Monday comes quickly, Tim picks me up and we head into the nurse's office. I update her on all my injuries, and she gives me an elevator pass and a pass to leave 5 minutes early for a month (or) until my ribs heal. I'm very grateful. We go to our normal table, but this time the 4 boys join us. Lucus and Rain flirt a little but end up talking about astrology and space. Sara and Em are cuddling, and Tim and Gene bicker about Gene publicly flirting. I know Gene means well, and he fucks around a lot, I just dont know if he's flirting or not. Daren, Nic, Pat, and I are briefly talking, Pat is mainly obsessed with their book, and Nic asking about it. Deren's curious about my type of cancer, says he wants to be a doctor and that's why he's curious. I was honest and told him I dont like to talk about it during school, I dont want just anyone to know. He was respectful about that, which I was happy about.

Soon enough, the school day finally started, and I got a lot of dirty looks, sympathetic looks, and so forth. I got a few remarks, but the boys protected me the whole time. Now, we're back in the same class I got attacked in, Lucus sits next to me again, making sure no one comes up behind me or beside me.

"Ahh, the fags back," the brunette says in front of me. She turns in her chair.

"Fuck off Paige, not again with this shit," Lucus moans and places his chin on his palm.

"Where has Jack been?" She cuts to the chase, her arms crossing as she pushes up her bust.

I look at Lucas, and he shakes his head, so I nod and dont pay attention to the question. But, she asks again, scooting to the edge of her seat. Lucus tells her to "buzz off", but that only annoys her more.

"I have the right to know!" she shrieks.

"No, you dont. You aren't together anymore, and if Jack were here he'd also tell you to mind your own. Get your head out of your plastic ass and leave Mac alone already."

"Jack misses me, I know he does. No gay guy could ever satisfy him the way I did," she smirks, and something in me snaps.

"That's not what it looked like when I was in his," I cross my arms. This girl is pissing me off, no longer anxious, just mad. "Or when he was moaning my name. Not when he told me he loved me, kissed me goodnight, and woke up with me. You aren't on his mind anymore, I am," I am now the one smirking at her, my smirk being paired with a glare.

Her face grows red in anger. I learned a little about her. She sleeps around with anyone that'll put their dick in her, she's an open door for anyone. And, she actually has had work done. It's paid for by not only her daddy's money but also sugar daddies that she flawns on social media.

"You reap what you sow, Paige. Go get an STD with your flings. Leave Jack and me alone now, nothings going to come between us, not even some horny teenage girl."

Lucus looks proud of me, I shake him off and continue to glare at the girl in front of me.

"You are going to fucking regret ever coming back to this school, I'll ruin you."

"Go ahead and try. I'm much stronger than you think," I flip her my middle finger.

Her mouth slips open, and she stands and storms away, stomping her heels as she goes. When the door shuts Lucas bumps my fist against his, I even get a little applause. I'm really not scared of this girl. I've been violently hate-crimed, I had stage 4 osteosarcoma and I'm now battling stage 2 or 3 osteosarcoma in my other shoulder. My family struggles financially, and now, my boyfriend got sent away to a military boot camp because he said he loves me, a guy. I'm much stronger than I thought I was, I can handle a girl with hormones. 

Everything else passes so fast, I put my final touches on my letter to Jack, and then I give it to Gene. He hugs me and promises to send it out before he gets home. Now I just have to wait patiently till it gets there and he sends one back. I was honest with everything I wrote, Updating him on my condition, how I was about to start chemo, and how my ribs were healing up slower than expected (probably because of all the crying and anxiety). I told him about my first day of school, about Paige being a bitch, about the boys still being suspended. It felt so relieving knowing I was able to talk to him even when he was gone. I hadn't even thought about sending a letter, I'm so happy Gene told me.

School is out now, and the guys and my group are going to a cafe to dick around. It's fun, it really is. I dont like places like this, it can be loud, and having to order food gives me anxiety, but I felt calm with my old friends and new friends. I know they are only getting close to me because of Jack, but even so, I'm thankful. They are actually pretty cool. They are messy, they throw food at each other, and they are loud, but they are much nicer than they look. And, the mess they made they picked up. They look like they have a hard exterior, but really they're friendly and cool guys. I dont mind them sticking around for longer.

"I gotta split," I start saying to Tim, the others pay attention. "I have treatment in 30 minutes."

I get some kind glances and a few hand grabs. I smile and shake them off. Tim and I leave, Gene also leaves early, claiming he's taking the letters to the post office. Gene hugs me goodbye and wishes me luck. Gene and Tim eye each other, being cautious, but they both end up laughing lightly. Gene nudged Tim's shoulder.

"Cya around Tommy."

"I fucking hate that."

"I'll talk to you later tonight then, Timmy," Gene sends a wink and walks to his car.

"I hate that one too," Tim mumbled, but he was smiling, so I was smiling too. I knew something was definitely happening between them.

I wasn't excited to go to treatment, but I was excited to beat this cancer in the ass. We're all praying that this is the last of it. Cancer can often come back when you're young, and my bones are still growing, therefore my bone cancer isnt exactly at a pause. The more my bones grow, the more likely my cancer going to spread. I've grown an inch and a half since last year, I hope I stop growing soon.

I'm used to the radiation, so Im not bothered by the uncomfortableness of them strapping my shoulders down to the table so I dont move when they blast me. I'm used to the heavy mat they put on top of my stomach to protect my organs, and the mask I have to wear on my face to protect my jaw and teeth. I do feel relieved when it's over, but I'm also incredibly weak. We're on our way home now, I end up falling asleep in the car, and my father practically carries me inside and to the couch. I slept for hours and didnt go to school the next day.