Dying and Everything in between

3| Meet and greet

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"So how was the program? Did you like it?" Laura asked eyeing Lucas cautiously when he joined her at the dinner table.

"It was okay." Lucas lied, trying not to meet Laura's eyes.

"You're lying. Jake informed me you weren't there." Laura said, anger lacing her voice.

Lucas thought he could get past the whole "I skipped the group" thing without mentioning it because he was quite the self-certified sneaky bastard, but judging by the disappointment on Laura's face, now wasn't the time to joke.

"Why does that matter so much to you?" He questioned, scooting forward in his chair, not daring to meet Laura's narrowed gaze unless he wanted to drown in his guilt.

"Because you promised you'd try," She answered flatly, pressing her lips into a firm line.

"And?" Lucas inquired incredulously, helping himself to the pizza Laura bought, from the table.

"Lucas, this is the one thing I'm asking you to do," Laura spoke, her tone oddly similar to the doctor's voice she used whenever she tried to detach herself from his medical situation.

"And?" Lucas inhaled slowly, dropping his piece on his plate before leaning back, crossing his arms over his chest, and staring right back at her.

"I don't want to do it, it's pointless."

"You didn't even try!" Her voice broke a little.

"And so? I never tried any damn thing in my life and honestly? I am doing fabulous!" He shot back, watching her bite down on her lip.

"Lucas, this is different," Laura tried, but he shook his head, forcing out a bitter laugh.

"How? It's putting effort into something that'd go to waste in the end. It's like college. Why would I make a friend if I can't stay with them until the end?"

"Luc, it doesn't have to be that way." Oh, but it was. It unfortunately was, and she knew that.

"It would be unfair to them," He deadpanned. "I don't think it's fair to make friends with people with their own things and hurt them more with useless friendships."

"Getting a disease is different from making friends. Luc, it's not so bad—,"

"—I know that," He cried out, "But, I don't want friends. I don't want people to watch me die and feel pity for me." He reached for the pizza and took an angry chomp from it.

"I already have you doing that and you know what? it sucks," He said while chewing, "I'll be honest with you there. It sucks really badly."

A little too late, Lucas realized how heavy his words must have hit because she said absolutely nothing. Instead, she kinda deflated. But right as he swallowed to apologize, the scowl he wore softened as he watched Laura take off her glasses and set them on the table.

"I know it sucks, and I'm trying to make it a little better because I can't do anything else," Laura whispered weakly, staring down at her plate. "You know I'm trying to look for a cure Luc but it doesn't look too good."

"I know," Lucas whispered, shoulders slumping downward, and this time, a knot was tangling itself in his throat.

Having an unstable body wasn't his fault. It was not hers either. It was just the odds of whether or not he was going to be lucky enough to live.