Love You till the Last Rose Dies [KOTLC Sokeefe fanfic]

Chapter 6: Rose Thorns

Keefe's Pov

"What?!?" Elwin was flashing so many orbs at me, I thought I was gonna be blinded. He had a wild look in his eyes.

Also, yes. I actually did go to the healing centre. I'm not stupid. I stopped choking about halfway to the centre, but the flowers were really bloody. So, I just continued on my way. I kinda wish I hadn't.

"What is going on?" That was all Elwin had said for the past 14 minutes and 26 seconds. Yes, I counted. There wasn't really anything else to do.

"Hanahaki?"

Elwin's hands dropped and he just gawked at me. "No. That's not possible."

"So I've been told many times. But here I am as proof, right?"

"This is bad."

"I've also been told that many times." I sighed and rolled over.

"You say the petals were bloody?" Elwin had resumed flashing orbs at me.

"Well, they started going bloody this morning. Then at lunch, I kinda choked?"

"You KINDA CHOKED?" Elwin looked horrified.

Then, a knock came at the door. I looked up to see all my friends standing in the doorway.

"We just wanted to check up on you." Lihn was the first to speak.

I wasn't sure what to do. Should I joke it off? Then I saw Sophie and Fitz next to each other. Holding hands and I felt another cough coming up. No. I couldn't let them see yet. I squashed it down the best I could and said, "Could I just talk to... everyone except for Sophie and Fitz?"

Everyone looked confused. But, Sophie pulled Fitz out of the room. Just in time. I started coughing, the bloody flower petals spreading across the healing centre.

Biana, Marella, and Lihn squeaked and Tam's eyes widened. Dex just looked downright... there are no words to describe his face.

Tam was the first to shake off the shock. "You weren't kidding."

"Dude. Do you think I would joke about this?"

"Yes," Tam said crossing his arms. "Seems like something you'd do."

I rolled my eyes. "Well, I'm not. Hey Dex, is it normal to be choking on these things so early?"

"Wait. HE ALREADY KNOWS?" Tam looked back and forth between me and Dex.

Dex was looking at the ground. "I do know. And, no, Keefe. You shouldn't be choking. God, the petals shouldn't even be bloody yet." Dex was now full-on sweating. "I don't get it!"

"None of us do! You probably know more than any of us!" Biana had joined the conversation. "Care to explain?" She turned to me.

"I think Dex is in a better position to do that."

The girls stared at Dex, as if glaring at him would get the answer out.

Dex took a shaky breath. "Well, you see, uh. Keefe has this disease called Hanahaki. It's not contagious, so it's safe to be around him. But, like, he's probably gonna..."

"Going to what?" Biana was getting impatient.

"I'm gonna die." That was when it all went quiet. Did I say something wrong? No. I just told them the truth.

Biana's Pov

No. He has to be kidding. Keefe can't die. Sure, he's annoying, but... he's like a big brother to me. He can't die. It's ridiculous.

Tam's Pov

I never thought I'd say this, but... Keefe shouldn't just die like that. Sure, I hate him. I don't fully trust him. But he's got his own talents. You can't just let someone die.

Lihn's Pov

This is too much to think about. We haven't been with the group for long, but we're like family. And you don't just let someone die.

Marella's Pov

I don't know what to do. Is this a dream?

Dex's Pov

This is not a dream. And the situation is worse than I thought. If the situation is advancing this quickly, that means Keefe isn't just trying to get over feelings. He's full-blown lovesick.

Sophie's Pov

It kinda hurt. What could be so serious that he didn't want me to know? I'm his friend too! I didn't realize how nervous I was until I saw how tightly I was squeezing Fitz's hand. Was he sick? Was his mind breaking? What was going on?

Fitz's Pov

I'm worried about my best friend. He likes to hide a little too much behind his jokes and pranks. Plus, Best friends are supposed to stick together. What could he be hiding?

Keefe's Pov

I started coughing again, but this time, I felt a searing pain in my throat. When I looked down, my eyes widened. A rose thorn. A thorn embedded in the bud of a rose. So that was where all the blood was coming from.

Elwin saw what I was holding. "A thorn?"

"Yeah." I held it up.

"This is not good. You see, different flowers can mean different things with this disease. Some mean a light-hearted love. Some mean a sorrowful loss. But, roses. They mean secrecy and romantic love. Thorns are dangerous in this disease. Cause that opens another way for you to die."

"Oh great. What is it?" I was getting quite sick of people telling me the ways I could die.

"From blood loss."

"Well, we'll just have to see what happens, won't we?"