Ryan got more and more nauseous as the first hour passed. Kirsten was in full mothering mode and was rubbing his back as he leaned forward over the pail. He had nothing in his stomach but despite the anti-nausea medication, he continued to dry heave every few minutes. He was hoarse and exhausted.
Dr. Tarleton had returned and was by the window talking to Rita. Summer and Seth were trying to hook up the playstation to the TV. Sandy was beside Ryan, listening to his harsh whispered words.
"Okay, kid…I'll see what I can do," Sandy nodded. He got up and went over to Seth.
"What's up?"
"Can you do me a favor?"
"What?"
"Ryan wants something from the house…"
"Oh. Okay. Like what?"
"He says that there's this address book in his dresser…"
"Yeah, I know where it is…"
"He said you would. He wants to call some people."
"Why? I mean, why now?" Summer asked.
"He says that he had plans this weekend and he wants to cancel them himself," Sandy replied.
"Okay, sure. Summer can drive me. Is that all he needs?"
"See if you can find him some warmer clothes…and get him some candy, some cough drops or something, his throat's sore."
"We'll get supplies," Summer said, leading Seth into the hallway.
Ryan was dry heaving again when Sandy returned to his side.
"Honey, you have to breathe…" Kirsten soothed.
Ryan shuddered and Sandy saw that Kirsten was holding him upright. "Am I almost done? I want to lie down…"
"Almost done. Just a few more minutes, okay?" Kirsten urged.
Dr. Tarleton approached and kneeled in front of Ryan. "How're you doing, kid?"
"Not so good…" Ryan's eyes were dull and glazed.
"Are you in pain…"
"It's just my stomach cramping and my stitches…I'm still dizzy and it's not helping my stomach…."
"Can you hang tight for a few more minutes? 10 minutes tops…"
"I was hanging tight…but I really feel like I'm about to fall out…" Ryan rasped.
"Let's sit you up. Rita?" Dr. Tarleton called. Sandy and Kirsten stepped back as the nurse approached.
The doctor spoke softly to Ryan and the nurse helped lean him back into the chair and tucked the blanket around him.
"Deep breaths. You're almost done…stay awake for us and breathe through the nausea, okay?"
Ryan nodded and took a deep breath. His arm was cradled around his abdomen.
"You're dizzy because you're becoming more dehydrated and you're still weak from the surgery. Ryan, it won't always be this difficult…" The doctor explained.
"The puking…when will I stop puking?" Ryan whispered as the nurse adjusted the machines administering the meds.
"The nausea's an unfortunate…" He started.
"Get used to it?" Ryan blinked sluggishly, pulling his legs into the chair and slumping against the armrest.
"We'll find something to help kid…we've just started the saline and increased the compazine so you should start to feel better…" Rita said. "Relax…" She brushed his hair back from his face and his eyes fluttered closed. His breathing continued to be rapid but his face relaxed visibly.
"Doctor…" Kirsten gasped.
"We're giving him morphine so he can rest," Doctor Tarleton said, turning to them.
"Can I have a word with you?" Kirsten pulled the doctor outside.
Sandy sat down beside Ryan.
Ryan sluggishly turned his head to meet his worried gaze. "I didn't think I'd be this sick…"
"You're doing fine…"
"What I'm trying to say is…I'm glad you're here…" His hoarse voice was slurred and Sandy could barely see the blues of his eyes.
"Hey," Sandy said, gently touching his face. "We're working through this. Please don't give up…"
"I haven't yet…the only things I know how to do are fight or run…and I can't run from this…" His face flashed with nausea and he looked away. He started to lean forward to heave but Rita held him upright.
"Breathe, kid, breathe through it…"
Ryan couldn't fight the spasm and his breaths turned to short gasps.
"Ryan…Ryan…" Sandy made Ryan meet his gaze. "Relax…count to 3 and breathe…"
Ryan blinked but nodded, taking a shallow but steady breath.
"Hold it…now let it out slow…" Sandy urged gently.
Ryan visibly relaxed after several minutes. "Thanks…"
"You want some juice?" Rita asked.
"Too sweet…water, maybe? Cold?" Ryan rasped.
"Can he lie down?" Sandy asked her.
"I'll spin faster if I lie down…" Ryan murmured.
"What?" Sandy asked.
"Dizzy…" Ryan said. His hand was clenching a fistful of his shirt near his stitches.
"Ryan, your stomach…" Sandy nodded.
"My stitches are killing me…" Ryan whispered.
"Will you hold my hand instead?" Sandy asked. He didn't wait for an answer and took Ryan's hand.
Ryan's hand clasped his, involuntarily reacting to the pain.
Rita checked under his shirt again and frowned.
"Don't look at me like that, Rita…I want to go home tomorrow…" Ryan whispered.
"Sorry, kid. I'm going to get the doctor and we'll fix you right up…" Rita said.
Ryan glanced at Sandy. "I…"
"You're doing great, kid. Just hang on…"
"I'm trying…this is just the first treatment…they'll get better, right?"
"Yeah, kid. Yeah, you'll get better…" Sandy nodded.
Ryan managed to get some sleep once they helped him to the bed. The nausea was tolerable and once he stretched out, he'd fallen into an exhausted sleep. He hadn't even stirred when Dr. Tarleton had stitched up his side.
Seth and Summer returned a few hours later and found Sandy and Kirsten sleeping on the small couch. Ryan was sitting up and flipping through a magazine that was dated years earlier.
"So, did you guys know that they're making a prequel to Star Wars?" Ryan asked, glancing at them. His voice was still scratchy and weak but his eyes were bright and alert.
"I have heard that rumor," Seth grinned. "Nice to see you…upright and non-puking."
"Thanks. I appreciate it. I ripped out my stitches, but nurse Rita says I'm still on schedule for home tomorrow," Ryan replied.
"Well, we brought you the stuff you asked for, as well as some treats. Candy, for your throat, comics for your mind and per Summer, magazines for your fashion sense," Seth said, setting the bags on the edge of his bed.
"Fashion?"
"You seriously need some help, Chino," Summer said. "It'll be distracting."
"I think I'm getting sicker just thinking about it," Ryan muttered, rolling his eyes.
"You're really…you're better?"
Ryan nodded toward the sleeping Cohens. "Seeing them rest makes me better. If everyone else relaxes, then I'll relax," He said quietly.
"So. We got your address book. Mind telling us who you're calling?" Seth asked, relaxing slightly.
"Well, Luke and some of the guys from the team had set me up on this blind date for Friday…what day is it?"
"Friday," Summer answered.
"So, I was going to call Luke and explain. And I had a study date with Anna for tomorrow. She'd want to know, too," Ryan said slowly. "I was also supposed to meet an old friend for lunch on Sunday. Teresa, from Chino…"
"Why don't you let us call them?" Summer offered.
"Everyone keeps saying that I'm not dead. I figure I should start acting like it. I can make my own calls," Ryan replied evenly.
"True. So…"
"Let them sleep," Ryan nodded toward Kirsten and Sandy. "What else did you bring me?" He unwrapped a cough drop and popped it in his mouth.
"Well, we weren't sure what you could eat, so we didn't bring much food…"
"My stomach isn't completely back to normal, so that was probably a good idea. Thanks for coming, guys. I appreciate it." His voice was slightly better
"Well, you're family, or so we keep telling you. Might as well start treating you like it," Seth replied.
"Ryan, are you going to tell Marissa?" Summer asks.
Ryan sighed. "I was going to ask you about that…she's not into me anymore, she barely acknowledges me at school…does she really need to know? Like, can't she just find out about it through the grapevine?"
Summer hesitates.
"Its okay, Summer. I don't want to put you in the middle but I don't feel like I owe her an explanation. We're barely friends now, you know?"
"But if I tell her…"
"Go ahead. You guys talk, you're friends, so…if she hears about it, that's fine. I'm sure once I call Luke, the whole school will know. Those soccer jocks love to gossip," Ryan snorted.
"So…you're sure you don't want to call her?" Summer hesitated.
"I'm sure. It'd be too uncomfortable. But since you guys are here, mind hanging around while I call Luke and Anna? My voice is still a little scratchy and if it gives out…" Ryan said, fumbling with his blanket.
"Yeah. Of course. We're totally here for support. Here's my phone , here's your book and we'll be right here, in case you need us." Seth settled into the seat beside his bed and Summer sat down on his lap with one of the fashion magazines.
"Thanks." Ryan flipped open the phone. He dialed Anna's number first.
He'd been studying with Anna for a few weeks and he considered her one of the few real friends he'd made here. He respected her and had found that he could talk to her about anything and she'd keep his confidence, not telling anyone. He knew how much she'd been hurt after Seth and Summer started dating seriously, but he thought that their mutual friendship had helped them both make it through Newport Beach's social gauntlet.
"Hello?" Anna answered.
"Hey, Anna. It's Ryan."
"Hey. Where've you been? I missed you in Chemistry…"
"Yeah, sorry, I'm a little under the weather…"
"You sound like hell…"
"Yeah, I feel about the same. I won't make our study session tomorrow…"
"You're too sick to study?"
"Well…" Ryan lost his initiative. "There's not an easy way to say this…"
"Yeah, communication hurts you, I know that. Try."
"I have cancer, Anna."
The line was silent. Summer cleared her throat and gave Ryan a scolding glare.
"Okay, so that wasn't the way I wanted to tell you…" Ryan apologized.
"Cancer?" Anna whispered.
"But they're taking care of it. They took out the…thing and they're giving me chemotherapy to make sure…"
"I just saw you on Tuesday…"
"Yeah, well, it all happened really fast. I'll be home tomorrow…"
"Home…you're calling me from the hospital?" She gasped.
"Relax. I'm okay. The Cohens are taking good care of me…"
"You have cancer. You're in the hospital. How is that okay? How are you okay with this?"
"I'm not okay with it. I've just had a few days to deal with it. I just wanted to tell you myself…"
"Can I come see you?"
"I'll be home tomorrow…"
"I want to see you now."
"Um…I'll have to ask the Cohens…"
"Just tell me what hospital, what room…" Ryan glanced over at Seth with a helpless look on his face.
"She wants to come visit?" Seth read off his face. Ryan nodded. "Then tell her what room, man. Go ahead."
"Okay. I'm on the oncology floor, room 421…"
"Are you up for company?"
"Are you company?" Ryan teased, his voice getting hoarser.
"I'll see you in a few minutes…" She hung up.
"I didn't expect her to come," Ryan said to Seth and Summer.
"You can't tell people you have cancer and expect them not to worry," Summer remarked.
"Yeah? You think?" Ryan gave her a cold look and it was only when Seth laughed that she realized that Ryan was joking.
"Sorry," Summer blushed.
"Just kidding with you. Hopefully, Luke will take the news better."
Luke was chugging a beer with some of his soccer buddies in his backyard when his phone rang. He didn't recognize the number, but he answered anyway. "Hello?"
"Luke. Hey, it's Ryan."
"Chino, man, what's up…" Luke laughed. Several of his buddies yelled a hello from nearby.
"Hey. So…"
"You've been out of school, man, what's up?"
"I won't be able to come out with you guys, tonight…"
"You can't bail now, man, all the plans are already made!" Luke protested.
"Well, something's come up."
"Like what?"
"Well, I'm sick. Like, really sick."
"You sound rough, man, what's up, you got that weird flu?" Luke asked.
"Not so much. When I passed out the other day, I ended up in the hospital. Turns out…I have cancer…"
Luke dropped his beer. "What?"
"Yeah, that's the general reaction…so…"
"Wait a minute. Is Cohen putting you up to this?"
"It's not a joke, man, I wish it was. I had surgery, there was this…tumor in my stomach and they took it out…and I've started chemo already…so it's all under control, but…"
"Are you okay, man?"
"I'm getting there…it's been a rough couple of days but I'll be home tomorrow and after that…it's one day at a time. So, I won't be able to back you up on the field for a while…"
"Damn, man…is there anything I can do?"
"Just…don't freak out, okay? Hopefully, we can still be buddies…"
"Sure, man…"
"Can you tell the guys that I'm sorry?"
"Yeah, I'll tell them…"
"I'm going to call the coach later…"
"I can do that…"
"I'm not dead, man. I can do it…"
"You're entirely too calm for a kid with cancer…" Luke said. A hush fell over the backyard.
"Well, I've had a little while to come to terms with it…"
"Is that Chino?" Chip called, coming to Luke's side. Luke gave him a nod.
"Luke?"
"Yeah."
"Give me a call, okay?"
"Where are you?"
"I'm in the hospital but…"
"You're at the hospital now?"
"Yeah. I'll be home tomorrow…"
"Do you want me to come see you?"
"Don't panic, man. I'll see you later, okay?"
"I'll call you tomorrow…" Luke closed his phone.
"Chino has cancer?" Chip asked. Chip's younger brother had fought a long battle with leukemia before getting a bone marrow transplant. Luke and a lot of the other boys had stood by Chip during the time when he was sick. Chip's brother was okay now, but the fear was still strong.
"Yeah. He had surgery and chemo…"
"It must be bad if they did all that in the past couple of days…"
"You going to see him?" Someone called.
"I said that I'd call him tomorrow," Luke was still stunned.
"Poor guy…I knew he'd been getting tired a lot faster, but he never said anything…" Chip said.
"I didn't know…he passed out at my house the other week but he convinced me that he was fine…fuck…" Luke lost his words.
"You should call that little hot chick," Chip said.
"Who?"
"The blonde one that Chino's brother ditched for Summer," Chip explained.
"Anna?"
"Yeah. I'd call her, but she won't give me her number," Chip muttered.
"She's too smart for you, Saunders," Someone called.
"I'm calling coach," Chip said.
Luke glanced around and saw most of his friends already talking on cell phones. Word was out.