I never promised a happy story

patrick

after I got home from that hospital trip, mom called out of work and pete came over everyday after school. even two weeks later.

"y'all are clingy," I mumble as I flop down onto the couch.

"but you love it," mom says as she puts a movie in the dvd player. "do you guys want popcorn?"

"yes, please," pete answers and I give a thumbs up.

I feel pete pull a blanket over me and lay down beside me on what little room there was. I moved from lying on my stomach to against pete, snuggling into him.

"petey, 'm tired," I mumble and pete just pulls me impossibly closer and kisses me softly.

"okay. you can go to sleep. I'll be here when you wake up," pete promises.

"okay."

-

when I woke up I was alone.

there was a note on the coffee table in front of the couch. I picked it up and tried to read it in the dark. it must be three a.m or something.

hey, babe. I know I promised to be there when you woke up but my mom called me and told me to come home. but to make up for leaving I'm taking you out tonight. be ready at six. love you baby
xx Pete

I sigh and flop back down on the couch. I looked over at the clock on entertainment center.

4:48 a.m

-

pete and I were on a date and that's when everything went down hill. but I'll tell it from when he picked me up, okay?

I nervously tapped my thumbs on my knees and mom walked into my room.

she sighs and sits down next to me, running a hand through my thin blond hair. I lean into her touch and sigh in content.

"bub, if you keep worrying you'll never be to stop," she chides.

I shrug and lay back onto my bed, the same way I did when I first met pete. the difference is now he knows I'm going to die.

"mom?" I ask and look up at her.

"yeah, bub?" she looks down at me with a small smile.

bub was always her nickname for me. I used to be embarrassed by it but now I like it.

"what if he doesn't take me somewhere I can eat?" I ask.

"I'm sure he won't. he knows what your body can and can't handle now," she answered.

"but-"

I stop when the doorbell rings. I freeze and look at mom.

"bub, this isn't your first date with him. calm down," she says and helps me stand.

I look at her. "but mom--"

"bye, patrick. remember to be home by ten okay? text me if you'll be out any later," mom tells me and I nod and give her a quick hug.

"I will," I reply as I open the front door. "hi," I breathe out as I look over pete's outfit.

casual but a bit of fancy to it.

he was wearing a dark blue V-neck tee and a pair of tight black skinny jeans and it was all topped off with a leather jacket. it was hot. he looked amazing. absolutely amazing.

but the again, when did he not look amazing? I'm glad he's mine for now.

I smile at him and he holds out a hand. I take it and he walks me out towards his car.

he opens the door for me and I smile gratefully at him before sitting down in his old volkswagen beetle. he closes the door.

I rub the nervous sweat off my palms onto my dark grey skinny jeans as he gets into the driver's side.

"so.. I wasn't exactly sure if you can eat there, but I made plans for o'charley's. and I figured we could go see a movie after," he says with a shrug.

"I'd like that. and yes I can eat there."

"cool," he replies and we're off to the restaurant.

"we should go see miss peregrine's home for peculiar children," I suggest. "I've been wanting to see that.

"yeah sure. it seems like a really good movie," pete replies and I nod.

once we're there, we get seated. I look over the menu and order a salad and pete orders whatever he ordered.

before the meal got here, I started feeling nauseous and lightheaded.

"pete.." I say warningly and he looks up. "I'm not feeling too-" I stand up and cover my mouth with my hand and run to the nearest restroom.

I hear pete run into the bathroom as I dump my guts out into the toilet.

"patri- oh my god that's blood! I'm calling your mom," he says, panicking as he gets out his phone.

I look in the toilet bowl and sure enough. there was blood. I think all of it was blood.

"my head hurts," I cry and fist my hands in my hair. "it hurts worse than before. I- oh god. pete!"

I rock back and forth in his arms as he calls my mother.

"she's on her way. thank god I didn't take us somewhere far away," he mutters and runs a hand through my hair.

minutes pass on but they feel like hours and my mom is finally here.

"let me in! my son patrick has a brain tumor and his boyfriend called me saying he was throwing up blood in here!" I hear.

"mom," I whimper. "mom!"

the door swings open and she runs to me and crouches in front of us.

"bub, what happened?"

"I-I started feeling sick to my stomach and I ran in here to throw up. pete came in and said I was throwing up blood and called you," I answer.

"okay, come on. the doctor said if you throw up any blood to take you to the hospital. pete, come on. help him up, okay?"

"mommy, it hurts," I whisper. I only called her that when I was in alot of pain or I was really upset.

"oh, patrick, I know. come on. we need to get you to the hospital."