Oops! I totally forgot to dedicate my last chapter back from the reference game! So this one goes to ilona18! Oh, pipes15 if you're reading this, you can submit a character because you got more than three references in my reference game in The Fire.
*ALSO VERY IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ MY AUTHOR'S NOTES BECAUSE YOU MIGHT TOTALLY BE MISSING SOMETHING. You don't have to necessarily read my replies to every review, but the other things are a little important. For example, a lot of people asked me if I was going to write this story, and to be honest I told people in at least six chapters that I would. I also gave some teasers in those A/N. I'm not being snobby. I just think it's more convenient for you as a reader to find out immediately what's going to happen. Sorry if this seemed lazy of me or whatever.* Happy reading!
Matthew's POV
I sit on the plane with my glass of apple juice untouched on the table. I can't have wine or any alcohol anymore, according to the doctor. Then again, she was speaking in rapid French, so maybe I didn't catch her words correctly in my already bleary state of mind. Ugh, even my attempt to drink alcohol is pitiful.
"Matthew, are you alright?" Father asks from across me.
I turn my eyes from the clouds outside and turn to him. "Yeah. Yes. I'm okay."
"Matthew, if you need anything at all—"
I smile. "I know, I know. I'll make sure you're the first to hear of my pleas and complaints."
"Stop being sarcastic, son. You're in critical condition."
"And that is the wrong thing to say, dear Father. If I'm in critical condition, let me be sarcastic. Please?"
He cannot deny, and he nods a little dejectedly. "Of course."
I smile at him, just to be kind and polite, and look outside again. The sky outside is blue, like my mother's eyes who I can't help but miss every minute that passes. The clouds are thin and thick at the same time, like different kinds of wool. The early ray of sunlight streams through the clouds of wool, gracing the wings of our airplane with light, like the first gentle stroke of a bow on a violin.
Nature suddenly seems so wondrous and more majestic all of a sudden. After I blacked out, I woke up, six days later, in the hospital wing of the Palace of Versailles. Every nurse they had seemed to be attending to their one and only patient. They gave me medicines and attached a pacemaker to my chest to help me with my arrhythmia. The nurse said I could bring it home. Yay! Souvenir!
As if my heart decides to act upon my thoughts, I can hear the rhythm in my ears. "How's that machine of yours?" Father asks.
"Oh, you know. Pumping my own heart for me because my shitty heart can't do its own job."
"Matthew," he scolds, but his concerned brown eyes betray his words.
"How long did Grandpa know before he passed?" I ask again, ignoring the admonition.
"Three years. However, that does not mean that's how long you'll have. It may be longer."
"Or shorter," I mutter, sliding a little down my seat.
Father sighs. "Stop being so depressing, Matthew."
"Why? Should I be happy that I have who knows how long until I die?"
He opens his mouth, but closes it once more. Yeah, that's what I thought.
The flight attendant comes to check on my pacemaker to make sure it's still functioning properly, then announces to us, the advisers, and Prince Alexander, who is snoring silently across the aisle, that we will be landing in a short while. I finish my apple juice and put it in the garbage bag the flight attendant holds. I feel like a child. Even more so since I want alcohol, and I'm not allowed any.
I look at my father. He is sitting across from me, a mere three feet away (give or take), and yet, he has never felt farther from me than now. I feel like I left him in France. He seems so distraught, more tired than when he stayed up past three in the morning to work. He has already lost one son. How will it feel like to lose another?
For once, I just want to be selfish, so I ask for a notebook and a pen. I write the title with a lovely flourish, if I do say so myself.
The Matthew Schreave Bucket List (MSBL)
I try and think of things that I haven't done yet. I also consider things guys my age would do. I start writing.
1. Ride a roller coaster with a loop.
2. Sneak out with your girlfriend and pretend to be a regular.
3. Go to a fair. (Note: Face fear and get balloon animal from a clown.)
4. Speak in different languages for a whole day.
5. Spend the whole day in pajamas.
6. Bake a cake and cook a meal for the whole family.
7. Watch a "chick-flick"/super girly movie because your girlfriend insisted.
8. Learn how to do a back flip.
9. Go bungee jumping and/or zip lining.
10. Go water skiing.
11. Go paragliding.
12. Sail.
13. Drink milk during every meal for a day.
14. Use the word "like" out of context (Reminder: How Rilane uses it).
15. Eat no meat for a whole day.
16. Stay up all night.
17. Wake up at noon.
18. Gossip.
19. Monologue and pull a "Romeo".
20. Go on a cruise and see a volcano.
I'm sure the list will keep on growing, but we're already landing. "Father, what time is it?" I ask.
"About nine-fifteen."
"What's the date?"
"April twenty-fourth."
"That's enough time to plan Tess's party, correct?"
"Actually, I think your mother has that take care of."
I smile, suddenly more excited to go home. "Are the guests on their way."
"The guests are on their way."
I check my bucket list again, the words becoming a faint scrawl as my eyes lose focus. I smile to myself. I'll be able to do a lot of these within the next forty-eight hours. Killing about six birds with two stones is what they say, right?
So, if you guys want to add anything to his bucket list, be sure to let me know! (Oh and by the way, don't hate on the cover because that violin is my baby :P)
Thank you again for the reviews!
agb1700- Haha AMAZINGER can be our thing :P Thanks! Lurve ya!
theoneforever- Awww this made me smile :) and tear up :P Thank you so much!
LittleMissTori- Hahaha that's hilarious. There was this one time I reviewed with five different names once :P Lol it was for that story called Rebecca I think. I forget. *face palms and tries to look the story up but finds out it requires effort and more button clicking* Thanks so much for reviewing!
prnamber3909- *sighs in relief* THANK GOODNESS!
martinezsami11- ACK EVEN I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT ONE! HAHA JUST KIDDING TRICKED YA OF COURSE I KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN MWAHAHAHA AND THANK YOOOU FOR EVERYTHING!
Kiren- There was a reference game in "The Fire" that started I think around Chapter 40. I just put a bunch of book and movie references and I challenged people to find them. If they got 3 they'd get two updates in a row dedicated to them. 3 or more, they get that and their own character.
ilona18- Haha yep! Hope you're ready! Thanks for reviewing!
ReadLikeYouMeanIt- Yeah, a lot of people seemed to miss that :P Thanks so much!
Love ya!- AcademicGirl
