It's Not Meant To End (WayHaught Fanfic)

Chapter 9

Nicole didn't remember much how she got there in the hospital, with IV drip inserted into her arm. She just recalled waking in the middle of the night in her bedroom, screaming like crazy while curled into a ball on her bed because her stomach hurt like hell.

As she opened her eyes after an hour, Nicole no longer felt the pain. The medicine was finally kicking into her system. She felt numb though. She tried to get back to sleep but she couldn't avoid not hearing a sniffle around the corner.

The redhead weakly turned her head to her side and from the dim light, she could make out the figure of her parents sitting by the door. Her mother was crying while she was cradled in the arms of her father. She could overhear Nicholas murmur to her mother about the doctor's advice on starting the treatment a week from now. Her ears heard Nancy's objections about Nicole's body and how it wasn't ready yet to undergo such procedure. The last thing she heard from her father before her eyes droop to sleep was how it was the only option available for the time being.

~~~

It was Friday when Nicole finally got back to school. Jeremy had brought her some of the schoolworks she had missed during her absence. Her best friend had recounted Nicole the tale about how her teachers and their classmates believed she was only coming down with a fever.

Nicole tried to catch up with most of her homework before heading towards her first class.

What surprised the redhead the most was when she closed her locker after obtaining some books inside, Nicole was suddenly engulfed in a tight embrace. Waverly's muscular tanned arms looped around Nicole's body as the former's head nestled on the latter's chest. Nicole could literally smell the addicting sweet vanilla from Waverly's hair.

"Waves," Nicole mumbled, her arms snaking around the brunette in hesitation. The warmth from Waverly's body made Nicole long for her. She had missed Waverly, for sure. "What's wrong?"

When she heard the brunette started to cry on her chest, Nicole only hugged her tighter, no longer minding the curious stares from the students around them.

"I'm sorry for what I did last Monday, Nicole," Waverly managed to say in between sobs. "I overreacted... I shouldn't have done that."

"Hey, hey," Nicole uttered back, burrowing her head into Waverly's hair. "It's okay... it's okay, Waves." The redhead rubbed Waverly's back as the latter's cries intensified.

"You got sick because of me," Waverly went on. Nicole hugged the brunette tighter, trying to calm the latter down. If only it was that easy. If only Nicole had fever and not the dreaded cancer. If only she wouldn't have to undergo chemotherapy by next week. She would have pulled Waverly's head and leaned into her for a kiss.

But Nicole didn't do any of that. She just hugged Waverly and hoped against hope that Waverly wouldn't cry like that when she finds out the truth.

~~~

"Something is going on between the two of you," Jeremy said during lunchtime.

Nicole sighed as she stared at the cold macaroni and cheese in front of her. She'd rather have Jeremy rave about the newly released comic books at Shorty's or listen to him argue about her sister's wedding than go on topic about Waverly. She had not shared what happened that night at the party with Jeremy. Nicole had promised the brunette not to.

Jeremy could see the dilemma written all over Nicole's face as he went on. "Don't you think that this has gotten way out of hand? I mean, what if she finds out about your... condition... I mean... it's already summer and you're gonna start wearing gloves again."

"I don't know, Jer," Nicole admitted. "I think I'm in love with her... Isn't that crazy?"

Jeremy almost spilled his drink. "Yes, it is crazy, Nicole... Do you even know what love is? Maybe it's just infatuation."

"Do you know what love is?"

Jeremy shook. "The hell I know. I just know that it takes time to fall in love with someone. Love at first sight is nothing but a lie."

Nicole scoffed. "What if I don't have that much time?"

"Look, Nicole... Maybe you're feeling like this because your crush cares about you... I mean she finally notices you, I get that. But falling in love? Isn't that what you're trying to avoid in the first place? To not be noticed?"

"I just feel so different around her," Nicole muttered.

"How can you tell?" Jeremy asked. "You've basically just known her for days, Nicole... and you two are not even friends. Yet you two act like you're into each other..."

"I just... I... don't know," Nicole gave up explaining. Why Waverly had that effect on her, she didn't know. All she knew was the feeling she felt when Waverly's around. A feeling that made her forget she's dying.

Nicole's eyes drifted towards the brunette's table, surrounded by her friends. As she stared at Waverly's face, Nicole noticed something familiar. It was like she was looking at a mirror, but more on the similarities of the expression rather than the features. Waverly was sad.

~~~

It was a chilly night when Nicole got outside Shorty's after purchasing the newly issued #1022 DC comic book she owed Jeremy. The redhead zipped her jacket up to her neck and blew air into her hands. Then she pedaled away on her bike, heading home.

Her mother had stopped checking up on her, asking why she's not yet home at the moment. Her last text message to her, saying that she needed more time to catch up doing normal things before reality kicks in next week, made her mother realize that she deserves to be alone for a little while away from the real world.

The streets were almost deserted. Most of the stores were already closed. Nicole was passing through the same Timber bridge she always does to get home. Thoughts about how much had changed since she tried to execute her number one bucket list flashed through her mind. If she had not been crazy enough to have done that, she wouldn't have known Waverly and fall in love with her. It wouldn't be so hard to let go.

Nicole suddenly stopped in her tracks, using both of her feet to stop her bike. She noticed a familiar red Jeep Wrangler parked on hazard by the side of the bridge. When she noticed a familiar figure with wavy brown hair flying in all directions, standing on the same position Nicole stood before, on the edge of the railing, hands clinging for dear life, Nicole didn't waste a moment jumping off from her bike and ran towards the figure.

It was Waverly.