I wrote this chapter instead of studying for my history test. Your welcome:)

Chapter 7: Upchuck It Bucket

"Mommy look! I'm a princess!"I yelled, skipping around her bedroom.

"You look beautiful baby," she giggled, picking me up in her arms, "But be careful in that dress. We don't want to tear it before you get your picture taken."

"Okay mommy!" I giggled. She set me on the ground and I skipped over to the full length mirror, twirling around so that my pink dress flared around me.

"How do you feel baby? Do you think you can go to school today?" mommy asked quietly, kneeling down next to me.

"I feel fine mama," I promised, "Besides, I don't wanna miss picture day!"

"Good girl," mommy sighed, "I'll go get a pretty bow to put in your hair! How does that sound?"

"Yes please!" I cried happily, twirling around some more.

Mommy came back a few minutes later holding a hair brush and a pink bow. I smiled eagerly at her, showing my two missing teeth in the front. She tapped my nose and turned me so I was facing the mirror. She started to brush my long hair. Never had she let me cut it and it almost reached my waist. I put on some clear lip gloss as she brushed through the knots.

I looked up quickly when I saw mommy gasp. Her eyes were set on my brush, her mouth open.

"What is it mommy?" I asked curiously.

"J-John!" mom called.

Daddy came running into the room, "What's the matter? Did she get sick again?" daddy asked quickly.

Mommy didn't say anything, but beckoned him over. He took the hairbrush from her, his eyes widening.

"What's wrong with my hairbrush?" I asked, stomping my foot.

They didn't answer me, but looked at each other.

"The doctor said this... would happen," daddy said to mommy.

"B-but her h-hair," mommy whispered.

"What? What happened to my hair?" I asked loudly.

I observed my hair in the mirror closely and ran my fingers through it. Strands of hair come out in my fingers. I gasped and looked at the top of my head where a bald spot was forming.

"Mommy! What's happening?" I cried, touching my hair again only to discover more coming out.

Mommy burst into tears and fell into daddy's arms, sobbing loudly. I latched my arms around daddy's leg and he patted my head, stopping instantly as more of my hair fell out.

My long brown hair was all over the carpet, hardly any left at all. Mommy continued to cry and I studied myself in the mirror. There was no more hair on my head. I was completely bald. No more pretty bows, no more braids. My head felt cold without hair.

"Daddy," I whimpered.

"Baby, I'm so sorry," he whispered, falling to his knees in front of me.

"I-I… I LOOK LIKE A BOY!" I cried, latching myself around his neck.

"No baby, you don't look like a boy," he soothed.

I pulled away from him, "Yes I do. Please daddy, fix my hair! Why did it all come out?"

"I-It's because of the medicine the doctor gave you yesterday. Remember how you felt sick? Well the medicine makes your hair come out," he told me.

"But everyone will make fun of me!" I cried, stomping my foot.

"No baby, nobody will make fun of you. I'll make sure of it," he promised, hugging me. I heard mommy crying harder from the bed.

"Why is mommy so sad?" I asked, sniffling. I didn't understand. She got to keep her hair.

"Because… because she's tired," daddy said quickly.

"Oh no!" I yelled.

"What is it?"

"It's picture day!" I yelled, "I want my hair back! Daddy, I want my hair back!"

"Okay baby," he whispered, picking me up.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yes. We'll go get your hair back," he sighed.

"Yay! Where are we going to go?"

"To a store where they sell… fake hair," he explained quietly, helping my arms through my coat sleeves.

"YAY! WE'RE GOING TO THE HAIR STORE!"

"Mommy, mommy! You can stop crying! Look mommy! My hair came back, it's all better now," I yelled, skipping into the bedroom.

Daddy followed me in, looking nervous. Being the little six year old I was, I couldn't understand why daddy was so scared about my new hair. I loved it! Slowly, mommy sat up and looked at me. I smiled wide at her, showing off my new hair.

"Y-your hair…" she whispered

"Isn't it pretty mommy! It's pink!" I cried happily.

I walked over to the mirror, admiring my bubblegum pink wig. Daddy tried to talk me into getting brown like my old hair, but I wanted this color! It matches my dress and everything, I told him. I looked behind me to see mommy looking at daddy funny. Then, all the sudden she started laughing. She smiled at me through her tears and held open her arms.

"Come here baby," she laughed, "You look beautiful."

Groaning, I rolled over in bed. I was freezing cold, even though every blanket in the house was around me. At least I was finally done throwing up. At least for now. There was a constant feeling of nausea, but it was bearable. Nothing I wasn't used to.

But for now, I was too weak to do anything other than moan and roll over. I didn't even have the strength to be bored. Stupid cancer! Tears pricked my eyes when I looked to my left and saw strands of hair covering my pillow. Goodbye hair. I'll never forget you.

The doorbell rang downstairs. I heard my mom scuffling to answer the door. And then the arguing broke out.

"Seth, she isn't feeling well. I don't think she wants to see you," mom said sternly. This time, I actually agreed with my mom.

"Please Mrs. Hope, just let me say hi," he begged. I could almost see the determined look on his face as he pushed passed my mother.

"Come back! She's asleep, you don't wanna wake her up," mom yelled.

I closed my eyes. Yes! I'm asleep! See: snoring, dreaming! I'm asleep, please don't come up and see me like this!

"Hey it's big muscle guy!" Jay yelled.

I laughed loudly at my brother, but regretted it. It made the entire room spin and my throat hurt. Damn! My cover's blown! He probably heard me laugh. Damn you and your cuteness Jay!

…

I'm just kidding I love my brother.

"Hey Luke!" Seth said happily.

"Mommy, why are you yelling at big muscle guy?" Jay asked innocently.

"Because he's going to disturb your sister," mom told him.

"I'm really not, Mrs. Hope," Seth said, "I just want to see her!"

"She's asleep!" mom said desperately.

"Fine, I'll wait," Seth said smugly.

I rolled my eyes and closed them, actually wanting to get some rest. I sighed and tried snuggling into the blankets without making my body hurt too much. I was comfortable for about three seconds before I felt a sticky finger on my cheek. I opened my right eye and half glared at my brother.

"What?" I growled, trying not to sound too weak. But if anything, I sounded worse.

"Big muscle guy is here to see you," Jay whisper yelled, his sticky finger still on my cheek. I twitched my cheek to give him the message to keep his sticky fingers off my clean face.

"Do you need to sneeze?" Jay whispered yelled again. He obviously didn't understand the whole DO NOT TOUCH ME thing. Ah, he's six. What are you gonna do?

"No," I said, closing my eye again. But, annoying brother remained touching me.

"So can big muscle guy come in or what?" Jay asked, jumping up and down. I tell my parents a hundred times not to buy sugary cereal for Jay. And what do they do?

"You know he has a name, right?" I giggled, which turned into a moan.

"Really?" Jay asked, completely oblivious.

"Yeah, it's Seth," I sighed.

There was a silence as Jay took in what I told him.

"Did Chrissie ever tell you about the time we took her to see the magic show?" I heard mom ask Seth.

I gasped, momentarily ignoring the pain, "Jay, run and use your super strength to get Seth up here!"

"JAY TO THE RESCUE!" Jay screamed, running out of my room with his fists in the air like a superhero.

Mom would not tell Seth, my only friend, the magician story! That was off limits.

"CHRISSIE'S AWAKE!" I heard Jay yelling.

"Alright. Uh, you can tell me the story another time then, Mrs. Hope," Seth said.

"Move-faster-I-am-using-my-super-strength-on-you!" Jay growled.

I opened my eyes to see Jay pushing Seth into my room. Actually, Seth was walking and Jay was holding onto the back of his shirt, making it seem like he was pushing him.

"You're awake!" Seth sighed, kneeling next to the bed.

I knew I looked like a moron with the blankets past my nose, but I didn't really care. But Seth lit up the room and I sort of felt better… in a way.

"How do you feel?" Seth asked quietly.

I rolled my eyes, stupid question.

"Yeah… that's a stupid question," Seth sighed, scratching the back of his neck.

000

The next morning, I was feeling remotely better. I could at least sit up in bed. Jay told me that Seth had slept on our couch overnight. Now that right there is dedication because that couch is longer than it is wide and Seth is pretty wide. Wide with muscles of course… but still.

But, because I was feeling better, I was also feeling. Which meant, I was suddenly self conscious about my bald head. I know I should be use to it, but with Seth around and his nice full head of hair… it makes me feel all ugly and exposed.

"Wakey wakey! Eggs and bakey!" mom yelled, coming into my room holding a tray.

"Oh please no eggs!" I groaned, laying back down and burying my face into the pillow so I didn't smell anything.

"Don't worry, no eggs. But I did make you some toast," mom said softly, sitting next to me on the bed.

"I'm not hungry," I grumbled.

"Chrissie, the doctor said you have to at least try to keep something down," mom sighed.

"Don't wanna," I whined.

"Christina, please don't be difficult," mom said.

"Where's Seth?" I asked, attempting to change the subject.

"HERE I AM!" Seth yelled. Well someone's a morning person.

I sat up slowly, "Hi," I breathed, smiling widely. But then it dawned on me. I was pale and scrawny and BALD. Like no hair bald!

Quickly, well quick for a sick person, I went under my covers.

Why are you embarrassed around Seth? It's Seth!

I don't know… he's all tall and handsome with thick hair…

Sounds like someone's got a crush!

Do not!

Chrissie has a crush on Seth! Chrissie has a crush on Seeeeeth!

Do not!

Chrissie and Seth, sitting in a tree!

DO NOT!

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

"Chrissie? Are you okay?" Seth asked quietly.

"DO NOT!" I yelled.

"…what?" Seth asked after a beat.

"Ugh, nothing. But I'm cold. I don't wanna come out," I said, my hand running over my baldness.

"Chrissie, come on you have to eat something," mom warned.

I snaked my hand out of the blanket and held it open. Mom sighed and put a piece of toast in it. She was used to my oddness. She really didn't ask why I did the things I did anymore. I actually stopped wondering why I did the things I did...

I nibbled on the corner of the bread and nearly gagged. I couldn't taste a thing! Ugh! Freaking chemo making me lose my-

Uh oh…

I threw the covers off me and bolted into a sitting position. One hand covered my mouth, the other held out my hand. Mom quickly set the plate down and dived for the bucket next to me bed. I was violently sick into it and was surprised that the hands that held me hair back were warm. I batted my hand behind me, trying to get Seth to go away. I really didn't want him seeing this.

"Told you I shouldn't have eaten," I whispered before throwing up again. And again. And again. And finally, when there was nothing else to throw up, I gagged for a while. Taking a shaky breath, I sat up.

"I'll clean it," mom whispered, taking the bucket and walking swiftly out of the room.

I watched her walk out of the room before turning to Seth.

"Why are you here?" I asked him harshly.

"What do you mean?" he whispered, hurt crossing his face.

"Why are you here to watch me… vomit my guts out and be b-bald?" I asked.

"Because you're my friend," he said.

"So? There are millions of other people that would love to be your friend! Why me? I just don't get it," I sighed.

"No… you don't get it," he whispered, more to himself.

I sighed, frustrated, "I mean, do you really want to stay here and… hold my hair back and clean the upchuck it bucket it a thousand times a day?"

"Of course I… what did you call it?" he asked, the corners of his lips twitching.

"The… upchuck it… bucket," I squeaked, did I really just say that out loud?

Seth let out a hearty laugh, wrapping his arm around me. His laughing continued, getting progressively louder. I crossed my arms and pouted and his laughing immediately ceased.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"You're laughing at me," I whined.

"That's because…" he laughed again, "that is the cleverest thing I have ever heard in my life!"

"It's not clever," I blushed, "It's embarrassing. I made it up with my dad when I was six."

He chuckled, shaking his head, "It's not embarrassing. It's cute! Upchuck it bucket!"

I let out a small giggle, leaning me head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you," I whispered.

"I understand. You don't have to be sorry," he sighed, "And Chrissie?"

"Hmm?" I asked, my eyes closing.

"I'm here with you. I'm going to be with you every step of the way. I promise."

"A-alright," I whispered, unsure of what he meant.

"Oh and one more thing," he asked.

"Yeah?" I'm tired of all the seriousness.

"What's this magician story your mom was trying to tell me?"

I know it's short and I'm so so so sorry, but I think it's pretty good content wise? Maybe?

Eh, please just hit that little button down there and leave me a review? It'll brighten up my day!

And I know I say this a lot, but the whole Chrissie may or may not die thing... it's my story and I'll end it how I think it will be best. I'm not entirely sure yet, but I know one thing. I will NOT use vampirism as a cure. She is going to stay human through this whole thing because I sort of think when people get changed into vampires to solve all their problems, it's sorta the "lazy way out." But maybe that's just me...

Review please!