Fade (On Hold)

Chapter Five:

     "Me?" Jason's face is alight with amusement as he stares down at me.

     "Yes, you," I huff impatiently. "Who else would I be talking about?"

     "Where's Lover Boy?" I'm tempted to slap the smirk off of Jason's pretty face, but decide against it.

     "It's yes or no."

     Jason takes his keys out of his pocket, twirling them around his finger lazily. "Of course," he grinned. "Let's go."

     His car was gorgeous. The sleek, black sports car was parked away from the other used vehicles in the student parking lot, and my jaw dropped at the sight of it.

     Jason chuckled at my expression, waving me inside.

     "I didn't peg you for a rich brat," I breathe, afraid to touch the seats.

     "Rich brat," Jason repeats. "Say that again and my car will the the last thing you see."

     I glance at him, suddenly wary. He stares back, before he erupts in laughter. "You take me too seriously!" He gasps, but his face falls once he takes in my serious expression.

     "Let's not joke about that," I murmur, and he immediately complies, switching radio stations.

     "Remind me where we are going?" He asks, and I ramble off an address quickly, and off we go.

     I keep my eyes fixed on the window, watching trees fly by in a blurry haze as we speed towards my destination.

     "Are you gonna tell me what's going on?"

     "No," I reply quietly. "Maybe later."

     Jason sighs in frustration, or maybe impatience. "Are you gonna tell me anything about you? Or am I just your designated driver and your shoulder to cry on?"

     "Hey," I snapped. "I didn't ask you to be there yesterday."

     Silence slaps me in the face, so I exhale before shifting to face him. "You already know I'm adopted," I shrug. "I also have cancer. Brain cancer. In case you've been living under a rock, or, oh right—you don't have any friends to share gossip with."

     "Ouch," Jason chuckles. "Feisty much?"

     I let it sink in, and soon enough, he glances at me. "Brain cancer, huh?"

     I nod. "Brain cancer."

     "How does it feel?"

     The question takes me aback, as well as the pain hidden deep down in the tone of his voice.

     "Like hell," I admit. "Chemo sucks, and I don't think it's really working."

     Jason blinks, his gaze unfocused as he looks at the road. "My sister died for brain cancer," he whispers.

     Oh. Not exactly what I wanted to hear, but I still felt his hurt, and I gently reached out to touch his knuckles. "I'm so sorry," I whisper back.

"It isn't your fault," he rasps, clearing his throat, shaking away the cobwebs of loss. "So, you never answered my question about Lover Boy."

I roll my eyes halfheartedness at his lame subject change. "Baxter and I aren't really speaking right now. We got into some argument."

     "About?"

"You," I raise an eyebrow at his curiosity. "He thinks I shouldn't be talking to you."