12

"What?" I asked.

"Bella, what the fuck is going on with you?" asked Kate. "I heard that you spent half the morning throwing up in the bathroom."

"I heard that Lauren took care of you when you threw up in third period," said Angela. "What's going on? Are you pregnant?"

"No, I'm not pregnant," I whispered.

"Then what is it, Bella?" asked Garrett. I closed my eyes and tried to fight back the tears. "We are your friends, you know. You can trust us."

"I know that," I sobbed softly. "I just don't want to hurt you."

"Bella, please, let us in. We are so worried about you," said Ben. I looked over at them and saw the tears in their eyes. I knew I could trust them.

"I'm sick. I have leukemia," I said softly. "I started chemo yesterday which is why I have been sick so much today."

"Your sick?" cried Kate.

"Yes," I sobbed.

"Are you going to die?" sobbed Angela.

"I really hope not," I sobbed softly. Kate and Angela came over and hugged me.

"Is that why you quit cheerleading?" sobbed Kate.

"Yes, I can't risk getting hurt," I whispered softly.

"Is that why you and Edward got married?" asked Ben through his tears.

"Yes and no," I whispered softly. "I have been feeling really tired for several weeks. I had a really bad day on Sunday and Emmett and Charlie took me to the hospital. Edward's father, Carlisle, though that I might be sick based on my symptoms and family history." I explained.

"Family history?" asked Garrett.

"Our mom died of leukemia when we were two," I cried softly.

"But we thought…." trailed off Garrett.

"Us too but anyway. Carlisle ran a few tests and I got the results Monday morning. As I'm sure you know, I didn't handle it very well. The six of us went down to first beach and I told them. Edward asked me to fight for him. I looked into his eyes and I knew that I am in love with him. I just knew. He said he loved me and I said I loved him. I was staring in his eyes and I just knew. I can't do this without him by my side so I asked him to marry to me. He said yes and the six of us, Carlisle, and his mother, Esme, and Charlie flew to Vegas that night," I explained through my tears.

"That's very romantic," whispered Kate.

"Yeah," sighed Angela.

"Bella, we will be here if you need us. Anytime, anyplace," said Garrett.

"Thanks," I whispered. "Just don't tell anyone yet. I not ready for the whole school to know."

"We won't," said Ben.

The bell rang and we made our way to our afternoon class. Edward and I spent most of biology with my head on his shoulder. I didn't get sick again, which was nice, but I could still feel my stomach quivering. Mr. Banner tried to keep everyone from staring at me but it was apparently a wasted effort. As soon as class was over, Edward and I made our way down to Spanish. Mrs. Goff was having us watch a video today. I laid my head on Edward's shoulder again and fell asleep.

I was shaken awake when the bell rang. We gathered our stuff up and went down to our lockers. Edward, Emmett and Jasper had football practice. I went with Rose and Alice. They came over to the house and I laid on the couch and watched Rose and Alice practice cheering. Alice was really good. Rose wouldn't be cheering tomorrow since it was homecoming. Edward, Emmett and Jasper came home a few hours later. Edward picked me up and sat me in his lap.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"I'm ok. My stomach is still upset but not nearly as bad as it was this morning. I'm still pretty tired," I said laying my head on his chest.

"Do you want some dinner?" he asked.

"Not really," I whispered. "I'm not too hungry."

"Ok," whispered Edward as Carlisle came in.

"Bella, how you doing today?" he asked.

"I had a pretty rough morning but I stopped throwing up by lunch time. I'm still really tired and my stomach is still upset," I explained.

"I know it's hard, Bella. I was thinking that we would do your treatment on Saturday instead of tomorrow since it is homecoming," said Carlisle. I groaned.

"Thanks for reminding me," I grumbled.

"Bella, just accept your fate. I have," chuckled Rose as she sat down next to me.

"You two aren't excited about being nominated?" asked Esme as she came out of the kitchen.

"No," we chuckled.

"Why not?" she asked.

"We are rebels. We don't like to conform to the man," I chuckled.

"Says the cheerleader," chuckled Jasper.

"Jas, shut up," I chuckled.

"Bella, it's an honor to be nominated," snickered Jasper.

"An honor?" I chuckled. "More like a curse."

"Bella, Bella, Bella," chuckled Alice. "Just accept it."

"Don't want too," I pouted. They all laughed at me.

"Bella, you know it's not the same now that you know the truth about her," said Emmett softly. I looked up at him.

"I know, Em," I whispered.

"What are you talking about?" asked Alice.

"My mom was homecoming queen her senior year. I have spent the last sixteen years trying to be nothing like her," I whispered.

"Why?" asked Alice. "She was your mom."

"Yes, and I thought she abandoned me and Em. I thought she didn't love us. I didn't know she died from the same disease that is killing me," I cried.

I got up and ran upstairs to mine and Edward's room. I fell onto the bed and let my tears fall. Edward came in and pulled me into his arms. It was hard to let go of all the anger that I have been holding on to for as long as I could remember. Not only I was angry now, but I was terrified. I don't want to die. I still have so much that I want to do with my life. I wasn't ready for this to be the end. I turned over and looked at Edward.

"Edward?" I whispered.

"Yes."

"Do you think about dying?" I asked.

"I didn't until I met you. I don't want to lose you, Bella, but I know that I might and it hurts so bad," he whispered as he let his tears fall.

"I don't want to die. I have so much I want to do still," I whispered.

"Like what?" he asked.

"I want to record my music. I want to go to Paris. I want to skydive and swim with the dolphins. I want to go to Disneyland. I want walk in the ocean. I want to have babies," I whispered.

"Ok," he whispered. He reached over and pulled out a small notebook from his night table. "We'll make a list of things. I promise that we will do them."

"Don't promise what you can't give me," I whispered. He looked up at me.

"Baby, I promise," he whispered.

"Ok," I whispered.

"What else do you want to do?" asked Edward.

We spent the rest of the evening coming up with things that we wanted to do. We added several items to the list. I wanted to have our own house. I wanted to learn French. Edward wanted to take me to me to see the Chicago symphony play. He wanted to hear me play in Carnegie Hall. I wanted to go to the grand canyon. We laughed and teased. It was nice to feel normal. Eventually we just settled into a peaceful silence. I laid my head on Edward's chest and fell asleep.