What Matters

This chapter is dedicated to the lovely Brad Kavanagh, who inspired some of this. x

Hazel realized, without great difficulty, that she was not perfect. Honestly, she hadn't always known that. Before the diagnosis, she was popular. Like, top of the social food chain popular. But, Hazel had actual friends. Along with 'followers'. But the actual friends, namely Kaitlyn and Matt, had helped her realize that she wasn't perfect. That realization came quickly in sixth grade, and was extremely reinforced in eighth grade, when the diagnosis came. Her friends had tried to help her through the cancer, but when they realized there was no through, they started to just be there. Hazel didn't remember a friendship where she could literally tell the other person everything for three straight years. Sure, Kaitlyn was quite close to the point where Hazel could confide in her, but she wasn't exactly there. Kaitlyn had too many friends to be one individual's confidant. So, Hazel told her mother everything. Until Augustus Waters came along.

He started out as just a best friend who was entirely attractive and a bit promiscuous, turned into a perfect best friend who knew everything and anything about Hazel but was still a massive crush, and then turned into the great love of her life. Augustus had a ton of friends, even through the cancer, because there was actually a through. Unfortunately, none of them were as metaphorically inclined as he was, which made it rather difficult for him to get along with them. Isaac was the exception. He, in Augustus' mind, was the perfect best friend. He liked video games, was dryly hilarious, very sarcastic, and, as a plus, understood the side effects of cancer. So, Isaac became Augustus' best friend. And then Hazel came along. She started out as a best friend whom Augustus had a massive crush on, turned into a very best friend who Augustus was in love with, and ended up as the great love of his life. So all went well.

Augustus picked up his phone, intending to call Hazel.

"Hazel Grace," he said in lieu of her picking up.

"Augustus," she responded in a very Hazel-like fashion.

"How would you be up for meeting me at Funky Bones in, say, fifteen minutes?" Augustus asked, twirling an unlit cigarette between his fingers.

"I'm in," Hazel decided. It was eight at night, and rather dark out, but who was she to deny a night with her love while they were both sick?

"Excellent. I'll see you in fifteen minutes, Hazel Grace." The line went dead.

"I'm going to meet Gus at the park," Hazel called as she walked slowly down the stairs into the living room.

"Okay, but you can't keep doing this, honey," her mom said.

"Doing what?" Hazel asked like a sassy sixteen year old, which she supposed she was.

"Leaving us to see Augustus," her father replied.

"I'm sorry, I guess. I just, I mean, we don't have much time left, neither of us do, and to be honest, we'd like to spend that time with each other. I'll spend time with you guys too, I promise, but right now, I really need to spend it with Gus," the teenager said. Her parents nodded.

"Okay, well, be back no later than ten," Franny Lancaster decided.

"I will!" Hazel called, walking to the front door.

The drive over to Funky Bones was boring. It was late, there weren't too many cars out, and it was boring. But, Hazel figured that the end result would be worth the drive. And she was right.

Hazel sauntered up the path until Funky Bones came into view. With it came Augustus, in a blue button down and khaki pants, standing by a picnic set up and little lights.

"Augustus," Hazel whispered.

"Like what you see?" he asked, flicking his eyebrows. Hazel nodded, laughing, and Augustus gathered her into his arms. There was a radio nearby, and a slow song came on.

"May I have this dance, Hazel Grace?" Augustus whispered, holding out his hand.

"I can't dance, Augustus," Hazel said nervously.

"Who said anything about being good at dancing?" Gus inclined. Hazel shrugged, but took her boyfriend's hand. He pulled her close to his chest, so she could lay her head on it, and began to sway. He made sure to not make Hazel have to expel too much energy so she could breathe, and made sure not to hurt himself too much. Hazel could hear the faster-than-normal beating of Augustus' heart, and knew it wasn't all because it was working too hard.

"Calm down, Gus, it's just me," she whispered, "I can hear your heart."

"I know, it's just that being with you reminds me how much I like living, and how much I hate having to leave you," he said absentmindedly, pulling Hazel closer.

"I hate that you have to leave too, Gus. I love you, you know," Hazel murmered. Augustus could never hear that too much.

"I love you too, Hazel Grace," he responded quietly. And in that moment, though there were parents at home, and friends in town, and a little group of people nearby, and cancer-built inevitable death on their minds, it was just Hazel and Augustus. Just two people who shared an incredibly strong mutual love, and that was all that mattered.

So, I don't know if I can wait another week to update. I've already written the (LAST!) chapter... what do you think? If we get to 20+ reviews by Wednesday (tomorrow) evening, I'll post the new chapter that night. This is a very easy challenge, guys, just 2 reviews more! - Sydney x