Chapter 1

I sat up slowly from my bed, groaning in annoyance at the sound of something screeching loudly, clearly trying to get attention.

"For fuck sakes -!" After a moment of listening it soon became clear that it was not screeches of pain but my best friend's singing. With sleep dazed eyes I staggered out of bed throwing open my curtains to see Luke twerking violently outside my bedroom window.

When he noticed me standing there unamused he stopped, flashing me over his shoulder his signature 1000-watt smile.

I opened my window stomping back to the comfort of my sheets.

But Luke wasn't done just yet. Jumping through my now open window he carried on singing, waltzing slowly around my room as I settle back under my covers. Eventually he grew bored and decided to behave like a normal human.

"Morning Eiji!" he squealed.

I groaned in response. A yawn escaping before I was able to speak "Luke why the fuck do you always do this?"

He didn't answer but I knew he was there I could hear him removing his hoodie his house keys jingling loudly.

He finally spoke again "What? Lay off it mate your bedroom is on the ground floor I'd be a fool to knock on the front door. Also she's home."

I knew exactly what he was talking about and from the strain in his voice when he talked I knew it wasn't the time to ask what happened but I still needed to just so he could shut it down.

"Do you want to talk about it mate?"

"No. I just want to sleep." He hopped into my bed head by my feet his feet by my head. I closed my eyes feeling sleeps arms pulling down when he suddenly spoke again "Eiji?"

I could only mutter something that was not English in response clearly half asleep but he pushed on.

"Thank you for being there for me."

Okay I was now awake, I sat up. Wondering where was this coming from?

"Luke you don't have to thank me."

He didn't answer the only response I got was his soft snores every few seconds. Typical, he's fallen asleep. I hesitated for a moment wondering if I should wake him and carry on our conversation but thought better off it.

I managed to fall back asleep only to be woken up by the sound of my mum screaming for me to wake up. I looked at the time cursing when I realised I was late. Luke was still asleep on my bed, now snoring loudly, drool pouring out his mouth like a waterfall. Disgusting. How he had a girlfriend and I didn't was beyond me.

"Luke buddy you need to wake up, we're going to be late for school."

He sat up slowly looking around confused. I didn't have time for his dopey ass, I threw a towel harshly at him "Go and have a shower first"

He nodded walking slowly to the bathroom. I shook my head dressing the bed and laying out my clothes and some for Luke.

"Eiji do you have a spare toothbrush!"

I rolled my eyes every day he did this. Is it that hard to remember to grab your tooth brush?

It took us just under thirty minutes to get ready. We ran down the stairs and into the dining room.

"Well it took you two long enough!" My mum entered after us, a tray of food in hand. "Go and take your seats."

I took a seat beside my older brother, holding in the urge to punch him. I wasn't angry at him, he just had a very punchable face.

As soon as we where seated he pounced on us.

"Otōto what took you so long today hm? Having a wet dream about Luke's girlfriend again?"

I gave him a disgusted look and from the corner of my gaze noticed Luke tense up. But even with that he wasn't done yet.

"Aye aye calm down. You can't deny that she's hot. Man if she was-"

My mother slapped the back of his head, cutting him off

"Ryū. That is enough!"

Miki, my older sister, entered the room and took her place at the table. She was the definition of the term resting bitch face as usual, even my mother said she was a miserable baby. She gave my Ryū a threatening stare in other words showing her lack of approval for his joke.

Ryū immediately straightened up moving further back "Miki-san you're no fun anymore"

She shrugged, indifferent to Ryū's whining. I rolled my eyes reaching to grab a bowl of rice. My mum smiled over at Luke as she entered for the final time with tea "Are you hungry dear?" Luke got up taking the tray of tea off my mum and with a tilt of his head he told my mum to take a seat.

"No Oba-chan I'm fine Arigatōgozaimashita" He set the tea cups on the table, pouring each of us a cup. My sister said her thanks with a small smile before leaving the table cup in hand. Ryū perked back to life knowing Miki wasn't close enough to silence him.

"So how's that girlfriend of yours Luke when's she next coming around?"

I waited for Luke to have a go at him as he usually did but for the first time he didn't. Luke grabbed my arm tightly.

"Come on Eiji let's go."

I shook my head, confused. Getting up slowly, I kissed my mum on the cheek, shouting my good bye to Miki as I left. We both hopped into my old truck fighting over what radio station we were going to listen to. There was something wrong with Luke. I could tell by the lack of conversation we were having and now, under the harsh winter sun, his usual pale skin looked more like a sickly grey.

"What's wrong Luke?"

He turned to look at me "Am I that easy to read?"

I laughed. "We've best friends since we were six. I think I know you better than anyone else." He smiled at that. "Now what's wrong?"

"Nothing." He sunk back into my car seat. "I'm just not feeling very well. I woke up and feel like I've been run over by a truck."

I frowned, he rarely ever got sick. I reached over placing the back of my hand on his forehead. He felt hot but wasn't boiling.

"I guess you should keep an eye on how you're feeling."

Luke nodded, closing his eyes and falling asleep almost immediately. Damn, maybe he was sicker than I thought. I shrugged it off, putting the car in drive.

By the time we reached the school parking lot some colour had returned back to his face. I shook him awake.

"Come on mate, we got track first."

He nodded, not really saying anything. Having track first thing in the morning was always a hard pill to swallow. We changed with the rest of the team in the changing room. Luke was still acting off, not really interacting with anyone, but I put that to him feeling under the weather.

We all jogged out to the field where couch Martin waited for us in a thick red winter coat while we shivered in our shorts.

"Morning ladies, beautiful day isn't it?" He had his usual large, sadistic smile on his face. "Okay before I start announcements, why don't I warm you up with a five lap jog of the field? James, you will be the pace keeper. Eiji and Luke you'll be at the back no one is allowed to fall past you."

We all stretched getting into position. Coach blew his whistle and we were off.

Something definitely was wrong with Luke. We were only two laps in and his face was drenched with sweat. The colour that had returned to his face during the drive to school was gone and I didn't think it was possible for someone's eyes to become sunken so quickly. I opened my mouth to ask him what's up but as I did his legs gave way and he fell, his head slamming on the ground. I crouched beside him, trying to get his attention but even though his eyes where open he wasn't responding. He had not moved or even screamed during the fall either.

Coach ran over.

On reaching us he took one look at Luke, shaking his head and pulling out his mobile

"I'm gonna call 999, he looks pretty out of it."

It was four hours before Luke finally stirred.

"Fuck me mate!" I jumped out my seat, hugging him. Luke stared up at me with confused eyes, trying to sit up and failing.

"Where am I?" He looked around, trying to analyse his surroundings.

"Hospital."

He tried to get up again, this time succeeding

"Hospital. Why the hell am I here?"

I rolled my eyes "Because you passed out like a ditz during training and been out of it for the last four hours thought you were gone I did."

"What? Four hours, seriously?" I nodded. Luke blew air out of his mouth "Fuck me that means I missed my after training blow job from Rachel. Was looking forward to that."

I laughed, typical Luke, he could never be serious. We carried on bickering until someone clearing their throat caught our attention. I turned noticing the doctor for the first time.

"How are you feeling Mr Valentine? My name is doctor Patel" his voice was a lot deeper than I expected for his small stature.

Luke flashed his usual large smile "A lot better, I must have been really tired and not realised. Sorry for giving ya'll a scare." He laughed, elbowing me.

The doctor didn't laugh, his face pinched in a serious look.

Luke didn't seem to notice. "Anyway doc what you prescribing? Vitamin D, rest?" The doctor hesitated. The smile slipped off Luke's face. "Doc?"

"I would need your friend to leave the room before I can talk to you about the results."

Luke shook his head. "It's okay Eiji can stay."

Doctor Patel looked as if he was going to protest but of course complied with the request of the patient.

"I'm sorry Mr Valentine your results came back and it doesn't look good."

My face paled. I turned to face Luke, expecting him to be upset but he had his 1000-watt smile back on his face.

"That's fine right? You can treat me right?" He looked between me and the doctor.

Doctor Patel removed his glasses "Unfortunately Mr Valentine, that won't be possible."

I noticed Luke's hand beginning to shake. "So what are you saying? Just give it to me straight!" Luke's whole body was now visibly shaking and I stood there unable to move. I didn't think I could even breath.

Doctor Patel removed his glasses, a sad look in his eyes. I barely heard the words being said against the rushing of blood to my ears. The world around me seemed to fall into darkness.

My knees buckled and I fell back into my seat, the energy I had draining from me. A sudden hush had fallen over the room. Luke was the one to talk first.

"How long do I have?" His usual loud voice was barely a whisper.

"At this moment it's hard to say. Worst case scenario, a month at best, two, maybe three."

At that moment the sky decided to open up, pouring down bucket loads of rain as if mourning the news. For a long time, Luke didn't speak. He didn't speak when my parents came around to drop us an overnight bag, he didn't acknowledge the nurses or doctors as they ran test after test on him. He didn't acknowledge Rachel when she finally arrived he just stared off into space or out the window. I too just sat there, only speaking to comfort my mother and to tell Rachel to leave.

When he finally spoke his voice was raspy and shaky as he tried to control all the emotions bubbling up under his skin. "I- I don't want to die Eiji. I don't want to die man."

I jumped out of my seat in time to catch him as he threw himself towards me. I held him in my arms tightly as his whole body convulsed. I'd seen people cry before. I'd seen him cry before. But this wasn't normal tears, or tears of losing a race. These were tears of fear, of the chilling knowledge that he was going to die. I don't know how long I held Luke in my arms the way I did, but it didn't matter. I held him till his sobs turned into puppy like whimpers and even then I held him till he fell asleep, rocking him back and forth before laying him back down on the bed to rest.

I excused myself, walking down the long, white maze-like corridors to the toilets. It was only then when the cubicle door was closed did I allow myself to finally cry. It started as soft sobs before in a loud hiccup it turned to full blown screams of frustration. I slammed my hand over my mouth, muffling my cries, kicking the locked cubicle door in a violent outburst. I slammed the back of my head repeatedly onto the cool tile of the toilet half wanting to pass out half wanting to wake up from this dream. I finally gained control of my body once again. I just sat there, not knowing what to do shoulders tensed and my mind both blank and running at a thousand miles.

I closed my eyes letting my head and body fall backwards. "Holy fuck..."

Luke was dying.

That night I slept on a pull out hospital bed beside him, not really sleeping. I just stared up at the ceiling, my mind roaming free.