Out Of My League (Under Revision) (Book 1)

Chapter Twenty-Two

While I was having a Teen Wolf marathon with Kara, I didn't expect Grace to walk in exhausted in her blue scrubs. I expected her to walk in like that at midnight.

"Hi, Grace. I didn't expect you to be home so early. Not that I don't want you here. It's just usua-"

"It's fine, Elliana. I just came to take care of Eleighna."

"It's gotten worse."

" I know. I was there with her at the hospital."

"What did the doctor say?" I asked hesitantly.

Grace looked like she was on the verge of tears. "They diagnosed her with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia."

Cancer? I thought it was the normal flu: well, that was until she showed me the unusual swelling on her abdomen yesterday.

"What is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia?" My voice was nervous, laced with the extra worry.

"It's cancerous white blood cells or lymphoblasts that are over multiplying in the bone marrow. If not treated immediately, the lymphoblasts can overpower the red and white blood cells along with the platelets in the bone marrow and transfer to other vital organs." She let one tear streak down her face. "She's been experiencing this for one month." I've only been here a month and a half. "Since it's fast-acting, it's more advanced. I just want my baby to be safe." And with that, Grace burst into tears.

I pulled her into my arms while Kara quickly got up and muttered a quick "I'll be back later" before exiting the house.

I just hugged Grace as she cried into my shoulder.

I said nothing. I didn't say that it was going to be alright, because I know I can't guarantee it. I can't guarantee a majority of things in this world. I can't say that Eleighna's going to be okay because cancer really is unpredictable. I can't say that my brother will come back to the house and acknowledge me because let's face the facts that he's gone on with his life forgetting that his once precious sister is now at a higher chance of losing someone she loves.

It's right. Eleighna grew on me in one month. She knows that books and music are my weaknesses. She knows that I'm obsessed with stars - infinite tiny orbs in the distance that are scattered around space; beautiful fireballs that are so simple yet so complex. She finds the similarities between her brother and I which leads her to believe the fact that there is chemistry between us; Chemistry that I wish didn't exist. She knows that I had a crush on the previous inhabitant of Colton's room - Donny Wilson. Eleighna knows my favorite TV shows and she isn't afraid of fangirling with me about it nor is she ashamed with our love for The Fault In Our Stars although she doesn't freely tell me. Eleighna knows almost as much as Kara does. I've only known Eleighna for one month. One month is what it took for me to give my trust to someone who is beautiful inside and out. Someone who actually broke through the walls I had up without any force. Eleighna had become one of my best friends in the span of one month.

But now, that same girl was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease that was available to anyone. Cancer is compatible with anyone. It's already in the DNA. It only starts when something within the cells go wrong. Human DNA is already in the cell so if something goes wrong within the DNA - genetic mutation, etc. -, there's going to be a problem with the cell as well.

I wasn't in the mood to think about the knowledge of cancer and DNA but I couldn't help but think of it. I couldn't help but think that the possibility of it happening to any one of us is at a certain percentage rate but Eleighna was the one at the highest.

That's the time when Jace and Colton decided to enter the house and found their mother in my embrace sobbing into my shoulder.

Colton's smile turned into a frown as none of us had ever seen Grace in such a state.