Hold Me Tightly

Chapter Theme Song:
Behind The Sea
Panic! At The Disco


I sighed as I slowly took the last few steps of the school, bus, crammed with noisy teens. I stared up at the double story house. I felt my hand reach into my pocket and pull out a single sheet of paper. I opened it up as I stepped off the bus and heard the door slam behind me.
I failed English again. I sighed again deeply as the bus sped off behind me. I started for the door, taking my time. What was I going to tell my Aunt Laura? I wasn’t looking forward to it.
I made my way to the front door and examined the wooden door with a glass design in the middle. I slowly reached out my hand and opened it. I looked both ways to be sure I wouldn’t run into her. I quickly crept up the stairs. I stopped dead in my tracks as I instantly saw Laura. “Hey Ryan!” She beamed, with her short blonde hair flicking in the light. “Hey.” “How was school?” “Meh.” I tried to avoid looking her in the eyes. She could always see right through me. “Oh.” There was an awkward silence until I side stepped her and ran to my room. “Talk to you later!” I called behind me.
I slammed the door shut and threw my bag on the floor. All of my books scattered out instantly. That’s when I noticed my school photo fly out. I bent down and picked it up. It was my year 12 class photo. I only got it yesterday. I looked at all of my classmates and stopped as I viewed a photo of my girlfriend, Jennifer. She had a gorgeous smile. Her long brown hair gleamed with her golden streaks through it. I traced the photo for a moment and the tucked it back in my bag quickly as I heard a loud knocking on my door.

“Ryan! Phone!” I opened the door and took the phone from Laura and mouthed a pathetic excuse for a thank you. I closed the door and held the phone to my ear.
“Hello?”
“Hey Ryan!”
“Hey Reece!” I smiled as I heard my best friend’s voice.
“Did you tell Laura, yet?”
“Tell her what?”
“Oh, when you went to the moon! Your test result, dooface.”
“Um, no.”
“Oooooh…. Somebodies gonna get in trouble!” Reece sang.
“Oooh…. I don’t care!”
“Take it easy! So anyways, what are you doing?”
“Nothen.”
“Figures. Hey, do you wanna meet me at the new pizza shop next to the cinema?”
“Meh, why not?”
“Sweet, meet ya there.”
“I’ll be there in ten.”
I hung up and threw off my school shirt and grabbed the closet thing I could find. It was my favourite shirt because it said: “Who are you and why are you reading my shirt? What do you want from me?!” I grabbed my favourite red hoodie and my iPod and ran out the door. I bolted down the stairs to almost collide with Laura. “Woah! Slow down!” “My bad. I’m gonna go meet Reece at the pizza shop.” “Yeah ok, just be back before ten.”
I nodded and ran out the door, to instantly pull back. I opened my mouth to be cut off by Laura. “Yes, you can borrow the car.” “Thanks!” I called as I ran out the door.


12 MINUTES LATER

I sat in the car tapping on the steering wheels to the beat of ‘But It’s Better If You Do’ By Panic! At The Disco on the radio. Once the song finished, I got out of the car and locked it. I walked over to the front door of the shop to find a very bored Reece, leaning against the window. “Well, it’s about time!” Reece stood up straight. “Sorry, Panic was on. I couldn’t miss it.” Reece rolled his eyes as we both made our way in the pizza shop.

We sat at a booth next to a window. It didn’t take long for a young waitress with red, curly hair tied up in a messy ponytail to come to our table. She wore a black skirt and a dark blue shirt with the pizza logo on it. She had a bright smile on her face as she asked for our order.
“I’ll have just a coke, please?” She nodded and smiled at me. She looked at Reece who had a cheesy grin on his face. “I’ll have a coke and your number, thanks.” She had a look of disgust as she slapped him across the face and walked off. “Pig!” She called over her shoulder. “Fine! I’ll just have your number then!” He called. Idiot. For sure. “Real Smooth, Reece.” “She knows she wants me.” I rolled my eyes. Idiot? Nah, more like moron.

“So what’s new?” I asked trying to make conversation.
“Eh, same old. Hey, did ya wanna swing by at the mall and check out those cheerleaders?” “Oh! Totally!” I spoke with a fake girl accent. “Even though I already HAVE a girlfriend!” I hissed at him. “Take it easy, dude.”
“Dude, don’t say dude.”
We both cracked up laughing. I looked around at all of the young, teens that were off in their own world. That’s when I spun around to the door as Laura walked in. I stood up and waved at her. She waved her hand in a signal for me to go over to her. I slid out of the booth and walked toward her. “Ryan, we need to talk.” She sounded dead serious. “Um, ok. Is everything ok?” She sighed deeply and looked into my eyes. She had a sad look in her eyes. I nodded. “I’ll just go say bye to Reece.” I turned on my heel and jogged to Reece. Reece stood up as I looked at him. “Uh, sorry, Reece. I have to go. I think it’s important.” “Um, ok. I’ll catch ya tomorrow?” “Yeah.”
With that said, I jogged back quickly to Laura, who looked as though tears were going to fall any moment. I didn’t know what to think. “Can you drive us home?” Her voice was unsteady as she kept her head low. We got in the car and drove in utter silence.

Once I turned off the ignition, Laura instantly pulled off her seatbelt and hopped out of the car. I have a feeling this wasn’t going to be good. I walked in the front door to see Laura sitting at the kitchen table with folders on the table. I closed the door behind me and slowly walked toward her.
“Ryan, please sit down.” I plonked myself down on the chair as I saw Laura open the cardboard folders. She took a deep breath.
“What I’m going to tell you wont be easy. But, I have been going to the doctors for that bug I caught, but it turns out that… It wasn’t a bug… I,” Oh, no. This can’t be happening, it can’t. “I have cancer.” My mouth dropped open. “W-what?” “I have cancer, Ryan, and I only have about 3 or 4 months left.” My hands started to tremble as my blood ran cold. “Isn’t there anyth-” Laura shook her head no. I sat back in my chair, trying to think what was happening. Was this a dream? Was this a horrible nightmare? It must be, no way could this happen. “B-But don’t worry. I have been searching long and hard, but I have some news for you.” I kept my head down, letting my fringe sweep over my eyes while a single teardrop rolled down my cheek. “It turns out that you wont be alone. It turns out you have a brother.” I lifted my head and cocked an eye at her. What the hell?! “Huh?” “That’s right, it turns out you have a half brother. He’s name is…” She pulled out another folder from the pile and opened it. “Wade, Cory Wade. He’s apparently 21 and supposed to be a genius.” I stood up in my chair, but then quickly sat back down again.
“Ryan,” she put her hand on mine. “It’s just what the doctors think now. I’m going back next Tuesday for another test. They may prove it wrong.” I looked up at her with a look of hope and worry.
I didn’t know what to think. I mean; I just got news that my Auntie (my only relative since the car accident) may die of cancer in a few months and now I’m supposed to believe that I have a long-lost brother who is a mad scientist that I’m going to move in with?!
I felt another diamond tear fall from me as we both sat in silence, the silence that was something that made you want to go insane. Why? Why, would this happen? It couldn’t. Please, tell me it’s just a nightmare. But yet, I had a gut feeling, this was a nightmare that I wasn’t going to wake up from.



Hold Me Tightly

End of Chapter 1
Aaaaw… Poor Ryan!