Sickness AU [COMPLETED]

♡chapter two♡

•Riley•
Call. Don't call. Call. Don't call.
I slowly typed in Mayas number repeating it in my head.
Call. I pressed the call button immediately regreting it, this is so weird.
It picked up after three rings.
" Hello? "
" Hey Maya, it's Riley. " I said still feeling tensed.
" Oh my god you called. I was thinking you never would. "
I laughed feeling extremely awkward.
" I take it that your not the "call first" type. " She said..
" Nope really, but you are? "
" Someone has to be. So whats up? "
" Nothing much just laying in bed, what about you? "
" At the physical therapist, getting my spine and leg checked out. "
" Oh, do you want me to call back? " I asked feeling guilty.
" Nah. I'm bored. The therapist has been gone for the last hour, I'm thinking of sneaking out. "
" Why do you need your leg checked out? "
" Well when I had cancer the chemo worked in my spine but the osteosarcoma grew back in my legs and I had to limp. I still do. " Maya responded.
" Oh, I didn't notice your limp. "
" Thats because when I meet new people I don't want their first impression of me to be 'The girl with a limp'. So I do my best to walk normal but it hurts, alot. " Maya explained.
" So how would you get out of therapy? Don't they have an alarm? " I teased pulling strings of my blanket.
" They do. I just pull the alarm off and go out the window. You ever done anything like this? " Maya questioned and I smiled.
" Nah. I don't really do much. "
" So like your that girl that sits in her room all day? "
" Yup thats me. " I admitted still smiling.
" We're you always like this? " Maya said. I had to think for a minute.
" Well before I got cancer I played outside alot, got hurt, normal kid stuff. But then I got cancer and stayed inside alot. My friends didn't really like me after that. " I told her.
" When I get out of here can I come by your house? I'm taking you to do things that you've never tried. "
" Um yeah. Sure, do you know how to get here? "
" I think I remember. " She said hanging up.
Why does she want to do this?
I got up from my bed making my way to the kitchen where mom was making breakfast.
" Hey mommy. " I greeted.
She spun around grinning at me.
"Hey baby, how you feeling? "
Every morning mom and dad always asked me how I was feeling. It was like apart of their routine. And if I were to ever say 'I dont feel well' they would put me in the car and take me to the hospital. Cancer parents.
" Good. " Same answer as yesterday, and the day before, and even before.
" Hey um, do you think I could hang out with Maya today? " I asked leaning on the fridge.
" Yeah sure, when is she coming? "
" She said when she gets out of therapy she will come by to get me. "
" Okay. You hungry? "
" Not really, thanks though. "
I turned around running off to my room and into my bathroom. The lights flickered on and I stared at myself and leaned forward.
Lets do this.
I turned on my music Goddess by Banks flowing out.
I sang along while turning the shower on and going to get clothes. I picked out skinny jeans and a flowly white shirt.
~
I quickly got out of the shower tripping over my own feet then getting dressed. I blew dry my hair and left it straight. I winged my eyeliner and finished my makeup. My phone ringed.
" Hello? " I answered
" Hey, I just got home. I'll be over at your house in a few. " Maya said.
" Okay see you then. " I pressed end and shoved my phone in my back pocket then quickly cleaned up my room. I was sitting on my bed scrolling through a fanfic when the doorbell rang. I got up and grabbed my stuff heading to the front door opening it.
" Hey. " I greeted.
" Aww, no fake smile? " Maya teased putting her hands in her back pockets.
" You'll never let that go will you? "
" Nope. " Maya said popping the 'P'.
" You ready to go try new things? " She asked.
" Yeah hold on one sec. " I ran up to mom giving her a kiss and an "I love you" then heading out the door with Maya.
" So where are we going first? "
" Someplace you've never been to. Like have you ever been to Central Park? "
" Maya thats 20 minutes away. " I protested.
" I wasn't asking how far away it was, I was asking if you have ever been. "
I sighed at her sassyness and shook my head.
" No, I've never been. " I answered.
Maya grabbed my wrist pulling me outside to the curb where she called over a taxi.
We both got in the back.
" Central Park, please. " Maya said.
" Have you ever been here? " I asked her. She nodded.
" The first night we got here. I took the neighbors bike and biked for half an hour to get there. Most beautiful thing I have ever seen, even at night. "
" Your mom let you do that? "
" My mom dosent know. Neither does the neighbor. I returned the bike that morning putting it in the exact same spot. You don't do things like that, do you? "
" No. I wouldn't wanna do it alone. "
" Then get one of your friends. Any teenager would love it. "
" Yeah, can't do that either. " I muttered looking down.
" Don't you go to school? Have really awesome friends that you couldn't live without? " Maya questioned.
" I left school when the cancer got too strong. Thats when my friends left me. And when I did start to get better and return to school, nobody wanted to talk to the girl with no hair. So I told my mom and she put me in online school. I have one friend though, her name is Bailey. But we don't hang out, I'm her second choice friend. " I explained staring down at my pink toes.
" Why do you still consider her your friend if she does that? I would've cussed her out by now. "
I laughed and pulled my hair to one side.
" Having one person is better than having none. " I said.
" But being treated right is better than having one person. "
I nodded my head and wiped away the forming tear on my eye. I hated talking about "before". It was depressing, made me feel even more lonely than I already was.
" Are you okay? " Maya checked examining my face.
" Yeah, yeah I'm fine. I just... haven't talked about that in a while. "
" Well I can promise you this, I will be a very good friend to you, if you want. You're someone I wouldn't mind being friends with. " Maya promised putting a hand on my knee.
A small smile formed on my face and I looked up.
" Thanks. I wouldn't mind being your friend either. "
We stared at eachother for a second smiling when the taxi driver pulled over.
" This is your stop. It'll be $10. "
I started to reach my hand in my purse when Maya gave the taxi driver a $10 bill.
" Thanks. " I gleamed getting out of the taxi.
I stepped onto the sidewalk slowling down when I saw it.
The trees covered the walkway little pokes of sunlight peeked through the branches. The leaves blew slowly down the sidewalk into the playgrounds.
I turned twords Maya.
" It's beautiful. " I said.
" C'mon. Theres no kids here yet. "
I followed her to the playground where we both sat on the swings gently pushing back and forth.
" So why are you doing this? " I asked Maya.
" What do you mean? "
" Like why are you bringing me to places I've never been to? "
" Riley, you have cancer. And mine could come back. And with cancer comes the risk that any second you could get sick and sent to the hospital which is where you will take your last breath. Then you will look back on these years as nothing, because thats what you did. " Maya explained.
" So you think I'm gonna die? " I summarized.
" No,no, no. What I'm saying is, my role as your friend is to make sure you have an awesome life. And I wouldn't be doing very well as a friend if I were just to let you sit in your room. "
I grinned. " Thank you. "
" Your welcome, its fun. "
We sat in silence for a bit listening to all the different sounds of nature when Maya spoke up again.
" Have you ever had a macaroon? "
" Whats that? " I questioned.
Maya grabbed my arm again pulling me twords the sidewalk.
" Where are we going? "
" My favorite place. "
We walked a couple blocks stopping infront of a cream colored bakery. I stepped inside instantly becoming hungry from the smell of the desserts.
" Maya! How are you? " A kid came from behind the counter wearing an eyepatch and hugged Maya. He looked familiar.
" Riley this is Lucas, hes from our support group. "
LUCAS THATS HIS NAME!
" Hey. " I greeted shaking his hand.
" What can I help you with? " Lucas asked going back behind the counter.
" Riley has never tried a macaroon before, I wanted her to try one. " Maya said.
" Well theres some in the oven they should be out in a couple minutes, in the meantime do you want want anything else? "
Maya looked over at me and I shook my head.
" No thank you. Wheres Farkle? "
" He went to go lay down in the back, he said that he felt like throwing up. "
" It might be his cancer. When is he going for surgery? " Maya started to walk twords the back and I followed. We walked through the curtain to see Farkle curled up on the couch sleeping.
" Poor kid. He dosent deserve this. "
" None of us do. " Lucas stated putting a hand on Mayas shoulder.
" Lucas hes getting even sicker, I mean he's your cousin. When are you gonna say something? " Maya scolded kneeling next to Farkle.
" Maya, they know about it. They just don't understand how sick hes becoming. "
" Then you need to make them understand Lucas, hes sick. " Maya said putting a hand on Farkles head.
Farkle jolted awake his eyes frantic.
" Farkle, its just Maya. Are you okay? "
" Bucket. Bucket. Hurry. " Farkle panicked. Lucas grabbed a green bucket and gave it to Farkle. Farkle hunched over and vomited. Maya pushed back his bangs with her hand. Lucas put his head in his hands and fixed his eye patch.
I didn't know what to do.
When Farkle was done he looked down and started crying, grabbed the bucket and ran off to the bathroom.
" Whats he crying about? " Lucas asked looking at Maya.
" It's blood. "
Lucas sighed and went twords the oven pulling out the macaroons putting some in a bag.
" You guys should probably go before things get worse. Sorry you didn't get to meet my mom, shes the owner. Maybe next time. " Lucas said directing us both twords the door.
" Stay well, both of you. " Maya demanded hugging Lucas.
" We will. Bye Riley, it was nice meeting you. Come back anytime, a friend of Maya's is a friend of ours. "
" Thank you, you too. "
Maya and I both left the shop and sat on a bench.
" We forgot to pay! " I realized getting up. Maya pulled me back down.
" We don't have to pay there. Well others do but they know I'm broke. " Maya laughed.
" So what is wrong with Farkle? " I asked.
" He has Wilms tumor, its a cancer in the kidneys. He used to be fine but then his parents kinda forgot about it and that sent him downhill. The doctors told him by that by the end of this month he will be in a really bad place. He has stage 4. " She explained.
" Are you guys dating? "
" No. He's my best friend. " She stated.
I gave her a side hug.
" I'm sorry. " I whispered.
" Its okay. Are you ready to go somewhere else or go back home? "
" Somewhere else. " I said getting up smiling.