Kisses for Mia

Chapter One

"Come on Nikki! You're such a slow poke!" Mia called out running at least five feet ahead of me.
We were playing tag on the beach and she was obviously winning. I was finally beginning to catch up with her but before I could, I watched her crumble into the sand.
"Mia!" I cried out, darting towards her limb body. I crashed to the ground beside her and began to shake her. "Mia! Mia wake up!"
I shook and cried out to her some more, but she wasn't waking up. "Help! Someone! Please!"
I felt tears roll down my face when some people began to call an ambulance. I was so confused, so scared with so many thoughts going through my head. I saw Mia's mom make her way through the crowd. My dad not far behind her. I ran up to my dad and began to let out uncontrollable sobs. "D-daddy, what's w-wrong with h-her?" I cry into his shoulder, as my best friend since life was being carried away on a stretcher.
***
"Leukemia?" I continued, "You mean like... Cancer?" I asked slowly.
My mother nodded, "That's what caused Mia to faint."
This was way too much to process. My parents were telling me that my best friend since I was a baby, had cancer. I honestly didn't know how to react to a situation like this. So I did the most rational thing that I could do... I cried. I cried all night and all day. I also thought about what Mia was thinking.
Is she scared? Is she angry? Does she even know yet?
I asked myself many questions, staring at the ceiling while laying on my bed. Slowly drifting off to sleep.

I sat on the dock by the lake, my legs dipped into the cool water. I thought about the very first day I found out that Mia had cancer almost nine years ago.

Mia recovered in our first year of Junior High, but the leukemia came back in our sophomore year. And that's when I had decided to make a fundraiser for her, called Kisses for Mia.
Basically what I do is, I sell Hershey Kisses and each Hershey Kiss I sell, raises money for Mia. It's gotten really big now and sells online and even at some local shopping markets.
I watched as two little girls played in the water. They reminded me of how Mia and I used to be.

There wasn't a minute that I didn't spend thinking about Mia. I went to see her everyday at the hospital. Hoping, praying that that day would be the day she would be released to go back home.

A year after they found out that she had leukemia, Mia's parents got a divorce. Mia always blames her self for there separation, that if she didn't have cancer, they'd still be together. Her older brother Matt and I have done everything we could to convince otherwise, but nothing ever seems to work.

My big sister Natalie was sitting next to me, her legs also dipped in the water. Other than my sister Natalie who is twenty-two, I have two brothers. Nash who is nineteen and Nolan who is sixteen. We all live with our parents and family dog Gypsy who's still a puppy.

"What are you thinking about?" Natalie asked me patting my leg.

"Mia." I said simply.
Natalie wrapped her arm around my shoulders and I rest my head against her's.

We sat there in silence for a while longer until we went back to the house for dinner. When we walked inside, Nolan was washing the dishes, Nash was setting the table, our mom was cooking, and our dad was on his computer.

"Hey girls, go to your rooms and change into something nice. You too boys." My mom said.
My brothers stopped what they were doing, and walked towards us. "What for?"

My mom clapped her hands together and sighed happily. "A family just moved into the gout across from us, and I invited them to have dinner with us tonight!"

Nash rolled his eyes and walked up the stairs. The rest of us fallowed him, and each went to our rooms.
I slipped out of my jean shorts and tank top and put on a teal sleeveless dress and pulled a tan and teal cardigan over it and topped it off with flip flops.
I put my hair into a messy bun and shoved my glasses onto my face and trotted down the stairs.

The door bell rang, and just as I was about to answer it, I was pushed out of the way. I stumbled and hit the wall. I turned around to see who had pushed me. Nolan looked at me apologetically, I returned his look with confusion. Why was Nolan in such a rush to greet the new neighbors?

My question was answered as soon as he opened the door. There was a girl about his age holding a pan wrapped in tin foil. She wore shorts and t-shirt, but she was gorgeous. With full lips, big green eyes and wavy brown hair.
Next to the girl was a middle aged man and a boy about my age, all three were wearing cheesy grins. "Hi there, I'm Nathan Robertson and these are my children, Clair and Chase." The middle aged man said.

"Hey, I'm Nolan and this is my sister Nikki." Nolan smiled and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "Come on in!"

Nolan and I both moved out of the way and let them in.

The dinner was actually pretty boring. We all just kind of sat there and said a few things here and there. But then...
Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me
Don't cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me
Don't cha
Don't cha
My phone rang. Loud and clear. All eyes were on me. My face burned red and I looked at the caller ID. It was Mia.

"Mom, it's Mia." She nodded her head.
My mom and I had an agreement that the only person I could answer the phone for at dinner was Mia, because Mia only called me unless it was an emergency.

Everyone in my family looked at me with worried eyes. I got up and walked to the living room, and answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Nikki, can you come with me to chemo, I thought I could do it alone but I can't." Mia's vulnerable voice said through the phone.

"Don't worry Mia, I'll meet you at the hospital in ten minutes." I said into the phone, the hung up.

"Hey Mom, can I use the van? Mia needs me."

"Sorry honey, it's still in the shop."

"Nash?"

"Nope, you're not using my baby!"

"I can take you." Chase piped in.

My eyes widened. "No no no, I can't ask you to do that!"

"I insist!"

I shook my head, "honestly it's fine I'll just ride my bike."

I walk out of the dining room before he can say anything else. I head outside and grab my bike