author's note: this is Julian’s room uptop ⬆️

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CHAPTER 2
Julian
THE MEET CUTE
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<>Cool Out by: Matthew E. White ft. Natalie Prass

    LIFE: A SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED, TERMINAL DISEASE, that's what I like to call it at least. I miss who I was. The Julian who wasn't dying. The Julian who didn't have to live in San Francisco. I miss my old life. Every day I await every minute, every second of every hour, until I'm out of  here. 
   This is my new life; My mum being from Britain and my dad being from America, my parents moving me, my brother David, and my sister Mara to San Francisco when I was 14 because my dad wanted us to have the “the american dream”, and me wanting nothing to do with this place at all. For me, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital has become my second home. I'm basically here for a quarter of my life, but once I turn 18, it’s; Emancipation, Mobility, Art, Music. That’s my plan, unfortunately, my 18th birthday isn’t until next year but my 17th birthday is in six months.
   Liam Diel:
   Hey Julie, I’m coming over this afternoon 😊. I hate it when he calls me that.

Julian Lensherr:
Yeah sure. 😊 

  Liam Diel:
    See you there. PS, bringing Trina 😉
     Liam and Trina have been my best friends since freshman year when we moved from England. We met in biology during the second period. The teacher had assigned us to work together for a class assignment. Little did I know that the girl named  Trina Jolene ( who I had a crush on at the time) was Liam’s girlfriend. Great. Sometimes I would run scenarios over in my head of them breaking up. But then I realized that that was selfish so I’ve come to learn that if they’re happy then I’m happy. I sat down at the edge of my bed and stared at the messages smiling when right on cue, my parents snapped me back to reality. “What?” I say quickly putting my phone down by my side.
    “I said, are you sure you have everything Julian?” Mom hovers like she always does. 
    “Yes mum I have everything.” I say trying to get her to stop asking. Mum begins to tear up and gives me a hug. “Mum don’t cry, everything’s going to be fine.” I say giving her a kiss on her forehead. “Rosalie, I think you should let go of him before he passes out.” 
    “Mum … can’t … breathe…” I say jokingly, pretending to fake suffocate.
    Mum let’s go of her grip and wipes a tear from her eye. “Sorry.” We stood outside my door hugging for what felt like hours. 
    Finally after they leave, I notice the same girl from earlier, Annie, I think her name was, down the hallway, I squinted, trying to get a good look at her as she made her way towards the elevator doors. I grab my portable oxygen tank and close my door behind me following her down the hall, she makes it into the elevator first not even noticing me following behind her. I immediately stop the doors and step inside, she looks at me for a second before averting her eyes towards the buttons near the doors, I try to make small talk, but tragically to no avail, it didn’t work. After a few short minutes, the doors open.
     She rushes out when the doors open and as I walk out, I see her making her way across the white tile floors, waving and chatting to just about everyone as she goes. I enter the cafeteria and at that moment,  I see a girl with blonde shoulder-length hair, wearing a baby blue shirt, blue jeans, a white woolen sweater and white converse sneakers. She is standing at the ordering machine, she also has a portable oxygen tank and a bag with her as well and is standing at the ordering machine. It’s her. I walk over and casually pretend to order breakfast. Here goes nothing. She glances at me and I smile back at her. Wow she’s beautiful. 
     “And here I thought this was going to be another lame year filled with lame sickies. But then you show up. Lucky me.” I try to make small talk but she ignores me.
     "Are you really that repulsed by me that you can’t say a simple ‘Hello’?" Her eyes met mine, surprise filling them at first, and then almost immediately changing to something resembling disgust. She looks away, back at the screen staying silent.
     “No, I’m just trying to get my breakfast. Shouldn’t you do the same?” She fires back. "Yes, but I thought I’d follow you and introduce myself." I say. Really Julian? 
      "So you're a stalker then? ." She says making eye contact. "Absolutely not." 
      “Does this amuse you.” She asks. “I’m just getting breakfast.” I say putting my hands up in surrender. She scoffs and rolls her eyes. 
       “I’m Julian” I say. “I know who you are.” She says trying not to smile.
       “You’ve been asking about me?” I say as smug as possible, leaning against the machine. She continues to ignore me. “What’s your name?” I say smiling at her as she looks at her ordering machine. “Annie Grace.” She says, not paying attention to me at all.
     “Well Annie Grace, I think your food is ready.” I say. m“How do you know that?” Annie says crossing her arms. “Because that woman over there is signalling you.” I say pointing to the woman.

      “Her name is June.” Annie adds then walks away. I watch her as she makes her way. I smile at her as she walks away to the cafeteria desk and walks to a window and sits down.