The Cancer Chick's Best Friend

Chapter Fourteen

"Alright then Olivia, Everything looks fine, you've been taking your medication yes?" The doctor smiled.

"Yep"

"Great then, the nurse here will just draw some blood for routine tests, Mrs. Anderson, may we have a word outside?"

"I'm coming too," Jared said and walked out behind the two of them.

"What is it Doctor?" 

"Her condition does seem stable but I do not see it getting any better, I really need you to reconsider her treatment plan here, without chemotherapy she really doesn't stand a chance."

"We've tried convincing her but she does not want it, there is nothing we can do" Olivia's mum cried. Jared held her close to comfort her. 

"Look, Olivia is still a minor, your decision can override her wishes in this situation." The doctor said. 

"We don't want to force her into this, I've read so much about how medicines work only when the patient has an optimistic outlook on it, we can't just force her into this"

"Mrs. Anderson, she may hate it but it will make her live, that's what we all want more than anything right?" Jared asked, hope filled in his eyes. 

"I can't make this sort of decision without consulting my husband first.... Doctor, thank you so much but can we get  back to you about this after I discuss things with my husband?"

"Of course Mrs. Anderson, Thank you for reconsidering. I know Olivia's condition is severe and needs intense measures but it will surely do more good for her than what her current treatment plan is." 

Jared couldn't help but feel a rush through his body with the idea of Olivia getting better. 

Maybe this wasn't the end after all. 

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Olivia stood in front of her mirror, checking the fit of  the costume she made for herself and then spun around. "Guys, it's Halloween and you don't want to dress up and go to Kate's party?"

"I hate parties," Drew yawned. 

"I hate Kate," Ashleigh said and rolled over on the bed.

"I kind of can't come face to face with Kate right now," Jared said, sheepishly. 

"Why not?" Drew and Olivia asked in unison.

"The last time I was with her we were in the middle off... um.. well.."

"Oh for god's sake just tell us!"

"We were having sex and I left halfway because I remembered it was movie night with you guys and i wasn't really into it either anyway and well, she hates me now and its really awkward," Jared said and scratched the back of his neck, his nose scrunched up in annoyance at how embarrassed he felt while the room roared with laughter. 

"Alright then, no party, problem solved!" Drew grinned and lay down on the bed when Ashleigh said,"We definitely must go to that party now!"

"No party, but you guys have to dress up because I want us to go trick or treating!"

"Oli we are seventeen, nobody is going to give us candy when there's small children around!"

"Oh, c'mon, the whole neighborhood knows I'm a terminal teenager, we will get all the candies, get dressed!"

Jared turned Olivia around and held her shoulder, staring grimly into her eyes and said," What did I tell you about joking on this topic? I'll dress up but one more joke from you and I will never speak to you again." 

The room went silent. Jared walked out of the room and Ashleigh walked into the closet to change. Drew was already in costume as Neville to compliment Olivia's Luna.

Ashleigh walked out and smiled, she was dressed as a carrot. "Do you remember this?"

"The Carrot Patch Kids!" Olivia exclaimed with a wide smile on her face. When they were nine, Eleven of them wore carrots as their costume and called themselves the carrot patch kids, demanding candy all across town. 

"How could i ever forget that day, you guys stole all my M&Ms!" Drew said and threw a pillow at Ashleigh.

Jared walked in, wearing really lose clothes, an orange wig and glasses. His expression was grim until he looked at Ashleigh and broke into a smile. 

"Who are you supposed to be J?" Ashleigh asked.

"Ed Sheeran, Liv's favorite singer," He replied with a faint smile. "Carrot patch?"

"Yeah, wanted to revisit the past" Ashleigh said and smiled. 

"Let's get going then shall we?" Olivia asked, and everyone nodded. Ashleigh and Drew walked ahead. Olivia held Jared's arm and whispered to him, "Thank you. I'm sorry, I know I can get on your nerves sometimes. You let me choose to not get that treatment, the least I can do is be more positive and less morbid. I'm sorry"

"It's fine, I can't be angry with you even if you weren't dying anyway"

"Did you just make a joke about this after lecturing me not to?" Olivia asked with amused eyes. Jared smiled. They walked towards the door when Jared said,

"Hey why don't you guys go ahead, I'll catch up, I left my phone"

"Alright, more candy for us!" Drew exclaimed and put his arm around both girls as they walked onto the driveway.

Jared made sure they were onto the street and then walked into the kitchen.

"Mrs.Anderson?" 

"Hey Son c'mon in, all set for Halloween?" Olivia's Father asked. He was sitting on the island across Mrs. Anderson. He pat the seat beside him, gesturing Jared to come sit.

"Yeah. Actually, um... could I talk to both of you?"

"Yeah go on"

"Has Mrs. Anderson told you about-"

"Yes she has, and we've decided to go with it. Olivia is a minor and we respect her wishes but if this could save our baby girl then so be it, she may hate us but she will at least be alive doing it"

"I want the same too, I want her alive and healthy, but I also know it's a long road ahead. She will be weak and tired and chained to her bed and exhausted and angry for a long time before she overcomes this. I was wondering if you could give us, I mean, Drew, Ash and I, a weeks time."

"A week? Why?"

"Liv has a bucket list, and I know she won't die but she really wants to do these things and maybe these memories will keep her cheered up during the treatment. There's a bunch of things we can do in one shot, Please just give us a weeks time before you start this treatment, please?"

"Hon, the doctor did say she's stable, and we want our baby happy right?" Olivia's mother asked, holding her husbands hand softly and smiling. 

"Okay, yeah, sure. One week."

"Thank you!" Jared smiled. He got up excitedly and walked towards the door. 

"Hey Jared?" Olivia's father called out, walking behind him. 

"Yeah?" 

"Thank you, for always being there for her."

Jared smiled and gave him a nod. 

He will always be there for her.