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Chapter 6
Brian knocked on Tia's door and kicked it open with his foot. "Tia?" he called softly.
"Brian!" Tia squealed and ran to him. She threw her arms around him in a tight hug. "I'm so happy you came!"
Brian disentangled himself from Tia's arms and held her back by her shoulders. She gazed up at him with a bright, happy face.
"What's wrong?" she demanded.
He smiled. "Nothing, Tia. What's wrong with you?"
"Absolutely nothing at all."
Brian let go of her shoulders and walked past her into the room. He perched on her bed and watched her.
Tia turned around and stared at him. "Hello?" she called.
She's not going to die, he told himself. She won't.
"Tia, why were you so busy when I called you?" he blurted out.
Her face dropped. "Oh, that."
"Would be…what?" he urged.
"I was in a really bad mood," she said.
Brian didn't reply, just raised an eyebrow at her. She sighed and sat next to him.
"The doctors told me I had, like, less than a half of a year left," she whispered.
Brian paled. "W-what?" he stammered.
Tia wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hugged him tight. He reached up and put a hand on her arm.
"Tia?"
"That is unless their new information doesn't work out," she continued, lifting her head.
"What do you mean?" He twisted his head and looked at her. "Tia," he added, without waiting for an answer. "I've only known you a couple weeks. But still, like, it's strange…"
She waited patiently for him to go on, sensing a struggle.
"You know me, Tee, and I don't understand the bond I feel with you."
"You don't have to." She shrugged. "Some things in life aren't meant to be understood."
"How do you do that?" he burst out. "How do you take things with a grain of salt? It's weird."
Tia laughed. "Oh, Brian," she said, shaking her head.
"Is something funny?"
Tia ignored him. "I feel like singing. How 'bout you?"
"I sing enough," he responded, but she didn't hear him. She had jumped up and turned on the radio.
"I love this song," she squealed. She sauntered over to him and grabbed his hand, pulling him up from the bed. "Let's dance."
Tia twirled under his arm, while Brian just stared in shock at her.
"C'mon, Brian," she whined. "You're no fun!"
"Who is this?" he asked, grabbing her waist and spinning her outwards.
Tia laughed, and spun back to him. "Reba McEntire," she managed, still laughing.
"I'll be your shoulder, Brian, when you need someone to lean on," she sang.
"Be your shelter when you need someone to see you through, I'll be there to carry you, I'll be there. I'll be the rock that will be strong for you the one that will hold onto you. When you feel that rain falling dowwwwwn, Brian, when there's nobody else around, I'll be…"
Brian caught her when she floated past him. "How can you be so happy?" he shouted over the music.
She stopped and stared at him. Brian switched the music on lower, and looked at her, waiting for an answer.
"Oh, my goodness," she murmured.
"What?" he asked worriedly. "Is it your head?"
She laughed. "No."
Tia stared at Brian, wondering how he could be so…not fun.
"Brian, you need to relax. The world is for having fun. Don't let anything get to ya," she advised.
Brian squinted his eyes at her.
"You can't go through life being so tense," she continued.
"I am NOT tense," he stated firmly.
Tia rubbed his shoulders gently. "You are SO tense," she corrected.
Brian sighed. He really wasn't tense. Tia was just avoiding the subject and trying to get him to hold back on all questions.
"Tee," he said softly.
The kneading stopped. "Huh."
"Sit with me, please."
Tia obediently followed him to the bed and sat next to him. Neither said a word.
"I have a chance, Brian," Tia said finally. "You don't have to worry. The doctors found something out and they say it can help my case, and Megan told me yesterday, but I just couldn't call you, I was too ashamed that I promised you I'd always be there and then I wasn't-"
Brian kicked her foot and she stopped rambling.
"Okay," Brian commented. "Slow down."
"I…have…a…chance…now…the…doctors…just…told…me…"
Brian promptly kicked her foot again, laughing. "Faster."
"ActuallyMegantoldmebutshedidn'treallysaywhatitwasjustthati'mnotgongtodie-"
"You're impossible, you know that?" Brian said.
"Idon'tknowwhattodowithyousometimesyou'resoornary."
Tia laughed and playfully punched him on the arm. "Stop making fun of me."
"Whome?idon'tknowhatyou'retalkingaboutidon'tmakefunofpeoplehowcouldyousaysomethinglikethat?"
Tia stood up and walked to the door. "Fine. Be that way," she pouted.
"Okay, I'm ready to be non-Tia-like now," he called. "Come back."
Tia returned to him and stood over him.
"We're friends aren't we?" she said.
Brian looked up at her and gazed at her. "We're friends," he confirmed, squeezing her hand.
"Good."
Brian stood up. "Maybe I should go."
"You just got here," Tia protested.
"Then what do you wanna do?"
"Let's dance some more," she suggested.
He grinned. "I know the perfect song."
"Oh?" She tilted her head to one side and looked at him. "What would that be?"
"Let me go to my car real quick," Brian said and turned around. "It's in the CD player. Be right back."
"Promise?" Tia joked.
Brian just laughed and disappeared out the door.
He was gone less than five minutes before he poked his head inside the door.
"Don't look," he instructed. Tia shrugged and turned around.
Brian put the CD in, turned the volume up, and waited. As soon as the opening chords began, he started to sing.
When you feel all alone
And the world has turned it's back on you
Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart
I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you
It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold
When darkness is upon your door and you feel like you can't take anymore
Tia laughed and watched him as he pretended to sing into a microphone. He danced in front of her and held out his hand. Hoping no one would walk in the room and see him acting like a fool, she took it and allowed him to lead her into a dance that was obviously from one of his songs.
Tia had never had so much fun in her life. Brian wasn’t only incredibly cute, but he was also the most fun guy she had ever spent time with.
Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
When you feel all alone
And a loyal friend is hard to find
You're caught in a one way street
With the monsters in your head
When hopes and dreams are far away and
You feel like you can't face the day
Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
Because there has always been heartache and pain
And when it's over you'll breathe again
You'll breath again
When you feel all alone
And the world has turned its back on you
Give me a moment please
To tame your wild wild heart
Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
Crash and Burn, Savage Garden/I’ll Be, Reba
McEntire
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