Augustus's POV
I open my eyes, groaning. I feel like I was run over by a truck 17 times and then had my chest stepped on by an elephant, 27 times. But I'm alive. There's lots of people hovering over me. Hazel, Mom, Dad, multiple nurses and doctors.
"Gus?" Hazel is looking at me, adjusting her oxygen tank so another doctor can fit in. I try to smile.
"Hazel Grace." It comes out more like: "Heyfuwl Griss." She starts crying, tears running down her puffy cancer chipmunk cheeks. "I'm alive."
"I know you are."
"Miss Lancaster? Mr. and Mrs. Waters? I'm going to have to ask you to leave now." The head doctor says. Hazel and my parents walk out of the ICU. I roll my head over to face the doctor.
"What's happening to me?"
"Well, August, we tried this drug on you, and....it worked. You should be out of ICU by tomorrow, and the hospital in about a week."
I nod. "Can I see Hazel again?" He nods, and calls Hazel back in. He says a doctor has to stay in the room, though.
"You okay?"
"I'm okay." She smiles, then puts her cold hand on mine. We sit there for awhile, not saying anything. Eventually I start to fall asleep. Hazel stands up, kisses me on the forehead. Then, taking her oxygen, walks out of the room.
Hazel's POV
"How's Gus, Hazel?" My dad says as I get in the car. We pull out of the hospital parking lot.
"He's alive." He nods, and I can tell he's trying not to cry. He's thinking about me, I can tell. "Can we stop at the grocery store, Dad?" He looks at me weirdly. "Can we?"
"Uh, yeah. Yeah, we can." He pulls into the parking lot. "You want me to come with?"
"No, I'm fine. I'll be back in 10." I grab my purse and my oxygen. I get the usual weird stares from people, mostly little kids. It doesn't bother me much. I ask a clerk where the flower department is. I pick a bouquet of orange tulips. I'm about to go by the wine when I realize I'm only 16. I take out my phone and call my dad.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, I just need your help to buy something."
"Ok.....ok. Be right in. Where are you?" The bakery is right by the liquor department.
"The bakery." He's here in less than a minute, which makes me believe that he followed me into the store.
"What do you need?"
"Champaign. I can't buy it. And a pack of cigarettes." I remember Gus's request, to buy him a new pack.
We walk out, Dad carrying my purchases. "What's this for, anyway?"
"Augustus. He got me orange tulips. We drank champaign. And they tossed his old pack of cigarettes."
"I never got that whole cigarette but no smoking thing."
"It's a metaphor, Dad."
"I'll never understand you. Him either." I smile, and rest my head on the seatbelt.
