Things Aren't Always As They Seem

"What's going on, darling? You're stuttering again...which means you're either nervous or embarrassed or scared or something." Vic said, worriedly.

"I, uhm...... I can't. I can't do this, Vic..." I said, kissing him to try to put off telling him.

Vic kissed me back, then pulled away. "Andilena... babe. What are you putting off?" He asked, placing his hands on my shoulders and looking me in the eyes.

"I need to tell you before you find out from someone else..."

"What is it, sweetie? Are you in danger?"

"You could say that... Vic.. I'm dieing... I went to the doctor today. He said I shouldn't have waited so long. There's nothing they can do, now. I have Mitral Valve Prolapse, a heart disease, and severely damaged lungs from injuries that never healed all the way. So it just got worse over time. Turns out, that's why I had the fainting spells and stuff. Anxiety didn't help, but yeah...they said I had maybe a month left, if I'm lucky..."

Vic didn't say anything, he just kind of stood there, mouth open and eyes wide.

"V-Vic?" I asked after about five minutes of awkward silence.

"No..." he trailed off, rubbing a hand over his face. "This can't be happening..."

"I'm so sorry..."

"No! You can't die! Andilena, I love yo-" he stopped, clamping his hand over his mouth.

"Y-You... you love me?"

"I-I-I'm so sorry, I did NOT mean to let that slip!!"

"It's okay... I.. I love you too, Vic.."

He pulled me close and hugged me tight. "Damnet... what the hell are we going to do? I don't want to live in a world where you don't exist.."

"Vic, don't you dare talk like that. You'll be okay without me.."

~An hour later~
After an hour of talking with Vic, now I'm headed to the OM&M's bus. I was almost there when I heard someone call my name. When I turned around, I saw Chris Motionless from MIW running towards me.

"Hey dude! What's up?" I asked, giggling as he scooped me into a hug and twirled us around.

"Hey!" He said, laughing as he sat me back down. "I was just heading to my bus, what are yoouu up to?"

"Oh! I'm just heading to the Of Mice bus in search of Austin."

"Did you watch my show this morning?"

"No, I'm sorry! I had a doctors appointment."

"Really? How'd that go?"

"Uhm... not so good, actually. Kind of long story. I'll explain tonight at the cookout."

"Okay, well I'm sorry it didn't go very well."

"Thanks. Well, I should probably get going. I'll see you later." I said, kissing his cheek and heading towards the OM&M's bus again.

"Bye!" He yelled.

I turned around, smiled and waved, then turned forward again and kept going. I got to their bus and knocked on the door.

The door opened and Aaron appeared. "Hey, Andilena! How's it going?"

"Oh, you know. Same old same old. You?"

"Pretty good. What can I help you with?"

"Is Austin here? I really need to talk to him about something."

"Yeah, come on in. He's in the backroom, you can go on back there."

"Thanks!" I said, walking onto the bus and giving Aaron a hug.

I walked passed the kitchen, hugging Alan on the way, and eventually made it back to the back bedroom. I knocked on the door softly.

"It's unlocked!" I heard Austin call.

I opened the door slowly, peeking into the room and seeing Austin sitting on the bed. I walked in and hugged him, then sat down beside him.

"Whatcha up to, little one?" He asked, smiling down at me.

I smiled weakly up at him, then looked down. "I went to the doctor today. I have Mitral Valve Prolapse and there's severe damage to my lungs. Austin... I only have a month left... and that's only if I'm lucky! There's nothing they can do to save me." I said softly, trying not to cry.

"Oh, Andilena... honey... come here." He said, laying back on the bed and holding his arms out.

I laid down next to him and curled up into his side while he wrapped his arms around me. He started playing with my hair, making me laugh softly.

"You're going to get through this. I promise. I have heart problems, too. We can survive together! You just have to keep being as strong as you can. You've done an amazing job so far. You've gone through so much... this just isn't fair. I don't to lose you, sweetie. You're like my sister... you're my family, and I love you."

"I love you too... Austin?"

"Yes, baby girl?"

"I-I'm scared..."

"I know... I am too..."

I started crying again, which made Austin hold me tighter. After a while, I fell asleep to the sound of Austin's voice rambling about random things in an attempt to distract us both from the dark truth that I'll be gone in a month...

Notes

I'm really sorry, guys. And it's not the end! There's a point to all this madness, I promise.