The Selection without America?

Kamber's Cancer

Maxon's POV

"No. She has hurt her foot but there's something else. Something you need to know. It's bad. Really bad." The guard said.
America took off running. She obviously knew what was going on. That or she was as worried as a best friend should be when they hear news like this.
I run after America while the guard runs after me. I don't run much because my parents say it's not formal and it's wrong for a prince to run. If they had it their way I would only be running if someone was attacking me.

I see America stop and turn around. I catch up to her. I'm panting because it's been a while since I've needed to run. The last time I ran was during the last rebel attack and they haven't attacked in a while.
"Why'd you stop running?" I Asked America out of breath.
"I was waiting for you" she stated then took off running again. I sighed and ran after her again.

We got to the hospital wing and looked around the room at all the cots set up in advance for if a rebel attack happens. A sophisticated looking woman in a white coat was walking by the main entrance/waiting room and saw us. She opened the glass door that separated us from her and the other doctors.
"Hello!!" She said. There was something about her. I feel like I recognized her. But I couldn't figure out where and when I saw her before. "Your highness" she said and curtsied to me. I in return bowed my head to her.
"Hello." America said cheerfully. "We are looking for my best friend, the selected Kamber Ruth Leger." America sounded so confident. Like a Queen.
"Oh yes. Of course. If you will follow me this way I'll show you to her room." The doctor said and went through the glass doors. America and I followed her and we walked through some hallways and stopped at a door with a sign that said room 17 Patient: Kamber Leger Sickness: Cancer (heart) there was some writing below that but none explained the Sickness part. My heart stopped. My hands started fidgeting. My breath caught in my throat. Was I reading this right? I must be reading it wrong. This sign must be wrong. Kamber. Cancer? No. It couldn't be. Not her.

I felt a hand on my upper arm. It was just then that I noticed that my muscles were tensed. I loosened them.
"That's why I came in crying at the- at-" America covered her mouth from letting out a sob. "At the dinner. I didn't tell you because- because I didn't want to really believe it." She let out a sob. Water was pooling up in my eyes as well.
"It's okay." I put my hand on hers. She took my hand and held it.
"You May come in and talk to Lady Kamber if you would like that." The doctor said. I totally forgot that's he was there.
"Yes. That would be great" America said while walking through the doorway. She pulled me in with her.

Once I was all the way in I looked up at the bed that sat in the room. It was at the far end of the room where above the bed was a big window letting natural light in the room. Next to the bed on both sides were nightstands each holding a flower vase and a lamp and some books. The girl on the bed looked up right when we walked in.
"You guys look like I'm covered in black and purple bruises and that my finger tips are like blue or something!!" Kamber said laughing.
"Huh?" Was all I could say. "You have cancer right?" I said confused.
"Yeah. Thanks for reminding me" Kamber said looking down again.
"That's not what I meant." I said concerned.
"I know it isn't. It's fine." Kamber smiled.

America let go of my hand and ran over to the side of the bed. She grabbed Kamber's hand. My hand suddenly felt cold. I wanted America's hand in mine again. Her touch. I wanted to feel her soft skin against mine. I pushed the mourning of my cold hand off to the side of my brain. Kamber has cancer. That should be my main concern, not my cold hand. I walked over to the other side of the bed to stand by Kamber. I took Kamber's hand in mine and rubbed the back of her hand.
"It's going to be alright Kamber. We have the highest educated doctors here. They'll help you as well as possible."
"You sure? I mean I can't pay-"
"No. I will not take any of your money. Your family needs it. Just call it a favor. I don't need you to pay me back. Just- I want you to be safe and well. When you're in the castle. My home. You will have no worries. I promise." I said and she smiled and squeezed my hand.

"So how long have you guys known about this?" I asked.
"Umm well America told me let's see... a couple days ago? Yesterday. I forget. But that's what she told me when she ran into the dinning hall."
"I know that. America told me. But America. How did you find out?" I looked at America but she was looking at Kamber.
"Well I was trying to find the dinning hall but I went east instead of west and I went to the hospital wing. I went in the waiting room to see if anyone could tell me where the dinning room was. I walked into a conversation of the two female doctors talking about Kamber and her cancer. The doctors looked from me to each other and told me not to tell the Prince. So I didn't. But I asked for directions and I was on my way. Running. I ran into the dinning hall doors because I thought it was a push door when it was a pull. But then I went in and found Kamber to tell her." America rambled her story.
"Oh okay. Why did the doctors not want me to know?" I asked America but I got the answer from Kamber.
"They wanted to run more tests on me. To make sure they were correct. And indeed they were. I have heart cancer. They were going to run tests tomorrow but when a guard and I came in here with my ankle they just decided to do the test now."

I just kept nodding. It all made sense now. We spent the rest of the time just chilling and relaxing. No one came to look for us. No one really knew where we were. It was just the three of us. We talked like we've been best friends for a life time. We talked about other things then the cancer. I guess we just didn't want to bring it up. We acted as though it was the plague and if we brought it up, it would kill all of us.

A/N this book forward on will contain talk about Cancer. Also I am not going to study Cancer to make sure I get my facts right. I'll not really go into anything big with the topic. I hope you guys are enjoying the book. Please feel free to comment!!