a dance with cancer

fifteen

Valentina Karas

Ronan feels much better than he did yesterday, something I'm grateful for. His treatment plan entails five to six days of chemotherapy with enough time for his body to get an adequate break from treatment. It is out of his system for the most part until his next round next week. 

He comes home a week from tomorrow, the same day as Mountain View's homecoming. Katelyn and Layla have stopped trying to drag me to the dance with them and are letting me choose for myself what choice I want to make. To their disappointment, it isn't looking too good. 

Ronan seems excited to be able to come home next week and we talk about all we'll do together when he gets back. He hopes he can see his friends at some point during his week long break from chemo and while I can't guarantee he'll be able to hang out with them the way he used to, it's a necessary taste of home for him.

In the middle of our conversation, my phone buzzes. I flip it over since it was face down on the armrest and see a notification from Asher. It's been almost a full twenty-four hours since I decided to leave him on delivered. I feel bad for ignoring him, but the thought of putting my happiness above Ronan's recovery seems unbearable.

My curiosity gets the better of me and I open Asher's snaps. He is in the weight room with Sawyer, both of them shirtless and disgustingly sweaty. I was aware of his big muscles and perfectly etched abs, but seeing them is enough to make my jaw drop.

"What are you looking at?" Ronan's voice disturbs my thoughts. I look away from my brother without offering an explanation because being caught ogling Asher Mendez by someone as nosy as himself is pretty damn embarrassing. Instead, I impulsively save his gorgeous snap and reply with damn.

Ronan impatiently snaps in my face. "Hello?"

"What do you want?" I question, trying to play coy. 

Ronan, however, is more intuitive than I give him credit for. "V, we've discussed this already. I wasn't born yesterday and you don't have to pretend you're not into Asher."

"That's- that's not true, Ronan." I try to defend myself but my efforts are a waste of my time.

"You looked pretty nervous when he was here last time," he observes, shutting me up. "Valentina, you can't talk to guys to save your life, but you forgot how to talk when he came to visit."

"Shut up," I hiss, horrified that my brother caught on. The last thing I want is for him to feel alienated by my feelings for Asher.

Instead of looking upset, Ronan seems amused. "It was actually kind of funny, to be honest. Nonchalant and cool Valentina forgetting how to talk to people made my day." At this point, I'm horrified and wish I never stalked his damn Instagram in the first place.

At the same time, I'm kind of surprised he's taking this so well. I expected him to be pretty pissed at me for letting something come between our relationship, but he doesn't seem to care. He has given me the okay to keep going, yet something tells me he's not a fan of competing with Asher for my attention.

Thankfully he drops the matter and we get back to talking. At some point, his nurse comes to check on him and exchanges pleasantries with me as well. After she checks his vitals, she leaves to help other patients when an unexpected visitor finds her outside and strikes up a conversation.

My eyes widen at the sight of the hot Puerto Rican. Asher stands by the door, his ungodly straight teeth that look freshly out of braces bared as he greets Ronan's nurse. He is wearing a grey Mountain View baseball sweatshirt and jorts, something not many people can pull off but he can get away with it because he's hot.