Chapter Five

Approximately fourteen days had flown by. I had become closer to Alli, Nate, Theo, and the gang. Although Mason still wasn't pleased with me being there even after the incident where I admitted that my parents had left.

I had completed my round of chemo sessions and couldn't wait for my two weeks of rest. Josh has been there with me every step of the way and even held my hair back when I found myself throwing up in the bathroom.

The thought of my hair suddenly popped into my mind, making me realize that I would soon have to start explaining to people why I was bald. Dr. Silver had explained that my hair would start falling out in about a month or less. Just the thought of losing my hair was terrifying but I knew that if I wanted to get better I would have to let go.

I was currently lying down in an MRI machine to see the progress I had made over the last two weeks. I was extremely nervous and I suddenly found it hard to breathe. What if it had progressed greatly? I knew that I couldn't expect the chemo to work right away but my hopes were still high. "You can come out now." Dr. Silver called through the intercom. I got out and silently prayed for a change, a sign to show that I will get through this terrifying journey.

. . .

As I sat in Dr. Silver's office, two hours later, listening to the results of my MRI, I realized that my prayers had not been answered. Most of what Dr. Silver had said became a blur up until these few minutes. His faint voice rang over and over again in my head. "I'm sorry....". "The cancer has progressed to stage three....". "We'll have to up your chemo dosage...". His voice faded and I felt tears flowing from my eyes just like how water flows from a fountain. Josh who was seated at my side grabbed my hand as my body began to convulse with sobs.

"No! This can't be happening, please tell me that this is a joke. I don't want to die. I don't wanna die." I found myself shouting over and over again. Josh held me in his arms while whispering calming words in my ear. Dr. Silver was standing there looking at me with a pained and sorrowful expression. I guess it's true what they say then all good thing must come to an end, and this, this was the end of my positive outlook of my messed up life.

. . .

It took a while for them to calm me down, and when I had, I was staring silently at the wall in front of me. Dr. Silver had explained that even though I had done chemo for two weeks cancer had still progressed into stage three. I would now have to continue chemo from tomorrow which meant no two weeks of rest. If this didn't work then I would have to receive a bone marrow transplant.

"I'm sorry I broke down...and I'm willing to do anything to beat this cancer. I don't exactly feel positive right now but I do know that I want to live and I guess that's good enough for me. Is it ok if I go find Alli and Nate?"

Josh took a deep breath before looking into my eyes with tears flowing down his cheeks. "You don't need to apologize for crying. It's ok, you can go find your friends while I get tested to see if I'm a match for the bone marrow transplant ok?" He said, his voice cracking at the end. I nodded and exited the office, releasing a breath I didn't know I was holding in. I made my way to the cafeteria to find Alli and Nate who always seemed to be here. Alli was here every day for chemo and Nate was here because he had to stay in the hospital until he got a lung

transplant.

I found them sitting at their usual table. When they spotted me they instantly knew something was wrong. I sat down and looked at each of them. "Uhm...my cancer is at stage three...I just found out." I said while tears flowed down my cheeks. Alli gasped and sat there frozen but Nate for up and hugged me like I was going to disappear.

I held onto him tightly, praying and hoping that I wouldn't have to let go. I stood there crying into his chest when I felt tingles rush up my spine, and if this wasn't an extremely terrifying moment, I could have sworn that somewhere within me, I could feel myself growing feelings for Nathan.

After what felt like hours of Alli and Nate telling me that I would be fine, they decided to take me out for ice cream but not before asking Josh for permission. Of course, he said yes but he did caution me that I have to be home within two hours. Nate has his tank bag on his back and had his arm around my shoulder once again.

We walked into the ice cream shop and found seats at the front. I propped my elbows onto the table and put my head into my hands. "Hey, stop worrying. When I was first diagnosed it went from bad to worse within a few weeks. But now I'm getting better and hopefully, I'll get a transplant soon." Nate told me. I looked up at him and smiled. "Yeah, I'm going to try to be strong.". "You're already strong, you just don't realize it yet." He retaliated.

"You guys would make a cute couple." Alli suddenly announced causing me to blush. I looked over at Nate who had a flushed face. "Thank you so much, Alli, for ruining the moment," I said sarcastically. She rolled her eyes with a smirk on her face.

I quietly ate my ice cream, hating the fact that I couldn't keep cancer off of my mind for more than five seconds. I really did hope that I would get better like Nate said, just the thought of leaving Josh alone without any other family hurt me deeply. "Nathan?" A voice called out. A short girl with similar features to mine stood at our table smiling shyly at Nathan. "Eliana? How are you?". "I'm really good. I haven't seen you in a while.". "Yeah...I've been uh...busy. Eliana these are my friends Allison and Angelina." He said while introducing us. "It's nice to meet you, Eliana." Alli and I said at the same time which caused us to burst out with laughter.

"Wow! I love your accent Angelina, and it's nice to meet you both too.". Eliana said with surprise laced in her tone. "Thank you very much lad but my accent is not that special," I replied with an amused tone in my voice.

"Eliana is dating my best friend, that's how we met. How is Logan by the way? I haven't seen him in a while.". He's fine, he doesn't really talk much about you but I think he misses you." Eliana explained. "Well, Eliana why don't you join us?" Alli said excitedly. "Oh wow Alli, your excitement isn't noticeable at all," I said sarcastically. They all laughed and Eliana sat down in our booth, soon joining in on our banters and jokes.

. . .

Somewhere along the line, I saw Nate getting paler and paler as the minutes went. I frowned and looked at him with a worried expression. "Nate? Are you ok, you look pale?" I asked quickly. He nodded while closing his eyes tightly. "Yeah, I just think...I can't...I can't breathe." He suddenly said. My body immediately began to panic and I soon found myself standing next to him.

I took my phone out and tossed it to Alli. "Call the ambulance! Now!" I yelled in frustration. I turned towards Nate to make sure he was still conscious. "Nate! Nate stay with me. Your gonna be ok. You're not going like this, you're not gonna die." I told him firmly. He coughed and looked up at me. "Angel...I'm sorry...I don't....think I can.....stay awake.....". "No-no-no. Nate, you're one of the first persons I became close with after a long time. I care about you too much to let you die on me." I yelled at him. I could hear the sirens in the distance. "Wow...Cancer Girl....you care...for me? I knew.....you had....a soft spot....for me." He said between breaths. I looked him in his eyes with my teary ones. He reached up and brushed the tears off my cheek. "Don't talk, keep your breath," I told him softly. He lifted my chin and looked at me with a look of worry and something I couldn't quite make out.

"Can I.....try something?" He asked before leaning in, filling the gap between our lips. At first, I was surprised but kissed back once I realized that the boy I liked was kissing me. The boy I liked? I Angelina Winters have feeling for Nathan Hale. Wow was all I could say, I pulled away from Nate when I realized that his breathing was bad enough.

I suddenly felt myself being pushed away as paramedics rushed to put on oxygen mask onto his face. My breath hitched and tears fell onto my already damp shirt. "Angie come on, we'll go to the hospital and meet them there.". "Can I...can I ride with him?" I asked the paramedic.

He looked at me with hesitant eyes but nodded. I quickly made my way into the ambulance and held onto Nate's hand. "I'm right here Nate," I whispered soothingly. His eyes were closed and he slowly regained some of his colors.

"Ma'am here's his phone. Maybe you should call his parents." The paramedic said with a sad smile while handing me Nate's phone. I quickly unlocked it and clicked the contact as my hand shakes violently.

"Hello, Nathan?". "Hello...Mrs. Hale. My name is Angelina and I'm a friend of Nathan's. Uhm..I'm so sorry but you need to get to the hospital...he stopped breathing for a while. I don't know what happened." I explained that flowing down my eyes once again. "W-What? I-I'll is right there." She hung up and I kept the phone in my pocket. I looked down at Nate who looked peaceful and combed my hand through his hair.

"I told you that you'd be alright," I whispered into the air, forcing myself to stop thinking negatively while praying that Nate would pull through.

. . .

I've been sitting in the hospital waiting room for approximately one hour and twelve minutes. Alli, Eliana and Nate's friend Logan sat waiting with me. "It doesn't make sense. Why would he just stop breathing? Did he forget to check his tank?" Alli said confused. "I don't know Alli, I really don't know," I said hopelessly. "Hey! You're the positive one so start being positive. This is Nate we're dealing with. He's gonna make it through." She said firmly.

"You guys seem like really good friends for Nate." Logan suddenly said. "Yeah, I was having a great time with you guys before uh.." Eliana replied. I nodded, not being able to focus. The doctor wouldn't let us see him unless we were family. His parents had arrived not long after I called them and ran straight to his room.

"Angelina?" I heard a gruff voice call to me. I quickly looked up with a confused frown. "I'm Nathan's father. He's been asking to see you since he woke up so I'm here to take you to him.". "Mr. Hale right I'm so sorry. I have no idea what happened. I would really like to see him." I replied softly. He motioned me forward and I looked around at everyone who gave encouraging nods before following him to room 205.

I took a deep breath as soon as I stepped into his room. A short lady who looked to be in her late thirties day next to him. His mother. They both spotted me and Nathan gave me a small smile.

I rushed to his side and hugged him. "God, you scared the hell out of me. Don't ever do that again." I told him with a frown. He rolled his eyes at me before turning to his parents. "Mom, Dad this is Angelina. My friend and also that one who called you.". "Hi. It's lovely to meet you both.". "Oh, how charming you are! It's lovely to meet you too dear." His mother died kindly but his father just stood there staring at me like a person does his worse enemy.

"Nate? What happened one minute you were fine and the next you were pale." I asked with worry laced in my tone. "I may or may not have forgotten that my tank needed changing so I ran out of oxygen." He replied sheepishly while rubbing the back of his neck. "You need to be careful with these things Nate. You really did freak me out.". "I'm sorry Angel, it won't happen again. Promise."

"It better not.". "Angelina are you aware of Nathan's condition?" Mr. Hake suddenly asked me. "Of his cancer? Yes, I do Sir." I replied hesitantly. "Well then, why did you convince him to do something as stupid as going out when he has trouble breathing?" He suddenly snapped, making me flinch. I looked up at him to meet stone-cold eyes. "Dad, stop we were-.". "No Nathan, if this girl really was your friend she would have cared enough to know that going outside was dangerous for you. She clearly doesn't understand the risks of having cancer."

I felt a few tears on my cheek once again. I glance up at him with hurt evident in my eyes. "Sir, we were at the ice cream shop. It's only five minutes away from the hospital. I had just gotten the news that my leukemia has gone into stage three and Nate offered to buy me ice cream. I know the dangers, I know what you have to go through but I wasn't aware that he couldn't go out in public or I wouldn't have let him in the first place." I said worriedly.

His mother gasped from where she sat. "Mark, you need to apologize to this young girl. It wasn't her fault.". She told her husband firmly. "I'm sorry, I just worry about Nathan sometimes. I bet your parents do the same things too." He said with a small smile. At the mention of parents, I tensed. "Brother, not parents. My brother does the same things. He's a tad too overprotective sometimes." I said softly. Luckily, they didn't press the matter.

"Well, Nathan we're going to go talk to the doctor. We'll send your other friends in too." Mrs. Hale said before taking her husband's hand and walking out. I took a deep breath and turned to face Nate. "Well, that was something," I said awkwardly. He laughed and mumbled a small yes before motioning me to sit next to him.

I slowly approached the bed and sat down, feeling more nervous than I ever have. "I wanna ask you something, Angel." I nodded hesitantly. "Can I kiss you again?" He bluntly said with wide eyes. I laughed at his shyness, feeling more comfortable now. "Yeah, you can.". He smiled and slowly leaned in, his lips touching mine softly. I leaned into the kiss and felt as if I were in a fairy tale movie.

We slowly pulled apart and stared into each other's eyes. I found myself slowly letting go of my worries. "Nate, I-I like you a lot, what does this mean?" I asked him while biting my lip in anticipation. "Well, hopefully, this means that you'll let me take you out on a couple of dates then ask you to be my girlfriend?" He said while rubbing the back of his neck.

I laughed at him and nodded. "I'd like that.". "I like you a lot too Angel, you're the first girl I've liked for a while. You sure are a special one.". "Of course I'm special lad, have you seen me?" I asked cockily. He laughed and nodded. I soon joined in and sat down next to him while he has his arm around my shoulder.

"I'm not hurting you am I?" I asked him with concern lacing my tone. "No of course your no-." He was suddenly cut off by someone opening the door and barging in. "Nathan Hale you scared us all!" Alli yelled at him while stopping next to his bed. Nate rolled his eyes with a grin on his face. "Don't grin you, idiot, I was scared out of my mind.". "Ok ok, Alli I'm sorry for scaring you." He said chuckling, which sent vibrations into my body.

"See, I told you guys you'd make a cute couple." She said oh so bluntly once again. "Yeah yeah, turns out you were right," I said with a glare. Two figures walked into the room and I soon recognized them to be Eliana and Logan.

"Logan? What are you doing here?" Nate spat harshly. "I called him, I thought that maybe you guys could be friends again," Eliana said hopefully. Nate scoffed and had an angry look in his eyes. "I don't wanna be friends with someone who can't deal with me having cancer.". "Look I've said sorry so many times. What else do you want me to do?!" Logan yelled at him.

Nate's Harare monitor started rising rapidly. "Nate! Are you trying to give us another heart attack stop it!" Alli yelled at him. I groaned in frustration and turned to face Logan. "You need to leave, I'm sorry but maybe you should try talking to him when he's better," I said trying to reason with him. "What?! No, I've known him longer than you have. He's my best friend. You're just some girl he met! I bet you don't even care about him!" He suddenly snapped causing me to flinch.

"Enough! You will not talk to her like that! Get the fuck out! Now!" Nate suddenly yelled, causing me to flinch once again. This tone he felt it and pulled me into his side. "Nate wait let me explain-." Logan started. "No Logan I'll talk to you when I'm ready. Angelina knows more about my cancer than you do. She has leukemia and this is stressing her out just as much as it is me. She was just trying to get you all to calm down. There was no need to shout at her. Now leave." He said forcefully.

He nodded and left the room. "Hey Eliana, you can hang out with us anytime you want. You have my number." Nate said. She nodded and gave us a sympathetic smile before leaving the room.

"Well, I don't think this day could get any worse. Though I am famished, does anyone fancy Italian?" I asked, trying to change the subject. "Your accent is so hot, I can never get over it. But yeah I'm good with Italian." Nate said with a grin. "Ok guys, no flirting when I'm present."

"We're not together Alli, not yet anyway," I said with a giggle. She narrowed her eyes at me and a burst of sudden laughter replaced her silence. And that was when I realized that no matter how bad my cancer got, I would still have Josh and my amazing friends to be there with me, and for that alone, I was grateful.