"Medication."

I grab the bottle from my desk and twist the cap open. My mother avoiding any eye contact with me but for what? A party I had no part in? Well sorta. "You can't stay mad at me forever." I say twirling in my chair.

"I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed Alex." She sighs shaking her head. "It could have ended in a completely different way."

I groaned out loud. "We can't act like death is literally at my doorstep right now mom."

She quickly shoots me one of those warning glares.

"I'm just saying, it was fun." I admit smiling a little at the thought. "I felt alive for a change not just some walking disease."

"Your more than a walking disease sweetheart." She gives me a warm smile. "Your my daughter and I love you no matter what."

I smile at her in return. "So does this mean you won't let Gavin over anymore?" I say waiting anxiously for her answer because although I had fun last night, the guy was a jerk.

"I decided to give him another try actually."

My mouth opens wide. "You're kidding? I almost died mom!"

She laughs. "Sarah and I both agree that it's a lot more safer for the both of you to stay here instead and become friends, just no parties this time."

"Tell me you and Sarah aren't trying to set us up or something?" I laugh nervously.

"No we just want what's best for both of are children. I need to know you're safe when I'm gone."

"More late nights at the office again?" I said. "Mom I told you I could go and get a job to help pay for the bills."

"I appreciate the thought to honey but you know that's not possible. You don't leave this house unless I know about it."

I nodded.

"Get ready."

First doctors appointment of the week, it was located at the nearest cancer center. As much as I hated any appointments this place topped the list. I sat in one of their chairs as my mom walked to the receptionist. I tapped my foot nervously as I looked around.

A girl sat a few rows away coughing every few seconds as she rests her head onto her mothers shoulder. She wore a blue beanie that covered most of her hairless head, from chemotherapy I'm guessing.

Another girl to my right was clutching her stomach crying and moaning. Then there was me only four years into my treatment and I'm somehow alright. At least that's what I hope to know, I know my mother likes to keep things from me, things she thinks she will help protect me from.

My doctor says the longer you have cancer the more it likes to spread. So you see my dilemma? So far it hasn't spread anywhere.

"Alex." My mother says. "Are you okay?" I look up at her and nod my head standing up from my chair the girl with the blue beanie glancing at me, her eyes were pink and her face looked almost like a skeleton.

I shake off the thought and continue following my mother. "Good morning Alex." My physician says sliding her chair over to me. "Have you met any cute boys lately?"

I roll my eyes. "I thought you were my doctor not my therapist." I say. I have my moods, sometimes I'm alright and other times I'm not in the mood. My doctors knew I couldn't have any real relationships. It was to risky kissing a boy.

"I didn't expect to see you so soon again." She says checking my heart beat. "Breath in."

I breath in.

"Breath out."

Don't tell me what to do.

"Alex and her friend decided to throw a little party yesterday. I just wanted to make sure she was alright." My mom tells her.

"Peyton and Ash?" Dr Miles says. I stay quiet and kick my legs from the table.

"Actually her new friend Gavin." My mom smiles over to me.

"So you did meet a boy." My doctor chuckled now taking my blood pressure. "I knew something was different."

"He's not my friend." I corrected my mom. "He's just looking for trouble."

My doctor smiles. "Heather do you mind stepping out for a second?" My mother shakes her head and they both head out. I try to listen but there was no use, a large metal door made that impossible. A few seconds later they both step back inside.

"So we're going to take some more blood."

Great.

"What did Dr Miles tell you back there?" I asked my mom once we finished up. She was searching in her purse for her keys, completely ignoring my question. "Mom?"

"Nothing sweetheart. It was nothing." Should I blame her? Blame her for keeping secrets and telling me lies? It was for my own good, or was it? We pull into are driveway and head inside. I feel a vibration coming from my pants so I quickly run to my room and answer Peyton's call.

"How'd today go?" She asks.

I fall onto my bed and stare up at my ceiling. "I had to get and exam just to make sure I didn't have a cold or something but it's worse than that." I pause. "It's called cancer." I joke chuckling after.

"You got me nervous." Peyton groans. "There's a football game tonight."

I roll my eyes. "Again, this week has been hectic enough I don't need anymore problems."

"What if you ask your mom? I want to spend senior year with my best friend." She tells me. "Cute boys will be there."

"Like that'll make me go." I laughed, I roll over looking out of my window to see Gavin's room completely dark. "I'll ask hold on."

I drop my phone and walk downstairs where my mom has a glass of wine in one hand and a spatula in the other. "Hey mom." I force a smile. She looks at me concerned.

"Is everything okay?" She asks.

"Yeah, I was just wondering since the doctors said I've been doing great. Could I go to the football game?"

She looks baffled at my question and maybe it's because with the help of Gavin I threw a party at my house? Maybe the wine was going to her head? I don't know! But why is she still staring at me? "Mom?" I coo.

I watch her shake her head a bit and then laugh. "It's a Monday night and you want to go to a football game? Since when did you start enjoying any physical sport?"

I shrug. "I've came to a conclusion that I need to be doing things that teenagers are doing." I say. "Alcohol and drugs aside, please?"

Again, she gives me that look. "I-I don't know, I want you to have fun Alex I do but," her pause gives me a nervous feeling in my stomach but maybe that's just a side effect from the meds. "Okay. But only one hour."

"Seriously!" I said. I didn't think she'd actually say yes. "Peyton said she'd pick me up." I mention.

She shakes her head. "I'll be taking you to and from."

I roll my eyes.

"Your lucky I'm even letting you go now go put on something warm and we'll head out."

I send Peyton a quick text as we head out. The streets were empty and the large stadium lights light up the sky from a distance. Football games were a big deal here and to my knowledge it was everywhere else.

My mom pulls into the parking lot and stops at the front entrance where a small figure is standing. It's Peyton who's wrapped in a blanket. "Hey Heather." She waves to my mom who grins and waves back. I close the door behind me and walk over to Peyton.

"Be good honey! I'll be back in one hour!" My mom calls from the car I don't care to look back because it's so embarrassing. I'm a senior who's seventeen that's never managed to get ahold of her license nor a vehicle. My mother's driven me everywhere since I was born.

"Let's go." Peyton says as we walk through a corridor which leads to the large stadium that overlooks the field. We walked up some steps and through the aisle of seats where are seats were waiting. I looked around at all the people cheering on the football team in their red and white uniforms. Ash recently joined the team this year so this is why Peyton usually comes, that and the fact that cute boys from other schools come to visit.

Behind us I spot Beckham, Carver and of course Georgia and her accomplices. There probably here to cheer on their friends of course. I turn away when I notice Georgia's gaze land upon mine. I hope she didn't recognize me.

"There's Ash!" Peyton squeals clapping her hands and stomping her feet like a child on Christmas morning. I let out a loose laugh at her sudden excitement.

"Do you have any idea what's going on?" I ask her as the players start running across the field back and forth.

She shakes her head. "No clue."

Westland was one of the best schools when it came to it's athletics department. Mainly because that's all they've ever cared about.

Exactly one hour later I get a text that my mother is waiting just as the game finishes. Shocker Westland won. We meet Ash on the field and he's just as surprised as I was seeing me out here.

"I can't believe you made it to my game?" He says pulling into a warm embrace. I let out a loose chuckle as he squeezes me.

"I managed to convince my mom." I smile, thinking about my great skills. Not.

"We should go grab some food or something then? The boardwalks aways open?" Ash adds as we make are way to the exit.

I sighed. "Sadly I can't, my mothers waiting." I said pointing to her car.

"Maybe I can convince her?" Ash grins at me before he strolls over to the vehicle. He peeks his head through the window and mumbles a few things to my mother as me and Peyton wait for and answer back.

"We're going home Alex."

Didn't work. "See you guys." I waved. Ash opens the passenger door for me and shuts it closed as I sit down.

My mom starts making her way out of the parking lot. "How was the game?"

I nod. "It was fun I guess. Better than being home of course."

"Yeah, make sure you take a shower tonight with the antibacterial soap, just incase."

I roll my eyes before I look out the window, I'm suddenly hit with and overwhelming sense of dizziness. "M-mom." I said, it was hard to let out the words as my lungs started failing to produce any oxygen.

"Alex!"