Page 16 of Styx & Stones

“Coco Betty?”

“They’re good for your skin, cruelty free, and expensive as fuck, and I’m poor now that I have cancer, go easy.”

He chuckles. “So, you think I’m a funny bastard, huh?”

“Well, bastard is true enough.”

“How come you didn’t sit with the rest of us in chemo for your first session? Afraid it’s catching?”

I throw another fry, which he plucks from mid-air. “Why would I want to sit with a bunch of old people and talk about how I’m going to die?”

“I’m not old people.”

“No, but you’re ...” I wave a hand over him and screw up my nose. “... you.”

“You wanna get out of here?”

“What? Cut class? With you?”

“Why the hell not?” He shrugs. “What are they gonna do? Ground us for life? Way I see it, with a tumor that size, you’ve got two years—three, tops.”

My smile fades. A frown crinkles my forehead and I grit my teeth. “Excuse me?”

“Cancer humor. You can only say shit like that to another cancer patient.”

“You’re an ass.”

“And you, Alaska darling, are lovely when you’re incited.”

“Who the fuck are you?”

“Your future boyfriend.”

I burst out laughing. I laugh so damn hard that my stomach aches. Everyone in the cafeteria turns to watch us, but I don’t care.

“I’m gonna try not to be offended by that soul-crushing laughter.”

I laugh harder. When I finally stop, I glance at him through my tears. Styx is grinning at me. “Okay.”

“Okay you’ll be my girlfriend?”

“No, dumbass. Okay I’ll cut school with you. But you better make this good.”

“Oh, it’ll be good.”

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