A Certain Not-So-Bad Boy

{seven}

{Pictured above is Sawyer}

I felt my chest tighten and my mind spin. "Oh my God." The word repeated itself in my mind.

Cancer. Cancer. Cancer.

He managed to crack a grin, and I was in awe of the way he handled himself. Always being positive and funny, bringing light and happiness to others through all the darkness that shrouded him. "Lymphoma. It's still in an early stage, so I'm getting a chemo treatment soon. I should be--" He stopped and went into a fit of coughing. My eyes watered again. He cleared his throat. "I should be okay."

The door creaked open and a tall girl with wavy dark hair and warm brown eyes stepped in. She closed the door behind her and hurried to the side of the bed. "Grayson, you scared me. Carson called me, and..." she said as she wrapped her arms around him. She pulled away, and tears stained her cheeks. She finally seemed to notice that I was here. "I'm sorry, how rude of me. I'm Jade," she said.

"Maya," I replied. "Are you Grayson's girlfriend?" I blurted.

She laughed, shaking her head. "No, I'm Carson's --"

"She's my sister," he said quickly. I just nodded slowly, ignoring his suspicious actions.

My mind flashed with a reminder and I almost smacked myself for forgetting. "I'll be back in a few," I told them all. I hurried to the door and left them in the room. Down the hall, the elevator was open and I sprinted there just in time. I traveled alone to the floor I had visited so many times.

The elevator dinged open, and I walked at a normal pace this time. I strode down the hallway to the familiar room.

"Maya!"

I whipped around to see Carson jogging down the hallway behind me. "What are you doing?" I asked, sounding as panicked as I felt. He couldn't see her. I don't know what I would do if he did.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know that you'd be so affected by it. Jade's not my sister, I'm sorry I lied--"

"That's why you think I left?" I couldn't help but smile at this. But it disappeared as fast as it came when I remembered why I was here. "That's not why. Excuse me. I'll just be a few minutes."

I stepped up to the room and twisted the worn metal knob. Pushing the door open, I walked in. The steady beeping of the heart monitor immediately hit me. "Hey, Sawyer." Her face was pale, but her cheeks used to be rosy. She looked thinner, weaker. She got her strawberry blonde hair from Mom, and it was longer now. But it looked dull and brittle. Her previously cheerful grin was replaced by cold, chapped lips that had no trace of her adorable smile. Her eyes were closed with dark bags around them, contrasting her pasty skin. I hadn't seen her twinkling blue-green eyes in two years.

I sat in the chair beside her bed and took her cold hand into mine. "Hi, Sawyer. I would say the house is quiet without you, but that's a lie. I live with two guys." I chuckled, but it was forced. "I was in the hospital and I thought I'd drop by. Someone needed a ride for his friend. It broke my heart. He has cancer. Thankfully he should be okay. I wish there was a treatment you could take so you would wake up. The doctors said you're getting better though. You just have to pull through. For dad, for Noah, for me."

"Maya."

I snapped my eyes to the door. In the doorway stood Carson.

"Did you..."

He nodded stiffly. "Do you want to grab some coffee from the cafeteria?"

Panic rose inside me before shifting to anger. I shook my head and silently kissed Sawyer's cheek. My fingers brushed some hair from her forehead and I followed Carson out to the elevator.

When the door shut and we were alone there, he spoke. "I didn't hear everything."

"Why did you stay? I told you I needed a minute! Can't you mind your own business?" I hissed.

His soft featured turned cold and emotionless in the blink of an eye. "You're right. Why should I care?" he said quietly. "I hardly know you."

I wasn't sure why, but his words felt like a stab to the heart. "Yeah."

The elevator doors opened and we both stepped out. "It was a mistake asking you for a ride," he mumbled to me.

"Well, you won't be seeing me around, so it shouldn't be a problem," I shot back. "Besides, you are Carson Bennett after all." I turned around and was about to walk away.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he called.

I turned and looked at him. What an idiot. "Tell Grayson I'm sorry I had to leave, but I'll see him soon." I turned around again and walked out the main door before he could reply. The night air was crisp, and the stars were sprinkled throughout the sky. I finally made it to my car and started up the engine.

Today was a warning; I had averted a crisis in the form of a rich, arrogant boy. And I would have to make sure I stayed away from him.

{a/n}

First fight? Drama ;)

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-Seagull