My Almost Best Friend

Chapter 35

Chapter 35:

It's been four days since I've talked to any of my friends.

It's Wednesday now and I haven't made it to school once. Today won't be any different.

I want to talk to somebody about this but honestly can't think of a soul to tell.

Claire, Amarys, Trevor(who's name I can't even think anymore whithout getting emotional), Anthony, my brother, my mom. The only people I've ever loved can barely stand to look at me.

Well, with the exception of my mom, but I don't think she'd be much help in this situation.

What I would want to be sympathy would just turn into a lecture for following Claire's bad example. Or for lying.

Emma.

I don't know why I think of her now, but I do.

I can talk to her. She's always been there for me and is not only a cousin, but one of my best friends.

I pull out my phone to text her, but hesitate.

She's been really busy lately with school, her huge family, and especially her new job at the hospital, but I figure I can try.

Hey, wanna meet up later for lunch?

I send it and all I can do is wait hopefully.

She doesn't answer immediately, so I get dressed and make my self actually look presentable, which is also a first for these past few days.

I was just on my way to Jimmy Johns for my work break! Wanna come?

I reply so quickly it's almost sad, but I'm excited to actually talk to someone my age who doesn't hate my guts.

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"So the whole tree house came crashing down?!" I laugh as I eat my sub.

"Yes! We told Dad he'd break it but he wanted to prove us wrong! Showed him!" Emma laughs, reminiscing at her newest crazy family story.

"He wasn't hurt," she adds, "But he sure had to put up with the wrath of all the younger siblings."

It's so nice to actually get to laugh about stuff with her. I told her about me and Claire not being friends anymore, but spared her the details.

I'm not quite sure I'm ready to bring up my fights with Amarys and Trevor. The ones I actually care about.

"So how's the hospital?" I ask, taking a spoonful of my sundae.

"It's really cool! I'm sure that'll be my job when I grow up!" She says, bright-eyed.

"Does it ever get boring?" I ask. "Being there so much?"

"Um, not really. I actually see a lot of my friends. Your's too! You'd be surprised to find out how many people have people to visit there."

"My friends?" I ask cautiously.

"Well, like Trevor's there all the time."

"Trevor? With who?" I can't help my self from wondering why he's been going on secret hospital trips.

"Um, usually Amarys," she says casually. "I thought you knew he came often?"

"He must've forgotten to mention that to me," I say in disbelief. Another secret he's been keeping.

"I think he's there now actually," Emma informs me. "We could go sort it out with him if you want?"

I consider just leaving him alone. Im not sure if I want to know about him and Amarys coming here together.

But, I guess my need to no the truth outweighs the fear of what that truth might be. So I say, "Let's go."

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"So I need to sort these blood samples," Emma says, after we both sign in. "But you can go find Trevor and Amarys. They're usually in that wing," she points to the furthest left hallway, "Try the waiting room."

I guess this is it. My chance to find out if Trevor's been playing me.

I don't want it to be true.

I just want to say it was a stupid fight the other day. That we can still be together.

The waiting room is almost empty. Not a sign of either of the two.

Now I'm curious.

If the two of them are visiting a friend, then they should be out here. Unless they went in with the patient.

I head to the main desk and take a quick look at the sign-in sheet.

It clearly says on the line a few below the top:

---------------------------------------
Amarys Green- 11:36 - Check up
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Who has a check up in the hospital?

I check the clock above the desk that reads 1:42.

They should be done soon, I figure, since they've been here so long, so I take a seat and flip through some Home Cooking magazine.

I do this for about ten minutes, and when they still haven't come out, I go back to find Emma.

"Did you find them?" She asks when I get there.

"No, but I saw Amarys' name on the sign in sheet," I respond. "Are visitors allowed to go in with the patients? I mean it was only a check up right?"

"Um, yeah he could've gone in with her," she says quietly.

"This whole time I thought that they were visiting someone else. Not that they were here for Amarys. Who has their good old doctor check ups in the hospital anyways?" I ask her.

She looks at me with a confused expression, and then her eyes widen.

"Sh...," She pauses, "She didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?" I ask slowly, but the pit in my stomach is already warning me that bad news is coming.

Emma is staring at me with disbelief now.

"Just tell me Emma!" I say now, irritated because of the dozens of possibilities floating in my mind.

"Bree," she says softly. "Amarys has stage four cancer."