Chapter 53 : "Is everything okay?"

Songs of the chapter,

Say you won't let go - James Arthur

It's you -  Ali Gate

Chapter 53 : "Is everything okay?"

*next update coming in a few hours. Double update as promised🙈🙈

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"Girl, I'm sure the price isn't that high online, give it a try!" I exclaimed and Amanda huffed.

"James said he looked it up already, it costs the same everywhere." Amanda said, pointing at James.

"It really does." James replied in agreement, more like slurred.

"He's drunk already?" I furrowed my eyebrows and Amanda laughed.

"Probably."

I was talking to my classmates. In a New Years party.

Was I forced to come? Normally, the answer would be yes. But this time, it's not. I wanted to come.

Parties could be fun sometimes. Plus, I love being surrounded by people kissing at midnight as I stare aimlessly at the wall.

Ofcourse, I've been fantasizing about kissing Aaron all week. But he didn't even show up to the party. Which kind of ruined my mood honestly.

I literally love going out nowadays just to see him, what's the point if he's not with me on the night of the new year?

"Ellie." I heard Rose scream somewhere from my left and when I turned my head, she motioned for me to come over.

"Have fun dealing with that." I told Amanda, pointing at James who is hammered and she shook her head in agony.

"Yes?" I asked Rose after walking towards her and the guys.

"Let's dance." She said a bit too enthusiastically.

"Yeah yeah, let's go!" Laurel said, pushing me by my shoulders.

I looked at Ethan in confusion, hoping someone would explain to me what's wrong with Laurel and Rose, but he just shrugged his shoulders.

I went along with it and we ended up walking outside the house, onto the front porch.

"What's going on?" I asked and Rose sighed.

"We think we know why Aaron didn't come." Laurel said and all of my attention immediately diverted into this conversation.

"Really? Why?" I asked, eager to know.

"The guys won't say it directly, but I think Ethan accidentally slipped up." Rose explained.

"With?" I asked.

"That Aaron found out about some results that have to do with his mom." Rose continued and I didn't know how to react.

Do Rose and Laurel even know about this? How am I supposed to act about it?

"Huh?" I replied, acting oblivious.

"We don't know what that means, did he mention anything to you?" Laurel said and I felt awkward.

I feel like I shouldn't tell before Aaron does. But on the other hand, it's Laurel and Rose, they'll know anyways.

Ugh, what should I do?

"I mean yeah, briefly, but I don't know, don't ask me!" I fumbled with my words and Laurel and Rose glanced at each other in question.

I cleared my throat and looked away.

"Let's go back inside, I really wanna dance." Laurel said, changing the subject and Rose and I nodded as we headed back inside.

Before we lost ourselves in dancing, I texted Aaron, asking if everything's okay. And then I decided to not get drunk, just in case he replied with something negative.

We ended up dancing a little bit and gossiping alot. But it was still two hours before midnight.

I stood next to Rose and Laurel with a bored and uninterested look on my face. It was getting super boring. There really is just no point in doing things without Aaron.

I don't want to depend on him, or count him as the only reason I go out and my only source of happiness, but in a way, it is true. I have a great time every single time I see him. He's always talking to me and we're always fooling around and arguing, and if we're not doing that, he's just being cute and taking care of me. All in all, every time I see him, I'm left feeling happy and giddy inside. Which is not the case today.

I felt the vibration of my phone in my purse and I pulled it out, checking to see who's calling me.

I felt a little worried when I saw 'Idiot' flashing on the screen. Aaron was calling me.

I told the girls that I need to take a quick phone call and walked outside to pick it up since the music is too loud in here and I won't be able to hear Aaron properly.

"Hi, Aaron!" I said, excited to hear his voice.

"Hey, Oreo." Aaron said in a monotonous voice and my heart dropped.

"I got your text." He added, still sounding dull.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, scared to find out.

It has to be okay.

"Has it ever been?" Aaron murmured with a sigh.

"Where are you?" I finally asked.

"Home, can you come here? I'm sorry, I don't want to ruin your night, you're at the party, right?"

"I am, but I'm also super bored, I can definitely come," I said eagerly, wanting to see Aaron, "your mom won't mind?"

"She's not home." Aaron answered curtly and I nodded my head though he couldn't see me.

"Okay, I'll be there." I said and we said our goodbyes, and hung up.

I sighed in despair as I tried thinking of who can be my ride.

I told everyone that I don't feel well and want to head home because I didn't feel like explaining anything and answering all their questions. I just wanted to go there as fast as possible.

They were surprised because it's New Year's Eve and I was excited for this day all along. But eventually, they gave in.

I ended up asking a friend, Amy, for a ride. She's kind of a good friend of mine, and she was leaving so I found it the perfect opportunity and asked her for a ride.

I gave her the address and she drove me there. I was now standing in front of Aaron's front door, having just reached his floor, and I was kind of worried about what would I say to him. Honestly, I was scared of the news. By the looks of it, they're really bad.

I had enough of my overthinking and just rang the doorbell.

Aaron opened the door a couple moments later and motioned for me to come in, silently.

No hello, no 'Oreo', nothing. He's acting so different.

I was getting anxious because I was now sure it's something really bad, like he'd always assumed.

"Hey." I said, as both Aaron and I took a seat on the couch next to each other.

"Hi Oreo." Aaron replied with a small sigh.

"What happened?" I asked, getting straight to the point. I was tired of creating endless scenarios and possibilities about this in my head.

"I saw the results." Aaron informed me, not giving away anything else.

My heart's rate picked up in anxiousness, "How bad?"

Aaron's answer was the last thing I expected, and the last thing I wanted to believe.

"Breast cancer."

I couldn't stop myself from gasping loudly. "Wait, for real, is this a joke?"

"I wish it is." Aaron chuckled bitterly and I tried to take it in.

"Is she getting any treatment?" I asked Aaron, already feeling as though I might cry.

"I don't know, I think she doesn't want to follow through with the chemo treatment." Aaron explained and I bit my lip, speechless.

"You know my grandma died that way too? I don't know if this shit runs in this fucking family or something." Aaron said frustratingly.

"Breast cancer can be cured Aaron," I said softly, trying to convince Aaron to feel better, not knowing if I myself even believe a word I'm saying, "if she found out early enough, that helps alot."

"I know dad left money behind but she's already used tons of it on drinking and the rest were supposed to be for my college, for the house rent, stuff like that, how are we going to manage?" Aaron said but didn't give me a chance to respond as he continued, "don't get me wrong, her health comes first, but what comes next?"

"Either ways, we're doomed." Aaron concluded and I stayed silent.

I can't believe how sudden this was. This woman is suddenly sick as hell.

"We have no one left." Aaron's voice cracked, referring to himself and Mason.

"Listen to me, I'm literally talking about the house rent when she's dying, I didn't mean that, I don't know what I'm saying," I leaned in towards Aaron, "I don't know why I called you."

"Shhhh," I whispered, "I know you don't know what you're saying, but it is true. This is a problem Aaron, I'm not gonna sit here convincing you that it's totally fine, it's not."

Aaron looked at me, a little bit in shock, not expecting me to just blurt that out.

"However," I continued, "there is a solution, and before overthinking everything else, she has to get the treatment."

"Well she won't get it, she's acting selfish," Aaron shook his head, "I don't know if she knows this but Mason and I can not live without her, she thinks we want her to go away but we don't."

Aaron said, and I knew he was going to cry. "I love her, Ellie. Even with how she's been, she just handled dad's death the wrong way, but I can't afford to lose the both of them, I want her to stay."

Aaron did start crying and I cried along with him. Hearing this and keeping my tears in place was impossible. We're talking cancer here. It's scary.

"I thought we have a long time left, I should've worked on our problems alot sooner." Aaron said, nearly sobbing and I hugged him close to me.

"I'm so sorry." I whispered, trying to wipe my tears away, and his.

Aaron is talking as though he is convinced that she really is going to die. And I knew no matter how much I tried, right here in this state, Aaron would find everything I say a bunch of bullshit. So, I felt like I shouldn't say anything.

I wanted to ask Aaron when did he find out, how, and what did he say to his mom, but it felt like the wrong time.

Instead, I just made a plan in my head to let mom know that I can't come home today. And this time, I will tell her the truth. Because honestly, even if she disapproves, I'm staying here tonight. Aaron is my world right now, and I can't stand seeing my world falling apart by the second.

Five minutes later, I pulled Aaron's head away from my chest, but kept my hands on his face, "Look at me."

Our tears were still falling when I spoke, "We will figure this out together, okay? I promise you Aaron, I fucking promise you." I assured Aaron confidently, wiping at his tears.

"I need you to calm down and get some rest for me, okay?" I said with a very small reassuring smile, "I'm staying with you tonight, and we'll figure it out, together, we really will."

I didn't know if I had anything in mind, anything to help, but I still meant it when I promised Aaron that I would figure this out with him. I'm going to stick my him, until it all works.

Or maybe forever, I'm hoping so.

"Thank you." Aaron said, sniffing as he closed his eyes.

"You should go to bed." I whispered and Aaron nodded.

"I'm so grateful that you're here, I need you Ellie." Aaron opened his eyes now, looking at me.

"I need you too." I replied, "And I'll always be there."

Aaron and I did go to sleep. But it was very different this time.

We purposely hugged each other to sleep. I fell asleep that day, with Aaron's head on my chest, and his arms around my stomach.

And that was everything.