Olive's P.O.V. "Clear!" I could hear the doctor's yell from mom's room. They had us wait in the hall right outside her door. All I could see through her room window was her limp hand dangling off the bed. Leo held me close to his chest as I cried, waiting for them to tell me she was okay. I knew her time was coming. I knew it would be before the end of the week, but for some reason it still shocked me to get the call. I watched as the doctor shook his head, calling her time of death. I turned, burying my face in Leo's chest. I couldn't look anymore. It wasn't enough time. This week was not enough. "I'm so sorry, Liv," Leo whispered to me as he rubbed my back soothingly. I couldn't speak, all I could do was silently cry. Even though she has been gone for half of my life, she was still my mom, and getting to know her again, this past week, has only made the pain worse. I wish I had more time with her, but cancer is a scary and unexpected thing. Leo led me away, telling the nurses t
Olive's P.O.V. The knock on the door had me jumping off the couch. I opened it to find Lucas and Leo standing tall. They were each a good foot taller than me, but normally I didn't care. When they're together standing side by side with their arms crossed, I totally care. "Come on in." I gestured for them to step in as I moved aside. "I brought names of crematoriums and funeral homes." Leo held up a thin binder as he stepped in first. "Thank you." I told him softly. Lucas stepped in after him, kissing the top of my head as he did. Leo looked at him with narrowed eyes, to which Lucas just shrugged. "This place is nice." Leo said as he spun around the center slowly, looking around. "It's homey." Lucas added. I closed the door, feeling a little scrutinized with these two here. They live in large houses, and are standing here in this quaint loft saying it's nice. I took a seat, grabbing the binder from Leo. We all called different places and got prices as well as asked about urns.
Olive's P.O.V."Hailey!" I yelled at her as she continued to mop, swaying her hips side to side over the blaring salsa music. "Hailey!" I yelled again when she didn't hear me. She was humming along as she helped me clean mom's loft the next day. Eventually, I gave up on yelling, tapping on her shoulder instead. She turned with a smile, grabbing my hands, and trying to make me dance with her. I wasn't in the mood though. There was a lot to get done before the service today. I shook my head at her, making her pout for a moment before she grabbed the stereo remote and muted it. "What's up?" She co.cked her head to the side. "I need to go get the flowers for today and take them to the funeral home as well as sign the release papers for mom's body. Do you want to come with me?" I bit at my cheek, hoping she would say yes. I didn't want to be alone. "Of course!" She nodded, dropping the mop and giving me a big hug. "Let me clean myself off first." Hailey and I ran around town for a whi
Olive's P.O.V. My phone buzzed way too early in the morning for my liking. I groaned as I reached for it with closed eyes. It had been a week now since I spread mom's ashes with Lucas, Leo and Hailey. I started going back to regular classes and thankfully hadn't fallen too far behind. "Hello?" I answered, not caring that I sounded hoarse from sleep. "Good morning, am I speaking with Olivia Brewer?" An elegant woman's voice came through. I cleared my throat, sitting up on the bed more."This is she. May I ask who I'm speaking with?" "Hello, Ms. Brewer, my name is Tammy and I'm the genealogist who performed your BRACA gene test." My heart stilled and my palms began to sweat as I awaited for her to continue. Do I have the gene? "I am sorry to inform you that you do carry the BRACA gene. You have options, and it isn't a certainty that will get breast cancer, you're just more likely than others. I suggest having regular screenings. The results were sent to your PCP as well, and she s
Lucas' P.O.V. My Rose had let me have her again, and I was floating way above the clouds. I had missed being deep inside her all week. I knew she needed time, and frankly, I would have waited longer if I had to. I stopped seeing all the other girls in my life the moment I decided to make Rose my own. There's no competing with her. She's perfect. I watched as she grabbed her phone, sighing at whoever was calling her. I curled a brow at her curiously, but she didn't oblige my curiosity with an answer instead of answering the phone, holding a figure up at me. "Hello?" answered. "Yes, she told me this morning." Another pause, as whoever was on the end of the line responded to her. "I understand. I would rather not do that if it's avoidable. I know I'll need to be sure to be screened more often if I don't, but I don't feel a mastectomy is the route I want to take." My heart stopped as I picked up the words she was saying. I quickly sat beside her, wrapping my arm around her waist and t
Olive's P.O.V. Lucas had asked me on a date again. I wasn't sure how I felt about it at the moment. I know that I want it, but I'm also scared to get hurt again. I like Lucas too much, despite trying to keep it just about sex. I tried to tell my body to say no, but what came out was yes. I slapped myself stupidly on the drive to school. The car was a damn dream. It drove so well and with the weather being nice; I had put the top down, feeling the wind whip my hair around. It probably wasn't my brightest idea. I had to tie my bird's nest of hair into a high, messy bun when I arrived. I ran to my class, cutting it close, but somehow still making it on time. Professor Johnson greeted me with a small smile. All my professors had expressed their condolences. They had been keeping an attentive eye on me. Class was quick. I found it oddly easy here lately. I am not sure if it is because Professor Johnson is such a great teacher, or because I got so far ahead in our textbook last week whe
Olive's P.O.V. Hailey twitched her leg beside me, full of nerves, even though I should be the one freaking out. She bit at her thumbnail as we waited in the doctor's office for her to return. She had done my screening yesterday and asked that I come in today. Lucas had gone with me yesterday, being a significant support, so I brought Hailey here with me today instead. I didn't think she would panic on me, though. She was raising my anxiety up. "Hailey, stop, you're making me nervous." "You should be! Doctors never call you back to the office to share good news." I knew she was right, but I was hoping this was just a 'hey you're clear, but let's discuss options' kind of visit. Dr. Payne came in, clearing her throat as she shut the door behind her. "Olive, I am glad you could come in so soon." She greeted me, as she sat behind her desk with Hailey and me sitting across from her. "I am afraid I have some bad news, and some good news for you." My heart was speeding with nerves,
Olive's P.O.V. "Lucas?" I furrowed my brow as I opened both eyes. "What are you doing here?" "I thought you could use some company." He smiled. "Oh, did you?" I sat up, no longer relaxed in the slightest. "Yeah, I know you have too much going on in your head. Honestly, I couldn't get you out of my head." He shocked me with his revelation. "I don't want to think about any of that. I just want to pretend like everything is fine and not falling apart all around me." I sighed, laying back on my chair again. "I kind of wonder how mom felt when they told her she had cancer." "I am sorry, Rose. I hate that her cancer wasn't caught sooner. She was an amazing woman to have passed away over something that could have been cured if caught soon enough." He shook his head as if he were so mad over the fact. "No, kidding." I sighed, staring up at the one lonely cloud floating above. "She seemed like a wonderful woman. I know she left you when you were young to deal with a lot of shit th