My Forever (Canary Series) (8 page)

"Yeah
, well, expect to see a lot of angry texts and have a lot of angry voicemails when you turn it back on."

"Fully noted, and as for me not being at Riverbend, I'm staying here and
possibly will be moving here."

"What?" Both
Emily and Christine said together.

"Yeah, I applied for a transfer. I'm staying with
Garrett until we hear something, if or when I get approved I will be moving in with him. But for the time being I'm staying with him, kind of as a trial run."

"That’s great,"
Christine said with excitement in her voice.

"How is this great
Christine?" Emily said annoyed. "He was placed in Riverbend for a reason, that's where he belongs. He shouldn't transfer to Mapleleaf."

"
Emily that’s rude," Christine said as she was getting angry with Emily. "What's so wrong with Mapleleaf that Nate shouldn’t be here?"

"
Christy, nothing is wrong with Mapleleaf. It's just not the house that Nate was placed in. So why change it? Plus, he's been in Riverbend for four years now. We have a few months left. Why change this late in the game?"

"Because I belong here
Emily, that's why. You know nothing about what's going on and you have no room to judge. Plus, when I tested only one-tenth of a point separated the results between Riverbend and Mapleleaf," Nate explained, frustrated with Emily.

Both
Emily and Christine looked at him in shock. They couldn't believe what they had just heard. They hadn't ever seen him act like that. A few moments passed and everyone seemed to calm down.

"I'm sorry
Nate. Why don't you tell me what's going on," Emily said calmly.

Nate
looked at Christine when they heard the door open. Everyone looked to see who had come in and saw that it was Garrett.

"Hey guys
, sorry to interrupt, I'm just going to go to my room and finish up some homework," Garrett said as he started to pass them and head to his room.

"
Garrett, wait. Why don't you join us, it might be helpful to have you here for this," Nate said. He knew having Garrett here would help him convince Emily that he staying in Mapleleaf is a good thing. But he also knew that what was to come out about Emily and his past relationship with her might mess things up a bit.

"Sure, OK, whatever you say,"
Garrett said as he went to go sit in the chair by Nate.

Everyone just sat there and stared at each other in complete
, awkward silence. Nate was looking at his watch and calculating how much time he had left before Olivia came back down. No one knew what to say or where to begin.

"OK, this is crazy. What is going on?"
Emily said to break the tension.

Garrett
, Nate, and Christine all looked at each other to see who would speak first. Both Garrett and Christine then looked at Nate and slightly nodded to signal that he should speak and to let him know that they were there for support. They knew that what he was going to say was tough. But they were also going to be surprised about something that he would be admitting. Christine knew partly about what was going to be said, but Garrett was going to be hearing some things for the first time.

"
Emily, the reason I haven't been around is because of Olivia. Yesterday she fell and broke her arm. When we were at the Medical Building she had some blood work done. The results came back abnormal and with the results and her medical history they realized that her cancer had come back."

"Hold up,
Olivia has cancer? What kind? And what do you mean by come back?" Emily asked in a way where she thought that Nate was joking and just made up this lie so she would forgive him for standing her up twice in twenty- four hours.

Nate
looked to Garrett asking him to explain to Emily that he wasn't lying. "A few years back Olivia got sick and during the summer got worse. So my parents took her to the doctor and we found out that she had leukemia. So during the summer she went through Chemo. Well, she beat it and didn't think that it would come back. We wished it wouldn't, but I guess we didn't wish hard enough because it did come back. Thankfully we caught it sooner this time so she has a better chance of beating it again." Garrett said, trying to sound positive; but a part of him still worried about her not beating it.

Emily
looked to Nate and Christine for any signs that this was just one big joke. When she didn't see any signs she leaned back and shook her head. "Wow, poor Liv. How is she taking it?"

Christine
shook her head, "Not good. She hoped that yesterday was all a dream."

"Don't we all,"
Nate whispered.

Christine
looked at him and could see him breaking inside, "Anyway, like I was saying, she hoped that yesterday was all a dream. When she saw her cast this morning and realized it wasn't she did cry a little. But in true Olivia fashion, as soon as she started to cry she forced herself to stop. Then she got her bag and left. That was the last time I saw her until she and Nate walked in. I looked around for her in the halls hoping that it was just one class that she skipped."

"Nope, she skipped them all,"
Garrett said.

Christine
looked at Garrett, "Are you serious?"

Garrett
nodded, "Yeah, I have all her homework here. I just told the professors that she wasn't feeling good after yesterday and was in bed resting. They already know about her cancer being back so they didn't second guess me."

Christine
shook her head, "Well at least she has her homework. We just need to make sure that this doesn't become a habit, school is almost out and she has worked so hard to get caught up. I know we would hate to see her get behind again."

Garrett
, "Yeah, we will all need to help out. After school gets out she will continue to do treatments and won’t have to worry about school. She will be able to rest."

"Which is why she is coming to
Emersonville with me," Nate blurted out.

Everyone just looked at him as if
they didn't believe what they had just heard. "She is what?" Emily said.

Nate
leaned back, "Olivia is coming to Emersonville with me after the school year ends. She is going to stay in our apartment. This way I will take her to her treatments, be there for her and can take care of her."

"But what about your father
Nate?" Christine asked.

"He won't know. He never goes to the apartment anyway. We always use it for guests, and it’
s also my escape."

"W
hat if you guys have guests during the summer?" Emily asked.

Nate
laughed, "We never have guests that come and stay during the summer. It's only while I’m gone when he has guests that stay come over. You know that, so it will be OK."

Garrett
shook his head, "You do know that she has a house, and that I live a few houses down from her."

"See, that’s where you are wrong
Garrett." Nate didn't want to have to break the news to him but he knew that he was going to have to in order for Garrett to understand why Olivia was coming to Emersonville with him.

"What do you mean that's where
I’m wrong?" Garrett asked. He was frustrated that he kept being left out of the loop when it came to Olivia; to him it felt like their friendship was coming to an end.

Nate
looked over at Christine for help but she raised both of her hands, "You were the one that brought this up, you are going to be the one to tell him. Plus, I have no clue what is going on."

Nate
took a deep breath, "Olivia got an e-mail from her father saying that she is no longer welcome at the house and that he has disowned her. When she told me that I invited her to come and live in our apartment in Emersonville. I also told her that I would take care of her."

"Don't you think that was a bit premature
Nate? I mean come on, how well do you really know this girl?" Emily asked.

"I know her better than any of you think. So, no
, I don't think this is premature. It was just a natural solution to a problem." Nate said.

Garrett
laughed, "Dude, she could come and live with me and my parents. We have an extra room, she knows my parents and she knows the town. We were like a second family to her; we know how to handle the chemo and what she needs to get through it. You know absolutely nothing about any of this. Withdraw your offer and tell her that she is coming to stay with me."

"Now
Garrett you know I can't do that. I made the offer she accepted; I'm not going to withdraw it. Plus, I want to make sure that she will be OK. I will do anything and everything I have to do to make sure that she gets better," Nate told everyone.

"Well, what about us
Nate. How is this going to affect us?" Emily asked.

"See, that’s the thing I wanted to talk to you about today.
There isn't an 'us' Emily, I'm sorry.”

"What do you mean there isn't an
‘us’? But our date we were supposed to have last night?" Emily asked hurt.

"
Emily, that wasn't a date. I even told you that when we made the plans. I don't have feelings for you anymore. The only feelings I have for you are those of the brotherly kind." Nate told her to try and ease the pain.

Emily
laughed, "Brotherly feelings, you have brotherly feelings for me? I thought you loved me and wanted to try and work this out and try to get back together."

"I'm sorry if I misled you
Emily, I really am. But when we broke up two years ago it's because I didn't love you."

"But you…
"

"I never said 'I love you' did
I?" Nate asked.

"No, but I thought you were the person that wouldn't say it but expressed it,"
Emily said through tears.

"
Emily, you know me better than that. You know I say what I mean. If I loved you then I would have said it."

Emily
looked at him and then gasped, "OMG, it's her. You're in love with her."

Nate
just looked at her as Garrett and Christine looked at the two of them wondering what was going on.

"It
IS her. It's been her all along," Emily couldn't believe it. She hoped that he would deny it but when he didn't she stood up. "Well, fine! I hope you are very happy. Just don't come running to me if you get hurt."

Emily
stormed off and left Mapleleaf leaving Christine, Garrett and Nate in the living area. Nate sat back in his chair while Garrett and Christine looked at him trying to make sense of what had just happened. Nate looked over at Christine hoping she would give him some advice but when she didn't say anything he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in and picked up his bag and headed towards Garrett’s room. Garrett and Christine sat in silence before he left her and went after Nate. Christine was still in shock, she couldn't move.

While everyone was in the living area Olivia was in her room unpacking her school bag and looking for something to wear. She finally decided on a pair of jeans, her shirt from a music academy she wanted to go to and her brown tennis shoes. After she got dressed her phone went off. She looked at the screen and saw that it was Garrett’s mom. She debated about answering it and decided that she should, she hadn't talked to her in a while and figured it would be a good time to catch up. This way Nate had more time to get stuff put together. "Hey Mrs. Hayes, how can I help you?"

"I was just calling to see if you're OK. Garrett called us last night and told us that the cancer was back. Is
there anything that we can do?"

"Thanks for the offer Mrs. Hayes but I'm OK.
You don't have to do anything."

"Well when school is over we will continue your treatments here. I already called Dr. Anderson and he has talked to the doctor at the school and came up with a plan so that way the transition will be seamless."

"Mrs. Hayes that was really sweet of you but I won't be coming home after the school year ends."

"What do you mean you’re not coming home after school ends?
Does your dad know about this?"

Olivia sat at her desk and looked at a photo that Ian took of her at the piano. The lighting came through the window just right to capture her passion. She always said that if she got a recording contract she would use
this photo on the cover. To her this was perfect and spoke louder than anything. "Olivia, are you still there?" Mrs. Hayes said.

Olivia snapped out of her trance, "Yes Mrs. Hayes, I'm still here
. Sorry, I just spaced out for a moment there. What did you say?"

"I said, what do you mean you're not coming home after the school year? And
does your dad know about this?"

Olivia laughed, "My father is the reason I'm not coming back. He kicked me out of the house and disowned me. He told me that he never wanted me and only married my mother because 'it was the right thing to do.' And now that she is gone he feels like there is no longer a reason to have me in his life and he can finally live his life like he wants to. He told me that once I get my bank account situated he will deposit my inheritance into it. But other than that h
e wants nothing to do with me."

Mrs. Hayes was silent except for a few sniffles on the other end of the phone as
she took everything in. Finally she spoke, "You know Olivia that we love you like you are one of our own. You can move in with us. We do have that extra bedroom. Just don't let him get to you, you're a very special girl and you have people here that love you. Please, come stay with us. We will take care of you. I know Garrett would love having you around. Plus, it would be nice to have another girl in the house with me."

"Thanks for the kind offer, really. But I already have somewhere to go. I will call around and look for a doctor to watch my progress there. I'
m sure Dr. Anderson can give me some really good recommendations and help them out."

"Where will you stay?"

"I'm staying in Emersonville. Nate Bowen offered me his family’s apartment."

"Will he be staying with you?"

"Mrs. Hayes, you have nothing to worry about. He will only be there to make sure I'm OK but will be staying at his house at night."

"How much do you know about this guy?
"

"I know a lot about him. I've known him since I started here at
Oakwood; we just have gotten closer this year because of Ian's death. They were best friends you know. I trust him with my life. He was the one I confided in when my mother died, he was there when I learned that I was sick again, he was the first I told about being disowned, he has done nothing but support me and step up to help and protect me."

"Oh honey, that's great
, it really is. But you need an adult around as well. And I'm sorry to hear about your mom, when did it happen?"

Olivia looked at the phone and wondered who else didn't know. Then she remembered that she did say something about her mom being gone, but she guessed that Mrs. Hayes just didn't hear it or it didn't sink in. "Ab
out a month ago," she answered.

"What? And
I'm just now hearing about it?"

"I'm sorry; I wasn't ready to tell anyone. Plus, I figured that you would have already known Mrs. Hayes
; since you do live in the same neighborhood as we, as my parents."

"I didn't know, we didn't see her but we just thought that she was away on business. And your father is a private person so he wouldn’t have said anything or made a spectacle of things. But just know that you have a home here with us no matter what. Just think
about coming here please?"

Olivia knew that she wouldn't be able to get out of this conversation without saying that she would think about it. So she promised that she would think about moving in with them and they talked a little bit more about school and her music. Mrs. Hayes was surprised when she found out that she had stopped playing and singing since Ian's death, but she also
understood why she would stop.

"Olivia, honey
, you know he would never want you to stop doing something that you love. I remember when you guys went to the MusicFest. You were so excited and came back with so much more passion and excitement than I had seen in you in a long time. The way he would watch you when you played was one of great admiration. Don't give up on your passion because of this tragic accident. Use it to your advantage and create something amazing. That's how great pieces come about; they are created during times like these. Plus, it can really help you heal," Mrs. Hayes said.

Olivia picked up the photo she had been looking at and smiled. "Mrs. Hayes you're right. I'm not going to let this hold me back. Ian wouldn't want that. Thank you for everything, I mean it. You and Mr. Hayes have always been there for me. Like a second p
air of parents, except better."

Mrs. Hayes laughed, "It's our
pleasure. You're a great young lady. It's been a blessing to watch you grow up. We are always going to be here for you."

"Thanks Mrs. Hayes, that means a lot to me, it really does. Well, I need to get going. Hope you have a splendid evening."

"You too honey, just remember all that I said and think about coming to live with us."

"I will, I promise. I'm sor
ry I didn't come to you first."

"It's OK dear, I may be old but I still remember what it's like to be your age."

Olivia laughed, "You're not old you have a youthful soul in a classic body."

Mrs. Hayes laughed hard, "Oh dear you sure know how to make me laugh. I will talk to you later
, alright? Keep in touch and keep us updated."

"I will, talk to you later. Goodnight Mrs. Haye
s."

"Goodnight Olivia," and
with that the phone call ended.

Olivia opened up her drawer
, pulled out a notebook, placed it on her desk and opened it up. She looked through it and smiled. She knew that running away from her music wasn't an answer to anything. She loved music and had missed playing, so why did she think it was a smart idea to stop it all together after Ian’s death? Maybe it was because she wasn't sure what to expect afterwards. But what Mrs. Hayes said about how the best pieces of work come from pain had really hit her. She turned on her laptop and went through her music and listened to random songs and thought about where all these pieces came from. She would hear the songs but she never listened to them until now. Every song had a story and she was seeing that now, her story was yet to be written. At that moment she knew that she had to get back to her music. She had missed it so much and it was the last step in her return.

After a few minutes her door slammed open causing her to jump and turn around in
fear. When she saw that it was Garrett she relaxed some. "What the mess dude? Haven't you heard of knocking?"

"Olivia Carman McGuire, how can
you do this? You belong in Boston with me, not Emersonville with him. I'm sure my parents wouldn’t mind if you stayed with us," Garrett said.

"Jellybean..."

"Oh no, don't Jellybean me. This is serious."

"G
arrett, my father disowned me."

"Yeah, I know
. He told us."

"He has a name, it's Nate."

"I know that but I rather just call him 'he' right now if you don't mind. How could you tell him and not me about your father? And your mother, come on. I thought we were best friends."

"We are, he just, it's hard to explain but telling him fi
rst was the right thing to do."

"It was the right thing for whom?"

"For me, it was the right thing for me to do."

"Well, tell him that you decline his offer and are going to move in with me and my parents during the summer. You
know we will take care of you."

"I can't and won't do that."

"What do you mean you can't and you won't do it? It's not that hard, just go up to him and tell him that you decided to come and stay with me and my parents but thanks for the offer."

"Garrett Isaac Hayes I won't do that. I want to stay in Emersonville with him. I know he will be there for me
, protect me and keep me safe."

"We can keep you safe; we always have kept you safe. Didn't you use to
call my house your safe haven?"

"Yes, but that was when we were little. Things are different now."

"How are things different?"

"We are older. Plus, I'm sure that the last thing Mr. McGuire wants to see is me in
town with someone else's parents taking care of me."

"So you're going t
o punish me for his stupidity?"

"Is that what this is about? You think
I’m punishing you? That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. It's not like we won't see each other. You can always come and visit and I will come and visit you."

"Yeah right
, that is highly unlikely to happen."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You are going to be too busy being wrapped up with Nate or be too weak and sick to travel, you won't come and visit us. And I doubt that he would like me coming over to visit you. So you really shouldn’t make promises that you won’t be able to keep.”

"Don't be like that.
Nate won't mind, he already said I could have my friends come over and visit and that we can visit you guys."

"I will believe it when I see it. I just don
't trust the guy."

"Then why are
you having him room with you?"

"Because one he cares about you and said he is going to help take care of you and two it's easier for me to keep an eye on him. But
that doesn't mean I trust him."

"Well, I trust him and that’s the important thing. I really hoped that you two could become friends, you
are both very important to me."

Garrett laughed, "If I'm so important to you then you would have come to me first about
your mom and your dad not him."

"You know what, I don't ne
ed this, not right now, get out."

"What?"

"You heard me, get out. I want you out of my room right now."

Garrett looked at Olivia and realized that he
had just gotten on her bad side and he knew what that meant. "Look Poptart, I’m so sorry.  I don't know what got into me. Please, don't do this."

Olivia just turned away from him and went over to the window to look out over the grounds. He knew that she would be angry with him for a while so he slowly walked out and shut the door to give her the space he knew she needed. Once the door closed Olivia started to cry, her and Garrett never fought like this. She went back to her desk
, started to listen to music again and started writing in her notebook. After a while she collected her stuff and went down to the living area to wait for Nate.

***

Nate entered the room and put his bag on his bed. He changed clothes and sat down in the chair by the window and started to read. He had just finished reading a chapter when he heard the door slam. He looked up quickly to see Garrett standing in front of the door angry. They stared at each other, neither one of them knowing where to start. Finally Garrett broke the silence, "So, is it true?"

"Is what true?" Nate asked
, trying to act like everything that just happened was all a dream.

"Nate, you know what I'm talking about. Is
it true that you love Olivia?"

Nate went and sat in the chair that was at the empty desk, "Mayb
e you should sit down Garrett."

Garrett started to pace back and forth while Nate watched until he stopped and sat on his desk. "Oh, go ahead and explain to me what's going on and convince me why you transferring here won't be a mistake."