OMG YOU GUYS ARE MAKING ME SO HAPPY! xD Thank you for reading this! So, without further ado, here's chapter 2 for you! (heh heh I rhymed!)
Almost every day since that day, you've kept true to your word. The years go by and you both grow up physically, but not socially or mentally. In fact, your personalities blossom, with him being angry douche bag, and you being a squealy fangirl. On this sunny day, you skip across the parking lot, excited to see your best friend. You mostly want to show him your shipping page, even though you know he doesn't care. Actually, your shipping page has turned into three pages since fifth grade. As you reach the hospital, you almost forget that you accidentally brought your second page with you. The second page has a picture of only two people on it. You and him happen to be those people. Ever since the day that you made that pact, you've fallen in love with him, embarrassing as it is to admit. But you've kept your feelings secret, mostly because the boy's been suffering from a bad illness, and you're not sure how he'd react to you telling him your feelings on top of everything else he has to deal with.
The elevator you're in dings, and you know room 69 is only a few rooms away. When you get there, he greets you.
"Sup Nepeta. Here to tell me shit I don't care about?" he asks sarcastically. You like it when he's relaxed like this. It makes you feel good, like you have nothing to worry about. You giggle and respond to his greeting.
"Hi Karkitty!" you say. He gets mad at you for calling him that name. Your not surprised, as he's been doing that for years. In fact, you two are now freshman, but some of your old habits haven't died just yet.
"So, how was school? Boring as usual?"
"Yeah, pretty much. But I updated my shipping pages! Gamzee and Tavros are looking like a very promising couple!" you squeal.
"Nepeta, I don't give a fuck about those two. The only page I really give a shit about is the second one, because you never tell me what's on it." he retorts. He takes you by surprise with this comment. You realize that you might have to hint your feelings for him eventually. You're kind of getting tired of telling him that the second page is just an embarrassing picture of you and your cats, especially considering he knows that that's bullshit. As you think about this, you aren't even aware he's speaking to you. "Earth to Nepeta! Does that brain of yours still work or what?" he yells. You snap out of it and apologize. "What's up with you today anyway?" he asks suspiciously. You swallow nervously.
"What do you mean Karkitty?" you ask innocently.
"You've been fucking spacing out like a stoner seeing miracles or some shit." he says, not buying it.
"Well, I've been thinking about us." you say. You don't realize it at first, but the way you say it comes out more awkward than you thought. You quickly try to redeem yourself. "Uh, what I meant to say was, I've been thinking about how I visit you everyday and that it's kind of sad that I'm the only one who does. But then I thought 'if Karkitty were to ever be in trouble, I'd be there to save him!' So, I thought maybe that now we have a special connection!" you finally finish off. His expression is somewhere between confused and weirded out, and you know you've said too much. Great job Nepeta. Way to win the award for making situations awkward.
"Well, I guess I'm pretty lucky to have you, even though I don't act like I'm grateful and all that. But I'm not really sure about that special co-" Before he can finish, your lips are on his. You couldn't take the tension anymore. After about five seconds, you pull away from him. His eyes are as wide as saucers. Then, the inevitable happens. He gets angry. "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT FOR NEPETA? YOU THINK JUST BECAUSE IM SICK AND LONELY THAT YOU CAN JUST DO WHATEVER THE HELL YOU WANT WITH ME? WELL FUCK YOU! YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST GET OUT OF THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW!" He calms down before speaking again. "And don't bother coming back for four weeks. I... I need some time to clear my head." he says, not meeting your eyes.
"Oh... ok." you say as your heart rips in two. You don't even say good bye as you walk out of the room. You walk down the hall, ashamed of what you did. You two had a good friendship, and you went and fucked it up. Royally. You start to brainstorm ideas to make up with him, as you would be doing for the next four weeks.
The four weeks pass by slowly, and you find yourself rushing to the hospital once again. You've finally figured out a way to make peace between you two, and you're anxious to see how it works out. As soon as you make it to room 69, you immediately sense something is off about him.
"H-hey Nepeta." he greets a bit more silently than usual. His eyes are puffy and his face is red. To you, this means only one thing.
"Karkitty, whats wrong? You look like you were crying." you say, your heart speeding up at the horrible thoughts of what could possibly be wrong.
"I'm alright Nepeta. I'm just really stressed." he says, not meeting your eyes.
"Karkitty, I think there's something you're not telling me." you say even more nervous than before. Whenever he doesn't look you straight in the eye, you can tell something's up with him. And not a good something. An uncomfortable silence forms between you two for the longest time, before he finally breaks it. His voice is so quiet, you have to really listen. But you hear it. And you almost wish you hadn't.
"The doctor said I only have a month to live."
... A month to live...
The phrase echos in your head as panic takes over.
"No... No no no no no no no! Karkitty you can't die! That's not fair!" you scream as the tears come. You sob for two minutes, until you calm down enough to let him talk again.
"I know it's not fair Nepeta. No one ever said life was fair. But, during my final month, at least I'll have you." he says, trying to lighten the mood. You smile through your tears, and promise to make his last month the best one he ever had.
The month you two share is a well spent one, even though both of you know that everyday he's getting weaker. On this rainy day, you rush to the hospital even faster than normal, not caring that you're skipping school. You burst into room 69, hoping you're not too late. Luckily you aren't, but the situation still isn't good. His dad and mom are the only ones there. His dad gives you a grave nod while comforting his mom, who is too distraught to even acknowledge your presence. You make your way to the side of the bed, and look down at his tiny figure.
"Hey Nepeta. Glad you could make it." he greets softly. His breaths are shallow but steady, so you don't have to worry about him having too painful of a death. You start to tear up, but he speaks, trying to comfort you. "Don't you cry now. I'll be alright. I just wanted to let you know that you've been a really good friend, no matter how awkward things got. I'll miss you, and your stupid shipping pages too." he says going into a coughing fit. You're trying very hard not to cry. For him. Even though it kills you inside to see your long time crush dying. And there's not a single thing you can do about it.
"Oh Karkitty, I..." But you can't continue on, because your afraid that if you do, you'll break down. He sighs sadly, and his breathing slows down even more. You know his time has almost come.
"Good bye Nepeta. Good bye everyone. Thank you all for convincing me to stay until the very end." And then, something miraculous happens. Right as his last breath is taken, he smiles. You finally break down sobbing as you realize something. Your goal that you made in fifth grade had finally been achieved. You finally made that poor boy smile, a very genuine one too.
The service is held on the following Sunday, just two days after his death. It depresses you that hardly anyone has shown up. You walk up to the casket, and there you see him for the last time. He still has that smile on his face. Tears roll down your cheeks as you place a single red rose in his folded arms. Later, you leave early, because you can't bear to see your beloved Karkat being buried.
Later that night, you are up in your room, staring at the page of you and him. The more you stare at his face, the angrier you get. You're angry at whoever took him away from you. Hell, you're angry at cancer itself. If it had never existed, you would've never met him, and you would've never spent all that time caring for someone who didn't love you back. In your fury, you rip up that page and burn the pieces. After you get that out of your system, you cry yourself to sleep, as you will for many nights to come. Stupid fucking cancer.
I'm sorry guys. I really am. But stay tuned for the epilogue and the announcement. And remember that I still love you.