Disclaimer: I don't own Instant Star.

Chapter 20: Tell it to me straight.

"You know what's wrong with him?" I asked.

"Yes, we do," the doctor replied. "And it actually has nothing to do with the car accident."

"It doesn't?" I repeated.

"Not at all."

"Then what is it?"

"He has Leukemia." (AN: So I know I said I would try to stay away from the Cancer idea but I had no other ideas.) "We didn't catch it before because we were looking for something that had to do with the accident."

"Leukemia?" I breathed.

"Yes."

"Can you help him?"

He paused. "We're hoping we caught it in time. We'll start him on Chemo as soon as we can. We hope that it will help." When he saw the relief on my face he added, "But even with Chemo, there's no certainty that it will help him."

I was holding back tears. "Can I actually see him now?"

"Yes. We haven't told him yet and we think it might be better if he hears it from a friend or family."

"Oh, right. Okay…" She left the office and walked back down the hall to Kwest's room. "Hey…"

"Hey," he mumbled, weakly.

I sat next to him on his bed.

"What's going on? You don't look happy."

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm fine really."

"Okay, whatever you say."

"It's you that's the problem."

He looked at me like I had grown a second head. "What? I feel fine. They should be letting me out any day now."

"They finally figured out what's wrong with you," I blurted.

He tried to remain calm but I knew what must've been racing through his mind.

"You have Leukemia."

"Am I going to die?" He asked calmly.

"They hope they caught it in time. You'll start Chemotherapy soon."

"Geez…"

"Are you okay?"

"I just found out I'm terminally ill! Do you think that I'm alright?"

"You seem angry…"

"Damn right I'm angry! I don't want to talk about this! Get out, Jude!"

"Kwest, ju-"

"Get out, Jude!"

I ran out of the room in tears and slammed the door behind me.

"Damn it…" I muttered to myself.

AN: Poor Kwest! I'm not sure what's going to happen yet but I'll come up with something. Also, if you know a song that might fit for how Kwest or Jude might be feeling at this point, let me know. Just give the name of the song and the artist. Anyways, please R&R!