Miss Matched // Thomas Sangster Fanfiction

Chapter Twenty-Seven - Flakes

Thomas sits in the passenger seat of the rented car, feeling exhausted. It's nearly five in the morning and his parents are only just dropping him off back at the school. They'd arrived hours before, but Thomas had remained by Ava's bedside with his parents all night long. Finally, when the doctors told them that they wouldn't have any new information for at least twenty-four hours, his parents insisted that Thomas go back to school.

His mum had said, "Thomas, dear, you need to get some rest. You've done far too much tonight."

"But, Ava-"

"We'll keep you updated on how your sister is doing," they'd insisted. "Now, go to sleep. You look dead on your feet."

Thomas didn't have much choice in the matter. He'd tramped out to the car with his dad, while his mother remained at the hospital with Ava. The car ride had been silent. He barely said goodbye to his dad as he got out of the car and shuffled into his dorm as quietly as possible, so he wouldn't wake Dylan.

Honestly, Thomas probably could have stomped and crashed into the room. Dylan was fast asleep. Glancing at Dylan's sleeping figure, it strikes Thomas just how odd it is to think how Dylan is completely unaffected by Ava's illness. Today's events have completely turned Thomas's world upside down. Yet, everyone else keeps on living. The world keeps on turning. It seems like nothing will wake Dylan after a few moments, so Thomas doesn't bother keeping as quiet as he kicked his shoes off. Finally, he collapses into his bed, fully clothed.

He looks out of the small window by his bed and sees that snowflakes have started falling and sticking to his window pane. Thick, fat flakes have already accumulated on the ground just in the few minutes that Thomas has been inside.

Staring out the window, Thomas reflects on his first day at Gandy Academy with Ava. At that time, Ava had seemed so grown. In her high school uniform, saying hello to other girls her age and trying very hard to make friends. Again and again, he thinks how small Ava looked in that hospital bed.

Why hadn't he paid better attention to his sister? She'd been complaining that she wasn't feeling well. He should have known. He should have done more! Guilt sets in, and Thomas can't help but feel that this whole thing is partially his fault. Maybe he could have prevented this.

He thinks back to his conversation with the doctor, hyperfocusing on every single detail. Replaying it agonizingly in his brain.

"Doctor, my little sister is laying in a hospital bed, my parents are hundreds of miles away, and I need to know how to handle this situation," Thomas's voice is desperate. "Please. What is the worst this could be?"

The doctor sighs, and seems to give in, quietly offering, "Why don't you sit down?"

Glad that it seems he might finally be getting some answers, Thomas sits. Just to appease the doctor. He would much rather be standing, but he can't think about that right now. All he can think of is that this doctor knows something he doesn't.

"All right," Thomas says with an air of finality. "What's wrong? What's the worst?"

With a deep sigh, and eyes full of pity, the doctor says, "It could be cancer. But let's just wait for the tests, okay?"

Cancer.

With these thoughts torturing him, he falls asleep. Unfortunately, his dreams don't even provide him much of a release either. Instead, they're full of worries and terrible nightmares.

Thomas doesn't wake until around 11:00 AM, when there's a knock on his door. Groggily, with reality settling on him again, he stumbles to the door, opening it hesitantly. Mr. Jill stands on the other side, clearly analyzing the state that Thomas is in. He looks a little remorseful. Thomas isn't sure if it's because of Ava or because he has obviously just woken Thomas up.