Stage One

Chapter One

Q/N: PLEASE BARE WITH ME.

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on."

― Robert Frost

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You know that feeling when you have a secret that you can't tell anyone. When it's a secret that sends many into shock when they find out. A secret that's tearing you up on the inside to get out. Well, that's how it feels when you have cancer and your keeping it a secret.

Basically, it's hard as hell.

"Hey Mia!" Someone calls out waving at me. From where I'm standing I can't make the person out, all I can tell is they're tall.

I squint my eyes to realize its Bethany -captain of the soccer team-. I really don't like Bethany all she worries about is soccer, and she's really bossy. She's also a huge backstabber, last year she told the whole school that Rachel -her best friend at the time- slept with a thirty year old man who has kids. I know it's scandalous but who rats out their best friends?

"Oh, hey Beth," I say uncomfortably shifting from foot to foot. What does she want?

Bethany's face that was in a smile turns straight into a frown as she crosses her arms over her chest, "Why weren't you at morning practice?" She asks looking me up and down as though she's sizing me up.

Because I had a Doctor's appointment where I learned I had cancer, I think to myself, but I don't tell her the whole thing when I speak. "I had a doctor's appointment, I've already showed coach the note." Now please go away, I add on in my head.

"Well next time you need to tell me a week ahead of time." She demands as if she has to know my whole life schedule.

"The doctor just called out of the blue saying they had to see me as soon as possible." I defend.

This morning the doctors office called saying that they needed to see me as soon as possible. My mom being a worrier told them she could bring me today, since its her off day.

"Well what was so important?" She starts playing with her freshly manicured nails but I know she's waiting for my answer.

The last time I checked this was my personal business and not hers.

"Uh, I have to go now," I say not even bothering to give a fake excuse as I step around her and start heading to my next class.

My mom tried to talk me out of coming to school for the rest of the day but I just couldn't stay at home. I know my mom is probably crying her heart out right now, and I can't bare to see her like that, knowing its my fault. I start radiation in a couple of weeks and I know it's going to be even harder then. Until then though, I'm gonna pretend like everything's normal, I'm not going to let anyone know of my condition, until there's no way I can hide it anymore. I don't want anyone to look at me with pity in their eyes.

I enter my math classroom and take my seat next to Liam Banks. He's one of your typical popular guys I guess you could say. Everyone calls him a player and all that stereotype crap. He's really nice to me though when we do talk, which is rare. The only words we exchange are related to either basketball or the assignment we're suppose to be doing. I really don't see why people call him a bad boy, if you ask me he really sucks at it, of course he's occasionally made perverted jokes aimed at me but its just a joke. I suppose you can say he's cute with his chocolate brown hair, plump pink lips, tan skin, and dark blue eyes. I say cute another hot because I hear he doesn't have a nice body, hot people have hot bodies.

"Mia," Someone says nudging my shoulder, I turn to my right to see Taylor Maddison -the girl who I've sat by every year in math class since we Leah's seem to have it together-. We're not really friends, more like acquaintances, she's a nice girl though, maybe a bit nerdy.