Make a Wish || Rhett and Link

Chapter 12 - The second Meeting

()()() One Week Later ()()()

*****Link's Point of View*****

"Hey! Super-Cooper!" I said as I walked in the door.

Cooper smiled and sat up to see us. "Hey guys!"

I sat down on the end of the bed, same as last time. Rhett and Adam sat in the same seats as well. Cooper had this huge smile on her face from seeing us.

"How are you?" Rhett asked.

Cooper shrugged. "I guess I'm doing okay."

"That's good" I said.

There was a moment of silence. "We don't have any other Rhett and Link themed board games, but do you want to play Risk?" I asked.

"I used to love that game!" She replied happily.

"Okay, let's do it!" Rhett said, bringing the table over.

I set up all the game pieces and Cooper grabbed her iPad and began to play some music. It was a nice gesture.

"Oh! I have good news!"

"Yeah?" I asked.

"That iPad, apparently, well, using it has kind of, well, cured my fingers" She said, waving her hand. "The doctors are amazed at how it's helped."

"That's amazing!" Rhett said.

Cooper blushed. "Thanks guys" She said softly.

I moved around and gave her a hug. "No, good job you!" I said.

Cooper chuckled. "Do you want to play the game?"

"Okay" I said, moving back to my spot.

We started playing, and it was actually a lot of fun. Cooper was pretty good at it.

"We'll have to bring something other than board games! You're too good Super-Cooper!" I said with a laugh.

"Maybe you just need to up your game, Link"

"OOOOOOH! Cooper's bringing the heat!" Rhett whooped from the corner.

I cracked my knuckles in what I hoped was a menacing way. "You're on, Cooper-Pooper."

The serious attitude lasted a whole of three seconds until we all fell into hysterics. Cooper was wiping tears from her eyes she was laughing so hard.

"I'm so glad you guys didn't stick to being engineers" She said with a laugh.

"You know what," Rhett said, "I'm glad of that too."

"I can third that movement!" I said, putting my hand up.

Cooper laughed. "It's settled! We're all glad Rhett and Link didn't stay as engineers."

We got back to the game and played a little longer. I managed to regain some of my territory, which was good. Rhett was losing though. Badly.

"Hey guys, can I ask your opinion on something?" Cooper asked randomly.

"Yeah, sure" Rhett said, moving his piece on the board.

Cooper took a deep breath. "So, a few days ago, I had my brain scanned. So, apparently, because of the toll the treatment is taking on my body, I get to take a 2 month break to build my strength back up. And I'm super excited about that because, well, chemo is hell. But here's the problem. I have to leave the hospital for that time. And of course, with my family gone, I don't really have anywhere to go. I have this uncle. Uncle Randy. He moved away when I was 9, when my Dad and him had a big fight. And now he's back, and apparently I have to stay with him. But I don't really want to. I mean, it's the equivalent of living with a stranger! And I saw him a few days ago, and he seems alright...but he just looks at me as if I'm a ticking time bomb. Which I am, I can't deny that...but man. I hate being looked at like that."

"Ticking time bomb?" Rhett asked.

"I probably won't make it past christmas" She said nonchalantly.

I was shocked. I mean, that wasn't long away. Cooper moved her piece and held me out the dice. "Your turn."

"How are you so calm?!" I asked.

Cooper shrugged. "I've made my peace with fate."

Wow. I mean, that's...incredible. And she's 14?!

"Why are you hugging me Link?"

"Because I admire your strength." I said plainly.

Cooper chuckled. "Is it alright if we just play the game? That's what I like about your visits. You guys don't make me talk about my sickness. It's...refreshing."

"Sure Super-Cooper" I said, moving back to my spot. We played the game for a little longer.

"I've got a solution for your problem, Coop" Rhett said.

"Really?" She asked.

"Well, I was thinking, you could come and stay with us."

Cooper's eyes nearly exploded out of her head. "Oh, Rhett, that's...a great offer, but I couldn't impose like that. I'm not exactly the easiest person in the world to take care of."

"Hey, well, if you don't have anywhere else to go, and your uncle is still being weird, it's no problem. We've got the room."  Rhett said.

Cooper glanced up at us. "You guys are awesome, you know that?"

"I thought that was fact," I said, grinning at Cooper. Rhett pushed me off the bed.

We finished the game, and it was no surprise that Cooper won. Next time I'll have to bring loaded dice.

"So, what do we do now?" Cooper asked awkwardly.

Rhett looked at his watch. "Uh, we were actually supposed to leave an hour ago."

"Oh. Um. Well, thanks for coming guys!" Cooper said.

We gave her a goodbye hug, before leaving. The nurse smiled at us on the way out.

"Hey Rhett." I said as we reached the car.

"Yeah?"

"I want to make the last few months of her life the best she's ever had."