Loud footsteps tapping against the tile floors caught my attention. I looked up from my lap to see Calum rushing to us, looking worried and crushed, with Luke, Ashton and Michael hot on his trail. I jumped up, greeting them with a dry smile.
"Where is she?" was the first thing he asked, before I even got a chance to open my mouth.
"They took her for testing." Jenna explained "As soon as we brought her in and the doctor examined her, we were asked to leave so they could do more tests. The doctor said he suspects something but doesn't want us to worry until he's completely sure. But whatever it is, it's bad."
I put my hand on his shoulder, before flashing him a sympathetic look. It's Calum. I've known him well enough to have a pretty good guess at how he was feeling. He's always put other people first. I'm guessing he's drowning in guilt right about now, he's blaming himself. He always does.
"Calum?" I cooed, helping him take a seat as I did the same "You know there was never anything you could've done for Sam. Even if you stayed with her, even if you got her to a hospital earlier, there's no guarantee it would've helped her state." I croaked out against the lump in my throat.
"She..." he gulped "She could have some awful desease and she could be dying right now!" his voice was slowly rising with every word, until finally he started yelling "And what have I done to help? Nothing! I didn't even pay attention to when she had a feever! I did nothing, it's all my fault and now she's paying for it!"
Luke and Ashton ran to his side, trying everything to calm him down.
"She'll be okay Calum, just calm down. Nothing is your fault." Julie cooed softly, plopping herself on the empty seat beside him and wrapping both arms around his shoulders to comfort him.
"Can you promise me?" he asked dryly. Julie lifted her head from his shoulder confusedly "Can you promise me she'll be okay?" Calum repeated, well aware of the answer himself.
"I-" Julie parted her lips, unsure of what to say as her eyes became glossy "No." she breathe.
Calum sighed, releasing himself from her grip and leaning both elbows on his knees as he covered his face with his hands. We stood in dead silence for a few seconds, before his shoulders started shaking and he was crying. Panic overcame us once again as we tried desperately to calm him down.
---
We've been trapped in the hospital waiting area for hours, the gloomy atmosphere was cast over us like a shadow. It set me back to the first time we here for something like this. The time Michael had been hit by a car and had a concusion almost a year ago. I remember it was raining that day. I remember how shocked and worried for him we all were, especially Jenna. We all took turns watching him for days, until he finally got better and could go to school again. Since then, up until now, we've all always had eachother's backs.
That thought set me back to the fire in Sam and Calum's appartment. That was one time we split up when we needed eachother most. And it was stupid, I admit. But we all make mistakes. They're there so we can learn from them, so we know not to do the same thing next time. I believe we'll take it as an example and remember it.
We were all deep in thought, when a familiar face stormed in, earning everyone's attention. A doctor appeared from around the corner of the hall. He was tall and lean. A few gray hairs on his head contrasted with bis short, curly black hair. His seemingly kind, dark brown eyes were framed with black glasses and he was wearing the traditional white overalls.
The serious expression left his face when he spotted us, replaced with a sympathetic smile "You must be Mrs Daniels' friends"
"How is she? What's wrong with her?" Calum snapped and Michael quickly put a hand over his shoulder, calming him down.
The doctor sighed nervously and leaned his index finger over the frame of his glasses, pushing them up slightly "Mrs Daniels' came here believing she had the flu" he started to explain "But I'm afraid it's more serious than that" the doctor continued coldly, all emotion wearing off of him "You see, these are also the symptoms of leukemia. It's a group of cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow as a result in high numbers of abnormal white blood cells. There's no need for panic though. I can almost guarantee your friend will be okay. We will keep her here for four weeks and she will be under treatment. After that, she should be good as new" he finished with a weak smile.
"Can I see her?" Calum questioned, as if nothing else mattered to him. The doctor nodded.
"Cal?" Ashton spoke quietly, grabbing his elbow "The manager called. He said he wants us there now."
"We have another concert tonight." Michael groaned, slapping his forehead.
"I don't care." Calum stated simply.
"Look, I know you really want to see her right now." Ashton cooed "But we'll be in huge trouble if we're not at the meeting in ten minutes. We'll just go see what he wants and be right back here. Alright?"
Calum hesitated, stealing a glance at the dark hospital hallway, then back at Ashton "Fine."
~~~~~~~
hey guys!
i just want to thank everyone who reads and votes and comments on this book because you can't even imagine how amazing it is to have actual people who actually admire your work! :)
a few people are close to winning so this may or may not be the last question: does anyone remember what happened in the last chapter of How to fall in love?
NEXT UPDATE IN 20 READS
love you xx
