Fake Smiles

#29: Meeting

Lily woke up in hospital. She looked around the room for any sign of someone she knew. She saw her parents by the door. She could see them through the window. It looked like they were crying while speaking to the doctor. Lily was confused with the situation. She didn't remember much.

Her parents and the doctor walked into the room. Her parents cried more when they saw her. Her mom hugged her while her dad held her hand. Lily looked at the doctor for an explanation. He smiled weakly at her.

"We have something to tell you" the doctor started. "You were struggling to breathe because of the amount of Carbon Dioxide that was in the room. You weren't taking in enough oxygen. We ran some tests to discover that the cancerous cells have covered 46.7% of your lungs. We do have a treatment. But it will only slow down the cancer. It won't stop it completely. But it may ease the pain".

"How much?"

The doctor sighed. "It's quite a lot of money. It's $500,000 to have the treatment. We know it's a lot of money, but it's the only option we have at the moment. We are trying our best to find other possible treatments. I'm sorry".

Lily sighed as tears fell down her face. Lily stayed in hospital for five days. When they arrived home, Lily promised herself that she would raise money for the treatment. She Googled anything that related to raising money for cancer research. She found a "run-a-marathon for cancer" that was happening in two days. She smiled as she was determined to take part.

Lily decided to walk around the streets of L.A to think over everything that had happened over the past couple months. She walked around, dragging her oxygen tank with her. She could see people glancing at her as she walked.

She turned the corner when she bumped into someone tall and muscular. She looked up to apologise to the person. She saw someone she thought she would never see again. Before her stood... Grayson Bailey Dolan.

She looked into his eyes and smiled. "Lily?" He asked. She was shocked that he knew her. She had one question she kept asking herself: does he remember me?  She smiled at him. "Are you actually here? Are you real?" He asked. He touched her arms with his gentle hands.

She giggled at him. "It's nice to see you again, Gray" She said with her angelic voice. He pulled her into a huge embrace. He buried his head into the crook of her neck as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I've missed you so much! You have no idea!" He whispered in her ear. She smiled as she hugged him tighter, not wanting to let go. "I can't believe it's actually you! I have felt empty and depressed for the past 6 months without you by my side! I didn't want to think it was all a dream! It felt so real! I love you!"

"I love you more than words can explain!" Lily replied. He smiled as he kissed her cheek. They hugged for a while longer until they were disturbed by a cough. They parted and turned to Ethan. Lily smiled at him.

"Ethan" Grayson introduced. "This is Lily! The girl I told you about. The one everyone thought I made up! Lily, meet foetus Ethan!" Ethan glared at his brother, and smiled at Lily. "This is what we look like at the age of 15! I'm pretty sure you saw us at the age of 16 and 17?"

"Yeah, I remember you inviting me to your birthday party" Lily said. "But I guess that was all a dream! But we've finally met! I have been meaning to speak to you for so long! I feel like I can no longer continue with this fight, Grayson. I am in constant pain! I can hardly do anything! I feel like my lungs are just giving up on me. I needed someone to help me. You were doing your thing and being happy, and I had no way to contact you! I don't have Social Media! I didn't know if you remembered me!"

"Remember you?!" He exclaimed. "How could I forget you?! I have been trying to find you for like 7 months! I haven't been too well! I have sleepless nights! I had a major problem! I wouldn't even leave my room! I wouldn't eat! I wouldn't sleep! I couldn't get you out of my mind! It hurt so much! And I had people telling me you weren't real! I felt lost without you! And then I saw you at the cafe. Seeing you brought back all the feelings I have for you! But at the show... you collapsed. I had a panic attack! If only I was there for you! I promised to help you! And I broke that promise! Twice!"

She hugged him as she cried into his chest. He rubbed her back and tried to calm her down. "I'm dying" she suddenly said. His body went stiff at her words. He held her tighter. More tears streamed down her face, wetting his shirt.

"Not until I've loved you" he replied. They hugged longer than before. Ethan stood watching the heartbroken couple. He saw how his brother was gripping on to Lily like his life depended on it. Ethan could see Grayson truly loved this girl. "Are you allowed to come home with me?" Grayson whispered in her ear. She nodded her head.

The three of them walked to the twins' apartment. They walked through the entrance of the building and saw the stairs. Lily stopped and stared at them. Grayson walked her towards the elevator. They walked down the hallway to the apartment. When they entered, Grayson led Lily to his room.

He sat her on his bed and faced her. "The doctors said there is a treatment. But it will only slow the cancer down. It won't stop it. But the treatment costs way too much! It's $500,000 just like in our dream. My family can't afford it. I was planning to join this 'run-a-marathon ' thing for cancer research. I was going to ask people if they could sponsor me. But I still don't think it'll be enough" she said.

He hugged her. "I'll run with you. And I'll help pay for the treatment". She was about to protest, but he stopped her. "I know you'll try to argue against me, but nothing will stop me from paying. I won't be paying for all of it! I'll help raise money towards it. I have done it once, and I will do it again! I would do anything for you! You will have the treatment!"

They spoke for a while longer before Lily had to go home. Grayson decided to walk her home like the gentleman he is. They walked with their arms linked together. Grayson walked her to her front door and kissed her forehead as he hugged her. He pulled away and smiled down at her. Without hesitation, she pulled him into a passionate kiss. He wrapped his arms around her waist while she wrapped her arms around his neck. They pulled away for air and smiled at each other.

"I'll see you tomorrow" he said before walking away. She walked into her house with a huge smile on her blushing face. She walked straight to her room and flopped on her bed. She smiled at the ceiling as she placed her fingers on her lips as she remembered the feeling of having Grayson's lips on hers.