Chapter 11

Fang's POV

Today was Max's last treatment before we would go to Europe, which meant the trip was only two days away after today.

The doctor had pulled Ms. Martinez outside to talk to her again, leaving Max and I alone.

She was getting thinner. She didn't eat as much anymore, and of course the chemo made her vomit everything she did eat for three days. I felt bad for Max and desperately wished there was something I could do.

I got up from the gray chair and went and sat on the edge of Max's hospital bed. She gives me a small smile.

"So what are you looking forward to the most about our trip?" I ask.

She smiles, her eyes lighting up at the mention of our vacation.

"France; the Eiffel Tower, defiantly." she says. "How about you?"

Spending time with you and seeing you smile. I thought cheesily. But what I said was:

"I don't know; there's too much to choose from."

We're quiet for a minute.

Max's face scrunched up a little in pain, and I knew she was trying not to throw up.

"Are you ok?" I started to ask, and that was when she bent over the trashcan.

I didn't know what to do besides hold her hair back, but she hadn't worn her wig today (just a purple beanie hat) so there was no hair for me to hold back. So I did what Dr. M and what my Mom do when anyone vomits; rub their back.

Max heaved several times before finally stopping and laying back down. She seemed extremely tired now.

I handed her a Kleenex from the box on the little table next to the gray chairs, and she took it and wiped her mouth.

"Thanks." She whispers.

Then I grab the water bottle her Mom had brought for her and opened it. I help Max sit up a little more, keeping one arm around her back, and help her drink. She starts to protest that she can do it, but stops. She was too tired and shaky to be able to do it herself without spilling it, and she knew I would help her anyway.

She takes a couple sips and then whispers another "thanks."

I nod, and slowly, gently remove my arm from around her after helping her lay down, wishing I didn't have to.

Max didn't meet my gaze after that for a few minutes, instead staring at her hands in her lap. I could tell she was embarrassed.

But looking at her, I knew she wasn;t just upset, but she was upset about something else too.

"You ok?" I ask her.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm sorry." She says.

"For what?" I ask indecorously.

Her face flushed a little.

"For throwing up." She says, not looking at me.

"Hey, you don't need to apologize. You can't help that." I tell her firmly.

She shrugs.

It's then that a single tear falls, trailing down her cheek.

"Hey, what's going on?" I ask her softly, using my thumb to wipe the tear away.

"Nothing."

I look at her.

"Max, come on."

She takes a deep breath.

"I just, I can't stand it; being so tired and weak and throwing up; how disgusting I feel afterward. I hate having to come here for chemo and the effects." She says.

More tears fall, and my heart twists in pain at seeing her cry and knowing she's so upset.

She sniffs, and continues, saying "I hate that my hair is gone and that I care that it is. I despise that Mom and my siblings have to worry and that I might not be here to help Mom." She sobs, nearly getting hysterical at the end of what she says.

"It's gonna be alright." I say firmly, softly. My voice wavers only slightly.

I wrap my arms around her, pulling her gently to my chest and she leans into me, her tears wetting my black t-shirt.

"Ssshh…It's ok." I whisper, repeating myself several times. I rock us back and forth delicately, copying what Dr. M and my Mom do when one of the younger kids cry or get hurt to soothe them.

After a few minutes, her sobs relent, fading to occasional hiccups and a few small stray tears.

She pulls back after another minute or two, and opens her mouth to apologize, but I stop her.

"Don't apologize; you have nothing to be sorry for."

She closes her mouth and nods.

She takes a deep breath, lying back down.

"Thank you Fang." She says, looking me in the eye.

I nod, knowing what she means. She's thanking me for holding her, for letting her cry, for still knowing she's strong. For the ability for her to show what's she's truly feeling and not having to be brave around me, as much as sometimes she wished she was.

The Dr. M comes in.

"Is everything alright?" she asks, taking in Max's red, puffy eyes.

"Yeah." Max answers.

Dr. M looks at me, and then Max, and decides to drop it for now.

I stand up, getting off the bed.

Mrs. Martinez comes closer to Max, and then takes a seat on her bed, on the side closest to the door, opposite from where I sat.

"Max honey, the doctors and I were talking, and the chemo isn't working fast enough. It is working, but it's not doing its full job." she says.

Max looks into her Mom's eyes worriedly. I can see the fear she's feeling.

"So, what, what happens now?" she asks.

"Well, we're going to start what they call Biological Therapy in addition to continuing chemotherapy. Biological thereapy is basically the use of certain special medicines to improve and strengthen your body's natural defenses against cancer." Dr. M says.

Max's POV

I nods, processing this information.

"Ok. So do I swallow pills or what?" I ask.

"Usually; sometimes they'll give you a vaccine or two." Mom says.

I nod.

"Ok. So when are we starting?" I ask.

"We can start today if you want, but we can wait till next time if you'd like." Mom says.

"I guess I'll start today. "

Mom nods.

"I think that would be good. I'll do tell the doctor. I'll be right back, ok?" she says.

I nod.

And soon enough, she is, the doctor with you. I get one injection, and then take a couple pills that I am given.

A couple minutes after I've taken the pills, the chemo session finishes, and I'm able to go home.

Fang, as always, comes over after my sessions. I'm feeling especially tired today, and so I head to my room and change, and then let Fang in while I crawl in bed under the covers. Fang sits in my blue bean bag chairs and at my request, reads more of an Alex Rider book to me, a series that we both enjoy.

After a while, I doze off, giving in to my body's overwhelming need for extra sleep.

Just before I'm completely in a slumber, I feel someone-I assume Fang- adjust the covers around me, pulling the up higher, and whisper "I love you."

But maybe I just imagined it.

Hey guys,

Sorry about the shortness and that I haven't responded to your reviews. You guys are soo awesome. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the support and kind words and reviews! Keep it up.

Also, A/N: I reviewer brought it to my attention that the last chapter mention Vienna, Italy; that was supposed to be Venice, Italy. I had a typo I guess. So sorry about that. And thank you awesome reviewer for letting me know.

Let me know what you think1

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