When Life Gives You Lemons

Oliver:



Tick..........Tick.........Tick........Tick.......

I want to kill whoever made clocks tick, because right now I swear this ticking will become the death of me. All I hear is the tick, counting off how long Brandon’s been gone. How long the doctors been working on him. I was actually starting to worry now. Its nine-thirty nine right now, we came into the hospital exactly three hours, five minutes and twenty one seconds ago.

My gaze founds its way to Nathan, but then again how could it not. He’s been crying non-stop since we got here. Looking up at Francis I could see that he too was in tears, and even though he wasn’t uncontrollably sobbing as Nate was, I knew he was just as broken or maybe even more broken. It is his brother who was admitted.

But I couldn’t help but feel that they knew something else. They weren’t crying because Brandon was a little ill. They aren’t crying because he threw up multiple times or because he fainted just hours ago. They are crying because of last time, and how similar this time is to last time.

“What’s taking them so goddamn long?” Francis grumbled angrily.

His anger set off Nate who simply whispered “Last time....last time again.”

“Shhh....” The older man cooed rubbing the younger back. I could only think about how much I wish Brandon was in my arms like that right now. He kissed the top of his head. “I’m sure it’s not.........” He paused reconsidering his words “Let’s not think about last time right now.”

So I was right, it is last time. Whatever this last time may be it can’t be good. All I know is what Brandon told me. He was sick.....very sick. But exactly how sick I don’t know, he sadly didn’t get a chance to tell me that. ‘I had...’ That was the last words that wiggled its way out of Brandon’s precious mouth before he was out cold. But that doesn’t tell me anything.

“Guys......” Nate and Francis looked up at me with swollen eyes. I looked between them. “What’s going on? What is last time? What happened?”

They shared a glance at each other. Nate swallowed before returning his gaze to me “When Brandon was sixteen he go sick.......” He looked at Francis who nodded his head, silently telling him to keep going “He was pretty bad. Fatigue....stomach pain......throwing up....throwing up blood.” Nate’s hand flew over his mouth just as a sob spluttered out “He went through so much pain.”

My heart shattered at the though of Brandon in pain, even more pain than he was in now. “What......what was wrong with him?”

“He had.....”

The double doors opened sending a loud thud through the waiting room, all talking silenced instantly. A doctor in a white coat sauntered in looking around the waiting room.

“Party for Brandon Thompson?” Francis, Nathan and I stood up instantly. My heart sped up to speeds not humanly possible. He walked over to us with a smile. “Hello, I’m Dr. Montaire. Brandon is....”

“Is he okay?” Nate blurted out “Is it.....is he....did it come back?”

He chuckled and I glared at him in return. I found nothing about his funny. “Don’t worry kid, it’s not back.” Francis and Nate both sighed in relief but I on the other hand was just plain confused. He kept talking. “It was a false alarm.........it was just food poisoning not cancer.”

“CANCER!” I shouted a little louder than what I meant. I ran my hand through my head nearly ripping my hair out in the process. “HE HAS FUCKING CANCER?”

“Had.....He had cancer.” The doctor stated flipping the pages of his clip board before stopping. “He’s in room 305 if you want to see him.”

I genuinely smiled for the first time tonight. I finally get to see the person that I have been worrying frantically about. I take a few steps forward but was halted when a hand gripped around my arm. I followed that hand to be met face to face with Francis.

“What’s the problem mate?” I furrowed my eyebrows “Aren’t you ready to see Brandon?”

“I am definitely ready. It’s just that.....I don’t know if you should go back there.”

My mouth dropped to the floor “What? Why shouldn’t I go back there?”

Francis took a long dragged out breath “Look....I’m not sure that my brother would want you in there, I mean he hardly knows you......and this is a pretty private moment so I...”

“Francis you can’t be serious right now?” Nate exclaimed mouth slightly open. Clearly he was just as shocked as I was. “You aren’t serious are you?”

Francis looked between Nathan and me “Yes I am! As much as I care for Oli I’m sure that Brandon wouldn’t want an almost complete stranger in his life.”

“Francis this is outrageous!” Nate rolled his eyes at the boy “This is so....”

“Maybe he’s right.” I stated sadly interrupting Nate “Maybe I don’t belong in the room. I mean....maybe it’s for those closest to him.”

“Oliver Scott Sykes, out of everyone in this world you are the one that needs to be in that room with Brandon the most. I see the way you guys look at each other with pure love and adoration. I notice how Brandon would get lost in your eyes and then I look at you.....and you’re just as lost in his eyes as he is in yours. ” He smirks at me and I laugh. “I’ve known him since we were in diapers literally.” Nate waddles around like a toddler causing us to erupt in a chorus of laughter. He stops and sighs. “I’ve known him all his life and I’ve never seen him so in love with someone before. So yes.....you deserve to be in the room with him.”

I smile and look down at my feet as the butterflies start to flutter away in my stomach. “Really?”

“Yes dips shit!” Nate chuckles loudly while patting me on the back. “Now come on....let’s go see your babe.”

We started down the hallway in silence. I could feel Francis gaze on the back of my head but I tried desperately to ignore it. I know he’s going to give me hell about seeing his little brother behind his back. I turned my head peeking over my shoulder before turning back quickly. He looked livid and I’m sure that by the end of the day I’ll be swapping places with Brandon.

“So......when did last time happen exactly?” I questioned Nate trying to take my mind off of the fuming brother behind me. “That is if you don’t mind answering.”

Nate shrugged his shoulder “Minus well tell you now.” He looked up with a sigh “He has Cowden Syndrome.....its basically like he develops these tumors in his body. We always knew he had it, and well he’d have tumors once in a while, he even had a brain tumor.” I gasped causing Nate to pause and let me collect myself. Seconds later I nodded for him to continue “But they were all benign.”

“That means that they won’t spread...” I stated feeling accomplished when he nodded

“Yeah, so they were surgically removed. You know you can still see the scar in the middle of his forehead if you move his curls away.” He smiled but it soon dropped. “ But then the summer of our junior year came and he got so sick. At first it was just a small stomach ache.....but then. Then he just got worse. He said he was fine, just a little stomach bug. But after I saw him throw up blood.....that’s it....just pure blood, I knew something was wrong. We took him to the doctor and they diagnosed him with Stomach Cancer....stage.....dammit stage fucking three.” Nate paused to wipe the tears that crawled down his face. “Doctors thought that he was going to die, and shit I thought he was too.” We stopped in front of room 305 just as Nate whispered. “ God, I’d never seen so much pain......so much blood in my life.”

I sat with my eyes clothes as tears slowly cascaded down my face. It seemed that after all the tears I shed today, I couldn’t possibly have anymore left to fall. But sure enough I did, and they were all for the boy I loved dearly. Just thinking about the pain that’s he’s went through his whole life. All the tumors he had to deal with and then cancer.

“I know it’s a lot to take in.” Nate whispered “But push it aside for now. That beautiful boy in there needs you.”

I shook my head before pushing open the door. A smile instantly appeared on my face when I saw the boy sitting in bed. Brandon, my beautiful, gorgeous, angel was laying there. And he was alive.

“Hey love.” I whispered walking into the room

He looked up at me with a big smile “Oliver!”

I sat down beside him, leaned down and attached our lips. Instantly he melted into me, moving in perfect synchronization. He pulled away sharply looking at his brother. “Shit...It’s not what...”

“I already know.” He stated not really showing any emotion. He smiled at his brother “I like how you completely ignored us.....is his dick really that good?”

Nate hit him in the head “Stop......I think it’s cute.”

“You think everything is cute.” Brandon laughed and I couldn’t help but laugh too, his laugh is contagious. I lifted my hand up to his forehead and removed his pile of curls revealing the scar Nate had spoken about. I rubbed my thumb against it admiring how smooth yet rough it was. He smiled “I’m guessing that told you.”

“Nate did.....Francis not so much.” He laughed and I smiled. I loved that laugh of his. My eyes wondered to his just so I could watch the corners crinkle. That’s what I loved the most, the way his eyes crinkled. “You’re adorable.”

He blushed “Am not!”

“Are too!” I leaned down to connect our lips.

Francis groaned “No! Stop it! Stop it!” He put a hand over his eyes shielding them from us “It’s so cute it’s disgusting.”

I watched as Brandon’s gorgeous face turned a deep crimson. “Awww now isn’t that cute.” I whispered pulling him towards me

He curled into my side resting his head on my chest “Shut it Oli!”

I couldn’t help but to close my eyes and savor the closeness of us. It felt good to be by him again. I finally felt full, I felt complete. Brandon made me whole again. I know it’s cliché but it’s true. I love him.

The doctor walked in a few minutes later clipboard in hand “Well it looks like you’re all set.” He flipped the page marking something with a pen. “You guys can leave now just sign here and......wait that’s not right.”

“What’s not right?” I questioned

He flipped through the papers again before looking back at us. “Okay so his white blood cell count is slightly higher than it should be. Not by a lot, but just by a little.” The doctor glasses sat at the edge of his nose as he glanced over them. “You said he had stomach cancer right?”

“That’s right.” Francis replied

The doctor nodded his head “Okay, well it’s not dangerously high. He has anemia so I’m sure that’s why it’s like that.” He flipped the papers down before handing them over to Francis to sign “I would just get a check up with your family doctor whenever you get back home.....”

“He has he six month check up next month anyway.” The older brother stated as he quickly maneuvered the pen on the paper. “I’ll be sure to tell the doctor about it.”

Dr. Montaire smiled taking the clipboard. “Well, that should be all. You can be on your way. Have a nice day.”

We mumbled a reply as the doctor left the room. I looked down at Brandon with a grin “Ready to go?”

“Is that even a question?” He smiled pulling back the sheets “Yes! I fucking hate hospitals.”

Before he could protest I lifted him up bridal style and started walking towards the door. A giggle slid out his mouth “Oliver, put me down!”

“What? Why?” I kicked the door open with my foot before crossing the threshold “I thought you were ready to go?”

“I am.....but I can walk you know.”

I shrugged my shoulders “Yeah, but why walk when I can carry you my handsome prince?” He blushed when we reached the exit door and I chuckled “And you said you weren’t adorable.”

I opened the car door and slid us both inside. I buckled both of us up before returning my hands back around the adorable younger one.

He snuggled into my side with his eyes closed “You smell good.”

“So do you.” I whispered digging my nose into his hair.

“What do I smell like?” Brandon yawned stretching his long arms

I smiled down at him “You smell like my paradise.”

“No! No cuteness in the car!” Francis moaned in agony causing us to laugh. “I may go into shock and crash the car.”

Brandon yawned again, eyes fluttering as if he were trying to keep them open “We wouldn’t want that.”

“You should go to sleep love.” I ran my hand through his hair making him smile. “You seem tired.”

It didn’t take long for light snores to be heard from the boy. I chuckled lightly not wanting to wake the sleeping boy. I guess he was more tired than what I thought. I let my fingers roam his hair and my eyes roam his body. Yes, I watched him, but not in a perverted way. Though I would be lying if I’d said I hadn’t pictured how the beauty would look without those jeans.

“You know Oliver.” Francis said pulling me from my thoughts. I looked into the review mirror to see the man looking back. “I don’t know if I want to punch you in the face for fucking my brother behind my back.....” My body tensed at his words, but began to relax when he flashed a smile. “Or give you a sloppy kiss for......for making my brother so happy. I haven’t seen him this happy in a while.” His eyes returned to the road but flickered back to the mirror. “So.....which one do you choose, a punch or a kiss?”

“Neither.” I chuckled rolling my eyes “And we haven’t actually....done anything.”

Francis looked at me with a smug look “Like I believe that shit.....”

“I’m serious.” I shouted at him as we pulled to a stop in front of the tour bus. I unbuckled me and Brandon’s seat belts. I lifted the boy up and walked towards the bus. “We’ve done nothing.....nothing at all.”

Nathan smirked at me “Except still kisses when you think no one is looking.”

“How......” I blushed lightly looking down at the slumbering boy “How did you see that? We were so careful.”

Nate pushed the door open with a shrill laugh “I.....Nathaniel Martin Cobb......sees everything.”

I rolled my eyes walking into the bus. It was late and everyone was asleep by now. I walked to my bunk placing Brandon gently down inside. I tenderly pulled off his clothes. It was then, with only the dim moonlight, that I saw them. Scars. I could feel my eyes start to well just at the sight of them. They were like living proof of the torment that the angel went through. Tears fell from my face and dropped onto his skin.

“Oli....” Brandon’s sleepy voice called to me. I raised my swollen eyes to meet his. His eyes filled with fright when he noticed what I was looking at. “I....I didn’t want you to see me like this.”

“And why not?” I leaned down placing sweet kissing on his skin “I still think you’re beautiful.”

Our lips collided together with so much passion that I’m sure you could see sparks. Time ceased, the world stopped turning and all life paused for a few seconds just to watch us. At least that’s how it felt. And I’m sure Brandon felt that way to for I could feel his heart racing as his chest was crushed against mine.

He pulled away forehead leaning against mine “I want you.”

“Trust me.....I want you too.” I collapsed onto the bed beside him pulling him into me. “Soon.....real soon..... I promise.”

“I’ll hold you to that promise.” Brandon leaned over kissing my cheek. “Good night Oli.”

“You do that.” I placed a kiss on his forehead, surprising right on his scar “Night love.”

“Sweet dreams.” He whispered into my chest

“Yeah love......sweet sweet dreams.”

Notes

I enjoyed writing this chapter so I hope you guys like it. I really enjoy all the comments, they make me feel all giggly inside. Lol.....so I hope you enjoy! I love all of you!!!!!!!!! ^_^