Make a Wish || Rhett and Link

Chapter 39 - A Surprising Reaction

"Damn right you should be sorry!"

"That was uncalled for, Link." I said.

Link nodded. "Sorry."

"But he's right." I added, facing my son.

"I feel awful." Locke mumbled. "I never meant for this to happen."

"Well, here I am."

We all turned to face the bed, where Cooper was waking up.

I bent down to her side. "How are you feeling Super-Cooper?"

"Cancerous." She grumbled. "Very cancerous."

I glanced at Link for something to say, but he was as clueless as I was, so he just shrugged.

I gently helped her sit up and scratched her arm absentmindedly.

"Oh, look, a drip." She said. "Don't know why I'm so surprised, to be honest. They do this every time I come in."

"Hydration is important." I said.

"Yeah, I know." Cooper mumbled. "But it itches."

"Listen, Cooper, I'm so, so, so, incredibly sorry."

She looked to face Locke.

"I just, I don't know what I was thinking, and I've just, ruined everything."

"Locke, Locke, stop, stop!"

We all looked at Cooper in surprise.

"You were jealous. You missed your Dad. I would feel the same way. He's your Dad, not mine, and you were jealous that I was getting all the attention. Listen, I'm not saying I liked what you did, but I am saying that I understand. And if I understand while I have some serious reasons to hold a grudge, then something needs to change in this relationship." Cooper said.

Locke looked beyond surprised at her reaction. "You f-forgive me?"

"Life's too short for anger." She said with a wink. Then she sighed. "Especially when you're me."

"That's...incredibly mature Cooper. I don't even forgive him yet." I stammered.

"Well, he's not the only one at fault, Rhett. I don't mean to be a hater, but you haven't really been talking to him while I've been staying with you."

I looked at Locke, and realised that Cooper was right.

"I was trying to make everything right for you, I guess." I said awkwardly.

"Listen, guys, I don't want everything to be super-dooper pretty when I'm staying with you. You don't have to make me the centre of the world. I just want to be normal. Well, as normal as possible, I guess." Cooper sighed, looking down at the bed.

"I'll fix it." I announced. "I'll fix all of it."

"Great!" Cooper smiled. "Now, Locke, did you say something about a gaming convention tomorrow?"

"Yeah, well, it's kind of awesome." He said sheepishly.

"Rhett, I think you two could use some time together."

I opened my mouth to protest, but she replied before I could get anything out.

"Listen, I know you're not in the best mood to do anything for Locke, but he's your son, Rhett. You still love him, don't you?"

"Of course." I replied.

"Well, do this. Please. Mend your relationship. He's only going to be 11 once. And then he'll be off to college, and all you'll be thinking about is how you wish you could have spent more time with him when he was young." Cooper almost begged me.

"This insight Cooper, where on earth is it coming from? You sound like a councillor!" Link exclaimed. Cooper shrugged.

"I don't know. When you start to think about how you're not really going to get to live a full life, you really want the people around you to live theirs to the best of their ability." She said awkwardly. "But enough with the depressing horribleness. You're going tomorrow, right?"

I exchanged a glance with my son. "Yeah, I guess we are. Hang on, what about YOU?!"

Cooper chuckled. "I'll be fine. The stuff in that IV bag is going to knock me out better than a punch to the face from Mike Tyson. Tomorrow, I'll probably be sleeping the entire time. Probably better you don't sit around here. Besides, I'll be happy knowing that everyone's happy now."

"Cooper?"

"Yeah Locke?"

"Will you be my sister?"

The smile on Cooper's face lit up the whole room. 

Hello everyone!

I know, it's been FOREVER since I've put in an authors note. But time for some exciting announcements!

 INTRODUCING: COMMENT OF THE CHAPTER!

My favourite comment gets the next chapter devoted to them! Yay! I dunno, hope you like this.

Comment of last chapter goes to: mythicalmorning, with the comment of "I reread this at least three times and now my eyes are teary. I just have a really good imagination and when I read this story, it becomes real for me."

I know a lot of people say they get teary eyed in my stories, and gosh, that makes me feel kinda great. No offence, but I like writing the nitty-gritty emotional termoil, and when I get just the right reaction out of the reader, ahhhhh. But sometimes, it doesn't go to plan. I AM TRYING TO MAKE YOU LIKE RANDY! PLEASE LIKE RANDY! RANDY IS NOT A BAG GUY! IF ANYTHING, HE'S A BIT OF AN ANTIHERO.

Next: I know a lot of you have been speculating in the comments about whether or not Cooper will die at the end of the book. I am not spoiling this. To anyone. Even people I know in real life. But I will say something: The book WILL have a happy ending. 

So yeah, thanks. Be your mythical best!

~Zoe