Second Chance

Chapter 6

Mackenzie had her first doctors appointment and cancer team meeting the following morning.

For some reason, my mom made me go to school rather than go to the hospital with them, so I don't really know what's happening. I don't know why she thinks school is more important than Kenzie and the demon that's killing her cells.

I spent the whole day alone, quiet and subdued. Even when my friends would come talk to me I would reply with one worded answers. Nobody knew about Kenzie yet, but they were about to find out. Actually, the whole nation was going to find out. We were gonna tell everyone at dance tonight so the whole world would know as soon as the episode airs next Tuesday.

So, I rode the bus home and arrived to find an empty house.

I wasn't supposed to be home alone. Ever. I mean, I'm eleven, not a teenager. I got some chips even though I had no appetite and sat on the couch.

I sat there staring at the blank TV screen for a few moments, my mind completely blank. That was better than thinking about the inevitable. Eventually, I heard the phone ring. I left the uneaten chips on the couch and ran to get the phone.

"Hello?" I ask.

"Maddie, it's Mom." She sounds tired and I can tell it's been a long day.

"Oh, hi Mom." I decide not to mention the fact that she left me home alone.

"Christi is gonna pick you up for dance, tell Ms. Abby that I can't make it today. She'll understand."

"You're missing dance, too? You and Kenz aren't coming at ALL?"

"We might make it at the end. Just to say goodbye. For awhile. Kenzie nor I are going to be there for a bit. Until, you know."

I sigh and feel tears prickle my eyes.

"Okay." I shakily respond.

"Alright, get ready for dance. I love you."

"Love you, bye."

I hang up and look up at the ceiling. I forgot to ask how the meeting went.

I'm not a religious person, but if there was a right time do this, I should do it now. I bow my head and close my eyes.

"God, if you're listening, just help Kenzie. She can't, she can't die because I love her so much and she's my best friend and if she died I don't even know what I would do. I'm sorry for all the times I was mean and disrespected her. I didn't realize what I had, but now-"

I was cut off by the sound of the doorbell ringing.

"Crap!" I yelped and yelled for them to hold on while I went to change for dance.

*~*

The whole ride over to dance I was withdrawn and quiet.

Christi kept trying to engage me in conversation but I shot her down with one word answers. Chloe would glance over at me and send me a puzzled look which annoyed me, for some odd reason.

Chloe's my best friend but she was driving me crazy. Her perfect life, with no worries or fears or regrets. She doesn't know what it feels like to have your life come to a sudden halt. I had a sudden realization that I was doing everything wrong. Even as an eleven year old, everyone should be thankful for what the have. And I just wasn't.

*~*

Back in Studio B, we were starting the pyramid for what seems like the millionth time. I expected to be on top, after winning first overall at the competition last weekend, not like it mattered at this point. But something else was in store.

"So first we have Paige. You messed up the group dance with a front aerial three counts before. Do you know how bad that looked?"

Paige slowly nodded her head and I could tell her self esteem was sinking farther than before.

"NEXT! We have Nia, you did fine. But that's the thing. It was only fine. Apply the corrections, for real next time."

Nia gulped and nodded her head. She was used to the bottom of the pyramid.

"Brooke, third place in your solo."

Brooke stared at the floor.

"That's unacceptable. By the way, look at me when I talk to you." Abby snapped at her and Brooke quickly nodded. No wonder she didn't want to be on our team anymore.

"And next up, we have Kendall. Fourth place. That's an entire place behind Chloe and Maddie. Care to explain?"

Kendall just shrugged and averted her eyes.

"Typical." Abby sighed.

My mind started drifting off to other, more important things. Or thing. All I could think about was Kenzie.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by Abby calling my name sooner than expected.

"Wha-" I mumbled, confused. I was third down on the pyramid.

"I will talk to you later, Madison."

I furrowed my eyebrows and blinked back tears for the rest of the pyramid, except to see Mackenzie on top. Too bad she wasn't here to see it.

We started choreographing our dance, and it was surprisingly easy. I spent my break period doing fuetes and wondering how unfortunate it is that Mackenzie wasn't here when she was finally on top of the pyramid.

*~*

At the end of rehearsal, I still hadn't had my talk with Abby and Mom and Kenzie hasn't showed up. Kelly offered to take me home, and I was grateful for all the kind offers.

Abby called us all into the studio to make some announcement, probably about the competition.

"So, you've noticed, that Mackenzie and Melissa aren't here today. The Ziegler'a have something to share with us. But before that, I just want to remind all of you not to take anything for granted. All of you girls are beautiful, talented young ladies and are lucky to have Mothers that are willing to come and support your dance like they do. Most kids never get that opportunity."

Everyone was glancing around towards each other, trying to figure out what had happened. They had no idea.

"So," Abby continued. "I think the only person that should tell you girls about this is one of the Zieglers herself. Maddie?"

My eyes widened as I started to panic. There was no way I could go in front of everyone and tell them about the worst thing that had ever happened to me.

"Maddie?" Abby asked again.

I took slow steps towards the front of the room and stared at the floor rather than looking into the eyes of my curious friends.

"Um," I began, not sure how to start. "Well, it started with a bunch of muscle aches. And I guess everyone thought that it was just Kenzie being... Childish. But," I paused and squeezed my eyes shut. I could feel the tears coming. "But, it wasn't just that. On Saturday night at dinner, Kenzie felt faint and so my mom took her to the doctor to have her checked out, just to, uh, prove she wasn't actually hurt."

I stopped talking and cupped my face with my hands. Come on, Maddie, pull it together. Tears spilled onto the dry skin of my hands as I cried in front of everyone.

You might think I'm being dramatic, but think of it this way.

I was just told my little sister, who I am supposed to watch out for, has cancer. And I know what cancer is. My grandma died a terrible death from cancer. And thinking that Kenzie will have to go through that, I'd rather die.

"Anyway, they did some tests and found something that was, um, strange. She had cancerous cells in her blood. And it turns out," more tears. Harder this time. "She- she h-h-has can-cer."

I fell to the floor in a defeated heap as everyone swarmed around me. They whispered words of reassurance and hope and apologies and just everything.

All I wanted was to go home. So we did. But once I was there, all I wanted was to leave.