AN: I don't know anyone with cancer but I have been doing a little research so most of the symptoms should be correct. Sorry about any spelling/grammar mistakes.
Enjoy the chapter…
Two Weeks Later
Annabeth
I place my elbow on the desk I'm sitting at and lean my head against the palm of my hand. I feel so tired today. It's like I still haven't caught up with sleep from my weekend camping at the beach two weeks ago.
I close my eyes for what seems like a few seconds but must be longer as some yells in my ear, causing me to jump awake.
"Percy!" I yell when I realise he was the person who scared me.
He puts his hands up in surrender and steps back. "The bell rang like five minutes ago, Wise Girl."
"Oh," I say, looking at my surroundings and finding that he isn't lying. I stand up quickly and shove my books into my bag.
"Are you okay?" he asks, frowning at me as I turn back around to face him.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I reply.
"You just seem off today. One minute you're asleep the next wide awa-" he stops abruptly as I bring a hand to my mouth.
"I think I'm going to be s-" I don't finish my sentence but instead run out of the room and down the corridor to the girls' bathroom.
I just make it to the toilet in time before the sick flies out of my mouth.
I know what this means. The first time I felt like this I googled my symptoms. This was after I found out that I had cancer and the site I clicked on told me that tiredness and nausea and vomiting is a sign that it's getting worse.
"Annabeth?" I hear Percy's voice not far away and then his footsteps as he comes into the room.
"You're not meant to be in here," I mutter after I'm sure that I won't be sick again.
"Something's not right. You've never been like this before," he says while I go to the sink and rinse my mouth out. "Are you okay?"
I nod even though I know I am far from it. I blink back the tears that form in my eyes and I can't help but be surprised that I am upset about it getting worse. I was fine with the fact I could die a few weeks ago but now…
"I'm going to call your dad," Percy says, pulling his phone out of his pocket. I grab it off him and put it behind my back.
"No! I-I'm fine, really. Dad will only worry. My chemo is in a few days, anyway," I quickly say.
"Annabeth, I promised your dad I'd look after you!"
"That was when we went camping," I insist.
"Well, I don't care if he meant now or then. He told me to bring you home or call him if you're sick," he replies.
"How are you going to do that when I have your phone?" I ask. He frowns.
"Annabeth, please. If you don't feel well then let me take you home," he begs.
"Lunch is in less than hour. If I don't feel well then I'll go home then," I promise.
"Fine," Percy gives in after a few minutes and I hand back his phone. "I have English with you now so I'll be keeping an eye on you. Any sign that you don't look well then I'm taking you home."
"Yes, dad," I tease and roll my eyes.
He walks towards me and puts his hands on my shoulder. "Don't call me that again," he whispers.
"Or what?" I ask, trying to ignore the feeling of his warm breath against my lips.
"Or you'll be sorry," he smirks before taking my hand and dragging me into the corridor and to out next lesson.
Thankfully, our teacher is nice and says that she'll let us off this time for being late. The only two free seats are separated, one at the front of the class and the other at the back.
Instantly, Percy sits at the front while I go to the back. I know he only choose that seat so he'll see my face if he turns around.
I thought after our truth or dare kiss that things would be awkward but it's like it never happened at all, which isn't exactly a bad thing though I often wish I could kiss him again.
He made it clear that he didn't like me in that way so it would be better if I just pretended it was nothing.
It takes a lot of effort not to close my eyes in the lesson but every time Percy turns around and catches my eye I straighten up and become wide-awake again, knowing that if I fall asleep he'll take me home and my dad will take me to the hospital straight away. I'm sick of hospitals.
When the lesson is over Percy waits for me at the door as I slowly pack my stuff up, an aching pain below my ribs making me slow down. I can feel his green eyes on me.
It would probably be best if I went home but I don't want to leave. I could stay home tomorrow and then come to school in the morning on Friday before going to chemo with my dad and Percy in the afternoon.
I wince as I throw my bag over my shoulder and walk towards Percy. The concerned look on his face tells me he noticed the wince on my face. He opens his mouth to speak but I quickly say, "I'm fine."
He doesn't say anything as we walk down the corridor. "I'll be right back," I say as we near the girls' toilets. "Wait here this time."
"Sure," he replies before I walk in.
I find a free toilet cubicle before locking the door and doing my business. Once I'm finished I stand up and zip my trousers up. I go to flush the toilet when something catches my eye.
I look down into the toilet to find that my urine is a dark brown colour. That's bad- really bad.
I walk quickly outside after washing my hands and drying them. I grab Percy's hand and drag him out of the door and towards his new car. Actually, it's his step-dads old car so it isn't exactly new but… whatever.
"What's going on?" Percy asks, panic thick in his voice.
"I need you to drop me home," I say, trying to be calm but knowing that I won't be able to do that until I'm sure I'm okay.
That thought from earlier, the one where I was wondering why I was upset about the possibility of the cancer getting worse and me dying, pops into my head again.
I know that if the Cancer on my kidney has spread then I will either have to find a donor or I will die.
"No, take me to the hospital instead," I change my mind. Percy tugs on my arm, making me stop and pulling me so I'm facing him.
"What's going on?" he asks.
"I…" I don't want to lie to him so I say, truthfully, "I think it's gotten worse."
"What? How do you know?" he asks, frantically.
"My pee is brown, I feel sick and tired and I have a pain below my ribs," I say.
"Let's go," he replies and this time it's him dragging me.
I haven't even closed the car door before he's driving off.
"Slow down!" I yell. "I'd rather not die before I find out if I am actually dying!"
"Call your dad," Percy says and I nod, knowing it's a good idea.
I dial his number and press my phone to my idea as I wait for him to pick up. "Hello?" he says after a few rings.
"Dad, it's Annabeth. Don't worry but Percy is taking me to the hospita-"
"I'll meet you there," he says, cutting me off. I'm surprised at how calm he is. I think he knows that worrying won't make a difference.
"Be careful, dad," I say before hanging up. I put my phone in my pocket and glance at Percy.
His brow is furrowed while he concentrates on driving fast but safely. I can literally feel the panic and worry coming off of him and I rest my hand on his knee.
He doesn't look at me as he takes one hand off the steering wheel and places it on top of mine, giving it a squeeze.
It takes us about fifteen minutes to get there and you'd think I was dying on the spot the way Percy drags me to the reception desk and literally yells at the nurse to get someone to see me.
The nurse, who recognises me, nods and tells me to go to my usual room.
I lead Percy to the elevator and to the right floor. My doctor is waiting for me when we arrive at his office. Dr. Artemis and he both work on me and it looks like today is my other nurses' day off.
"Brown urine?" he asks. I nod. "Pain below the ribs?" I nod. "You need a scan. Is your dad on his way?" I nod again and follow him, never letting go of Percy's hand.
"Can he stay with me?" I ask my doctor. He glances at Percy and then back at me.
"Sure," he finally says.
I like this doctor and I think he likes me too. He's been my doctor since I found out I had cancer. His name is Dr. Jacob Matthews and my guess is that he's in his late forties. His hair is a light gray and his eyes a dark blue. His face is filled with wrinkles from, I guess, stress and the pressure of saving peoples lives.
He and Percy wait outside the room while I change into a hospital gown. After it's on Dr. Matthews and Percy comes back into the room and my doctor tells me to lie on the bed type machine.
I've had a CT scan so many times. Percy leans against the wall and watches as the machine turns on.
It doesn't take long, a few seconds, maybe a minute. I sit up once the machine is off and look at the floppy scan picture that he places on the board. I watch my doctor's reaction and he doesn't have to tell me. I know. "How long do I have?"
"Not very long if we don't remove it soon," my doctor replies.
Percy steps forward. "What about her other kidney? People can live off one kidney, right?" he asks.
"The kidney with the cancer is the stronger one. She'll need to have a transplant as soon as possible. We need to find a donor," my doctor tells Percy and I.
My father and Sue barge into the room just as he finishes the sentence. They are both by my side in seconds. "What's happening?" my dad asks.
"She needs a transplant, Fredrick," my doctor explains.
"Sue, the twins and I have already been tested. We're not a match," my dad says, putting his head in his hands. I know he's worrying now.
"What about me?" Percy asks. We all look at him in confusion.
"What about you?" I ask.
"Why don't you see if my kidney is a match and if it is then you have yourself a kidney," Percy explains.
My eyes widen.
"I can't let you do that, Seaweed Brain," I object.
"Well, it's worth a try and I don't care what you say. I'm not listening to you this time, Wise Girl."
"What if you need that kidney in the future?" I ask. This is a big thing.
"Then I'll have a transplant," he says, stepping forward and taking both my hands in his. "Let me do this for you."
I can't take my watery eyes off of his. I gulp and nod. "Thank you," I whisper.
I wait with Sue and my dad for my doctor and Percy who is getting tested to see if his kidney is a match. I pace back and forth in the office, ranting about how stupid Percy is. "Why would he do that? What if he needs it? Is he aloud to do this with out permission?"
"Annabeth, calm down," Sue says but I ignore her.
"But what if-" I stop abruptly as the door opens and in walks the doctor.
"Where's Percy?" I ask, now standing completely still, like a statue.
"His kidney matches yours," my doctor replies. "He's in surgery as we speak. It looks like you have a new kidney."
As my doctor's words sink in all I can think is that my best friend has saved my life…
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