Our Little Cliché (Cancer AU) will also be published on AO3

(THIS FANFICTION IS UNDER HEAVILY EDITING)

(Edited 2019-06-23)

Cancer.

It sucks.

Trust me, I'm speaking from experience.

I fluttered my eyes open, the IV connecting on my upper hands with bandages containing needles. I looked around the room and saw the heartbeat on a small monitor next to the IV ringing in sync with the screen showing my heartbeat.

I've had cancer since I was 14, 4 painful years with chemo- and radiotherapy, operations, hair loss and prescriptions for addictive medications.

It started off as a slight suspicion, so my dad and I went to the doctor wishing for the best, only to discover me having a tumor in my lung waiting for me to die like it was an alarm waiting for the clock to strike 12:00 AM, each second counted.

I remember receiving the news, it was on my 14th birthday when I came home to my surprise party, that my friends and family had thrown for me.

I never knew one single phone call would forever change my life like when my dad walked in, clearly in shock. I remember those three words he said, not caring the guests would hear him, those three words that made the surprise party end earlier than expected.

"I'm so sorry"

Were the three words I prayed I would never hear.

I had to drop out of school when it got worse, of course I got homeschooled instead, but it wasn't the same. The difference was that I was alone. I left all my friends and no one reached out. I guess the thought of me having to go bald made them back away.

I do have one friend though, her name is Alya, she's the one taking care of me and she's really nice.

She's also my only friend.

Alya has been my best friend ever since I ended up here for my chemotherapy, she's in college studying to be a pharmacist. To develop her knowledge about health she likes to talk to people with different sicknesses. One time when I had just woken up after a surgery with the attempt to remove the tumor-which by the way, failed, she came in with a juice box and a list of questions eager to ask me.

I smiled tiredly at the memories. Today was exactly one year ago we met. That means I've been living in this hospital for a full year.

I'm expected to leave next week but the months here have been dreading, luckily Alya has made the time here feel a less worse.

"Mari!"

I turned around just in time, seeing the girl I love at the doorframe with her fuzzy brown hair in a ponytail. I smirked and she matched the expression.

"Aly!"

"No like for real, Mari!"

"One year!" I said in disbelief with the smirk forming into a genuine smile. Alya's arms were wrapped around something, I took a closer look and could only feel the diabetes taking over. She brought cans of soda-and alcohol for her, chips, candy bars, gummybears, pocky, churro's and licorice.

"Are you trying to do experiments on my body? Those things are a loving mouthfull bites of heart attacks" I remarked, causing the young adult to lean against her hip in a classy way.

"I'm going to act like I didn't hear what you just said" Alya exclaimed smugly. "It's our anniversary! It's totally heart attack worthy"

I fingered through my own black hair that had recently dried like it was hay while maintaining a focused glare on Alya, who looked like she was about to burst any second in excitement. To avoid Alya juice on my walls I gave up, which made the woman strutting over towards me look pleasant with herself.

"You're acting like it's our 10 years anniversary being married" I clicked with my tongue, my face expression doing the exact opposite to the accidental rude tone, but I knew my catastrophe of a best friend wouldn't mind- which is also one of the reasons I love her, so I didn't bother apologizing for the attitude.

Alya shuffled closer and sat on the foot of my incredibly uncomfortable bed, tilting closer to make sure I would hear what she was about to say.

"I'm going to help you fall in love"

I wish I didn't hear that.

"What?" I scrunched up my eyebrows "With you?" If it wasn't for the fact that I was on medication right now, I would say the woman sitting on my bed was definitely blushing.

"No you panini head-I, I meant like, with a guy- of course if you aren't secretly lesbian, then I know this girl named Jule-"

"We've been through, this," I gestured my hands in a rushed way "Jesus sweet lord of apple crumbles" I mumbled with a hurt look, she stopped talking when she saw my face. But the second I was about to continue the woman said:

"I'm seriously fucking serious dude, listen Mari- this time I know it won't flop"

"Why? Did you buy a slave?"

"No you crackhead I spoke to this guy from college, a friend to- you-know-who" her voice dropped slightly at the refer segment as if the person she referred to was in this very room, also known as her ex-boyfriend Nino Lahiffe.

"Oh so now we're doing the 'call Nino for you-know-who' phase" I earned a hit on my arm for the remark.

"No- I'm, Mari liste-"

"No YOU listen, Alya I appreciate the effort but I'm practically in my grave already. I don't want you to do this for me you know it won't end on a happy note"

"It'll end on A Major note if you just try please"

"Alya I swear to everything in existence I'll fight god himself if you tell me one more pu-"

"Why won't you at least try? I know it's hard to cope with all this, but trust me the guy is a really nice person. I'm not asking you to fuckin' marry him, be his friend for all I care I just want you to be happy"

I didn't know what to say.

I took a moment to study my best friend. Her dark eyebrows were creased up in both pain and frustration, like she was trying to convince her parents for something expensive. The look of desperation shined through like a light bulb, and it made me realize how lucky I am to have someone like Alya in my life.

"I will, I promise"

The atmosphere rose a little bit after my response and we started having a great time, like how it always is when we are together. And somehow, after trying to convince Alya that whoever she liked was in fact Nino when she refused to tell me, the conversation turned towards me and my petty love life.

"I am not lonely!" I let my lips pout and the air tube in my nostril nudged against the skin between my nose and mouth.

"Yeah and my nipples starts vibrating to the beat of "Don't stop me now" whenever Glee appears on TV"

It was quiet for a minute before I tilted my head back and let out a genuine laugh at her immaturity, she got infected by the happiness and snorted along with me. I coughed a little bit when my lungs slightly tightened, but it didn't stop the giggling afterwards.

"But for real though" Alya's voice turned somewhat serious once again and shifted her body to face me with full attention. "You need to be more sociable"

I've never had a boyfriend, I'm single and I'm a virgin. Sure I've had stupid crushes and been on dates, but I'm too shy to be straightforward with my feelings. The only kiss I've received is the Hersey's kiss I'm munching on right now like the fat turd I am.

"Yeah, because my cancer totally accepts me having fun" I played with the paper foil as the chocolate kiss melted in my mouth.

Alya stopped drinking her soda and gave a reassuring smile "Please, if that cancer wouldn't accept you having fun then you would be dead by now. Come on, you've suffered for what? 4 years, almost 5? It'll get better trust me. And if it doesn't, spend the best time in your life before the time is up, like Nike says 'just do it'"

Alya squeezed my hand reassuringly with a warm smile on her dark brown lips, I matched the action and tilted back into the cheap hospital pillow before letting out a sigh.

"So when am I supposed to meet him?"

On the outside I remained calm, but on the inside I was screaming in fear at the top of my lungs, like I was begging for someone to hear me.

"I set you guys up for a blind date"

"When?"

"Next week, so after you move back home"

"Does he know I have cancer?"

Why can't anyone hear me?

"No"

I sighed and closed my eyes.

"Just great"

This boy better be damn cute, he better be worth dying for. Literally.

-*Time skip brought to you by Chloe for president 2020*-

I made my way to this café my parents own, the second I got home I made them promise on my birth certificate they would act like they didn't know me once my date came.

The bell to the glass-door made a soft ringing sound when I pushed the handle, the familiar scent of pastries filled my nostrils. The hums from people having conversations lifted up the atmosphere and it made me enjoy life.

With a smile on my lips I sniffed softly as I made my way in. I had attempted to look somewhat decent, my dry hair in a bun and this red traditional kimono that my mom wore on her first date with my dad.

Alya said he would be sitting on the table window to my left. But the boy wasn't here yet, so I decided to enjoy the harmony in the building by looking around. It took me back to how it was before, before all this.

I noticed the table we were supposed to sit on was occupied by a couple of girls in their early teens. A girl whom I didn't know eagerly huddled over the small table with her friends, laughing at something the girl showed on her phone.

"Call him, maybe he'll ask you out, who knows?"

"Are you insane? Isn't he together with that girl from class 6-7! I heard she put honey all over Sephora's locker once just because she got into an argument with him"

"Shutup-guys- my mom is coming she can't hear us!"

"I don't think that will be a problem, Alessia is slurping her milkshake all up in this bitch, like shut the fuck up with your loudass noices"

"Damn Mariah, When did you start to cuss?"

The three of them were laughing, enjoying the time after school munching on pastries and sipping Coca Cola in high glasses filled with ice cubes.

But it was when my own mother started walking towards them that the scene turned into an old flashback.

13-year-old Marinette Dupain-Cheng was sitting with her best friends, showing each other their Wattpad novels in ecstacy.

"Hey girls, having fun?"

"Yes "

"A blast"

"Yes mom"

"I know Marinette said no but I made some more cheesecake if you want some, it's been a long day now hasn't it"

The signs of stress she had on her face was gone. My mother looked ten years younger, she was beautiful. The smile on her lips was genuine and kind, no sign of stress and anxiety about her only child having lung cancer was visible.

The younger version of Marinette at one point turned her focus on me, for one second I thought we were going to have eye contact, but the flashback went away and I was back to today's day and age.

I realized I had been staring at the girls this whole time, they mumbled to each other as they looked at me with a passive aggressive glare. My eyesight shifted away from them in embarrassment to instead water up.

"Shit" I mumbled and wiped at them quickly.

I had to get out of here before it turns into a panic attack. I knew that if I stayed any longer I would have a coughing fit and pass out, only to be stuck in the hospital again.

As I made my way out I passed a man who looked like he had dressed quite nice. Our shoulders accidentally bumped into each other but we just muttered a quick sorry and parted our ways. I ignored the slight pain in my shoulder as I walked on the trottoar.

"This was really not worth it." I sighed sadly, hugging myself.

And like so, I stood up on my first date.

Did I mention that this AU takes place in America? No? Well, this AU takes place in America.