The Cancer Chick's Best Friend

Chapter Nine

Olivia, Ashleigh, Jared and Drew were sat in the living room arguing about which movie to watch, the argument, in reality, was between Jared and Ashleigh. Drew didn't care and Olivia was just content with the snacks to bother.

"We always watch horror! Ashleigh, I swear to god 'Clueless' is not boring!"

"I've watched 'Clueless', and as iconic as the story was, it was a pain in my butt. Trust me, 'The Circle'  is a psychological thriller. It's beautiful!" Ashleigh exclaimed.

"Olivia tell her!" Jared cribbed.

"I kind of agree with her on this one J, I've watched Clueless and I don't see the hype." Olivia said. Jared sighed.

"Fine, let's watch the damn circle."

And so the four sat down, ready to watch a psychological thriller. Drew occasionally glanced at Olivia, who, just like Ashleigh, was engrossed in the movie. Jared looked completely lost in the plot as well.

By the end, Olivia was on the verge of tears, Drew had fallen asleep and Jared was shouting.

Ashleigh wondered how Drew managed to fall asleep through Jared's screams.

"How the hell, what the hell is that ending!? What's that even supposed to mean!?" Jared screamed.

Olivia found it absolutely amusing to see Jared completely mind blown. She had seen it before when they watched the Shawshank Redemption and she expected him to react violently the day he agrees to watch the inception.

Which he still hadn't.

"This story was so fucked up Ashleigh how did you even find this!? They kept killing each other and being so discriminatory and the fucking plot twist what the hell" Jared said and got up from the couch.

"I found it quite pleasing. It wasn't unrealistic, it showed the human instinct of survival at every cost and it showed the sad truth that we live in. I liked it. Good choice ash" Olivia said.

Ashleigh just smirked.

"Glad we didn't pick 'Clueless' now huh?"

"Oh shut up" Jared said.

"Do I wake Drew up?" Ashleigh asked.

"Let him sleep, we all were gonna camp out here anyway, plus he looks too cute and snuggly it would be a crime to wake him up" Olivia said and lay down beside drew on the floor. They had made an ocean of pillows on which he had comfortably fallen asleep on.

Jared glanced at Ashleigh and gave a knowing smile.

"I'm gonna head to the kitchen, I need water." She said.

"Im gonna throw all this trash." Jared said and followed suit.

"Okay, don't forget to make sure the back door is closed please" Olivia said.

"You think she maybe likes him too?" Ashleigh asked, once they were in the kitchen.

"She could be, but she won't admit it. The last thing she needs or wants is to fall for someone, she's probably fighting herself over it." Jared replied, checking the back door.

"So what do we do?" Ashleigh asked.

"Honestly? Nothing. Drew knows it won't happen now. She's never going to let it happen. We can't do anything Ash, not in these circumstances. Let's just focus on keeping them both happy."

"Oh, okay" Ashleigh said, sounding rather sad.

It was sad. To witness two wonderful people not get the happiness they deserved just because of an illness that intervened. It felt unfair, almost rude. 

"Maybe we should try to set him up with another person, help him move on." Jared said.

"Hes been in love with her for five years now, nothing is going to make him move on." Ashleigh sighed.

Jared was about to say something when Drew walked in.

"Why are you two still up?" He asked.

"I was getting myself water and Jared was cleaning up, the movie just ended." Ashleigh said.

"Liv fall asleep?" Jared asked.

Drew just smiled widely. "I woke up and she was snoring softly beside me. Did you guys set that up or did she volunteer to lie down next to me?"

"We occupied the other places she didn't really have a choice." Ashleigh said and shrugged.

"Listen Drew, I was actually wondering-" Jared started off;

"If this is about Olivia, save it. I'm fine, honestly, it's alright."

"No it's not actually, there's this girl I know from school who's been asking about you a lot and I thought you should know, if you're interested I can hook you up" Jared said.

"You know I am not interested." He said, sternly.

"It's not like you have other options Drew, maybe it's time you let go." Ashleigh said. Jared winced at the words.

"It's actually time I hold on stronger than I ever have. Every moment counts. This conversation is done. Alright?"

"Okay." Jared said. They walked back to the living room to find Olivia still snoring. Drew sat down beside her, looking at her longingly. He was clearly deep in thought.

"I'm gonna sleep." Ashleigh said.

"What are you thinking about?" Jared asked Drew.

"Tomorrow morning this cupcake won't be awake early so if she wakes up and I'm not here let her know I had to go and I'll call her later please?" Drew simply said, still looking at Olivia.

"Alright. Care to tell me where you'll be going?"  Jared asked.

"Just got to get some stuff for dad, don't worry about it." Drew said and pulled his blanket over him, body turned towards Olivia. Jared turned the lights and proceeded to sleep.

As days passed, their fear kept increasing. Things just began to feel more real, more frightening.

And more fatal.