Ma'am this is Panda Express

6

-Hello? Alyx? This is Frea . . . Martha gave me your number. Look, I'm so—

-DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW SCARED I WAS? DO YOU NOT CARE ABOUT ME AT ALL? IT'S BEEN TWO-AND-A-HALF FUCKING MONTHS!

-Woah . . . I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I've been busy and haven't had time to call . . . I tried you yesterday, but Martha answered. I asked her to put your number on the bag so I could call you and apologize. . . . I'm so sorry.

-That's no excuse, Frea. For all, I know you could've DIED! You PROMISED you weren't gonna die on me!

-I know, I'm sorry. Let me make it up to you, please.

-How are you gonna make this up to me?

-I'll get baked with you or something. Meet me somewhere, please!

-Where pretell are we meeting? And just because I'm asking, doesn't mean I'm going. I'm still considering . . .

-West park? And okay, that's fair.

-That's right by my job. I'm going at noon. Meet me there or I'm never speaking to you ever again. Don't know how many more death scares I can take, Lukie.

-That's fine. I can work with noon. Bye, Alyx. . . .Mm

~
-Hello

- . . .

-Okay, let's walk then. So . . . umm . . . did you ever pass that health exam?

-. . .

-Come on, Alyx speak to me. Stop staring at me. I'm sorry for ghosting you, alright. What do you want me to say?

-Explain yourself, Frea. You're supposed to make it up to me.

-Okay . . . can we sit down first, though. I'm tired from walking so much.

-. . .

-Okay.  Before I tell you, don't freak out; know that I do care about you a lot . . . like a lot, a lot; I know I promised I wouldn't die on you but . . . um, okay . . . here goes. I have the big C. It's Leukemia. Stage 4.

-. . .

-I'm sorry for not telling you, but I was so scared that I was gonna die and break my promise. I couldn't bare to see the reaction you'd have because I knew it would hurt both of us.  You're a lot more beautiful than I thought you would be and I didn't wanna see you sad. I'm—

-I told you to go to the hospital sooner, Frea!

-You're just gonna ignore my compliment?

-DON'T CHANGE THE SUBJECT, FREA! I'm sorry, sorry for yelling. You're cute, too. That's all you're gonna get right now.

-I can work with that. It's not often a pretty girl who also thinks I'm pretty.

-So are we just gonna ignore the fact that you just told me you have the big C? Stage FOUR big C?

-. . .  Yeah seems like it.

-I guess I'm okay with that.

-Are you sure? That's not really a thing you just pretend never happened, honestly.

-If you don't wanna talk about then okay, we don't have to talk about it.

-Are you sure?

-Why are we still on this?

-Right, okay. Sorry. Anyways . . . Remember that one day where your boss snagged the phone from you and I had to pretend I was an angry foreign customer? I'm surprised you never got fired from Panda Express honestly. You don't really work much.

-Are you calling me lazy?

-Pretty much. But it's okay, your beauty makes up for it.

-Are you flirting Luk—Frea?

-I'm fine with being called Lukie you know. It's a cute nickname, honestly.

-Sorry, it just seemed really rude now that I know what I know. Sounds like I'm making fun of you.

-Meh. Normally it would tick me off but you can be the only exception.

-Oh my god I love that song!

-That's a song?

-The Only Exception by Paramore. It warms my little emo heart.

-Hey you know I haven't heard about Mateo and Rufus in awhile.       

-You're right! You want me to continue?

-Yeah, tell me a story, Alyx.

-Where were we?

-They were just leaving the hospital where Mateo's dad was.

-Right, okay. So I think they go to Mateo's best friend's place. He goes to drop off some money for her because he doesn't really need it anymore. His best friend's name is Lidia. She's got this little girl named Penny. Mateo is Penny's godfather. Anyway, Mateo goes to give her the money and possibly tell her he's dying. He chickens out, throws down the money and runs away. He blocks Lidia's number so that she can't call him and then him and Rufus dip. This is the part where mateo finds out the police are after his new friend and he goes against his old self to trust Rufus.

-I'm not gonna do that to you when I die.

-Alright. I'll finish. We've anticipated this for far too long.

-True dat. So they're running from Lidia's house.

-Yeah, so they go to this comic book place whrre a fire breaks out almost kills thrn but thankful it wasn't their time though there were many deckers there. After the fire situation they make go for this place Deckers called "Make-A-Moment." Mateo realized that it was wrong to die without talking to Lydia more so he calls her on Rufus's phone and invites her over.

-Sounds like Make-A-Wish.

-That's pretty much what it is. But this place lets you do things that are traditionally on bucket lists; like cliff diving or skydiving but safely, so that you can't die doing them.

-So it just takes the fun out of it, then?

-Yeah, pretty much. But this is where it gets really cute.

-So really . . . gay?

-Basically, but it doesn't happen yet.

-Keep telling it then! C'mon! I don't have all day. I have to be back soon!

-The author was janking our cords with their "relationship." The second it got a little intimate they were interrupted. But anyway Rufus and Mateo go bungee jumping and this thing—shit!—I forgot the name of it. I think it's waterfall jumping or something. During this Rufus helps Mateo get over his fear of heights and Rufus slightly doesn't fear water as much. They swim around and have a bunch of moments, where one hopes the other would kiss the other but never did.  Anyway, they go to this club that Mateo recommends afterwards.

-How did they get into a club? Did they use fake IDs?

-No this is another perk of dying, they had an all-Decker club. Non-alcoholic drinks for them though because even though they're dying they can't have any fun and drink, which is such a drag. Anyway when they get to the club they meet Rufus's friends, Tageo, Malcolm and Aimee.  Rufus snaps a few photos for his all-famous Instagram, then Mateo drags him up to sing karaoke together, which was fucking amazing by the way. THAT'S when they finally kiss. I'm pretty sure I cried when I read it.

-Yeah I might be crying right now. Continue!

-Okay but I have to get back to work so we have to walk and talk. I know, I'm sorry. But if you get tired I'll carry you. So this part is gonna piss you off: Peck show up a-FUCKING-gain but this time with friends and a GUN. Mateo gets fed up and PUNCHES the dog-crap outta Peck. Then—Frea?

-Wait, slow down. You're walking too fast.

-Do you really want me to carry you THAT badly? Frea? Are you good? You look pale. . . . FREA? FREA!

-DON'T DIE ON ME! PLEASE! A-ALRIGHT, COME ON! I'VE GOT YOU! WE'RE ALMOST TH-THERE! DON'T DIE ON ME, PLEASE