#12 - Ending Rewrite
Title: Ready to Fall
Word Count: 995
Rating: PG
Fandom or Original: The Fault in Our Stars
Pairings (if any): Augustus/ Hazel
Warnings (Non-Con/Dub-Con/etc): none
Summary: AU: no one dies.
“Hazel Grace, I have to tell you something.”
I couldn’t help smiling. Just hearing Augustus on the other end of the phone made me happy. We’d only known each other for a short time and it seemed insane, but that’s the way things worked out. “I’m listening, Augustus Waters.”
“No, I want to tell you in person. Can you come over?”
“Now?” I looked up at the clock, it was after 11 pm. My breath caught in my throat for a moment. Whatever it was must be important.
“Yes. Please come.”
“Alright.” I didn’t want to bother Mom and Dad, so I took the keys and left them a note telling them where I was going. Ever since I was in the hospital and Gus got sick, they’d been really lenient about letting me go out. I hoped they wouldn’t mind now.
I could barely concentrate on the road as I made my way over to Augustus’ house. It was just barely raining, which made everything look blurry and just out of reach. The streetlight streaked across my windshield like swords, fighting against the night. I was sure it was bad news. Augustus could cloak anything in his endless optimism.
I parked in front of his house and just sat in the car for a long moment. I knew he’d had a doctor’s appointment today and I ran through the possibilities. I hated when doctors tried to limit your life. There’s really no way to know if you’ll live one more day or one more decade, so I hate when they say you’ll live x more weeks. Take me for example, no one thought I would still be around. It really makes you appreciate each day, but on the other hand, you might have a lot more days left than you thought.
I finally got up the courage to get out of the car and ring his bell. His parents let me in, looking as passive as ever. I guess they were going to let Augustus break the news, whatever that may be.
I went down to his room and called out for him.
“Hello, Hazel Grace,” he peeked out from around the corner in the basement.
“What’s going on?”
“First come here, sit down. Let me look at you.”
I wasn’t in the mood to waste time. I sat down on the couch and quickly looked up at him. “OK, get to the point. What’s the verdict?”
He sighed, knowing there was no way to stall. He sat down next to me, taking his time to straighten out his leg. He looked up into my eyes, his face was emotionless. “You know I had a doctor’s appointment today…”
“Yeah, I already know that. And… what did they say?”
“I didn’t want to tell you…” He shook his head. I tried to brace myself, but there’s no way you can prepare for this kind of news. “We decided to try chemo again. I guess some organization really wanted me to live, so they paid for the treatment. Anyway, it was so crazy, but it actually started working. I’m actually in remission now, Hazel Grace. I feel so alive.”
“That’s great.” I was so happy for him.
But in the next moment, I was already feeling a tinge of something that felt strangely like jealousy. Gus would live. He would go on to do the great things he’d always dreamed of. I was already half gone… I had my oxygen tank as a literal ball and chain and I knew I was sick beyond any hope of recovery. It was all a matter of time.
I tried to keep my eyes on Gus. He was so happy. I tried to smile. You know what? Let him become president, I told myself. That would show everyone. At least one of us could be great.
“I want to do something crazy to celebrate,” he smirked.
“Oh yeah, like what?” I was curious despite myself.
“I want to get married.” He stood up from the couch. I couldn’t believe what was happening. Slowly, he got down on his good knee. “Hazel Grace Lancaster, will you marry me?”
I covered my mouth with my hands. I wanted to laugh or cry or just scream. I looked down at him. “Are you serious? I’m 16 years old, Gus.”
“I’m as serious as a heart attack.” The joke was in very poor taste considering the circumstances, but somehow it was perfect.. He looked completely earnest. “You know, once you turn 17, we can get married with your parents’ permission. I looked it up.”
All I could do was stare and shake my head. “I feel like I’m in a Nicholas Sparks novel right now.”
“I know, does this seem too much like A Walk to Remember?”
I scrunched up my nose. “Yeah, kind of. Gus, I won’t let you do it. I don’t want you to be stuck with me and my problems. You’re gonna live a long time. Go out and find someone to enjoy it with.”
“I couldn’t imagine enjoying it with anyone but you.” He seemed to catch himself. He stopped and said, “I guess I’m being a little over emotional right now, but I can’t help it. Maybe we don’t have to get married. We might not have forever, but we can live for today.”
“We can try.” I said so softly, I hoped he didn’t hear me. I tried not to let the burden of my bad health get to me, but sometimes it was so hard to actually enjoy myself. When I didn’t feel well, it seemed impossible.
He just shook his head, basically ignoring me completely. “I just want you to know I’m not going to leave you just because I’m getting better now. You’re gonna be stuck with me for a long time.” His smile grew again.
His mood was contagious. I couldn’t help smiling back. I really hoped he was right this time.
Word Count: 995
Rating: PG
Fandom or Original: The Fault in Our Stars
Pairings (if any): Augustus/ Hazel
Warnings (Non-Con/Dub-Con/etc): none
Summary: AU: no one dies.
“Hazel Grace, I have to tell you something.”
I couldn’t help smiling. Just hearing Augustus on the other end of the phone made me happy. We’d only known each other for a short time and it seemed insane, but that’s the way things worked out. “I’m listening, Augustus Waters.”
“No, I want to tell you in person. Can you come over?”
“Now?” I looked up at the clock, it was after 11 pm. My breath caught in my throat for a moment. Whatever it was must be important.
“Yes. Please come.”
“Alright.” I didn’t want to bother Mom and Dad, so I took the keys and left them a note telling them where I was going. Ever since I was in the hospital and Gus got sick, they’d been really lenient about letting me go out. I hoped they wouldn’t mind now.
I could barely concentrate on the road as I made my way over to Augustus’ house. It was just barely raining, which made everything look blurry and just out of reach. The streetlight streaked across my windshield like swords, fighting against the night. I was sure it was bad news. Augustus could cloak anything in his endless optimism.
I parked in front of his house and just sat in the car for a long moment. I knew he’d had a doctor’s appointment today and I ran through the possibilities. I hated when doctors tried to limit your life. There’s really no way to know if you’ll live one more day or one more decade, so I hate when they say you’ll live x more weeks. Take me for example, no one thought I would still be around. It really makes you appreciate each day, but on the other hand, you might have a lot more days left than you thought.
I finally got up the courage to get out of the car and ring his bell. His parents let me in, looking as passive as ever. I guess they were going to let Augustus break the news, whatever that may be.
I went down to his room and called out for him.
“Hello, Hazel Grace,” he peeked out from around the corner in the basement.
“What’s going on?”
“First come here, sit down. Let me look at you.”
I wasn’t in the mood to waste time. I sat down on the couch and quickly looked up at him. “OK, get to the point. What’s the verdict?”
He sighed, knowing there was no way to stall. He sat down next to me, taking his time to straighten out his leg. He looked up into my eyes, his face was emotionless. “You know I had a doctor’s appointment today…”
“Yeah, I already know that. And… what did they say?”
“I didn’t want to tell you…” He shook his head. I tried to brace myself, but there’s no way you can prepare for this kind of news. “We decided to try chemo again. I guess some organization really wanted me to live, so they paid for the treatment. Anyway, it was so crazy, but it actually started working. I’m actually in remission now, Hazel Grace. I feel so alive.”
“That’s great.” I was so happy for him.
But in the next moment, I was already feeling a tinge of something that felt strangely like jealousy. Gus would live. He would go on to do the great things he’d always dreamed of. I was already half gone… I had my oxygen tank as a literal ball and chain and I knew I was sick beyond any hope of recovery. It was all a matter of time.
I tried to keep my eyes on Gus. He was so happy. I tried to smile. You know what? Let him become president, I told myself. That would show everyone. At least one of us could be great.
“I want to do something crazy to celebrate,” he smirked.
“Oh yeah, like what?” I was curious despite myself.
“I want to get married.” He stood up from the couch. I couldn’t believe what was happening. Slowly, he got down on his good knee. “Hazel Grace Lancaster, will you marry me?”
I covered my mouth with my hands. I wanted to laugh or cry or just scream. I looked down at him. “Are you serious? I’m 16 years old, Gus.”
“I’m as serious as a heart attack.” The joke was in very poor taste considering the circumstances, but somehow it was perfect.. He looked completely earnest. “You know, once you turn 17, we can get married with your parents’ permission. I looked it up.”
All I could do was stare and shake my head. “I feel like I’m in a Nicholas Sparks novel right now.”
“I know, does this seem too much like A Walk to Remember?”
I scrunched up my nose. “Yeah, kind of. Gus, I won’t let you do it. I don’t want you to be stuck with me and my problems. You’re gonna live a long time. Go out and find someone to enjoy it with.”
“I couldn’t imagine enjoying it with anyone but you.” He seemed to catch himself. He stopped and said, “I guess I’m being a little over emotional right now, but I can’t help it. Maybe we don’t have to get married. We might not have forever, but we can live for today.”
“We can try.” I said so softly, I hoped he didn’t hear me. I tried not to let the burden of my bad health get to me, but sometimes it was so hard to actually enjoy myself. When I didn’t feel well, it seemed impossible.
He just shook his head, basically ignoring me completely. “I just want you to know I’m not going to leave you just because I’m getting better now. You’re gonna be stuck with me for a long time.” His smile grew again.
His mood was contagious. I couldn’t help smiling back. I really hoped he was right this time.