Chapter Two
Riley Matthews

    "WHAT!?!?" Maya practically screamed through the phone.

    I took a deep breath before repeating myself. "I have cancer, Maya."

    "You're kidding me, right!?!? Are you making up some kind of inside joke with me just because you told me that you were only worried about going to the doctor's because you were afraid that they were going to find out that you had something that you didn't experience the symptoms of until later on?"

    My eyes started to water. I hate it whenever I tell someone, especially my best friend, the truth and they don't believe me. Mom, Dad, and Auggie all gave me concerned looks. Of course they already heard the bad news since they had to go to the doctor's with me. In fact, we were still at the doctor's, just in a different hospital. When the doctor was examining me, he found a lump in my back that he thought was bad, so he immediately sent us to a better office, so I could get a body scan and find out what the lump was. The body scan took about a goon hour and a half. As soon as it was over, the doctors told me that it was a cancerous tumor. They told me that according to the size of it, it had been there for months, and since it wasn't discovered until today, there are now cancer cells in other parts of my body. That's right; I, Riley Matthews, now have melanoma, a type of skin cancer. However, since the amount of cells are small and I have not felt any of the symptoms yet, I am still eligible to go to school as long as I take special medicine and get a special treatment every weekend.

    As soon as the doctors were done telling us everything, my family and I were very upset. The first person I wanted to tell about it was Maya. So, as soon as we got back in the waiting room, I called her up on my cell phone. I knew telling her about it would be hard after what I told her at our lockers today. I knew that she wouldn't believe me and would think that I was joking. But, cancer ain't no joke.

    "I'M NOT KIDDING, MAYA!!!" I cried, tears now streaming down my face, "CANCER IS A VERY SERIOUS THING!!! DO YOU THINK THAT I, RILEY MATTHEWS, WOULD TELL YOU THAT I HAVE CANCER AND BE LYING ABOUT IT!?!?"

    There was a short moment of silence. I heard sniffling in the background. I could tell that Maya was now crying.

    "Oh my God, Riley! I'm so sorry! I-I don't know why I said that... I guess that just after what happened today, I kind of expected for you to come to school next day and tell me that you have a sickness, only to be kidding. But, you're not the kind of person who does that. I'm so sorry. You're right; cancer is a very serious thing. I just can't believe that my best friend in the whole entire world has it..."

    I sighed. "Yeah, my family and I were shocked when we found out too. While the doctor was listening to my heartbeat and had his stethoscope pressed to my back, he felt a lump, and told us to go where I am now and have it checked out immediately."

    "Geez! So, how come you didn't tell me earlier? It's a little past seven I think!"

    "Because, I got there at 3:30 and had to wait for a half an hour for the doctor. Then, the check-up itself took about a half hour. Then, driving here took about a half hour. Then, I had to get a body scan, which took an hour and half. Then, the doctors took a little more than half hour, explaining to my family and me what I have and how it should be treated."

    "So, what kind of cancer do you have?"

    "Melanoma. It's a type of skin cancer, just in case you didn't know."

    "How bad is your cancer?"

    "Well, let's just say it could be worse. The doctors told me that the lump is actually a couple-month-old tumor. And since it was just discovered today and not treated any sooner, I now have cancer cells in other parts of my body."

    I heard Maya gasp. "That's terrible!"

    "I know, but like I said, it could be worse. But, since I'm not feeling any of the symptoms yet and the amount of cells in my body are low, the doctors said that I can still go to school as long as I take medicine and get a special treatment every weekend."

    "That really sucks that you have to take medicine and get special treatments, but I'm really glad that you can still go to school! If you stopped going to John Quincy Adams, I don't know what I'd do!"

    "Me neither! I'd miss it there. I'd miss you, Farkle, and Lucas. Especially you. I'd miss you the most."

    Once again, I heard sniffling. "I'd miss you too, Riley. Let's just hope that it doesn't come to the point where you not going to our school becomes a reality."

    "Yeah, let's hope not!"

    "Well, see you at school tomorrow, I guess... Sorry, I'm still getting over the fact that my best friend had cancer! I just can't believe it! What are the odds of that happening?!?!"

    "Wow, thanks for reminding me, Maya..."

    "Sorry, Riles. It must be really hard for you, since you're the one with the cancer."

    "Yeah, I'm really bummed out by the shocking news. Never in a million years would I think that I, Riley Matthews, would get cancer!"

    "Riley, I am one-hundred-percent sure that you will kick cancer's butt. You are one of the strongest people I know. But, whatever happens, I will always be here to help you get through this."

    I shed a tear. It warmed my heart that my best friend cared about me.

    "Thanks, Maya," I sniffled, "That means a lot to me."

    "Aw, you don't need to thank me, Riles! I'm your bets friend and will always be here for you!"

    "Aw, I'll always be there for you too, Maya! Anyways, I gotta go now. It's getting late and my family and I need to start heading home."

    "Oh, ok! See you tomorrow!"

    "See you tomorrow!" I replied as I hung up my phone and sighed.

    Man, if I thought telling my best friend about my melanoma was going to be hard, then it's going to be even harder for me to tell my whole entire school!

A/N: How are you guys liking this so far! Aw, poor Riley has cancer! Anyways, I will be updating this on weekends, which means I will post the next chapter on Saturday. Maybe if I get ahead of myself, I'll post it on Friday instead. Enjoy the rest of your day!

-C77