen seemed less interested in food.  She pushed her plate away and went to her room.  Her parents and brother weren't home, so she was able to do anything she wanted.

            The walls of her room were filled with pictures of some of her favorite bands ranging from Matchbox 20 and Savage Garden to the Backstreet Boys and *N Sync.  Jen would now be putting up a new picture, 98 Degrees.  It was one that was given to her by Lisa as a gift.  Drew looked cute, and that was her only reason for putting it up.  The doorbell rang and she ran downstairs to answer it.

            "Hey, Cuz.  Whatcha doin'?"  Jeff asked as she opened the door.

            "Jeff, what are you doing here?"  Jen asked pulling him inside.

            "I've got some semi-bad news to tell you."

            "What's so semi-bad that you had to come all the way over here to tell me?" she inquired.

            "Drew had an accident.  He sprained his ankle," Jeff answered.

            "Is he okay?"  Jen asked frantically.

            "He's fine.  It's not like it broke or anything," he said.  "Lucky bastard.  All he's doing is sitting there and waiting for one of us to serve him.  I'm happy for leaving.  The only reason I came over here was to get you."

            "Okay, wait here until I get dressed, then we can leave for the hotel," Jen ordered.  She ran back upstairs and began to search through her drawers for some clean clothes.  She found her favorite dark red shirt and baggy shorts.  Quickly dressing and putting on her makeup, Jen remembered she still needed to take her medication.  Jeff was waiting for her at the front door, so she decided to take the other staircase to the kitchen.

            A pill was all she had to take.  One small, round gel cap and a glass of water.  Jen gulped it down and turned to see Jeff standing in the doorway.  "What are you doing in here?" she asked, trying to hid the vile of pills.

            "I was looking for you, and what are those?" he answered back as he walked up to her.

            "Nothing," Jen said, trying to cover everything up, but she knew this was the time to spill.

            "Jen, you're hiding something from me.  Are those drugs?"  Jeff asked.

            "Yeah, they're drugs.  What the hell else could they possibly be?"  she retorted.

            "I don't like that tone.  What are they for, Jen?"

            "They're for my epilepsy. Happy now?"  Jen yelled.  She sat down in a chair at the kitchen table to wait for Jeff's reaction.

            "Jen, you have epilepsy? I. . .  I. . . had no idea.  Why haven't you told me this?" he said softly.

            "Because it just happened," Jen began to cry.  "It was caused by the fall.  I didn't want anyone to know."

            "Jen, I know I don't understand what you're going through, but I promise I'll be by your side," Jeff comforted.  He took Jen's hand and held it in his.

            "Promise you won't tell anyone, especially Drew?" she questioned.

            Jeff wiped the tears away from her face and said, "I promise."