That Boy

Maybe I was wrong.

My first day of school was today. As I walked in the doors I still had John on Face Time. He'd waken up this morning just to see me off. The whole ride here he'd begged me to take my wig off and so finally I took it off and shoved it in my backpack. Most people pretended I wasn't even here. But there were a few who stared. The younger kids who I'd never seen before, new this year, they were the ones staring. I wanted to put my wig on but John kept saying something about how everything was going to be great and all fine and mighty. I walked into the office to pick up my schedule and saw that they'd set up this whole welcome back party for me. The office was my best friend in high school. Not only was it a welcome back but it was a cancer free party. I'd survived this disease. 

"Tess who are you on the phone with?" Mrs. Walker, the secretary said to me as I told John goodbye, hanging up before he could reply. 

"It was just John. He went back to college a week ago." She gave me this look and raised her eyebrows.

"He likes you." She was like a teenager.

"No, he doesn't." I could feel my cheeks burning, "He's busy dating other girls. I'm like five years younger than him anyways."

She laughed out loud. "No way. I think he likes you. No guy gets up at seven in the morning to see a girl off to school unless he liked her." 

"Most girls don't have-" But I was cut off by the principal.

"Tess. It's so good to see you!" The principle came running in with orange juice, muffins and donuts. "Welcome back to school. It'll be good getting you into your classes again. Finally your getting a chance to finish high school." In truth I was supposed to be freshman in college but because I missed basically a year I was held back to finish my senior year. "This year will be a great year." 

"Yeah. It will be." Mrs. Walker gave me wiggly eye brows as I left, grabbing a bottle of orange juice and a muffin.

Lunch came quickly and I didn't know many people. My mom had packed me a lunch full of healthy things I had to eat. Since I knew nobody I went into the office and ate with them. Halfway through lunch I got a call and had to step outside to take it. 

"Hello?" The number had been an unknown number.

"Hello is the Tess?" The voice sounded familiar to me.

My heart raced, "This is she." 

"Hi its Mrs. Harpso. Listen I couldn't get ahold of your parents and your phone number was in the system. But I..uh..wanted to let you know that we were going over your MRI scan again to look for any signs of remaining cells in your lungs. We want to set up another appointment to take another MRI scan and double check. We thought we saw something very small but want to make sure it wasn't a trick of the eye. I say as soon as possible. Maybe even today. Are you busy after school?" She sounded hesitant.

"No I-yeah I'll come by." My hands were shaking as I walked back into the school. My breathing quickened and the world slowed down just a little bit. I stumbled into the office and Mrs. Walker quickly looked up at me.

"Tess, whats wrong?" She stood from her desk and came to help me to a seat.

"It was a call from my doctor. She said they were reexamining my MRI and they think they might have missed something, they saw a dot. So they want me to go in today after school for another MRI. If I have cancer still then that means that my parents will tell John. He'll hurry back from school as quickly as he can. He won't ever finish college at this rate." I had my head in between my legs as I tried to breath. How come I'd worn boots and leggings on such a hot day?

"Tess should I get the nurse?" Mrs. Walker sounded concerned.

"I told you! I can't get cancer again. John needs to go to school and if my cancer returns then he can't finish." I took more deep breaths and Mrs. Walker put her hand on my cheek.

"Now you listen right here missy. If your cancer is back then so be it. If John comes all the way back from college then you know what?" I raised my eyebrows in questions, "Then my theory that he likes you is right!" She got up and did the weirdest dance of all times. I couldn't help but laugh at her. "Listen, it's gonna be okay. Even if you still have cancer. I understand you want it gone, you want to be healthy but life doesn't always work out that way. So when it throws you a curve ball, you catch it."