Another month later
Chase had just gotten out of the shower and while he was looking in the mirror to comb out his hair, he noticed that there was a mass in the middle of his stomach from the tumor. He also took notice at how much weight he was losing and could see his rib cage. He ran his hand over them, not noticing Logan in the background. He could see how un-well Chase looked and it hurt him to see that his best friend was this sick. Then, Logan could see the mass too.
"Chase, what is that?"
Logan asked as he walked over to him. Chase jumped at Logan startling him.
"I guess it's from the tumor, man."
Chase said, wrapping his towel higher around him to cover the mass and his visible ribs.
"Please don't tell Zoey about that. She's already worried enough about me."
Chase pleaded.
"Rightfully so..."
"Yeah, well... just please don't?"
Logan sighed as he let his eyes roll to the back of his head and forward again.
"Fine. But she's gonna see it eventually, dude."
"I'll wear baggy shirts and hoodies."
Chase remarked.
"Dude, you shouldn't hide that from her. She has every right to be scared, we all do. I won't tell her, but you should."
Logan said as he left the shower room. Chase gave it more thought and came to the realization that Logan was right, but he wanted another opinion.
-
"Hey, Michael. I need your opinion on something."
Chase said as he walked back into his dorm room with his towel wrapped around him.
"What's up?"
"So, I was combing out my hair and I noticed this."
He flipped down the towel to reveal the mass in his stomach.
"Logan says I should tell Zoey about it, but she's already worried about me enough. What do you think?"
Michael's jaw dropped at the sight of a mass on Chase's stomach, but he definitely agreed with Logan.
"Dude, you need to show her, and wow at the weight you've lost, dude."
"Yeah, I know."
Chase said as he went over to his bed to put on some clothes. He looked for a baggy shirt, but they were all pretty much baggy now that he had lost so much weight.
-
Zoey had come to the boys' dorm room upon Chase's request so he could tell her his discovery.
"Hey, babe."
Zoey said, greeting her boyfriend with a kiss to his lips.
"Hey, baby. So... I have something to show you..."
"Okay, what is it?"
Chase stood from his bed and lifted his shirt to once again, reveal the mass in his stomach. Zoey's hand went to her mouth in shock. Chase noticed tears beginning to well up in her eyes, and he puts his shirt back down and quickly took Zoey into his arms.
"Dammit, that's why I didn't wanna show you."
"You weren't gonna show me that?"
Zoey asked, starting to sound mad.
"Because you're already so worried about me and I didn't wanna add more to it."
"No, don't ever not tell me these things, Chase. I need to know."
Zoey insisted as she cried into Chase's shoulder.
"Okay, baby. I'm sorry. I promise I'll tell you everything."
The couple sat on the couch and decided to watch some TV and cuddle together. Zoey rested her head on Chase's shoulder while Chase rested his head on Zoey's head. Zoey rubbed Chase's stomach when she heard it groaning, making Chase blush in embarrassment.
"Sorry..."
Chase apologized.
"Not your fault. Are you even hurting?"
Zoey asked.
"Yeah. It's not nausea, but it's aching."
Chase admitted. Zoey reached up and felt to see if Chase was warm or feverish.
"You don't feel too warm."
Zoey confirmed.
"I don't feel feverish. Stomach just hurts."
Chase said as he sighed and kissed the side of Zoey's head. She smiled at the sweet gesture.
"Have the doctors not told you anything else?"
Chase shook his head no to his girlfriend's question.
"Nope. So, if I die, you'll know why."
Chase says, resulting in receiving a punch in the arm from Zoey.
"Don't say shit like that!"
"Ow! What?"
"You can't say shit like that, Chase! That terrifies me. I can't lose you, Chase..."
Zoey says, tears beginning to prick her eyes.
"Baby, I was only kidding. That was a bad joke, I'm sorry. You know I will never leave you."
Chase told her, kissing her lips after the apology.
"I won't make a joke like that again, babe."
"Thank you. I can't imagine being in a world that you're not in."
"I'm not leaving, I swear."
Chase assured Zoey. Their conversation was interrupted by a rumbling coming from Chase.
"You need to eat something, Chase."
"I would if it'd stay in my stomach where it belonged."
"Chase, I can feel your rib cage through your shirt."
Zoey said, touching his ribs. Chase sighed as he put his hand over his stomach. Suddenly, Zoey noticed that her boyfriend started to look off.
"Chase?"
"I'll be back."
Chase said as he bolted, covering his mouth. He raced to the bathroom but didn't bother closing the door to the stall he went into. Logan and Michael exchanged looks with each other and sighed, feeling bad for their roommate and best friend. They both walked over, Logan knelt down beside Chase and rubbed circles into his back while Michael stood behind them both.
"Get it out, buddy. Get it all out."
Logan said.
"Ugh... My stomach..."
Chase groaned, getting a break from vomiting.
"I know it hurts, man. We're right here for ya."
Logan assured him. Once Chase knew he was done, he flushed and stood up and went over to the sink to wash his mouth out and brush his teeth, getting the left over blood and taste out of his mouth. The three of them went back to their room and Chase made a beeline for his girlfriend, who sat there and waited for Chase to return.
"Baby, are you okay?"
Zoey asked as she gently grabbed his face.
"Mmmh..."
Chase let out, letting his head fall on to Zoey's shoulder as he pulled her closer and hugged her. Zoey hugged him back and ran her fingers through his black curly hair.
"Will you stay here with me tonight, baby?"
Chase asked Zoey.
"I'll try to. Can't get caught."
Chase nodded. He took Zoey's wrist and pulled her over to his bed, both of them laying down.
"I wanna tear my guts out."
Chase complained, clinging to Zoey.
"Well, I like your guts where they currently are."
"I'll just rip my stomach out then. Since that's where the tumor is chillin' at."
"I really wish you'd try to eat something."
Zoey commented.
"Even if it's just some saltines."
Michael heard their conversation and got up to grab a sleeve of crackers out of the cabinet, tossing them at Chase.
"Hey, look, crackers."
Chase said, giving them to Zoey to open them.
"Didn't mean to hit you with them, Chase."
Michael defended. Zoey fed Chase some of the crackers until he was full, which didn't take but four crackers.
-
Around 8pm, Logan was video chatting with Quinn on the computer and being all lovey dovey.
"So how's Chase doing?"
Quinn asked, concerned for her friend.
"Well, he got sick a few hours ago and Zoey finally got him to eat a few crackers awhile ago. Now the two of them are passed out."
Logan explained.
"Oh, is she gonna stay with Chase tonight?"
"Yeah, he asked her to."
"Aww, I think it's sweet, how much he loves her."
"Betcha he doesn't love Zoey as much as I love you."
Logan said, giving Quinn a toothy smile.
"Aww, baby..."
"I'm gonna puke again if they keep talking like that."
Chase whispered to Zoey, not wanting Logan to know that he and Zoey were still awake.
"I actually do feel sick again..."
Chase said, rubbing his belly.
"Logan."
Zoey spoke up, getting Logan's attention.
"I thought you two were asleep."
Logan said as he turned around.
"No. Hand me the trash can, Chase feels sick."
"Here. You okay, dude?"
Logan asked, handing him the bin.
"I dunno..."
Chase said lazily, rolling on his side and hugging his stomach. Zoey rubbed circles into his back as he hovered over the bin.
"Babe, I'm gonna help Zoey with Chase, I'll text you."
Logan said to Quinn.
"Okay, baby. Feel better, Chase!"
Chase rolled his eyes and groaned. Receiving a nudge from Zoey.
"Baby, she's just being nice."
"I know. Sorry. Just don't feel good."
Chase said. After a few minutes, Chase pushed the bin away, realizing it was just a false alarm.
"Ugh... My stomach is toying with me now."
"Just try and go to sleep, okay? Maybe your stomach will calm down."
Zoey said as she covered Chase and herself with his blanket.
"Thank you for helping Logan and Michael take care of me, Zo."
"You know I'm always gonna be here for you, Chase. You're my boyfriend and best friend."
"I love you, Zoey."
"I love you too, Chase."
The two shared a kiss before they dozed off to sleep.
____________________
I can either keep going with this story, or end it. Y'all pick.