Chapter 22

A few days later...

Alex POV

Report cards go out today, and Jeff's a mess. He's passing all his classes, but not all his grades are 80 and above, like his dad had wanted. In geometry, he has a 75. And in history, he has a 78. All his other grades were in the 80s.

"He's going to kill me!" Jeff said as we walked towards our dorm room.

"Jeff, he won't even know for a few days. And you did your best," Nick said.

Jeff was so upset, and I didn't want him to get any more worked up and have a panic attack. I need to calm him down.

Jeff sat down on my bed, and started running his fingers through his hair anxiously.

"Hey. It's going to be alright. At least you didn't fail," I said, pulling him into my arms.

He was breathing rapidly, so I started rubbing his back to calm him down a little.

"Jeff, he probably won't know until like Tuesday or Wednesday," I said, as Jeff tightened his grip on me.

"I have an idea for how you can take his mind off everything," Nick said.

"What?" I asked.

"Take him out on a date. You guys are a couple, right?"

"Jeff, do you want to go on a date?" I asked.

"C-can the date be here?"

"Sure."

Later...

Alex POV

Nick had set up a cute little dinner for me and Jeff. And he'd left the room so we could be alone.

"Jeff."

"Yeah?"

"How are you feeling?"

"Nervous."

"Don't be. We're going to have fun, ok?"

"What does that mean?"

"It means we're just going to chill. Maybe watch a movie after this. And cuddle. We can do whatever you want to."

We were halfway through dinner, and Jeff was still eating at a good pace. He was doing a little better each day with eating a good amount.

"I want to cuddle and watch a movie..."

"Ok, we can do that. Nick said we could use his laptop to go on Netflix."

"Do you love me?"

I looked up at Jeff. He was looking right back at me.

"What kind of a question is that?" I asked.

"Do you love me? I just want to know if you really have feelings for me. Because I have feelings for you."

Well... Not exactly. But I'm not breaking his heart today!

"Jeff. I'm the one that asked if you wanted to go out with me, right?"

"Yeah..."

That seemed to be all the convincing he needed.

We finished up dinner, and then we got under the covers of my bed. I put on a movie on Nick's laptop, and Jeff cuddled into my side. The movie had just started when the bedroom door flew open, and Nick came running in, looking like something was seriously wrong. I paused the movie.

"Nick, what's going on?" I asked.

"I have to go!"

"Go where?"

"Home. Well... The hospital actually."

"Why?"

"My mom's dying."

Nick started shoving some clothes in a bag.

"Nick, do you need help or anything?"

"No. I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I'm fine."

He zipped up his bag, and then ran out the door.

"Well that's not good," I said, quietly.

"What's going to happen?" Jeff asked.

"I don't know... But luckily, it's Friday, so if he isn't back tonight, he won't miss school."

Jeff curled up even more, and hit play on the movie.

Morning...

Alex POV

"Alex."

"No."

"I'm hungry. Wake up."

"No. It's too early."

"It's 8:30. Come on. I want breakfast," Jeff whined.

"Fine..."

I got up and followed Jeff down to the cafeteria.

"Since when are you ever hungry? Aren't we always the ones trying to get you to eat?" I asked.

"Yeah... But I'm hungry. When is Nick coming back?"

"I don't know. I'll text him."

I texted Nick, asking him how he was doing and how his mom was doing. But I didn't get a response.

Jeff and I went back up to our dorm room after breakfast.

"Can we go visit him?" Jeff asked.

"Visit Nick?"

"Yeah."

"I don't even know if he's at the hospital still or which hospital it is."

Jeff took out his phone, and started calling Nick.

"Nick? Where are you?"

I sighed. He shouldn't be bothering Nick right now...

"Ok. How's your mom?"

I really wanted Jeff to hang up and give Nick some space, but I also really wanted him to find out what was going on.

"Ok. Bye."

"What's happening?" I asked.

"His mother is still alive. But her cancer got worse, and he said it's not looking good. And they're at Ohio State hospital. Can we go visit him? Please?"

"Why do you want to visit him?"

"Because whenever I'm upset, I feel better when I'm with you two. So maybe he would feel better if we were there."

"How are we even going to get there?"

"You could ask your uncle."

"Jeff, there is no way I'm asking my uncle. No way."

Later...

Jeff POV

"So we were wondering if you could possibly drive us so we could be there to support Nick," Alex told her uncle.

She glanced over at me, and gave me a glare, but I didn't care. I was just glad I convinced her to ask her uncle.

"Well... Alright," her uncle said.

We waited for him to get his keys and a jacket, and then we followed him out to the parking lot. We got in the back of his car, and he drove us there.

"Do you want me to wait for you guys, or do you want me to pick you up later?" He asked.

"We'll text you, ok?" Alex asked.

"Sure."

We got out. I followed Alex into the hospital. We found the waiting room, and Nick was sitting in the corner with his head in his hands.

I sat down next to him, and wrapped my arms around him tight. Alex sat down next to him on the other side. We pulled away from our hug. It was obvious Nick had been crying.

"How are you doing?" Alex asked, quietly.

"I've never felt so upset in my entire life," Nick whispered.

He started crying again, and covered his face with his hands.

"How's your mom doing?" Alex asked.

"Not good!"

"Why aren't you in there with her?"

"My dad's in there... He said he doesn't want me in there when it happens."

"Nick, I'm so sorry."

"I don't even know what to do!"

Alex started rubbing his back slowly. We both just sat next to him, trying to comfort him for a while.