Chapter 10.
(A/N: In the song [You'll see at the end where the song is] I probably got some of the lyrics wrong. It's a song I've used before in this story. Called 'If No One Will Listen' - Kelly Clarkson.)
The next two weeks were,needless to say,oddly weird,for me. One day,my doctor walked into my room and said.
"Jesse,I have something to tell you; which I'm sure you're going to love to hear!" I sat up a bit and nodded. He said,
"You're cleared,of everything. You can go home,now!" I satup straight,thinking he was joking,or something. When I realized he wasn't,I said slowly.
"Go.. Home?" He nodded. This shocked me. I sighed,and he explained everything. He said.
"Yes. What we thought,was Cancer,turned out to just be effects from too much partying; which you might want to consider taking a break,from. The complications you were experiencing those few weeks before you came to see me,were from over-doing it. With partying,and such. But,the official results came in a few hours ago,and you're officially cleared. You may go home,now."
This was honestly,a shock for me. He walked out,saying he'd be back a bit later,with sign-out forms. I bit my lip slightly,wondering; a million thoughts running through my head. I got up and headed for Amber's room. I found her on her bed,as usual. She looked up and smiled. I gave a small smile back and sat down on one of the chairs. She gave it a few minutes,then surprised me,by saying.
"Soo. I guess,congratulations are in order. You're going home!" I sat up somewhat,taken aback,slightly. I said.
"Um. Yeah,I guess.." She cocked her head somewhat and said.
"You don't seem too enthused,Jesse." I shrugged. I said,
"I'm just not sure,if I wanna go home. Not sure,if I'm ready. Well,I know I'm 'ready',but not sure if I'm ready to face everything,again.." She said.
"As in?" I sighed and said back.
"Everything.. Meaning,the Media; fans; work; my family.." She nodded,like she undestood. Well,maybe she did. She said,leaning forward.
"I understand,you're scared. But,Jesse,you're one of the lucky ones. You get to go 'home'. Some of us,okay scratch that.. Most of us,aren't that lucky..." I looked at her,curiously. I said,leaning forward also.
"Yeah. Hey,you never told me,what YOUR story,was. Or,is." She smirked and said.
"You haven't,either. Guess we're even!" I rolled my eyes and said.
"C'mon,tell me. Then,I'll tell you mine?" She nodded and said.
"K,deal I guess.." She started her story,to me. When she was finished,I just sat there,shocked and partially amazed. Amazed,at how she'd dealt with this all of her life. She noticed my facial expression and said.
"Please.. Do NOT feel BAD,for me." I shook my head and said.
"I.. I'm not,really." She made an 'O' face and nodded. She said.
"Well,its your turn! Spill." I smirked and finally,told her.
"They thought,I had.. Cancer.." Her eyes widened and she put her hand to her mouth. I shook my head and said,
"Keyword: 'Thought'. I don't,thank God! But,it was from too much partying and all that crap. It kinda opened my eyes,in a way. That,what I've been doing,smoking inparticular,could lead to actual Cancer. Not too sure,if I could handle that..." She nodded.
There was a silence for a few minutes,then I blurted out.
"You're soo damn strong.." She looked at me and said.
"Um.. What? No,I'm not!" I nodded and said.
"Stronger than I am.. I've been a baby through all of this,and you've been at this longer than I have.. God,and I thought MY thing was big..." She frowned and said.
"People tell me I'm strong,yet I don't see it." I said.
"Well,you are." She shrugged. She said.
"It's kind of all I know. It's all I've known,my whole life. It's almost.. Natural,or something to me.. I don't think twice about the **** I go through." I nodded. I said.
"Well,you're strong." She said.
"Thanks.." I nodded; we hung out a bit more,since it was probably my last day,and then I headed off back to my room,to do somethings. I started packing and checked my phone. 2 missed calls. 1,missed call from my mom,the other from my sister. 1 missed text from Jake,and another mixed text from Drew. Then,nothing. I shook my head,laughing slightly. Guess I knew,who really cares about me,now! I finished packing some,then sat down on the edge of the bed. Everything,over the past few weeks,was going through my mind. My doctor walked in and I said,
"Hey.. Would it be possible to talk to you,about something real quick?" He nodded. After I was finished,he nodded and said.
"Of course. I think that's actually a very good idea. I'll get the papers ready. Ooh,Amber wants to see you in the playroom in about a half hour." I nodded and finished packing my stuff.
I went down to the playroom,and saw her sitting where I'd sat when I had sung 'Because You Live'. I narrowed my eyes and she motioned me to sit down. So I did. She started singing.
She said.
"This is called 'If No one Will Listen'." She started the opening the lines,and I immediatly recognized the lyrics.
"If no one will listen,when you decide to speak.. If no one is left standing,after the bombs explode.." She went on and sang,and when she finished,she looked at me. I smiled,for once a real smile. She got down from the thing and walked over to me. She said.
"I think,you know who that was about.." I nodded. She pointed behind me and I looked. My eyes went wide. I said.
"L..Lea?!" My sister. She nodded,and I hugged her tightly. I said,
"God,I haven't seen you in forever!" She nodded and said,
"Same here.." I released her from my death grip and smiled,happy to see her. She said,
"You ready to go?" I looked at Amber,and said.
"Actually.I've got an 'anouncment',to make.." They both looked at me and I took a deep breath and said.
"When I get home,I'm.... Checking myself into...... Rehab.sort of. For too much partying and stuff like that.." Amber looked at me,like she didn't or couldn't believe it. She said.
"Really..?!" I nodded. She hugged me tight. Lea said,
"Wow... That's.. Great!" I nodded,and Amber let go of me. Lea and Amber walked me back to my room to get my stuff,then I was outta here! I took one last look at the room,and sighed.
A few hours later,I was home again.. For real! Felt.. Weird,but definitely nice! My mom said she would stay with me,tonight. To make sure I was alright. I agreed to let her. I got ready for bed that night,getting into my 'own' bed and covered up. I grabbed the notebook Amber had given me at the beginning of all of this,and started writing..
'Entry #6,
Wow.. I made it through,what.. 9weeks?! I'm finally home.. I didn't have Cancer,like they'd initially thought I did. Just crap from too much partying and **** like that. I can honestly say,I've learned a lot,over the past 9weeks. I've learned,how to survive without the partying,the Hollywood image ****,I've learned who REALLY,cares about me,and who's just after my image and/or money. I also,told Amber I'd come visit her,as often as she wanted me,to. She really is,a 'true friend'. She put up with my **** in the very beginning and everything. My mom's staying with me,tonight. Which,I can't say I mind,much. I've missed her,everyone. Oh,I'm also,checking myself into a sort of 'rehab',place. Because,I gotta learn I can deal with **** on my own,and not take it out,(All of the stress/drama) with partying,drinking,smoking,etc. So,yeah. I'll be beginning that,in like a week or something. Not too sure,if I'll be going back to recording,anytime soon. Not sure,if I could 'handle' the pressure from people,right now. I'm sure I could,but I'm giving it a few weeks,or however long,it takes. Well,I'm gonna end this and get some sleep.. At home!
-J'
(6months later..
Access Hollywod:
'Singer/actor/songwriter, Jesse McCartney,is out and about,after his single has been out for about two months.. Here he is..
"Yeah,its been great.."
'The single,which has been named 'Tryin',is a hit. Here's what Jesse has to say about it..
"Well,the title fits into what the song,is about. Which is basically,and do not take this the way or anything,but just about me,needing space,when the pressure starts to choke me,people,everyone just needs to stand back,and like one of the lyrics says,stand back and let me breathe. The song was actually,inspired by someone,not gonna name 'em,but they know who they are.. But yeah,I can't wait for whats to come!"
'Well,there you have it.. And,Jesse has agreed to sing Tryin for us!'
'I really wanna be the best I can,but I'm always fighting.. It's like I always gotta prove myself Sometimes I wish I was somebody else. Now I don't wanna sound like I'm complaining,this is everything I asked for. But I get tired of everyones expectations and I wanna be left alone. Driving through these redlights like nobody can see me,someone screaming self-destruction but I can't even hear them. They wanna hold my hand,but they gotta see,they gotta see I'm tryin' to do the best that I possibly can. Even when I fall down,I gotta be,I gotta be,I gotta be the first one to turn it around.. I'm tryin' tryin'.. I'mma keep tryin'. Everybody always got an opinion,somebody always got something to say. I'm getting pulled in a million directions,sometimes you gotta find your lane. I know you're tryin to stand in my corner,I know you only want whats best for me. But,when the pressure starts to choke me,you gotta stand back and let me breathe. Racing through these redlights like nobody can see me. Lights and sirens trying to stop me but I can't even hear 'em..'
There you have....Tryin!'.)
(A/N Well,sadly this is the ending to 'Miles To Walk' :-( I had A LOT of fun,writing this one! Thanks for reading/commening! Means sooo much! So,thank you!! I really hope,you've enjoyed this one as much as I have! :-) The song is of course,Tryin,by Jesse! :-) Please,comment one last time!! :-) Later..)