A TFIOS Oneshot

13 year old Hazel Grace was scared. She had just learned about her tumor and was getting used to carrying her oxygen cylinder everywhere.

She didn't want to make her parents worry or make them cry. That's why she was in the chocolates aisle of the mall, taking huge breaths and holding back her tears. She forced herself to concentrate on something else. It usually helped.

She looked around and soon enough, she found something distracting. She saw a boy, about her age who looked as if he was having a panic attack. His face portrayed various emotions. Determination, calm and sensibility. Yet, Hazel knew that he was trying to hide his fear.

Curious, she walked over to the boy. He had well-tamed mahogany hair and big blue eyes.

"Hi", Hazel said.

The boy caught her eye and gave her a small smile.

"Hello."

"Um... are you okay?" Hazel asked.

The boy's expression changed immediately.

"Of course, I was just roaming around", he said, in a joking voice but Hazel could detect a slight tension behind it.

"Oh", she said casually.

"So... you like M&M's?" she asked, indicating at the packet he was holding.

The boy stared at her.

"Of course! Who doesn't like them."

His eyes landed on her oxygen cylinder.

"What is that?" he asked, curiously.

"It's an oxygen cylinder and this tube connected to it helps me to breath."

The boy nodded. "You're ill?"

Hazel  nodded quietly, averting her eyes. She didn't want to talk about it. 

A moment or two passed.

"My mom lost me", the boy announced, audaciously. 

"Parents these days, keep getting lost", he said, shaking his head.

Hazel couldn't help but smile.

"Right."

"Maybe we could make an announcement at the counter", Hazel suggested.

"I am not lost", the boy said, crossing his arms and glaring at Hazel, as if daring her to challenge his statement

"But your mother is lost", Hazel pointed out.

"We could announce that."

The boy considered it for a moment.

"Fine", he relented, and the two of them walked towards the counter.

"Excuse me?" Hazel called out.

The woman at the counter looked at her and smiled.

Hazel smiled back and told her about the announcement they wanted to make.

The woman nodded and switched on the microphone.

"Attention everyone", she called out.

"A 13 year old blue-eyed boy with brown hair is lost-"

But the boy interrupted the woman and snatched the microphone.

"My mother got herself lost", he argued.

"I am not lost!"

Hazel couldn't help it. Seeing the confused sales woman and the sight of the boy, his face puffed up and arms crossed in annoyance, made her burst into laughter.

"It's not funny", the boy insisted, coming over to Hazel.

"I never said it was", Hazel said.

"It's funny that your mom lost herself", and started giggling again and was followed by the boy's chuckles.

"What's your name?" the boy asked.

"Hazel Grace", she answered.

"I'm Augustus Waters", the boy said and they shook hands.

"There she is", Augustus pointed, as he saw his mother make her way through the crowd.

Hazel smiled.

"Okay then..."

Augustus squeezed her hand and leaned next to her.

"Thank you for helping me find my mother", he whispered.

"I'll remember you, Hazel Grace."

With that he let go, casually walking towards his mother and then chiding her for getting lost.

Hazel smiled as they parted ways.

Little did she know that they would meet again. She wouldn't remember , but he would.

And that my dear readers is my theory why Augustus kept staring at Hazel when they first met at the support group. :)

Keep Reading and VOTE & COMMENT!