The next few days just flew by. I was barely aware of what was up or down anymore. All I could think about now was Chase and his terminal cancer. It consumed my life. I would spend hours at a time in the local library researching everything I could about cancer. I wanted to find something that would tell me he was going to make it.

                Anything at all.

                If I wasn’t at the library, then I was in my room, isolated from the rest of society. I stayed in there as long as I could, not wanting to leave it. I hated the world. Why was my father the one who got cancer?

                There were so many worse people in the world. Sure he hadn’t been there all the time, but thinking back, Chase had managed to stay in a good portion of my life until around three years ago.

                The moment I realized that, I broke down in one of the worst fits I’d had since learning it. I’d always blamed him not loving me on why he wasn’t around, when in reality, it was because he had cancer.

                I was horrible.

                I spent a lot of time venting to Jason about this. He listened and tried as best he could to comfort me the first few hours, but after a while he realized I just had to get it out of my system.

                And that’s what I did.

                I spent almost all my time at home crying to Jason about this. I was a wreck. I could barely make it through the first half of the school day without running to the bathroom, sobbing.

                Friday came and it took all the energy I had to drag myself out of bed. I walked into the bathroom, staring at the girl in the mirror.

                I sighed.

                She looked horrible.

                Her eyes were red from the days spent crying. Her hair looked like a rat’s nest, knotted and tangled everywhere. Her skin was almost as pale as snow, her eyes giving off a blank look. She appeared to be more of a zombie than a human girl.

                I shook my head, running a hand through my horrible hair. I turned the water on in the shower, not waiting for it to warm up.

                The ice water hit my back, getting little response from me. I sucked in a deep breath and bared the pain until the water warmed.

                I moved at a slow pace, dreading the day ahead.

                Caden didn’t talk to me once Friday. He had left me alone all week. When I saw him in the hallway on Friday, he ignored me, walking at a quicker pace.

                Later that evening, I found out he had called and canceled tonight, claiming to be sick. Mom was upset at first, but that didn’t stop her from going out regardless.

                Saturday, Jason promised to take me to visit my father at the hospital.

                I put an effort into making myself seem normal. I put make-up on for the first time in days, giving my face a brighter appearance. I did my hair up nicely and put on my nicest pair of casual clothes. I took my time doing everything, knowing this was the only thing keeping me distracted.

                I couldn’t wait to see him.

                I wanted to know how he was.

                I prayed every night that he’d be ok.

                I sat nervously on the couch, twittering my thumbs as I waited for Jason to arrive. I repeatedly checked my phone in case he had texted me.

                He finally showed up at twelve-thirty with a knock on the door.

                “You ready?” He asked when I answered.

                I nodded. I called to my mother to let her know I was leaving before locking the door behind me. Jason led me to his car silently.

                As soon as we were in, he leaned over and kissed my cheek. “You ok?”

                I nodded “I’m just worried about him. He’s my dad, Jason. I… I’m scared”

                Jason grabbed my hand as he backed out “It’s going to be ok, Joey. I’m sure he’s fine. Don’t worry”

                “I’ll try not to”

                It was a silent ride to the hospital. Jason didn’t pressure me to talk, giving me my time to think. I stared out the window, letting my mind wander.

                When we walked in, I grabbed Jason’s hand. He gave me a squeeze, signing us both in. The nurse gave us directions on where to go before we left.

                Chase looked even worse. It looked like the life was draining out of him as we spoke. He tilted his head a little as we walked in, a smile across his face.

                I bit my lip, holding back tears.

                “Hey Joey” He said, his voice weak.

                “Hey Dad” I said, “How’re you feeling?”

                He sighed “Not too great. Just watched my favorite team get creamed. What about you, sweetie?”

                I shrugged “I’m doing ok”

                Jason pulled two chairs next to each other. We sat down.

                “Oh, this is Jason” I introduced “He’s uh… kind of my boyfriend”

                I blushed as I spoke, realizing that our hands were still together. Chase chuckled, reaching a hand out for Jason to shake.

                “Hi Jason, I’m Chase” He introduced, shaking his hand “Joey told me she didn’t have a boyfriend last time I talked to her”

                Jason laughed “We just got together recently, sir”

                “You better treat her right” Chase threatened “I may not be strong now, but I’ll haunt your ass when I’m dead”

                Jason laughed while I gasped “Don’t talk like that!”

                Chase shrugged innocently “I’m just warning him”

                “Don’t worry, sir” Jason grinned, squeezing my hand “I’m not going to let anything happen to her”

                I blushed deeply, looking away.

                “Awh, look!” Chase laughed “She’s embarrassed!”

                “Stop” I laughed, covering my face “No I’m not!”

                “Take your hands away then”

                “No”

                Through my fingers I saw Chase roll his eyes “She’s so embarrassed”

                Jason laughed.

                We talked for a few hours with Chase about everything. It turned out that Chase and Jason had a lot in common. They spoke cars for a little while I tried to understand what they were saying. Jason had moved so that his arm draped the back of my chair, holding my hand with his other one.

                It felt nice with just the three of us.

                At five, we decided to leave. Mom would be going out soon and Jason was taking a late shift at his work.

                As I leaned down to hug Chase he whispered in my ear, “I like this boy; he’s a keeper”

                I was grinning as I pulled away. “I’ll be back soon”

                “How soon is that?” Chase asked

                I shrugged, looking back at Jason “Whenever he can take me over”

                Chase raised an eyebrow his way

                “We’ll visit Monday after school” Jason promised, a smile on his lips.

                Chase grinned, watching us leave.

                As soon as we were back at the car, Jason pressed me against the side. His hands were at my hips, a stupid smile across his lips.

                “What?” I asked with a giggle.

                “I like your dad” He shrugged, pressing his lips against mine. I grinned into the kiss, pushing him off gently.

                “Come on, we have to get back” I laughed, making no move to slip away.

                “You look so cute today” He whispered.

                “You don’t look too bad yourself” I teased, tugging at his shirt. Jason rolled his eyes, pecking my lips before pulling away.

                Jason drove me back. I felt better than I had in a while. Chase had looked a lot better when we left than when we first entered.

                Jason dropped me off, promising to tomorrow. He wouldn’t get off work until nearly eleven and didn’t want me to stay up that late.

                I came back in the house, a new feeling about. Mason was eating dinner in the kitchen with Mom. I walked in there, grabbing myself some chicken.

                “Where did you go?” Mom asked, not sounding interested

                I shrugged “Hospital”

                “Why?” She frowned

                “Chase”

                She choked slightlmyself some chicken.

                “Where did you go?” Mom asked, not sounding interested

                I shrugged “Hospital”

                “Why?” She frowned

                “Chase”

                She choked slightly on her food “I didn’t know you knew about his…”

                “Yeah I know” I interrupted “He told me first”

                She sighed “I thought he would. Do you want to talk about it, sweetie?”

                I glared at my plate. Was she serious? I had been a zombie the past three days and she wanted to talk now? “No.”

                “Alright, Joanna” She said, standing up “Let me know if you want to.”

                I nodded as she set her plate in the sink “Oh, Caden said he’s coming over tonight. I’ll be out much later than I originally planned. I told him he can stay the night if he wants to”

                “Why?” I growled angrily

                “Because I’m worried ab—”

                “Is this really about Mason?” I asked, refusing to look at her “Cause you’ve never had a problem with me babysitting Mason before.”

                “Of course it’s about Mason!”

                “Then let me ask you something, Mom” I said, crossing my arms and leaning back “Out of all the people you could’ve hired, why did you hire a guy that went to my school?”

                “He’s asking for such a small amount—”

                “Why are you letting a boy stay the night at our house when you’re not around? You never would’ve let that happen before.”

                “Joanna I—”

                “Are you trying to set me up with Caden?” I questioned “Because you don’t like Jason? Is that it? You’ve never had a problem before, but now that Jason and I are close you’re trying to force some other guy into my life?”

                “Joanna” Mom snapped “How dare you assume that. I am trying my best to give you a house and home. I don’t care who you date. I may not like that Jason boy, but I wouldn’t try to force you into a relationship you didn’t want to be in. You of all people should know that”

                I sighed, hanging my head in defeat.

                Mom was right. Cody and she had been in a relationship set up by their parents and now they could barely stand each other. Mom wouldn’t do that to me.

                “I’m sorry, Mom” I sighed. “I just don’t understand why you’re letting him sleep over now”

                “Because I trust him, Joanna” She said forgivingly “I know you probably don’t, but Caden’s a good kid. I hired him because I used to work with his mother. She’s one of my best friends. I know you’re upset with this, but you really need to get over your anger.”

                I nodded “Sorry”

                “It’s alright.”

                I stood up, walking up to my room. 

**You guys are impatient little readers, aren't you? Haha, it's chill cause I love you(: So, I have been waiting for the past 30 minutes for just two comments. 

And guess what! OVER 200 COMMENTS ON THE LAST CHAPTER(: You are all amazing <3

P.S. Huge shame that the steelers lost D: No rubbing in allowed, ok?