Thank you to: MariaLuvsYew, VictoriousForever, Jeremy Shane, Julie, Raiden2342, Finally Falling (where have you been, chica? Is everything okay?), BlueRoses1212, Murderouslittlevoice, RedVelvetAngel, Ameha Kay, person-who-left-no-name (we do, but my brother and I had a big writer's block on that story, so we've postponed it), another or same-person-who-left-no-name, Demi909Lovato, fobfan, CatHeartsU, CPrizzle, GlitterGirl123: Aww, I love my faithful reviewers so much! Nathaniel is fine. He has a simple cold. His father overreacted. Typical new father, right? Thank you guys :) I hope you like the rest of the story…I'm going to get started on the last chapter of 12 sessions after I take a nap. Nathaniel's grandmother has him for the day. And for everyone who wondered if they spelt "Nathaniel" right, you did. –Digidestend Angel
Bucket List
Digidestend Angel
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Chapter Two
This is Just a Dream
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Dear Diary,
I sat down with my doctor and we discussed options. I'm not doing the chemotherapy.
My mom wasn't having it, but I told her my reasons and she understood, no matter how much she doesn't want to lose her babygirl. I haven't told Beck and the others yet, except Jade. I'm waiting for the right time or when one of them brings up the subject, since I won't exactly lie to them.
They'll be mad, but they'll eventually forgive me. They'd never abandon me.
I better go, the others will be coming over soon!
Sincerely, Caterina Valentine
September 4th
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Jade's POV
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I've been through a lot in my life, but this takes the cake.
I hate cake.
Mark that on one of the things to add to my "Things I Hate" segments.
Add Cancer to the list as well.
Because Cancer thinks it can take my best friend from me.
HA! Good one.
Not if I have any say-so…even though it's obvious that I don't. I can't control this. I can't threaten cancer and tell them that I'll beat them into a bloody pulp if it dares to try and hurt my best friend.
I can't do anything to help Cat, except be there for her.
Today, we are all heading over to Cat's house to just chill out. Cat said she wants to do something with us that, apparently, is very important to her. I hope it's nothing that has to do with her dying or that dammed cancer. It probably does, but I don't want to think about it. I can't.
My grandmother had the same cancer.
Breast Cancer.
The pink ribbons, the walkathons, the hospital scares. I remember it all well, even though I was still a small girl when she died from it.
My god, the thought of Cat not being around one day just makes my heart wants to stop and die.
Cat and I have been friends since kindergarten, no lie. We've seen each other almost every day since. And somehow I'm supposed to get used to the idea of Cat being buried into the ground one day, so I can never see her again? I can't.
This is unfathomable to me.
I walk into Cat's house, not bothering to ring the doorbell, and I immediately smell cupcakes. Yum. I love Cat's cupcakes, brownies, cookies…well, you name it, and she has conquered it. Don't ever repeat that or else I'll find you. I can't let people know I have a soft side. That would just piss me off. I lean against the doorframe to the kitchen and I see Cat giggling with her mom after putting frosting on the cupcakes. They're red-velvet cupcakes. Shocker, I know.
Cat sees me and immediately runs up to me like a little girl who sees candy. "Jade!" She hugs me tightly, and I hug back, not acting annoyed for once. "You're the first one here!"
I nod. "I can see that."
Mrs. Valentine takes off her apron. "Okay, Kitty-Cat, there are the cupcakes. It was fun making them with you." She kisses Cat's forehead. "Now I need to go see your grandmother at the retirement home. Be good and I love you."
"Love you more, mommy!" Cat gives her mom a hug. It's an unusual hug though. Her mom holds Cat a little longer than a normal "goodbye" hug would last. Oh wait…I almost forgot. Cat's dying of cancer.
Cat's mom is losing her little girl.
After grabbing her purse, Mrs. Valentine leaves. Cat turns to me. "Want to help me put the cupcakes on a plate and take them to the living room before the rest of our friends get here?"
I cross my arms over my chest. "You mean our friends PLUS Vega…sure." Cat giggles at my rude said statement and we do so.
"I still have no idea why you don't like Tori." Cat tells me as we put everything on her oval living room table.
I shrug and sit down. "I don't know myself, but it's become a part of my human being. I can't let it go."
Cat bursts out laughing as she sits down next to me. I roll my eyes and poke the side of her stomach, which makes her laugh harder, practically rolling over on the couch. After a minute, she's still laughing, and I can't help, but laugh as well.
Soon the doorbell rings and the front door opens, and we sit up straight and shut up. Beck comes in and raises an eyebrow at us. "Why do you two look so innocent?" And because of him saying that, Cat and I look to one another and burst out laughing again. Beck looked at us like we had grown three heads, but shook it off.
Finally the rest of the gang arrives and we all sit down around the coffee table. Cat grabs a notebook and a calligraphy pen. She masters Calligraphy writing, I'm not even being overdramatic there.
"So what's this all about, Lil' Red?" Andre asks from his seat on the couch next to Vega.
Cat smiles brightly. When she smiles like that, it makes her look so perfect and innocent. I used to hate it when she did that. Now, I can't get enough because the thought of never seeing that smile again is unbearable, so I'm taking it in as much as I can. "Has everyone heard of a bucket list?" She asks cutely to all of us, pushing some of her long red-velvet colored hair behind her shoulder.
I shrug, as does everyone else. "Not me."
"No idea." –Vega.
"I haven't." –Andre.
"What's that?" –Robbie.
"Never heard of it." –Beck.
Cat giggles. "Well, a bucket list is something people make before they die. People who usually know they're dying do this."
I groan and rest my chin on my fists over my knees. I hate this subject.
Cat gives me a scowl, but continues on. "This list is where you make a bunch of ideas that you want to do before you hit the bucket."
"Don't say it like that." Beck practically growls out. I see his fists are clenched.
"Sorry." Cat looks at him apologetically. "Anyways, I want to make one. But I don't want to do all those things alone. Can you guys help me?"
She's dead serious about this.
Suddenly Tori bursts into tears. Andre puts his arms around her to comfort her, but I see a few tears leave his eyes as well. Robbie drops his face into his hands, his shoulders shaking. Beck just stands up and walks away from the group, not facing us. I can't tell if he's crying too. Before I know it, I feel tears coming down my cheeks.
Cat looks confused. "Why is everyone crying?"
I couldn't help myself when I lose control of my emotions. "Cat, do you understand how scary cancer is?"
She looks like she does understand. "…yes, but there's a bright side." She forces herself to smile.
I narrow my teary eyes at her. "What could be so BRIGHT about the fact you're dying?" Everyone in the room, besides Cat, glares at me for saying that.
"We have a year to have the time of our lives all together!" She exclaims.
I shake my head at her. "Oh, Cat…"
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I shake my head at the piece of paper in my hands. "This is one of the longest lists I have ever seen in my life…and I'm only 16." I'm not being overdramatic either. This list has everything from making a scrapbook, learning how to ride a bike, riding in a helicopter, going fishing, to skydiving. There's much, much more. Trust me. This is going to be one hell of a busy year.
"Yup!" Cat nodded with happiness. "And we have to complete these ALL before sometime next August, which is how long the doctor said I'd be alive."
"But-"
"What should we do first?" I ask hastily, cutting Beck off, and he glares at me.
Reason why I did that is because…I know Cat's secret. I know why the doctor is telling her HOW LONG she has until her body gives out on her. Why she's doing it, hell if I'll ever know, but I do know is…
Cat won't be here for as long as I thought she would.
Next Chapter: And I Won't Let Go (Tori's POV)