June paused to think. “Okay, I suppose,” she said and shrugged. “I guess I’m just nervous. I read it’s chemo again with immunotherapy.” She sighed. “Iloathechemo.”
“Same,” I said, which was true. Chemo was brutal. Out of everything that they tried with me, chemo was the worst. “But at least we’ve got each other to get us through, hey?”
June smiled. “We do. But if this cures us, then I’ll take as much chemo as they’ll give us.”
I nodded. “Where are your parents?” I asked, just as we stepped outside, toward the pool.
“They’re working from the parents’ residence today. I had breakfast with them this morning, but I wanted to hang out with you guys again and they had to work anyway.” A blush coated her cheeks. I couldn’t say how happy hearing that made me.
Shouts from the pool sailed into our ears, and when we rounded the corner, we saw everybody was already in it. We arrived just in time to see Chris cannonball into the pool, splashing Emma in the process.
I laughed as Emma screamed, then ducked his head under the water. It seemed like it was going to be the perfect last day, and it reminded me of easier times back home with my friends, when life hadn’t been quite as intense.
I pulled my shirt over my head and said to June, “The changerooms are over there.”
Her eyes were fixed on the pool, and when she looked to me, her cheeks reddened as her eyes found my chest. “I’m just gonna sit on a lounger for now.”
I frowned in confusion. June passed by me and sat on a lounger, smiling at everyone and pulling a paperback from her bag.
I was busy staring at her, wondering why she wasn’t getting in when Emma pushed up out of the pool. She toweled herself off and said, “I’ll go sit with her.”
“Do you think she’s upset with me?” I asked, worried I’d done something to offend her.
“No,” Emma said. “I don’t think she’s upset with you.” She went to June, and June’s genuine smile was back on her face as our friend approached.
“You gonna get in, Romeo, or are you just gonna stare at June like a lovesick fool all day?” Chris shouted from the pool, and I wasted no time diving in and swiping his legs out from under him as I swam underneath the surface.
“Prick,” Chris spluttered as we both came up for air.
I immediately sought out June. I couldn’t help but worry she wasn’t okay. She and Emma were sitting together on the lounger, talking up a storm. My chest pulled tight watching her. I didn’t like how nervous and uncomfortable she had just been. And I didn’t like having no idea why.
Emma got up and came toward us. She leaned down at the side of the pool. “We’re gonna do something else,” she said, gesturing back to June.
“Like what?” I asked. Chris swam up beside me, listening.
Emma shrugged. “Don’t know. We’ll figure it out.”
“June doesn’t want to swim?” Chris asked. Emma shook her head.
“Is she okay?” I asked, deep concern burrowing inside me.
June was reading a book, not even looking our way.
Emma glanced at her and looked back. “She’s great. Just doesn’t want to swim.”
Then there was no other decision to make: I pulled myself out of the pool and grabbed my towel. Chris followed suit.
Emma straightened with a knowing eyebrow raised in my direction. “Let me guess: you’re coming too?” she said, amusement lacing her tone.
“That okay?” I asked, pausing, wondering if June needed space and just wanted to be with Emma, alone.
“Of course it is,” Emma said. “I’m going to go get changed.”
I dried off, threw my shirt on, and grabbed my football. I walked to where June sat and checked out what she was reading. “Let me guess…buff fairies?” I asked.
June lowered the book and laughed. “Buff fairies?” Understanding dawned on her face. “Do you mean High Fae?”
I shrugged. “I have no idea, but some of my friends back home talked about them all the time.” June’s eyes sparkled with mirth. “Like, they were low-key in love with mythical creatures.”
