The Getaway

Chapter I: Risky Decisions

Acknowledging failures has never been one of April's strongest suits. It was a feeling that was all too foreign for her, but then again, so was having cancer. At 24, she expected herself to be doing what normal young adults usually do—starting a career, having an apartment, going out with friends, and of course, dating. Never in a million years did she envision herself being in the situation that she was in now, where instead of starting her life, she was now fighting for it.

"Hi everyone," April began as each pair of eyes gravitated towards her.

"So…I'm starting treatment two weeks from now. I'm beyond terrified. Actually, I get more and more terrified as the day comes closer, if that's even possible. I lie awake in the middle of the night just thinking about it. It's all I ever think about now."

April paused and looked around the room. They all looked sympathetic; they knew exactly what she was going through. They've all been there, at some point in their own lives. That fact alone should be comforting, but still, she couldn't help but feel alone and incredibly frightened.

"But that's not really what I wanted to share today. I finally told my boyfriend—or should I say, ex-boyfriend—about my condition. I used to be able to hide it so well, that I wasn't sick or anything, but I knew that once I start treatment, there was going to be no way around it. So, I told him…and when I did, he said that he wanted to take a break. Not because he couldn't handle being with someone who has cancer, but because he couldn't be with someone who can't honor something as vital as honesty in a relationship."

For a moment, April felt like breaking down and cry. She knew she messed up; she failed her relationship with Dominic. But then again, it was a doomed relationship from the start, once she found out that she had leukemia. Of course, Dominic was only human. Eventually, he'll want to start a family and have kids, and April can't give him that. Heck, he might not even have a future with her. Maybe it was better this way. Besides, it wouldn't be fair to him if they were to stay together when one of them is on the verge of dying, leaving him all alone to pick up of what's left of his life—nothing.

Before some tears decide to put on a show, April blinked a few times. Don't cry, April. Don't cry, she thought to herself as she once again looked around the room. A sea of faces welcomed her, but deep down, she was only looking for one. She glanced at each face, one after another, and not a minute later, she finally found his.

Leo Hendrie was hard to miss. His eyes were a perfect shade of blue, calm and peaceful, just like the ocean. His hair was perfectly groomed as always; each strand forming a well-blended concoction of a light brown hue. His mouth—albeit small, had a pinkish to purple tint, almost resembling the color between peaches and plums. And finally, that jawline…it was strong and rigid, giving his face the complete model look.

All it took was one swift glance at Leo, and everything came rushing back to normal. The tears no longer begged to pour; she felt relieved once she saw him. It's going to be okay, April. Everything happens for a reason. Once he felt her eyes on him, he turned his head towards her direction, and quickly followed it with a miniscule smile. Then, for some reason she couldn't explain, her stomach went into all crazy kind of knots. Leo had that kind of effect on her.

"So you and Dimples finally called it quits, huh?"

"Oh, were you actually listening to me talk? I'm sorry, I didn't notice, since you kept checking your phone oh, I don't know, every 20 seconds!"

"I have selective hearing. And what can I say, I'm a very popular guy. Everyone wants a piece of this. You'll have to get in line," Leo said, eyeing April up-and-down.

"You're unbelievable," April replied, rolling her eyes at him as she pushed him out of the way.

"So, where are you headed?"

"Work."

"Ooh…must be awkward, working with your ex-lover and all," he teased.

"Not as long as I take the stairs and avoid the copy room like the plague."

Just as Leo was about to get a word in, April's phone vibrated, alerting her of a new text message. It was from her co-worker/sometimes creepy friend, Danny.

Dude, where are you? Lawrence is about to hand over the Biden interview to Raquel! Get your ass over here!

"Ughhhhhh!" She stomped her heels on the pavement from sheer frustration.

"Whoa, calm down princess. What's wrong?"

April was fuming inside. This never-ending competition between her and Raquel was becoming too much to handle. With her mind already circling around everything else, such as the upcoming chemotherapy sessions, her mother's incessant need to control her life, her recent break-up with Dominic, this shouldn't even be something she should concern herself about. It's driving her up the wall.

"Don't you just wish you could, just one day, get up and leave? Like, leave all your problems behind, even for just a little while, and go away with no one knowing where you are, almost like you're starting a whole new life?"

Leo clicked his tongue before giving an answer. "Let's do it."

"W-wait, hold on a second. I'm sorry, but do what, exactly?"

"Go, leave! Isn't that what you say you wanted?"

"It's a figure of speech, Leo. Just some hopeless dreaming on my part. I can't just pack up and go away."

"And why not? Give me one good reason."

"You're seriously asking me that question right now? Um, let's see. I have a job, I have my family, my friends, and oh yeah, my treatment, which is starting in less than 14 days!"

"That's just it, April! Don't you get it? Your chemo is in 2 weeks, so who's to say that you can still do all of this once you start? Let's be real here for a second," Leo exclaimed, sliding his right index finger through his bottom lip. "Chemo is not going to be pretty. You'll be in the hospital, bedridden for days on end, watching the sun go up and down on that same damn window in your room. You won't have the energy to eat, you won't have the energy to do anything, and you're just going to be there, waiting for the day when it's all over. Don't you want to take the time now to do something that you really want?"

April shook her head at him, ready for a rebuttal. However, not a single word escaped her lips.

"Tell me, when was the last time you did something for yourself?"

"It's just not that easy, Leo. We can't all be like you."

"You have got to be kid—"

"You know, maybe later on, I can—"

"Are you listening to yourself? Wake up, April, we have cancer! I'm terminal! There is no later on! The only thing that's guaranteed for us is right now…right now!"

Before April could say another word, her phone vibrated once again, interrupting their heated discussion. It was another text from Danny.

Seriously April, get over here now! Lawrence is looking for you!

"I'll tell you what. If you want to make your hopeless dream a reality, meet me at Logan Airport tonight, by 11:00. With or without you, I'm going to pack up and leave. I'm going to see the world."

Leo took another few steps forward as he and April finally reached his motorcycle. April watched as he put on his black leather jacket and climbed onto his ride. As much as she wanted to go with him, there was just no possible way that she could go. Too many people relied on her, and doing something as irresponsible as disappearing would not make things at home any easier.

"I'm really sorry, Leo. I hope you have a wonderful tim—"

"Don't," he interrupted her mid-sentence. "Don't make a decision just yet. Think about it for now, and I'll see you tonight."

He placed the key in the ignition and the engine roared to life. He then secured the helmet around his head, only to lift up the glass shield.

"Oh, and one more thing."

"Hm?"

"If you were mine, and you told me that you had cancer, I would've never let you go."

She'd been lying on her bed for almost an hour, and yet, she couldn't go to sleep. Instead, she'd been tossing and turning, which almost seemed like a ritual for her nowadays. Her usual thoughts before going to bed consisted of her upcoming treatment, but tonight, it was a little different. She couldn't stop thinking about it. It followed her at work, on the subway ride home, during dinner, and now here, before drifting to sleep.

Leo's adventurous offer was extremely tempting. Of course, she wanted to go, but the same thoughts came back over and over. Too many people rely on me. There, maybe saying it for the umpteenth time will finally allow her to put the subject to rest, but then again, a small part of her subconscious is telling her otherwise. What if Leo was right? What if this is my last chance to be able to see the world? What if there is no later on for me, just like there isn't any for Leo?

Leo. Just saying his name was causing her to feel this knot at the pit of her stomach yet again. She felt it earlier that day, when she was finally able to pluck out his face from the rest of the other cancer survivors; when he smiled at her. She'd never felt that with anyone she'd come across before; not even her best friend Beth, her co-worker Danny, or even her ex-boyfriend Dominic. He was the only one, and she wasn't exactly sure why.

It had been almost a month since she and Leo first had their adventure together. It had also been almost a month since he ambushed her with that kiss, a much unexpected one to say the least. She was still with Dominic at the time, so she'd never allow herself to think anything of it, but, if she was really being honest with herself, that kiss was quite remarkable. For a split second, she felt this raging fire ignite inside of her, leaving her wanting more. Yes, Leo Hendrie was an excellent kisser. God forbid she would ever tell him that though, for it would only increase his already super inflated ego.

She tossed yet again under the sheets, and this time, she reached out for her phone to check the time. It was quarter before ten. Meet me at Logan Airport by 11, his voice now occupying her thoughts. She took a quick sigh as she placed the phone back on the nightstand.

What's it going to be, April?

Eleven twenty-one pm.

"Hello Mr. Hendrie. What can I do for you today?"

Before answering the lady behind the counter, Leo scanned the room yet again for any sight of April. No, his eyes weren't deceiving him; she was nowhere to be found. As he checked the time, it then dawned on him that it had been twenty minutes since the time he instructed for her to arrive. That's it, she's not coming, he thought. He was a little bummed that she decided not to go, but then again, maybe he was just better off trekking the world by himself.

"Yeah hi, I need a ticket for a plane leaving tonight. Any destination will do."

Looking a bit confused, the woman simply followed Leo's directions without any questions and began typing up some characters on the computer. Her eyes scanned the list that was in front of her, checking for any open spots. Her eyebrows then shot up as her mouse made a clicking noise.

"Okay, I have two tickets available for a plane that's leaving for Paris, Mr. Hendrie. How many tickets would you like to purchase?"

"Just one will do, thanks."

"Actually, make that two, please."

Just as he was about to hand over his passport, he heard from behind what only sounded to him as April's voice. For a second, he thought he was dreaming. Pinch me, he thought to himself. He slowly turned around to face her, the corner of his lips just slightly curving to form a grin.

"I didn't think you'd come."

"Well, I thought I'd take you up on that offer. I'm probably going to hate myself for this later, but you were right, I need to do this for me."

"Best decision you made thus far," he said as he moved a step closer to her, his lips now hovering over her ear. "I am going to blow your mind, April Carver. You're never going to want to come back to Boston ever again."