This story has a happy ending. (An R5 Fanfiction)

Chapter 9

Melonie paces in front of her mother, squeezing her cell phone so hard it's close to breaking. "Mom what did you just do?" she cries.

Her mother puts her arms up in defense. "I have no idea! I just answered your phone."

"Ugh, Mom, that was Ross. I told you I wasn't talking to him anymore!"

Melonie's mom wipes away a tear from her eye. They just got news from the doctor that Melonie responded well enough to chemo that she will be able to go back on the transplant list next month, which is good news. But unfortunately the doctor also mentioned that Melonie will be in the middle of the list. Even though she's young, she can't be at the top because she had a transplant once already. She's not at the bottom because it's not her fault she's sick.

Melonie's doctors aren't sure how much longer she has without a new liver, but it doesn't really look good for her. Hence why her mother is so emotional. Melonie is an only child and her mother's pride and joy. Losing her would be unbearable.

"Why aren't you talking to Ross anymore?" Her mother asks hoping to change the subject. Melonie flops onto the couch dramatically.

"HedidntknowIwassick," she says quickly.

"How could have not known? Didn't you meet at the hospital?"

"I told him I had the flu," she answers, biting her lip.

"Oh, Melonie," her mother sighs, joining her daughter on the couch. "Why didn't you tell him the truth?"

Melonie shrugs but her mom pushes until she answers the question. "I don't know. I just liked having a friend who didn't know. Ross treated me like a normal person, not a sick person."

"But it's not fair to him that he thinks you're only sick with the flu and not cancer."

"I know! I just panicked and I haven't had a chance to tell him the truth. Which is why I stopped talking to him. I figured if I cut ties I'd never have to be honest..."

Her mom rolls her eyes. "You can't always take the easy way out, princess. You have to be honest with him."

Melonie knows her mom is right but has no idea how to breech the subject with Ross. The fact that he's still God knows where for another two months means Melonie has plenty of time to come up with a plan. Until then, she texts Ross something simple so he knows she wants to talk to him when he gets home.

"There's something I need to tell you. Face to face. Call me when you're back in LA and we'll meet up."

She turns off her phone after she hits send. Ross probably wouldn't text her anything in response, but she doesn't want to have her phone on right now just in case he does. She's supposed to be in a good place when she starts chemo and if Ross says he doesn't want to meet or something, she won't be.

At the hospital, Melonie settles in to her chemo chair. She has a pillow that she always brings to sit on because sitting for so long can do a number on your butt.

Much to her surprise, just a few minutes into her treatment, someone she knows well takes the seat right next to her.

"No offense, but I really hoped we wouldn't meet like this ever again," the boy says. He's gotten taller since the last time Melonie saw him, but other than that he looks exactly the same. "I'd ask how you are but the answer is pretty obvious."

"Austin!" she says, feeling excited. "It's been forever. How long... I mean, uh..." There's really no sensitive way to ask how long someone's cancer has been back.

Austin, Melonie's male roommate from a few years earlier and her first real crush, laughs. "Doctors found another tumor last month. Same thing as last time, same place too. They didn't quite get it all in surgery though. But since we caught it early again we're hoping to get it under control."

"I'm sorry," Melonie says. "I'm glad they caught it early though."

"Me too. And I'm sorry that... well, I really wanted to visit you. But I guess I was scared. I mean, that first time with cancer, it really sucked. And I kinda wanted to pretend it never happened. You reminded me too much of what happened, and so I... I guess I have no good excuse. I missed you so much though."

"You talk a lot more than I remember," Melonie says with a tired laugh. The radiation is having the same tiring effect on her that it usually does. "It's okay. I understand why you didn't want to come see me. I think if the roles were reversed I'd probably be the same way."

Austin nods but he looks nervous. "I had the biggest crush on you back then," he admits with a shy smile.

Melonie blushes. "I had a crush on you too."

"It's really not smooth for a guy to ask a girl out during chemo, but would you like to go out with me sometime? Maybe next week when we don't both feel totally crappy?"

Her first thought is that she can't because of Ross, but he's still gone and there's a very high chance he'll never speak to her again after she admits to being a cancer patient. Austin was Melonie's first crush and it would be crazy not to see what might happen between them.

"Sure," she says, barely able to meet his eyes out of nervousness. "I'd really like that."

They exchange numbers and keep up steady small talk while their veins are pumped with chemicals to shrink their tumors. When Melonie is finished before Austin, she kisses his cheek before leaving and promises to wait by the phone for him to call so they can set up their date.

It's just a date. With a boy she used to like a lot. While she's kinda sorta maybe dating this other guy.

What's the worst that can happen?