Chapter 4: Hiking

Nessie's POV

"Nessie," I could see Dr. Cullen trying to contain his anger. "Your aunt and uncle gave you cigarettes and alcohol when you were only seven years old. As your guardians they were entrusted to take care of you. Instead of taking you to a therapist to help you they decided to give you toxins instead. Before it didn't make any sense how your cancer could already be so advanced. Now it makes perfect sense,"

"Please don't report them," I continued to beg.

"Renesmee you are dying because of those cigarettes. Don't you understand that? If your aunt and uncle never gave you those cigarettes since you were so little then you wouldn't be in the situation that you are in right now. I'm sorry but it is my moral obligation, my obligation as a doctor, and my obligation to you to report what your aunt and uncle have done to the proper authorities. Legal trouble is the least they deserve after what they've done to your health,"

I could see that I was not going to change Dr. Cullen's mind on the matter. I loved my aunt and uncle and I didn't want to see them behind bars. They took care of me and they loved me. Did that not matter at all? I shouldn't have said anything. Me and my big mouth.

I took a deep breath. "Is it okay if I leave now?"

"Of course Nessie. My assistant will call you to setup your first chemotherapy appointment and also to discuss surgery if you wish to do that,"

"Okay Dr. Cullen,"

"One more thing I'd like to add before you leave Nessie. I'd advise you to stop smoking and drinking immediately. It will help you in your fight,"

"Okay," I said.

I had to force myself to concentrate on driving on the way home. I knew that if I continued to think about my current situation I wouldn't be able to stop myself from losing all self control. I was right. As soon as I got home I broke down in tears again. I was glad that nobody was around to witness this. Nobody else needed to see this.

I heard my cellphone ring several times. My stomach dropped when I saw that it was my best friend Justin who was trying to call me. We'd been friends since I we were seven years old. He was the first friend that I'd made here since moving here with my aunt and uncle after my parents died. He was the only kid that walked up to me and dared to actually start a conversation with me. He was a cute and friendly little boy.

Our friendship blossomed to the point where hardly a day went by when we didn't talk to each other. It helped that we shared most of the same classes. Like me he took AP and Honor classes. He didn't really like going to parties and drinking. Unlike me. But he always did anyway. I think he did just to be my designated driver at the end of the night.

I dreaded the moment that I would have to tell him I was dying of cancer. He didn't know about the smoking since I was seven. He had a major fit when I smoked in front of him the first time after I turned 18. He'd probably blow a gasket if he knew how long I'd really been smoking for.

I cried myself to sleep that night. I was still feeling emotionally drained when I woke up the following morning. I knew that I needed to get out of the house. Staying here all by myself wasn't doing wonders for my mental health. I needed to get out. I decided to go hiking in the woods a little way away from the city.

Just as I was about to start making breakfast someone knocked on my door. I was surprised to see Justin standing there. "Nessie you had me worried. Why didn't you answer any of my phone calls?"

"Sorry I must have had my phone on silent so I never heard it ring," I told the first lie that popped into my head. "Did you come here just to check on me?"

"Well yes. I was worried that something had happened to you. I'm glad you're okay though,"

I was far from okay but I wasn't ready to tell him yet. "Well I'm going hiking after I eat. Do you want to come?"

"You bet," he loved hiking as much as I did. "Are you sure you're up for it though? I don't like that nasty cough you have been having lately. You really should go see a doctor about that,"

"I'll be fine," I tried to sound calm and reassuring. I was sure of that. Dr. Cullen had given me 3-6 months to live. So I was sure I wouldn't die today. Besides I needed to keep doing the things that I loved doing before I was too sick to continue. Oh God how was I going to tell people that I was about to die? I hadn't even told my aunt and uncle yet. I could've called them but I chose not to.

"Ness are you sure that you're feeling alright? Justin asked. "You look worried,"

"I'm fine Justin. I swear," God I hoped that he couldn't see right through my lies. I definitely had to try harder to act like everything was fine and normal. "Do you want something to eat?" I asked him.

"No. I already ate. But if you happen to have any doughnuts handy then maybe-"

"Sorry no doughnuts here," I laughed. "If I'd known you were going to stop by then maybe I would have gone for some,"

I decided on something quick to eat. Cereal and toast. I finished as fast as I could. "Wow you're that eager to hit the trails or what?" he laughed.

"Yeah you could say that,"

"I will drive," he offered.

The forest was a thirty minute drive. Once Justin and I started talking I was able to push my cancer diagnosis to the back of my mind for now. I felt so at ease around him. I knew I couldn't keep it a secret from him forever but I was going to keep that secret for as long as possible.

Once we arrived I felt even more relaxed. There was nobody on the trails which gave us a sense of privacy.

"Nessie I've been wanting to ask you something for a long time," he said a bit nervously.

"Well we've been friends for a really long time now-"

"Eleven years to be exact,"

He just smiled. "Yes. Exactly. But what I'm trying to say is that I would like to be more than that. I like you as more then just my best friend,"

Uh oh. Where exactly was this heading?

"If you don't want to I will understand. We can still be friends. But I would like for us to be boyfriend and girlfriend. You're very smart, beautiful, and kind. There's really no other girl I would rather be with. So what do you say?"

"I say about time! I've been waiting for you to ask me to be your girlfriend for awhile now,"

"Really?"

"Yes really. I've wanted us to be more than friends for a long b time already. But I was afraid to say anything because I didn't want to ruin our friendship,"

"That's exactly what I was afraid of. Ruining our friendship by making things extremely awkward,"

"Do you mind if I kiss you?"

I was so shocked by his question that I couldn't speak. So I just nodded. Then he kissed me. I'd never kissed any guy before and as far as I knew he'd never kissed any girl before either. I felt selfish when I thought of my illness again. Was it wrong to start a relationship with him now? I was a live grenade that was so close to exploding. I was going to hurt everyone around me. Wouldn't it be better if I pulled away from everybody so less people were hurt when I passed?

Gunshots pierced through the air followed by the sound of an animal getting hurt. We broke apart. His face was a mirror of my own worry. I ran off in the direction that I heard the gunshots and the animal crying.

"Nessie what are you doing?!" Justin shouted as he ran after me.

I ignored him as I continued to run. I came to a clearing and saw to animals lying on the floor bleeding. I stopped in my tracks when I realized what they were. They were wolf pups. At least I think they were. They were too big to be regular wolf pups but their features were one hundred percent puppy like. These were just babies. I could only imagine what their parents looked like they must have been the size of horses.

The wolf pup I was bending over was a female with reddish brown fur. I took off my jacket and wrapped it around her wound.

"Nessie what-"

"I think it was poachers," I said. "Do you think we can take them to your parents?" His parents were two of the best veterinarians around. If anyone could help these babies it would be them.

"Are these wolf pups?" he bent down to help the other pup. The other pup had gray fur. "She's bleeding pretty badly," he'd said as he took off his own jacket and wrapped it tightly around her wound.

"We need to get out of here quickly before the poachers come back," I didn't know how long we'd been there but I knew the poachers would return quickly. Probably with a truck to load the wolves with.

She yelped loudly when I picked her up. She wasn't as heavy as she looked. Justin did the same with other pup. Thankfully we hadn't gone very car so our car was very close. Justin opened the back and we were able to put both of them back there.

"Hang on a second," Justin said as just as I was about to close the back.

"What is that?"

"A anesthetic,"

"You have anesthetics in the back of your car?"

"My mom always says you never know when you'll encounter an animal in need. This will help numb the pain until we get them back to the city,"

"I can't believe that we just did that," the adrenaline rush I'd gotten was starting to wear off.

"Me either," he said. "I didn't know wolves could get so big. The mother and father have to be huge,"

"Like the size of a horse," I added. "It's good we left when we did. When the mom finds out her pups are gone it won't be pretty,"

"Yes," he agreed. "Let's just hope we don't lose them on the way though,"

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