Mackenzie and Anthony have been best friends for 6 months but after Mackenzie is diagnosed with cancer and told that she only has 200 days left, things between them change.
I gulp as everyone watches me, waiting for me to talk. I had called everyone into the office to tell them. I really don't want to but I have to. Anthony gives me an encouraging smile as I start speaking.
"So, about a month ago I went to the doctors for a checkup because I had liver cancer 4 years ago so now I have to get regular checkups to make sure it doesn't come back" I pause and look around to see everybody listening with worried expressions on their faces.
"But this time it came back. And it's worse now. I have some other type of rare cancer and it's untreatable" I say starting to tear up.
"Basically I now have about 180 days left until it kills me" a tear slips down my face as Tessa immediately stands up and hugs me tightly.
"Nooo" Tessa cries into my shoulder. "You don't deserve this. I don't want to lose you"
"I'm sorry T" I say into her hair.
"But guys, I don't want you to treat me differently or anything. It's just, you all deserved to know and I love you all so much" I say after pulling away from Tessa.
"We love you too Mackenzie" Chad hugs me next. "We're gonna make the rest of your life so amazing"
"If you ever wanna talk I'm always here" Nick says and gives me a hug. "We all are"
Everyone else hugs me one by one and says similar things to me. Then I decide I need to be alone for a while so I turn off my phone, leave the house and get into Jakes truck which he said I could borrow anytime.
Eventually I end up at the beach after driving around for a while. I sit down, not caring about the sand and watch as the waves go in and out against the shore. After a while I turn my phone back on and put it on airplane mode, just wanting to switch off from the world, I put my earphones in and start listening to a playlist that Anthony made of all of our favorite songs. I'm not trying to ignore everyone I just want to be alone right now and here seems like the perfect place to do it.
As I listen and watch the ocean, tears start pouring down my face. I don't want to leave. I don't want to leave Anthony. Or Tessa. Or Chance. Or Jake. Or anybody else. I'm finally living the most amazing life with my best friends and now it's being ripped away from me.
I wipe my tears away as somebody sits down next to me. I look up to see a familiar face. Anthony.
"How did you find me?" I whisper, my voice barely audible.
"Doesn't matter" he wraps his arms round me and pulls me towards him so his head is resting on top of mine. I let myself relax against him and give him one of my earphones so we can both listen.
We stay cuddled up on the beach watching the waves lap in out for hours, not saying anything and just enjoying each other's company. After sitting there for so long with him I now feel much more peaceful and I made a promise to myself to not think about the future and what's going to happen. Just live in the moment. It eventually starts getting dark and cold so I stand up.
"Let's go home" I say holding onto Anthony's hand as he stands up.
"Okay. But can we can we get food first?"
"Sure" I smile.
He squeezes my hand as we walk back to the truck and insists on taking the keys so he can drive.
After driving to in n out, we both get lots of food and starts driving somewhere that is not in the direction of the house.
"Where are we going?" I ask sipping my coke.
"You'll see" he smirks.
10 minutes later we exit the highway and he starts driving upwards until eventually we reach a large flat area.
"Wha- woahh" I gasp as he drives forward, revealing the view of the entire city of LA, all brightly lit. "It's beautiful"
"It is" Anthony turns the car around so the back of it is facing the view and parks. "Lets sit in the back" he reaches into the backseat and grabs some blankets then gets out. I follow him bringing our food and we both sit in the back of the truck, leaning against the back window with a blanket wrapped around us.
"So how did you find me?" I ask putting a fry in my mouth.
"Well Jakes truck has a tracker thing on it so I Ubered out to where it was and saw you sitting on the beach... crying. Please don't disappear when you're sad, just come and talk to me. I was so worried and it breaks my heart to see you crying like that"
"I'm sorry Tony I just wanted to be alone for a bit. It's gonna happen again though. From now on I've decided I'm not going to think about what's coming and just live in the moment"
"Good" he puts his arm round me. "I love you"
"I love you too" I lean up and kiss him.
I then snuggle into his shoulder, getting tired and eventually fall asleep.
***
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