It Was Her Smile (#3)

Chapter Six

Talia slammed the door shut to the supply closet and slid down the wall, tears streaming down her cheeks. Why?? Why did it have to be Maisey???"

The door cracked open and then shut as someone stepped into the closet, "You ok?" Niall's voice came through the dark as he sat down across from her. In all the confusion no one had even noticed his wild sprint after Talia.

"Why did it have to be her?" She cried, "Why Maisey?? She's like a beam of sunshine; She never did anything to anyone! She doesn't deserve this! Why couldn't it have been me?? It wouldn't hurt nearly as many people as it does because it's Maisey!" Talia covered her mouth to hide the sounds of her sobs, "Why couldn't it have been me?"

"You're wrong!" Niall practically shouted, he let out a sigh before pulling her into his arms, "Everyone would be just as sad if it were you, including me."

Talia closed her eyes tightly, leaning into him, "I wish it were me instead... she doesn't deserve this..." She whimpered.

Niall rested his chin on her head, "You wouldn't believe how many times I've had that thought, but it doesn't change anything. And it doesn't help to keep thinking it, we just have to keep moving forward and be there for Maisey. Maisey doesn't want us to be sad and she doesn't want us to treat her any differently."

"She's a fighter... sh-she'll make it through..."

"I believe she will," Niall smiled softly as he pulled away and stared into her eyes, "But we need to be there for her regardless of the outcome."

"I wil. We all will."

_____________

"Edward!!" Lily had slipped away, leaving Maisey in Louis' caring arms so that she could find Edward. The mild-mannered girl suddenly looked like a bomb about to explode.

Edward sat on a bench outside, tears streaming down his cheeks as he looked up at the sky.

Lily walked up to him, her fists clenched, "I understand where you're coming from, really I do! But Maisey has worked hard to keep a smile on her face despite every.... everything she's been going through, and she does not deserve to have us blowing up in her face about this! She's been hurting and afraid that we would either treat her like a baby or exactly like you did!" She ran her fingers through her hair, taking a deep breath as she looked down at the ground, her face red and stained from tears.

"I know ok?" Edward shot up, "you think I don't know that?" Edward sobbed as he turned away from her, "Why does this keep happening to me?" He sobbed.

Lily reached out to touch his shoulder, "E-Edward... I'm sorry..." She didn't mean to blow up...

"It's not you," Edward whispered as he tried to stop crying, "I just...I had a twin brother named Marcus who died of cancer when he was eight..." Edward choked out as he looked at the ground, "And Maisey's like a sister to me so it hurts for her to keep this a secret from me."

Her small arms wrapped around his waist as she buried her face into his back. He hadn't told her this before... so many surprises today and none of them good.. Lily bit her bottom lip to keep herself from crying, knowing that she would probably have a bad bruise there later.

"I just," Edward croaked, "I don't want to lose any of you guys, you guys are like...my family."

"I know... I-I know...." She hugged him tighter, wishing that she could somehow make everything better for everyone...

"I...I need to go talk to Maisey," He whispered as he turned and pulled Lily into a hug from the front.

Lily nodded, "O-okay..." There would be time for her to let her emotions out later... right now, she had to do the seemingly impossible and be strong.

"I love you Lil," Edward smiled softly as he gave her a peck on the lips, "And I know you're holding it all in, so let it out."

On cue, Lily let herself go. She clenched the back of his shirt in her fists as she cried.

Edward gently stroked her hair after pulling her over to sit on the bench, "It's gonna be ok."

"I-It has to be, Edward! It has to..."

Edward smiled softly as he pressed his forehead to hers with his hands on her cheeks, "It will be ok." He said with confidence.

Lily put her hand over his and sniffled, giving him a small smile.

"I'm gonna go find Maisey," Edward closed his eyes for a few seconds, then opened them, "Why don't you go find Talia and see if she's alright?"

She nodded and stepped back, slowly letting go of his hand, "Yeah...."

"I love you," Edward smirked cutely before turning and heading inside to find Maisey.

Lily felt her face flush red as she went on her way to find Talia.

~Edward sighed as he walked into the cafeteria to see Liam, Louis, and Maisey were still sitting at the table. As he approached he cleared his throat loudly, "Maisey, can we talk?"

Maisey looked up at him quickly and put in a weak smile, "Sure!"

Edward motioned over to a table in the corner where they could talk privately.

Maisey followed along behind him, "Wh-what did you want to talk about?"

Edward sat down, "I wanted to apologize and explain why I reacted like that."

Maisey sat down across from him, folding her hands in her lap, "Okay..."

Edward looked down at the table nervously, "I...I have...had a twin brother...his name was Marcus," Edward took a calming breath, "A week after our eighth birthday he died of lung cancer...but no one ever told me. My parents knew but never said anything." Edward winced at the memory, "I lost my best friend at eight years old and what made it worse was that I was the only one who didn't know what was going on. My parents had us go to different schools, or so I thought, but it turns out they never had him in school, he was having chemo treatments while I was being a normal kid. He never complained, not even once. And...I still..." Edward's voice had become shaky as he averted his attention from the table to the window a few feet from the table, "I still wish it would have been me instead of him, he was the smart one, even without being in school, he was talented and he never turned his back on you. He was always there." Edward turned his gaze to Maisey, his eyes filled with tears, "I reacted that way because I felt like history was repeating itself all over again and I was gonna lose you like I did Marcus..."

Maisey Reached across the table, placing her hands over his, "I'm so sorry, Edward..." She said sincerely, her expression sad.

"I don't want to fight," Edward sighed, "I wish you would have told me sooner, but I'm glad you at least told me," He smiled softly.

"Thank you... For telling me.." Maisey grinned, "I have you guys now... I'm going to fight this cancer with all I have."

"You better," Edward smirked teasingly, "I promised Lily it'd be ok, you have to make sure I don't turn into a liar."

She laughed lightly and glanced over at Louis, "I'm not planning on giving up."

"I don't think he would let you," Edward smiled as he stood and ruffled her hair.