CHAPTER 4

Chloe's P.O.V.

So even though we are best friends, I guess I'm kinda enjoying being more than just friends with Ricky. And of course he isn't making this easy for me either. He kissed me again during the dance. Not that I'm complaining at all. Anyway, it was the Wednesday after the dance and Lacey had been absent on Monday and Tuesday. She was sick. Nothing to serious, she told me but still serious enough to go see a doctor today. That was probably why she hadn't called. I was trying not to freak out. I had tryouts for the swim team today and was nervous enough today as it was. When I reached the locker rooms, I started to turn off my phone. Right before I hit the power button, I got a text. To be specific, a text from Lacey.

Lacey: Call me asap.

I don't know why, but I had a really bad feeling about this. So I decided to quickly call Lacey. She picked up after the first two rings.

"Hello?" her voice shook a little. I swallowed.

"Hello? Lacey? Are you alright?" I was really concerned now.

"Yeah um Chloe, do you know where University Hospital is?" she asked.

"Yeah why?" I replied.

"Okay so you know how I had that doctors appointment right? Well, they did some tests like drawing blood and they found abnormal blood cells." I am shocked into silence. "Then they found blasts in my bone marrow. I.. I have leukemia Chloe." she continues. "Can you come, please?" I hear her voice crack but she doesn't cry.

"Yes, I will be there in twenty minuets tops. Do you want me to bring Blake and Ricky?" "Sure," she said her voice small. "I have to go now the doctors here." she hung up. I took a deep breath. All around me the world continued like nothing happened. I wanted to scream. To cry. To do anything except look at everyone go around like Lacey wasn't dying. It was completely wrong. I took a deep breath. Now was not the time for those things. I had to be strong for Lacey. Luckily, my older sister was staying a little extra for peer tutoring. I checked my watch. She would be out in fifteen minuets. Just long enough for me to grab Ricky and Blake. First though, I ran to the swim coach and explained why I couldn't be at tryouts. I ran faster than I have ever run before. I made it to the football field in record time. The boys were just coming out of the locker rooms. Blake saw me first. He raised his hand to wave but saw my expression and immediately came over. Ricky followed.

"Whats wrong?" Ricky cried.

"It's Lacey. Have to go to the hospital now." I say in between breaths. I feel Blake tense next to me.

"What-," Ricky starts. I interrupt,

"No time we have to go now." He understands. "I'll go tell the coach." We make it back to the school parking lot and catch my sister.

"Hey we need to go to the hospital now. Lacey's sick." All three of them look at me.

"Okay get in." my sister says. She has always been pretty calm in emergencies. We are silent the entire ride. "I'll wait in the car and I'll tell your parents why your not home." my sister says. As soon as we get the room number, we practically sprint up the stairs and bang into the room.

"Sorry." I say to Nick and Lacey as a way of greeting. Lacey grins. Lacey is sitting in a hospital bed, an ivy tube in her arm. Her hair was back in a french braid. She only did that if she didn't have the time or energy to do her hair for a few days.

"Hey guys." Nick croaks. He gestures for us to wash our hands. In a flash, i'm done washing my hands and am seated next to Lacey on the bed. Blake and Ricky sit in the two extra chairs. She leaned her head on my shoulder. I didn't know what to say. Anything that would make this less awful.

"Well this sucks." she said and we both laughed. A little forced but still better than the silence. Then the doctor walks in.

"So you must be the friends." she says with a smile. How could she be so cheerful when Lacey was dying? "Lacey is really going to need you guys right now." Then she slipped up Lacey's sleeve and checked something on her IV. "Nick can you please tell the two gentlemen over there what's going to happen?"

"Of course." Nick replied. The lady came over to Lacey and I.

"I am Dr. Anderson. Lacey has asked me to explain a few things about her illness to you." I just nodded and tried not to cry. I loved her so much in that moment. "Most teen get lymphoblastic leukmia, but Lacey has myeloid leukemia, or AML. It't a type of cancer mostly associated with males past sixtey."

Lacey rolled her eyes and said, "Can you believe I have old man cancer?" I smiled.

"When can she come home?" I asked. "In three to four weeks," Dr. Anderson replied, her voice neutral. "Lacey is very lucky to have you Chloe." I nodded. After the visit, I barely made it into my room before I burst into tears.

So sorry for the long wait guys :( I started school and they are already testing the crap out of us. Hope you enjoyed even though I was evil XD. I will try to update faster. For real. The lovely Softballqueen12 is helping me and I highly recommend her stories. They are fab XD (Don't worry she is a much better writer than me :) )

Stay Lovelyxx

Swagmaster500