CHAPTER TWO
°⋆∴☽°:۵≼

i. ill miss you !

— IT HAD BEEN A NEAR WEEK SINCE ISABELLA BEGAN IGNORING TONY AND HIS INQUIRING GAZE, and he was starting to get tired of it. Every time he brought up their upcoming birthday, she seemed to shut down on him.

For as long as Tony could remember, their birthday had been a day to look forward too- especially from the moment he had been diagnosed. As if every birthday he saw was just another way of saying 'You made it! A whole other year!'.

He could recall a few September days where Bella would actually visit him in the hospital, even though she hated being there. Now, he knew it was just because she didn't want to see him in a such a weakened state- even if he was trying his best to seem strong for her.

Tony could remember exchanging gifts- her giving him some new comic book, and him giving her some stuffed teddy bear he'd managed to find in the hospital gift shop.

At the time, it was the best thing he could have asked for.

Those few days when his sister finally visited him were a small beacon of happiness and contentment, for the both of them- that, he knew.

So why, Anthony thought as he looked over at Bella's desk, decorated with three individual teddy bears and one deeply deflated Mickey Mouse balloon, why did she seem so against the idea now?

"Tony, you said you'd help me with this." Bella groaned, waving a hand in front of his face.

His attention came back to her, and the math textbook in her hands.

"Yeah actually, about that. I can't do math, Bells- you've known that about me since grade three, when Mrs Calducaot called home because she asked me what 'two plus two' was and I said twenty-two." Tony chuckled, tossing her notebook and pen back onto the bedsheets.

Bella ran a hand through her hair, clearly not happy with the situation. "You literally did this same stuff just last year though- why can't you do it now?"

Tony looked at the numbers and brackets and letters and shapes for a moment before looking back at his sister, "I'm gay."

Despite being slightly stressed, Bella let out a laugh. "You have to stop using that as an excuse."

"Why, you clearly think it's funny." Tony joked in a smug tone, before changing the subject, "C'mon loser, its time for a break."

Bella sighed, tossing her textbook on her bed alongside her other school supplies, before expelling a deep sigh and letting herself fall into a laying position, her head just barely reaching her pillow.

Anthony maneuvered his oxygen tank further up the side of the bed so as to join her.

They sat in silence for a few moments, perfectly happy just listening to the rain pattering against Bella's window- and the few cars that went by.

"Why do we have to grow up?" Bella muttered into the atmosphere, causing Tony to tilt his head slightly.

Tony stayed quiet for a minute, thinking it over, "Because there are certain things you can't experience when you're young, I suppose." He said. "Or because it's best to always go forward, than to dwell on old things you can no longer control."

Bella laughed, "Profound."

"Well, c'mon- that question kinda came outta nowhere." Tony joined her laughter.

"I was just thinking."

"About what?"

Bella sighed, playing with the ends of her hair, "In a little over a week I'm gonna be a year older than Edward."

It all suddenly clicked into place, why Bella had been so against this particular birthday.

"Technically he's like- over a hundred years old." Tony pointed out.

"You said it yourself, fuck technicalities." Bella chuckled as Tony lazily hit her arm.

"Language." He warned teasingly.

"You say it." She accused.

"I'm eighteen."

"I'll be eighteen in a week and a half, idiot."

Tony shifted onto his side to look at her, "See?" He pointed out. The word was simple, but it got the point across.

Bella hummed, rolling her eyes lightheartedly.

Anthony moved to lay back down, but shifted as his spine was pressed uncomfortably into the mattress.

After the rustling of sheets was over, Bella returned to the conversation at hand,

"I just can't stop thinking about it." She said. "I mean- what if one day I end up an old woman and he still looks just the same as the day he was turned."

"Then I will be laughing at your wedding photos from beyond the grave." Tony chuckled, now his turn to get hit in the arm.

"I'm not about to get married at forty, Tony." Bella stuck out her tongue.

"Aww, not even to make your beloved brother laugh?" Tony wheezed.

"Fuck you."

The two laughed for a moment, before calming down and continuing to exist primarily in this calm state of mind.

"So," Tony began again. "Is that all that's been bothering you?"

Bella sighed, "Sorta. Is that stupid?"

Tony shrugged, not exactly having a solid opinion on the matter.

"I was also thinking about... you." She muttered.

The boy turned to watch Bella's expressions as she opened up some more.

This was an almost surprising occurrence, if Anthony was being entirely honest. He couldn't remember the last time Bella had willingly opened up to anyone without someone pressuring her greatly. Yet now, she did it of her own accord.

She used to be an open book when the two were children. Tony was a good listener- and he was easy to talk to. Bella took advantage of that.

Up until he'd been diagnosed.

That twisted fiend that developed in his chest seemed to scare not only himself, but his sister. She'd been so afraid of it, and because of that she cowered away from Tony in general.

Oddly, a warm feeling settled in his chest at the thought. Bella was beginning to open up to him again.

"What about me?" Tony asked.

The soft ambiance of the rain outside made the inside seem cozy, and even as Bella spoke her next words, the setting barely changed.

"I just don't want this to be your last birthday." She sighed, turning to meet his eyes.

Oh.

"Bells.., you know as well as I do, it's been getting worse-" Tony began.

"I know." Bella interrupted. "I'm just... not ready to say goodbye yet."

Tony played with some loose strings on Bella's blankets.

"These last few months- you've been the happiest you've been since before you got-..." She cut herself off.

"Cancer." Tony finished for her. "I know."

The weather picked up outside, the rain now sounding like little stones falling from the sky.

"I'm just gonna miss you." Bella whispered.

Anthony's hand slid over the sheets until it met Bella's. His skin was cold and his palms were clammy but that didn't stop Bella from wrapping her own fingers around his.

In that simple gesture, the two Swan siblings managed to say everything they needed to say. All the heartache, the worry, the love. As if their hands, wound together, was the only connection they needed to communicate the thoughts inside their heads.

The two remained quiet until the sky darkened significantly more, and even then- the only sound that broke the silence was Tony reaching to turn on Bella's bedside lamp- and then the shuffling of their father entering the room.

"You both okay in here?" Charlie asked, glancing around the room.

Both Bella and Tony scooted to the side of the bed, Bella kicking her school things further to the end while Tony gestured to the small space next to him.

Charlie sighed slightly, a glint of appreciation and love in his eyes as he sat on the edge of the bed, his arm behind his son's head as an attempt to occupy more of the mattress.

They allowed themselves this moment.
This small moment of connection.

Who knew how many they had left.

But that didn't matter. Not to them, not to the rain pounding against the windows or the shadows on the wall.

What mattered was that for now, they were together. In the middle of everything- despite that growing doom somewhere down the line, they were together.

That was enough.

author's note

not me deciding last minute to put Charlie in there

Also this chapter is a bit short but this week has been a lil wiLd I apologize- it'll definitely pick up to longer chapters later

Also I didn't re read aNy of this but that shouldn't surprise us by now

anyway- I figured we needed a bit of swan fluff before the real new moon plot goes down, so I hope y'all like it !