Ten Things

Ch.38-Until the End of Time

Cole

I couldn't see Grace as much as I wanted to.

The months wore on, and I was informed she was deteriorating. I was told to focus on my schoolwork, to successfully finish out senior year. But it was harder that what they simply implied. And none of them would understand. Simply ignoring the fact that the girl I loved was kept in her room, slowly dying, wasn't a great way to get me through the day.

The community started helping out her parents, giving money so they could afford at-home care. Eventually they raised enough and she could have all the appropriate equipment when needed. That was great. But I wanted to see her. I needed to see her. And yet, every time I went to her house, the end result was always the same.

I couldn't.

Months passed, and I still saw no trace of her.

It had gotten out in school about Grace's cancer, and I didn't keep it a secret how much she meant to me. Everybody who had treated her unfairly in the past tried to come up to me and make excuses, but I didn't want to hear it. I didn't want them to think a simply "I'm sorry" could rectify their idiotic behavior. Because it couldn't.

"Cole?"

I dumped some books off in my locker. I didn't turn to face Jayden. "What?"

"How ya doing?"

"I'm fine."

He snorted, leaning against the locker next to mine. "I don't believe you."

"Well you should," I quipped. "I'm fine, Jay. So lay off."

"Hm." I slammed my locker door shut and started off down the hall. He followed me. "They counted up the prom votes."

I rolled my eyes. "Perfect."

"You got prom king."

How unexpected. "I'm not going this year."

"Coach will pitch a fit. The whole school will pitch a fit of their prom king doesn't come."

"Then they can find someone else, because I just don't give a crap."

We strode into English, our Russian sub absent from the front of the room. We took seats near the back. Jayden seemed worried. "Come on, Cole."

"Come on what, Jay? I see no reason to go to prom. The one person I want to go with can't go. She's contained down to her bed, too weak to go out anymore. So I don't see why I need to attend, either."

"Damn, Cole," Jayden whispered. "You're not fucking around, are you? You really love her."

I ran my hand through my hair. "Yeah, I do."

Some others kids started filing in. Jayden tapped his pencil against the desk like it was a drumstick. "You know, the votes came in for prom queen, too."

I scoffed. "Just another reason I'm not going. I don't want to have to dance with Margaret."

There was a hint of smugness in Jayden's voice when he replied, "It wasn't her."

I snapped my head around to look at him. "What?"

"Margaret wasn't voted prom queen."

"Then who the hell was?"

He leaned back in his seat. "Grace was."

I just stared at him. "Come again?"

"Grace. Was. Voted. Prom queen."

I was completely flummoxed. "Why? How?"

Jayden stared at me like I was stupid. "Like you don't know why. Everybody knows she has cancer, Cole. It was Casey's idea, our student body president. And everybody agreed. Every single person voted for her and you. Even Margaret voted for Grace."