The night is going great. I got a refill on my pods, we discussed my upcoming appointments. One chemo, and one more radiation if my test comes back okay. I take the scan in six days, and I'll get the results a day after that. I arrived at the party with my mom. I take a puff when I walk in the door just to be cautious. I hate using it in front of others. It looks so much like a vape, and a little vapor does come out when I breathe out, but it's not. I know when other people see it, they think it's a nicotine pen. It has my name engraved in it, along with my doctor's number on it, and my phone number so if it gets lost it gets returned. It also says that it's a medical pen, but it doesn't say what's in it. Thankfully, I've never lost it and I don't plan to. The nicest part of it is the lanyard, so I can make sure I always have it on my person. All my teachers were informed that it's not a vape and if I need to use it I'm allowed. All my friends and their families know we've all been close friends since middle school, so they've been through the journey with me.

Notification from Jackass. Ignored.

"Mac, you have a quest!" Em's mom yells for me, so I stand and walk over. "I'm glad you could make it," she hugs him. Em's dad shook his hand and then hugged him as well.

"I'm glad I could make it too," he looks at me and grins.

"Hi," I grab his hand after he takes off his shoes. "We're all in the living room. Does Mom know you were coming?" He puts his finger to his lips, and I nod.

My mom was so happy seeing he was able to come, everyone is. He hasn't been getting out a lot since I've been diagnosed. He gives my mom the eye, slightly raising his brows and shifting his eyes to me.

"I already told him," she laughs.

"Told Mac what?" Rain's father asks.

"This would be the best time to say," my mom looks at my father and me.

"We would like to make an announcement," my father and mother stand, and everyone's attention shifts to us. "You all know Mac was diagnosed with rare cancer at the age of 15. After a 2 year battle, we are very excited to say, we have an appointment in 6 days that will tell us if the cancer is completely gone. If this appointment proves so, then he has only 1 chemo and 1 radiation."

An eruption of clapping and cheering breaks out, and nearly every parent gets up to hug my right side.

"You must be so excited!"

"I was, I ended up crying," I laugh.

Everything will be alright; everything is turning around.

----

I don't want the pity of people finding out I have cancer, I don't want to be treated any differently than now. Sure, I could've died, but that's what all this work has been for. To be as normal as possible. I'm finally at a point where I know my illness can't control me because we took control of it.

I yawn and lay on Tim's shoulder, our parents look over with small smiles.

"Tired? Do you want to go home?" My mom asks, sitting to my left. She knows.

"Im tired but I don't want to leave just yet."

Tim is a little taller than me, and more fit than me but not by much. He's been my safeguard, and my brother, for years. He acts more immature than me but sounds older than me. Even when we're the same age. I love Tim like a brother, he loves me like a brother too. Nothing can separate us. He's protective of me. He always has been even before my cancer. Except now if we're in a populated place he'll protect my cancerous side.

Tim lays his head on my right shoulder for a second, then lightly nudges me.

"I think you should go home. You need rest."

I shake my head, then my father says we should as well. "You two have school tomorrow, and resting is the best thing for you."

"We're going to be leaving in 10 minutes," Pat says, Sara nods with her.

"I'm going to be sleeping over tonight," Rain says.

"My parents and I are leaving in just a minute too. You won't miss anything," Tim assures me.

I sigh and stand, I hug everyone then pack up with my mom and dad. We say a final goodbye and head home for the night. I'm glad we all got together again, and I'm glad everyone was able to come. We haven't done that in a long minute. I check my notifications before I go to bed, and I finally click on Jack's text.

"Tomorrow I'd like to talk to you about us getting together with my group."

Am I imagining things or is this in a nicer tone?