That's What Friends Do - Chapter 2

“Breaking News: Hurricane Andrew has reportedly killed nearly sixty-five people. More coverage of that story coming up. So don’t go anywhere. This is Sally Wright on the BBC, bringing you the latest stories from today; August 20th 1992.” The camera zoomed out on the newsreader. The screen switching to an advert of a new detergent. Carter turned his head, looking outside. It was a beautiful day, quite unusual really. The weather had been horrid all of the summer holidays, now it was near the end of them, the sun had started to appear. 1

The doorbell rang. Carter jumped up, excitedly running through the hallway. He opened the door, smiling at Thomas. Thomas’s skin was perfectly bronzed, after just getting back from their families yacht. He had grown a lot during the summer holidays, getting taller, and more handsome. Carter wasn’t much different. He was still slightly over-weight, and still had his messy long blond hair. 2

“Come in come in. My dad’s in the office, so its just us down here.” Carter closed the door. Following Thomas into the living room. Thomas was extremely quiet. “So how was your holiday? Your look really tanned, lucky bugger.”3

Thomas laughed. “Being stuck on yacht with my family. Not lucky.” He laughed. Carter just smiled again. “Want to play football? I haven’t played since I got back.”4

Carter didn’t particularly want too. He had “two left feet”. But he didn’t care, he would happily do whatever Thomas wanted. “Ok, you excited for school?” The two boys left the living room, walking through the untidy kitchen to the garden. The sun was soaring now, the temperature way above fifteen degrees.5

“I need to talk to you about that.” Carter didn’t like the sound of that. Thomas kicked the ball against the side of the wall. “My parents told me this morning, you know St. Peters school? The all boys one? They are moving me there before Year 6. Want me to do well before SATs.”6

Carter’s jaw dropped. No, he thought, how could he be doing this. He was his best friend. “I don’t know what to say.” Thomas went quiet, looking to the ground. “Can’t you tell them no. Say you don’t want to go.”7

Thomas shook his head. “They made their mind up before the holiday, just didn’t want to ruin it for me.” Awkwardness appeared between the two boys. Both didn’t know what to say. Carter’s mind was filled with a million thoughts, not taking in what just happened. Thomas just stared at the grass.8

“Its not the end of the world is it? We can still see each other after school and at weekends. Like we only have one more year left at primary. Then we can go to the same secondary. Hopefully.” Carter spoke quickly, trying to sound like he was alright. “I’m just going to the toilet.”9

Carter ran indoors. Running through the hallway, into the bathroom. Slamming the door behind him. He fell to the floor, holding his head in his hands. Sobbing. 10

*11

Thomas dropped the phone. Breathing heavily, sweat covering his forehead. He looked round. Nobody had even noticed that he had dropped the phone. Steph was staring at her engagement ring, his dad talking to his mum and Carter was nowhere to be seen. He wiped the tear from his face, trying to be strong. 12

But then the realisation set in. He ran to the bathroom, heaving into sink. Dark-coloured sick going everywhere. He wiped his mouth with a tissue. Looking into the mirror. He looked pale, his face flushed. “I’m going to die.” He said to his reflection. Throwing up once again into the sink. 13

*14

Carter walked back into the dining area, from his bedroom. Forcing a smile on his face. “Can I get anybody else a drink?” Pouring some more champagne into his glass. Everybody nodded.15

Steph’s eyes were fixated on her ring. “I think we should have summer wedding. In Kent. Thomas would like that.” She took the filled glass from Carter, thanking him, looking around the room. “Where is Thomas anyway?” A toilet flushed, the bathroom door opening. 16

Thomas walked out, looking perfect. His skin now his normal colour, perfectly bronzed. “Sorry something from dinner must have affected me. I’m really sorry babe,” kissing Steph on the head he sighed, “I think I’m gunna go to bed.” 17

Steph looked annoyed, but hid it with a smile. “That’s ok. You need your rest. Anyway who was on the phone?” She picked up the stereo remote, turning it on.18

Thomas lost eye contact with Steph, he couldn’t look her in the eye and lie to her. “Wrong number babe.” He said goodbye to his parents, smiled at Carter and walked into his bedroom. He unbuttoned his shirt, throwing it on the floor. Unzipping his trousers, letting them slip down. He sat on the bed, picking up a pillow. Putting his face into it, screaming from the bottom of his lungs. 19

*20

The alarm ringed louder. Carter groaned. It had been going off for the last five minutes, but after too many vodka shots last night, he couldn’t be bothered to move. Carter wasn’t even sure why the alarm was going off, he thought, it was Saturday. He pulled his body up, hitting the alarm off button. Silence. 21

The events of last nights filled his thoughts. Engagement. Parents. Alcohol. Bad times. Carter sat up, wiping his eyes. Standing up, he heard the door slam. Meaning Steph had left. Carter stood up, picking up his dressing gown. Leaving his bedroom. 22

The apartment was a mess. Plates still covering the dining table, bottles of alcohol everywhere. Carter ignored the rubbish and put on the kettle. The loud screeching filled the house. A door slammed behind him.23

“Morning.” 24

Carter turned around, to see Steph turning on the TV. Slightly shocked. “Oh I thought you was out. Sorry if the kettle woke you.”25

“It’s ok, you didn’t. Thomas did slamming the door. Where’s he gone anyway?”26

Carter laughed. Pot. Kettle. Black. “Absolutely no idea.”27

*28

The air was very bitter. The sun still not showing his head outside the clouds. The number 80 bus pulled up. Full of children and old people. Thomas asked for a half. No intention of coming back. This was the first time in 10 years he had used the bus. People with money never use the bus. But this morning was different. Thomas wanted to do things out of the ordinary. He only had 2 months to live - or less - so why not, he thought. 29

Thomas sat next to a little old lady, smelling of talcum powder and piss. The bus halted several times before his stop. Thomas thanked the driver, stepping back into the bitter air. 30

The sidewalk was very busy. People coming from every direction, going into another. Thomas just stared at the building in front of him. Scary how hospitals look so daunting, he thought. 31

“Excuse me.” Thomas looked around, coming face-to-face with Ethan Stone. His doctor. “Oh Thomas its you. I’m glad you came, most people run a mile when I tell them they are going to . . Sorry. Right take it you are coming in, not just standing there.” Ethan laughed nervously. His white shirt was perfectly fitting, his trousers pin-stripped. 32

“Please, lead the way.” Thomas followed as Ethan entered the building through the revolving doors. As usual, the hospital was painted white. Nurses and doctors everywhere, leading passengers to cubicles, or just sat at a desk typing away. 33

Thomas walked down, what it seemed, hundreds of corridors. Finally they reached a office. A wooden plaque on the door reading “If we can’t solve your problems, nobody can - NHS.” Ethan opened the door, letting Thomas in first.34

“Please sit down, anywhere, that brown sofa is extremely comfortable, or so they say.” Ethan sat next, after picking up some leaflets off the desk. “I’d like to go through a few things first, then I will answer anything you want me too. Deal?”35

Thomas nodded. He looked scared. Petrified. “Right were to begin. Well I’d like to apologise for ringing you last night, not professional at all. When I saw you, you had so much going for you. I just wanted to let you know as soon as possible.”36

Thomas smiled. He was wrong about Ethan, he wasn’t a knob. He was alright. “No I should apologise for that, the alcohol took over. So for butting in carry on . .”37

“Well lets move onto the less happy stuff. I’m a oncologist, if you didn’t know that means I’m a cancer doctor. We did full body CT scans just to be safe. Little did we know that they would show a brain tumour. A rare one in fact. Its more common in people under twenty years old, so you are in the small statistic that got it when you were twenty-seven. This may be due to the cells developing late or just plain unluckiness.” Ethan put the leaflets together neatly, making sure they were in line and passing them to Thomas. “These leaflets will give you more information, put more simpler, I’m sure you would like to go through these with your fiancée.”38

Thomas lost eye-contact with Ethan. Facing the other way. “Take it you haven’t told her then. Well I cant pressure you too, but I feel like you need to tell somebody. Even Carter, it looked like you was close.” 39

Carter popped into Thomas’s head. He suddenly felt tears running down his face. “It would ruin him completely. I’m pretty certain it would affect him more than Steph.”40

Ethan didn’t know what to say. He wanted to act professional. But all he wanted to do was hug him. Say everything would be ok. Even though they both know that would be a lie.41

Thomas wiped his eyes. “Take it I don’t have any options? I just have to wait to die.”42

The room went quiet. “I’ve spoken to other oncologists, the general conclusion is we’ve caught it too late. If you declined our views, we can perform a maximal resection, removing as much tumour as we can, and then do intensive chemotherapy or radiotherapy. But my opinion is . .”43

Thomas butted in. “Waste of time operating on a. .” His words became slurred. Not being able to finish the sentence. His face turned red. 44

Ethan put his hand on Thomas’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, its ok. It should only affect you for a minute or so.” Ethan rubbed Thomas’s shoulder for a couple of minutes.45

“Thank you, I better go, I didn’t tell anybody where I’d be. Need to break the news I think.” Thomas stood up holding the leaflets in his right hand. 46

“Yeah I think its the best bet. One last thing though, no driving.” Ethan was shocked when Thomas put his arms out for a hug. There warm bodies touching for a few seconds.47

“Thank you again.” Thomas left the office, passing a bin, throwing the leaflets on top. 48

*49

The bus was busier, making Thomas having to stand. Most of the seats filled with young parents or elderly couples. He was on a different numbered bus this time, going in a complete different direction to home. 50

The bus stopped. Letting multiple people off. Leaving a seat, near the back vacant. A frail looking woman was sat near the window. Her hair a magnificent shade of grey. Wrinkles covering her little round face. Thomas sat down, causing the woman to glance him up and down. Looking deep into his face. 51

“Guilt. Your eyes are filled with guilt. Black guilt. What are you leaving behind?” The old woman took his hand. “Let it out my love, its good to get things off your chest.”52

Thomas felt compelled to tell her. To tell her everything. “Yesterday I got told I had three months to live. I’m running. Running away. From everything. Wherever my fucked up body can take me.”53

“Leaving behind the person who loves you the most, you think that’s the best idea. He’d never forgive you. . . You need to relish the time you have left. Before its too late. Before death comes calling.”54

Thomas stood up, slamming the stop button, the driver pulling into the nearest lay-by. He ran off the bus. Realising how rude he was, he never thanked the woman. Thomas ran to the bus window, staring through to the empty seat at the back of the bus. No sign of the elderly woman. Anywhere. 55

*56

several hours later57

The bottle hit the floor, glass smashing, expensive champagne flowing everywhere. A tall, heavy built security guard coming down the aisle towards Thomas. 58

“Excuse me mr. By the looks of it, you don’t need much more alcohol. The door’s that way.” The security guard pointed to the right. 59

Thomas turned around, his pupils wide. He blinked numerously. “Sorry mind didn’t mean too.” Rubbing his eyes.60

The security guard laughed, pulling up his sleeve. “Its only just turned 5 o’clock and your pissed as a fart. What a life eh? Life of a raging alcoholic. I’ll let you off this time, but next time your be paying for this.”61

Thomas’s face screwed up. “But I’m not even dddrrunk.” He tried to walk, stumbling, his legs not realising what to do. 62

“Course your not mate. And I’m Johnny Depp.” The security guard grabbed Thomas by his arm, leading him out of the shop.63

Thomas stumbled when released, falling upon the side of the wall. Slumping to the floor. Remembering the symptoms he had saw on the leaflet. The leaflets he had put in the bin. Why had he done that he thought. Thomas managed to stand up, feeling a lot better. “Fucking brain tumour. Least its only happens for a few minutes. Why am I talking to myself? I’m going to die insane.” Thomas raised his hand calling for a black cab coming down the street. 64

*65

Carter smiled. He was finally alone. For the last few hours, Steph had been talking non stop about weddings. What was sad was that, it was a Saturday and he had nothing or nobody to do. He turned the TV up, getting hypnotised by a programme about celebrity culture, not even noticing Thomas coming in, walking straight into his bedroom. It wasn’t until he noticed the door go, he came back into reality.66

“Thomas. You ok mate? Where did you get off too?” Carter awaited a reply, but had no response. He switched the TV off, getting up from the settee. Carter walked across the bedroom door, knocking hard against the wood, entering straight away. “Mate you ok?”67

Thomas looked like death. His eyes looking deep, filled with sorrow. His movements slow. “Sit down. I wanted to tell Steph first, but well . .” Carter sat on the bed anxiously.68

“What’s wrong?” Carter put his hand on Thomas’s shoulder, trying to get a reaction. But Thomas didn’t even flinch, or say anything.69

“I’m dying.” Thomas lost eye contact with Carter, looking into his lap. Carter not moving at all, his eyes still staring at Thomas. “I’ve been to the hospital most of the day, I have 3 months, maybe less. Maybe more.”70

Carter couldn’t speak. His mouth filled like it was full of cement, no words able to come out. A single tear fell from his left eye, trickling down his face, before Thomas stopped it with his index finger. Thomas put both arms round Carter, comforting him like he was a child. Letting the tears flow, with nothing being said.71

*72

Carter left the bathroom, using his sleeve to dampen the water on his face. He sat next to Thomas on the settee, picking up the bottle of Carling from the coffee table.73

“Want to watch the game? I’m sure arsenal will kick Chelsea’s arse.” Carter nodded. Carter felt like nothing was wrong, like everything was swept under the carpet. Like Thomas dying was ordinary. 74

The game started, both teams trying their hardest to score the first goal. The atmosphere was awkward, the only sound was bottles being opened, they had moved onto red wine now. Both men getting slightly drunk, making the awkwardness slowly slip away.75

The phone rang, nobody moving to pick it up, letting the answer machine pick it up. “Hey its Steph, just wanted to let you know, not coming home tonight, going for some cocktails with my sister then back to hers. Be good,” she kissed down the phone before hanging up. 76

“Looks like its just us boys tonight. Want another glass?” Thomas went to grab the bottle of wine, but missed knocking a glass off the table. “Oh for fuck sake.”77

Carter laughed. “Guess that clumsiness is a symptom.” They both laughed, before going silent, once again. “Are you scared?”78

“Scared of dying, no. Scared of losing everything, yes.” Thomas stood up, walking to the kitchen. Rummaging through the drawer for a notepad and a pen. Walking back into the room he said “Let’s make a list. They do this on crummy films. A list of things to do before I die.” He flipped the first page over, “I’ll start. Erm let me think. Got one.” He scribbled along the paper. “Number one: Visit the Eiffel Tower.”79

Carter nodded. Grabbing the paper from him, writing below the first suggestion. “Number Two: Say sorry to all the poor girls you’ve shagged and not called.” 80

They both laughed. “I’ve only got three months, remember?” They laughed harder, Carter snorting. Both composing themselves, Thomas took the pad, writing again. “Number three: Try something new.” 81

Carter nodded. “What like? Food or sexual position?”82

Thomas shrugged. “Nope, something bigger, something life changing. Something that will make my life better, for the long term. Something that will make the people’s life better after I’ve gone.”83

Carter sipped more wine. “I’ve got an idea. Close your eyes.” Thomas smiled, the alcohol in his body making him excited.84

Thomas slowly closed his eyes. Relaxing his body, he sat rigidly on the settee. Carter moved closer to him, their faces nearly touching. This is it Carter thought. He kissed him. Gently at first. Not knowing what would happen. A punch in the face or . . 85

Thomas broke away, looking into Carter’s eyes. This time Thomas made the first move, holding Carter’s face with one hand, kissing him more powerful this time. Using the other hand to unbutton Carter’s shirt.