Dying and Everything in between

24| Circling around

─── ･｡•̩̩͙˚｡✧: *. .*:✧•̩̩͙･ﾟ｡───

Lucas was getting sicker by the day and it wasn't only him that started to notice that.

Ever since the day they were locked in the meeting room, Joy and Lucas went back to normal, or well, as normal as things could get between them. It was back to running away from time, thinking they could have more time, more memories, and finish the bucket list.

They still had a couple left, but it wasn't as easy as it was at the beginning. Lately, Lucas had to dump the contents of his already emptied stomach out more frequently than usual. Other times, when Joy and he would walk, he needed a couple of minutes to rest, his body aching, exhausted.

Joy didn't seem to mind, but another issue with him getting sicker is that they had no time to consider what happened between them.

However, part of him wanted to know what they were, and where they stood. Joy hadn't said much since then, and Lucas guessed it would be brought up eventually. Whenever 'eventually' was.

"Lucas— don't you have a wish? Y'know, when terminally ill people are close to kicking the bucket, they get a wish?" Joy asked, after driving for a mile or two in complete silence. 

Lucas, on the other hand, wasn't so impressed.

"What?" Joy deflated when she noticed he was frowning at her.

"I already used my wish," Lucas's nose crinkled.

Joy's expression fell, "You what?"

"Yeah," He shifted awkwardly, fixing his gaze ahead. "I used it as a joke when I first got diagnosed. I decided to go to Disneyland."

"Disneyland. Fucking Disneyland?!" She blinked incredulously at him. "Do you even like Disneyland?"

"Nope and eyes on the road," Lucas shrank in his seat, pointing forward. "I mean, I went with Laura, and it was fine. It wasn't like a bad memory, so don't get me wrong." He meant it, although part of him did regret using his wish on something as generic as Disneyland.

"But you didn't go with your parents? Y'know, I've kinda realized you never told me where they are." She said carefully. And at that, his shoulders tensed. "Do your parents even know you're sick?"

If this was somebody else, he would have snapped at them to mind their own business, or at least say something unpleasant, but it was Joy who asked. Not some random stranger trying to pry into his life and find something to pity, to hold above him, and belittle him in the process.

However, few people knew what happened except Laura and some of their relatives that remembered he existed. Lucas was aware of them only because they sent cards and flowers whenever word got out that he was starting treatment. Otherwise, his world mostly consisted of Laura.

But Joy was different. Somehow, she pried apart his world and fit herself right in smoothly. Even though he absolutely despised her at the beginning, believing she was just like the rest— he was wrong. Horribly wrong, because this douchebag idiot with that stupid, witty smile made his world feel a little less small and a little more special.

So it didn't faze him like it would have when his lips parted and the answer slipped effortlessly off his tongue because telling her felt right. Strangely right. Like he could tell her things, and Joy wouldn't treat him any differently regardless, and that— that was refreshing.

"My parents gave me up when I was young and they don't talk to Laura, so, no. I don't think they know." He said. Joy's eyes widened for a split second before she regained her composure.