Die In Your Arms

Chapter 1 - Birthday Girl

Alexa's POV:

I awaken in my hospital bed by a constant tapping on my arm and a, "Psst! Alexa!" from a familiar little voice. I open my eyes and say, "Emily Grace! Good morning!" She smiles at me and hands me a bag. "Happy Birthday, Alexa!" I pull out a "1D" sweatshirt out. "Emily, thank you!" I hugged her. My doctor walks in, "Good morning! Happy birthday! You have a visitor, darling." I sit up and see my best friend, Carter Landon. "Carter!" "Happy birthday! I got some special things for you!" She said. She gave me a small box that had a $50 iTunes card in it. She handed my a bag. I pulled out tickets, One Direction tickets! "OH MY GOD, CARTER I LOVE YOU!" I jumped up and down. She had three tickets. "One for me, one for you and one for Emily Grace!" Carter sang. In harmony they all sang, "Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Alexa! Happy birthday to you!" Emily Grace added a, "And many more!!!" I smiled and picked her up. I was officially 17! I looked at the date on the ticket. "Friday?! Oh my gosh I can't wait!" I hugged everyone tightly.

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(Friday, Alexa's POV:)

I woke up early that morning. "We're going shopping!" I told Carter over the phone. "Am I coming, too?" Emily Grace asked. "Yes!" I said, tapping her nose. I hung up and sighed, looking in the mirror at my bald head. Tears began to form in my eyes. I feel small arms wrap around my legs. "You're strong, you know that?" I asked Emily Grace. She smiled at me warmly, which made me feel better. "We can buy you a beanie!" she said. "Great idea!" I gave her a high-five and she hopped away to her room. Soon Carter pulled up and walked in. "Who's ready to go shopping?!" she sang. I laughed and went to Emily Grace's room. I went to the kind lady at the front desk. "Hey we're going to go out, we have a concert to go to." I said. I grabbed my 1D hoodie and put the hood on top of my bald head. I had tiny specks of blonde hair poking out of my head. I sighed. We drove up to Aeropostale. "I need skinny jeans and a beanie!" I said. "Why a beanie?" Carter asked. I took off my good and revealed my bald head. Emily was wearing a headband with a flower on it. I looked back at her, she was very pale. "You okay?" She nodded weakly. "You sure?" "Not really." I frowned and assured her she would feel better. We walked into Aeropostale and I found a cute purple beanie along with skinny jeans. We check out and load in the car. "TO THE CONCERT!" we all screamed, running into the car. We turned up the radio and WMYB was playing. We sang all the way to the concert. We got in and I started crying. "I love them so much," I choked out. I picked up Emily Grace and we found our seats, right up on the floor in the front row. "Oh, did I show you?" asked Carter, pulling out VIP passes. I started bawling, throwing my arms around her. They opened up with Up All Night and ended by doing covers. It was the best night ever. Once they got off stage we ran up and showed security our VIP passes. We spotted the boys somewhere beyond and I started sobbing. I ran up to them like an idiot and I had mascara running down my cheeks. Niall wiped my tears with a napkin. "Did you like the concert?" He asked. I would have answered but Paul got in the way, I started fangirling. "Go on," he said. "Um, bye, Niall!" I shouted as I was pushed away. We went outside to the car. "Wait in the car, I gotta pee!" I said. I went in the bathroom and did my business, then I washed my hands and walked to my car. I bumped into someone. "I'm so sorry-" I looked up at Niall Horan. "I'm so sorry, babe. Here, to make it up to you we can meet up at the bar. Here, the info is here and you can text me. What's your name?" "A-Alexa." I stuttered. "Okay, I'll see ya!" he said kissing me. I ran to my car, clutching my stomach. I hopped in the passenger seat and I felt dizzy. "I don't feel too go-" I threw up in the parking lot. I finished and closed the door. "So, what was the delay?" "I bumped into Niall and we're meeting at the bar." "When?" "10:00 PM." I looked at the clock. 9:30. "That gives us enough time to drop off Emily and go on!" I was so pumped and I couldn't wait to see them. I was fangirling on the inside. But thoughts stirred in my mind.

What if I drink too much and I throw up?

What if they don't like me?

I'm so nervous.

I sighed and we dropped off Emily and we had to find dresses. Quick. We stop at Hollister and I get a black dress with a red ribbon at the stomach. It was strapless. Carter got a baby blue dress with a silver ribbon at the waist line. It was a pretty, over the shoulder dress.

I didn't know if I was ready, but we gave the cashier the cash and we went to the bathroom and changed quickly. We raced to the car and drove to the bar. We kept the old clothes and we shut the car door, walking into the bar exactly on time.

The fresh smell of alcohol went up my nostrils. I gagged a little and found where the boys were sitting. I took a seat next to Niall. He offered to buy me a drink but I declined. "Just get me some water." Perfect, they thought I was weird. I can't tell them I have cancer. That would be weird. I still had my beanie on and it didn't match my dress at all. Niall came back and gave me a glass of water. He looked at my beanie, "It's kinda warm in here, do you wanna-" "No." I said quickly. He looked at me in a strange way and I felt stupid. I drank some water and I started feeling dizzy. "Would you excuse me?" I asked, running to the bathroom. I ran into a stall and sat over the toilet and I started to puke. I was in there for half an hour, still puking. I hear banging on the door. "You okay in there?" Carter asked. She came in and walked into my stall. "I wanna go back to the hospital," I said. I started crying. Carter cradled me and walked me out of the bathroom. Carter told Niall of text him and we walked to the car. "I feel like crap," I said. I pulled out my iPhone and punched in Niall phone number. "Sorry I left so early. I'm feeling a bit sick. -Alexa Tanner x"

I sighed and put away my phone, shutting my eyes and trying to keep my stomach under control.

They think I'm a freak because that's what I am. A bald freak.