~First update November 3d 2019~
For a long time I've been trapped inside hospitals and locked away from the world.
For a long time I've lived imprisoned by my own body and the cancerous cells inside it.
My time is coming to an end. I know it. It is...
*The song doesn't really have anything to do with the chapter, I just really like it ;) *
Jullian scores the first goal and immediately finds me in the raging crowd. I give him a thumbs up and jump up and down in excitement, ignoring the pain in my joints, while Harley screams for me.
By the end of the game, Harley's voice is almost gone and my butt is frozen. The final score is 4-1, my brother's school team are the winners.
As soon as time is up Julliaan takes his shirt off and climbs over the field and up the bleacher stairs, finding me. He gives me the shirt and I jump on him, hugging my kid brother tightly.
''Thank you for being here''. he says in my hair and I kiss both his cheeks through my mask. ''I love you kid''. I say and he runs back to his team.
''I'm so fuckin cold''! I say to Harley as we walk towards the parking lot. He mumbles something in agreement but before I can ask him to repeat it I start caughing out of the blue. I remove my mask and press a hangerchief to my mouth as I double over, wheezing and almost falling over.
''Ophelia''? Harley asks worriedly and I try to tell him I'm fine. ''Inhaler, in my bag''. I say between caughing and gasping for breath. He understands and easily finds the blue inhaler. It takes me a couple minutes but I manage to find my breath again. Harley is holding my elbow, keeping me upright throughout the coughing.
When I stand straight again with Harley's help I notice that several people have stopped and are staring at me with worry.
''Are you okay''? Harley asks quietly and I nod with a smile. ''Fine'' i answer and then turn to the people. ''I am alright everybody''. I say loud enough for everyone to hear me. Some of them don't seem convinced but I ignore them as we continue walking towards the car.
''Do you want to go home''? Harley asks me and I shake my head. ''I'm still wide awake''. I tease him and he gives me a small smile. ''Hey''. I say and touch his face softly. My hand is as cold as ice but he doesn't even flinch.
''I'm fine, I promise''. I say and he leans into my hand. ''Promise''? he asks and I smile. ''Pinky promise''. I say.
Suddenly someone knocks on the window and I scream, which results in another caughing fit. Jullian opens my door while laughing at me. He totally ignores me and instead starts talking to Harley.
When I find my breath once more I punch my brother's stomach and he groans. He pulls my pigtails and in turn I pinch his neck. Harley is watching us, wisely without interfeering. ''I will tell mom you made me start caughing''. I say after pulling his hair.
''You rat''. he says and pulls back from me. I stick my tongue out.
''I have to find coach, I will see you guys at home. Thanks for coming''. the boy kisses my forehead, waves at Harley and leaves.
''You are just like children'', Harley comments once we are on the road and I make a face. ''We try''. i say with a grin, thinking about Jullian. ''He is everything to me you know''. I say and look out of my window to the streetlights we pass by.
''Yeah, I know. He is your baby no matter how old he is right''? he asks and I nod, remembering that he also has a younger brother.
''How is August''? I ask and he smiles. ''The gremlin is fine. Back to his old self, he is studying hard to catch up to the rest of his class.'' he informs me and I smile at his happiness. ''I'm happy to hear that''.
''You called him lucky as fudge back at the hospital'' a laugh escapes his lips and soon I laugh too. ''Fudge is pretty lucky''. he says and I laugh again. I don't know why, it is not that funny. But the way he says it and the way he scrunches up his nose is hillarious.
''Where are we going''? I ask after a bit of talking.
''It's a secreeet''! he says and I pout my lips. ''Pretty pleeeease''! I beg but he doesn't budge.
He pulls up in front of a grass patch that leads to a small hill with a couple of trees.
He helps me out of the car and leads me up the hill. He doesn't complain about how slowly I walk partly in order to avoid another caughing fit and partly because of the increasing pain on my legs after sitting for too lonh
He stays by my side until we are on top and my eyebrows shoot up in surprise.
"Wow" is all I can think to say.
The view is breathtaking. There is barely any light from the town behind us, which results in the stars being bright enough for me to be able to see them even with only one working eye.
"You like it"? He asks softly while hugging my waist from behind. I lean my head on his shoulder and look up at the sky.
"Thank you". I murmur and feel tears prickling my eyes. I blink them away quickly and turn around in his embrace while tearing my face mask off.
Before he can proccess my actions I pull his face down and kiss him.
He stays still for a moment, too surprised to move. If we're being honest, I am just as surprised. I never thought myself brave enough to kiss someone.
Gradually, his hands that were deathly still on my back, start to move. One of them moves to my lower waist, pulling me closer while the other finds it's way to my face. His fingers softly graze my cheekbone before cupping the side of my face. His lips are soft, warm and taste faintly of burnt sugar.
The kiss is gentle and I find myself melting into it. My feet almost stop holding me up but Harley is there to keep me standing.
When we pull apart for air, he rests his forehead against my own and kisses the tip of my nose, making me smile and even a small giggle escapes me. I blame it on the kiss after effects.
Harley's eyes light up at the sound. ''I've almost never heard you laugh before''. he says with a satisfied smile which soon turns into a wicked smirk. ''Do it again''. he commands and kisses my cheek this time. When I don't giggle, he pouts his bottom lip. ''Please'', he pecks my lips and this time I snort.
Yes ladies and gentlemen. I snorted, like a pig.
Harley starts laughing and I join him after a moment's worth of embarrassed blushing.
