The side effect of dying

Part XIV: Dying

*Gus POV*

Okay, the whole Tori-Nick thing is freaking me out. Nick told me to take care of Tori but I don't know what the hell he's talking about.

But then, I heard that they seperated and Tori stopped going to school.

Nick wouldn't talk and that annoyed me. I'm his best friend, for god's sake!

He grew aggressive during the football practice and he avoided everyone. Including me. Which pisses me more off.

Penelope knows something about that but she wouldn't budge either. All I know is that Tori is in deep shit- Or Nick is the shit.

I wouldn't know!

I was lying on my bed the day before the big game when I recieved a text from Tori;

Can I talk to you?

I replied: "About what? And where the hell are you?!!"

"Nick. Me. You. But mostly me. I'll tell you everything."

It was 10 PM but I got up, put on jogging pants and sneaked outside to the park.

Tori arrived ten minutes later, wearing her hoodies and pajama pants.

Did she get skinnier?

"Hi." She said weakly as she sat down beside me.

I wanted to say so much but I couldn't get anything out of me. Instead, I pulled her into a hug. "Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah. I'm just tired." She pulled away and smiled but that smile didn't reach her eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"How's Nick?" She asked.

"Weird. Did you two had a fight?" I frowned.

Tori shook her head. "We broke up. He meant it well, Gus but ... I can't live without him. He's scared as much as I am."

"Scared of what?" My heart was beating too fast.

I watched her as she took a deep breath and looked me in the eyes. "I'm sick, Gus. I'm dying."

I didn't understand at all. She then told me about her heart condition and how Nick wanted her to rest. My fists were clenched too tight and I could feel anger rising inside of me.

"Fuck." I choked. "Fuck Nicholas."

"Don't be mad at him. Be mad at me." Tori insisted, a tear rolled down her pale cheeks. "I'm sorry."

"Stop saying sorry!" I shouted. "Nick is right, you need rest but that bastard shouldn't have left you alone!"

"Gus, stop. I know how he feels. I would've done the same thing." She sighed.

Now I know why Nick told me that I should take care of her.
But it's not right. They love each other and if Nick thinks that staying away from her is the right thing to do then screw him.

"Please rest, Tori. I know you'll get better soon." Even I know I was lying.

"I will." She promised. "Thank you for being my friend."

I couldn't look into her eyes. "Thank you for making Nick happy."

After I dropped Tori off her home, I furiously drove to Nick's place. I didn't care that it was 3 in the morning. I need to say this now.

"Gus? What the-" Nick grumbled but I hit him in the face with my fist.
"YOU LEFT TORI IN HER CONDITION? WHAT THE FUCK?" I shouted and grabbed his collar. "YOU FUCKING IDIOT! STAY WITH HER!" I hit him again.

I never wanted to hurt my best friend. "YOU FUCKING IDIOT! NEVER LET HER GO!"

"Guf, zhof!" Nick held out his hand as he whispered through the blood in his mouth. I think I hit him too hard.

I pushed myself away from him and tried to calm down.

"Tori told you, huh?" He said after he spat the blood out. The carpet now has a huge blood stain on it. Mrs.Lincoln is going to murder me.

"Fuck you. How could you do this to her?" I demanded, the anger rising again.
"I'm trying to save her!" He raised his voice.  "Do you think I'm happy with this? Do you think I want to stay away from her? Do you think I don't know that she's dying? I KNOW GUS! I FUCKING KNOW!"

He sank down on the floor and buried his face in his hands.

"Just think about your and her feeling, Nicholas." I said and left.

This is officially fucked up.

I feel like this is happening too fast but then, I realised that it's been 9 months now since Tori came.

///

Nick was late for the kick off. And Coach was giving me an earful.
"Where the fucking hell is Lincoln?!" He yelled angrily. He had to yell because the audience were already shouting and cheering from the bleachers.

Just then, the crowd cheered louder and I knew Nick just arrived. His face was a bit swollen from my hits last night.

"Sorry,Coach." He apologised and put on his helmet.

"I'm gonna whoop your ass if we lose this one, Nick." Coach replied.

The game was going well but I knew Nick wasn't mentally in the game. He scored two times already and the crowd were chanting his name.
I clasped his shoulder during the half time. "Are you mad?"

"No. I'm rather thankful." He replied dryly and took off his helmet. "Tori was hospitalized this morning. Her mom called me."

"Fuck." I cursed.
"I know." Nick didn't say anything further.

In the end, we won thanks to Nick's grand touchdown.The crowd went wild, there were a lot of screams and shouts and drinks falling.
Coach threw his clipboard in the air and yelled at the opposite coach.

Everyone tried to congratulate Nick but he had run off as soon as the game has ended.

It was that serious.

**

Thank you for reading :) Vote and comment please :)

xoxo, SkyxNiall