lucas' pov:
she told everyone. i stand there smiling. she told everyone.
i help her down off the bench when she's finished and riley gets first hug. they finish their hug and maya turns to look at me, smiling.
"maya?" the nurse says as i go into hug her. maya whips around and we both look at her. "maya can you come with me please." she says and me, maya and riley go to follow, "erm… just maya ple…"
"no. i want them to come." maya says and turns to look at me and riley. she looks back at the nurse and she smiles at maya.
"okay. in here." she agrees and motions us into her office.
maya climbs onto the bed (with my help) and and me and riley take the two sets next to her. The nurse repositions maya's pillow as maya lays back and then starts to fiddle with the machines and maya's fluid bag.
"maya, me and dr. gatley are a little worried." the nurse says still fiddling with the fluid bag.
"okay but i have cancer why wouldn't you be?" she replies, and turns still smiling, yet looking a little confused at my and riley, before turning back to the nurse.
"no maya, it's not like that, i have been on the phone with her and we both agree you shouldn't deteriorate this quickly." she says and we can all see how serious this is now.
"so?" maya asks.
"so, dr gatley has a bed waiting at the hospital for you in the children ward over at the clinic she would like you to spend the night there whilst you have some tests done. i have contacted your mother and she said she i leaving work now and will meet you at the clinic. i have called a travel ambulance to collect you and take you over there."
"what does this mean." i ask, interrupting the nurse.
"don't lucas." maya says and i look at her to see she has gone very pale.
"no wha…"
"i said don't." maya repeats, and i see a tear roll down her face, "i'm not scared of you." she says looking down at the needles in her arm and a tear falls onto her wrist, "i'm not scared of you cancer, come and get me."
riley grabs hold of her hand and repositions herself on the edge of the bed with her arms around maya. the nurse, without a word, takes maya's forearm and pulls a tube out of one of the needle attachments. she clips in a new one and presses a button on a machine. the only thing that can be heard is the continuous beeping of the machines and maya's sobs into riley's shoulder.
"lucas." the nurse whispers, and waves me over. i silently walk over and around the curtain sitting down behind the nurses desk. "be there for her lucas. i know its hard and even though she has riley, she needs you too. be there for her."
"i can't help." i say, "what can i do?"
"be there." she repeats, "just be there for her."
the nurse leaves the office and a couple of minutes later returns to let maya know the ambulance has arrived. it's not a normal ambulance. it's one for medical transport. for people who have so much medical equipment that it doesn't fit in a car. for people like maya apparently.
only one of us are allowed in with her and maya tells me that topangas going to be up the clinic so its best if riley goes. i kiss her on the head and wave as she is loaded onto the ambulance and they drive away.
as soon as they are out of site i walk to the nearest bench and slump down into it. i sit in silence for a while thinking all the time about maya.
"can i?" a voice says and i look up to see farkle standing next to me
"sure." i say with no expression in my voice and farkle sits down, keeping his distance. i star at the floor, maya still on my mind.
"how is she?" he asks, looking at me but i continue stare at the floor, leaning forward, elbows on knees and he takes this as my answer.
"she's no going to get better is she." i say, looking up into the distance.
"nothings impossible." he says, "the word just simple says 'i'm possible'." this makes me smile and i turn to look at him.
"always got the right thing to say, ah farkle." i say and he smiles back at me.
"it's true though." he adds.
i turn back to look out into the distance, "she's going to get better." i whisper under my breath. "she's going to get better." i jump up off of the bench, "thanks farkle!" i shout and i start to run down the side walk, dodging the crowds of oncoming people, to the closest subway stop.