There's Something About Nick

As Graceful As A Giraffe Playing Twister

The next day rolled by fast unlike any other. It wasn't long before Amy was walking through the doors of her school. In fact, it was the last time she would ever do this, go to school. Tomorrow she was being shipped off to a city to see someone she had never met and die there alone with no friends than here with people by her side. Today was also the day she would have to face her fear and she knew it.

She kept her head down as she walked through the doors, staring at her feet. She made it to her locker without being seen so far. No Gonna lie, she felt bad. The routine in the morning before school had always been find Nick and then Nick finds Charlie but she couldn't come to face them. The thought was too terrifying.

Amy had made it through half the day without being spotted by them or seeing them at all. Oh no, what if they didn't come to school? What if they were all sick? Would Amy ever get to say goodbye? But her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar female voice.
"Amy!" Darcy shrieked.
Her eyes widened as she turned around to see one of her friends running down the hall. Oh no.
"Amy!" She was engulfed in a hug.
"Darcy. Can't breathe," Amy gasped.
"Sorry. I missed you too much."
Oh no. If her friends couldn't go a weekend without her then how were they supposed to live out the rest of their days? Especially her long best friend, Nick.
Tara came up from close behind. "She really did."
Amy gave a fake laugh in return before becoming very serious. "Listen, I have to tell you guys something. It's serious. Maybe we can meet at lunch in the courtyard? Gather everyone."
"Is everything okay?" Tara asked.
"Everything is fine." The belle rung. "Got to go."
"Okay," Darcy frowned. "See you at lunch!"
"See you!"

It was lunch when Amy found herself waiting for up to thirty minutes before everyone had arrived at the picnic table and found a spot to sit.
"Hey guys," Amy forced a smile but he rest of them knew it was fake. "I wanted to tell you all something."
Amy had expected Nick to speak but he refused. He stayed quiet and still.
"What is it?" Darcy urged, leaning forward.
"The real reason I'm moving to Toronto is because..." it was time and this talk was way over due. "I have... I haven't been feeling well. Actually, I feel fine but I have some bad news. I..." she sighed and took a breath.
"You don't have to tell us," Tara shook her head.
"No, I do. I won't be seeing you guys anytime soon because the truth is I have cancer. I don't know what kind or how I got it or how long I've had it but my parents think there are doctors that can fix me." Tears stained her face as she spoke. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier but the longer time that passed, the more the feeling gnawed at me from the inside. Nick, I'm sorry. I should have told you earlier, I know we tell each other everything."
But all he could manage was to shake his head. He couldn't believe it. Well, he could because he had already known but this was her idea of telling them? A day before she left on school grounds at lunch? Out of all the times and places she probably had picked the worst. Nick didn't even stop to think that she had spent all this time practicing how to tell them because he was too busy on how she did. Shaking his head, he stood up from the bench and walked away without a word. What was his plan if Amy had never told him? Maybe he was to confront her about it or maybe he was going to pretend he never knew. Either way, he couldn't bring himself to follow through with that idea because this was all too much too handle.
As Charlie and Tao rang after the human golden retriever, the girls surrounded Amy in a hug. Nothing was going to plan.
"It's okay," Elle reassured her.
"Yeah, yeah it's okay," Darcy nodded.
Tara began to cry from seeing her bestie cry. "This is terrible!"
"I'm sorry," Amy stuttered as she cried out. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
Amy could feel her chest become heavy and her breathing slowed. A panic attack was coming and she could feel it. She knew it and anyone could have guessed that it was because of the stress from the cancer.
"It's alright. There's nothing to be sorry for," Elle reassured but Amy doubted her.
"I'll go after Nick," Darcy told the others before running off towards the school.

Meanwhile Nick was having his own breakdown near some lockers in the hallway. Sliding down his back, he ended up crying into his knees. It was official, he thought. He was going to lose his best friend. Forever. Multiple students walked down the halls giving short glares and glances to the adult crying alone, but none of them stopped to see if he was okay or comfort him. Although, nor did Nick care. Eventually, Charlie caught up and knelt down beside him. Darcy ran past Tao and ran to the other side of Nick. However, Tao ran from far behind gasping for air.
Nick hit the lockers behind him as he screamed. "AHHHH!!"
"It's okay," Charlie comforted him.
"Nick, Amy feels terrible for keeping it a secret. Please come talk to her," Darcy begged.
Nick shook his head. "No. No, I can't."
"You can," she nodded. But it was already too late.

Back in the courtyard Amy was sprinting as Elle and Tara desperately tried to match her pace and keep up with her but they were multiple feet away. Amy had broken from their grasp and planned on running home. She messed everything up, maybe she should go to Toronto and start a new life there or rot away in a hospital. Either way she couldn't stay here. Too many bad memories, too many good people.