Best Friend's Brother: Chapter One

I Lied, This Isn't Fine

I was sitting on the couch watching a movie when I heard a knock at the door. I paused the movie and opened the door.

"Hey, Katie," I let her inside, and we sat on the couch. I finally took in her appearance seeing her red eyes and wet eyelashes.

I took her hand in mine, "Katie, what's wrong?" My heart was racing, and my stomach started churning waiting for her response. She didn't answer right away; tears kept rolling down her face as she repeatedly opened and closed her mouth.

"I-I'm..." she began, but her voice gave out at the end. She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand.

"I'm sick," she whispered, and my stomach dropped.

"What?" I barely whispered, "There's no way could be sick? You're super healthy and active; there's no way you could be sick."

Katie looked at me with a broken look. Her eyes watered again and causing mine to water with her. 

"What is it?" I asked dreading the answer. Tears were streaming down our faces by the time Katie muttered her disease.

"Acute lymphoblastic leukemia."

"I-I thought that was for kids under fifteen. You're close to being seventeen."

"It's most common in kids under fifteen, but it can affect anyone... I guess I'm just a late bloomer." Katie tried to lighten the mood. There was another knock at the door, and I walked over to open it. 

"Hey, Katie just delivered the news. Come in." I gestured to Katie and Nathaniel walked over to her. He pulled her off the couch and tightly embraced her. I walked over putting my arms around them both. Soft cries came from Nathaniel's mouth as his back shook and his arms tightened around Katie.

"We can get through this," Katie attempted to comfort Nathaniel, "We always get through things like this."

Nathaniel released Katie, and they sat on the couch. I sat on Nathaniel's other side and pulled my knees to my chest.

"Where's Hannah?" Nathaniel let out a raspy whisper.

"She's still in the car. I think it's hitting her the hardest. She couldn't even pretend to drive like she usually does when she's not the driver."

"And that's only happened one other time." They both grimaced.

"We should get her home before she erupts. She's a ticking time bomb right now," Katie suggested and stood up.

"When is your first treatment?" I asked as Katie walked to the door.

"Saturday at noon." She rolled her eyes, "I hate that it's in the middle of the day. It totally ruins the whole day."

I giggled, "It does. Do you want to go to Kendall's Koffee tomorrow after school?"

"Yes! I've needed their vanilla bean mocha so bad this week. Cravings suck."

"PMS in general sucks."

"Truth. I'll see you tomorrow. Love you." Katie smiled and made half a heart with her hand.

"Love you too." I completed the heart with my own hand. I closed the door behind her and Nathaniel. I turned around to see Harry standing there with his lips curled in between his teeth. My eyes watered and my throat got tight. I let out a loud sob and walked into Harry's arms. He gently rubbed my back as I cried. He never said anything but would occasionally kiss my head and tell me that it will be okay.

"Why K-Katie?" I sobbed. Harry let me go and picked me up bringing me to the couch and sitting down with me. I eventually calmed down enough to fall asleep on Harry's lap.