Lox's POV...

How can someone who's lost so many people continue pushing forward in life the way she has?

Both of Greya's parents passed away by the time she was 13, then her grandmother, and then her boyfriend! Well, I can only assume he was her boyfriend the way she explained it and the way she still mourns him. I can't imagine being in love with someone and never seeing or hearing from them again.

No wonder Cohen said she's had it rough and the last few years have been even worse for her. Poor thing! And here I was thinking I'd work up the courage to kiss her during our date.

She's not ready for that. She still cries over her lost love, even when she's around me. Maybe I remind her of him, except the half working body of course. Maybe she misses being around someone similar as him and that's what I am to her. That's why I've made her shed tears before. It's him she wants, not me.

That explains the first day we met, she looked like she'd seen a ghost. Are my features similar to his? Our eye and hair color the same?

What ever it is, still doesn't explain why she helped me in the first place. All she saw was the back side of a crippled guy who had dropped his book. She could've left like everyone else that day, but she chose to stay and pick my book up off the ground for me because she knew I needed the help.

That's Greya though, I've come to learn over the past month and a half. Her beautiful face, kind eyes, and pure soul mask all the grief she carries around inside her.

And we've become friends, whether I remind her of her dead boyfriend or not, she's shown me that she cares about me. I care about her too. Now that I know part of what she's been going through, I can't push her to be more than friends. I don't know if more than friends is really what she wants anyway.

It's probably better this way. Who knows how long it will take me to walk normally again or speak without a stutter, or if I'll ever recover at all. Do I really want that for her? Wishing she'd fall in love with someone with all these disabilities isn't fair to her.

"Bro, why are you still in bed? It's almost noon time."

I'm not about to confess I didn't sleep at all after my virtual date, it'll only worry him. I know I should've stretched and got up hours ago because my body will regret it now.

Liam removes my foot and hand splints for me because he knows my limbs are too stiff for me to do it on my own.

"How was your online date?" He asks while trying to help me stretch.

"Alright I...I g...guess. I...I learned m...more a...about her."

Truthfully I don't know how well it went after what I found out. It was nice seeing her and talking with her anyhow.

"That's a good thing? You don't look to sure of yourself and you've been in bed half the day."

"Sh...she told m...me she l...lost a g...guy she l...loved a f...few years a...ago."

"Shit! Really? She told you that?" Liam looks shocked.

"Did she tell you anything else about him? How it happened or anything?"

"N...no." I shake my head. "Only th...that she l...loved h...him and h...hasn't r...recovered from i...it."

"That must've been hard for her."

My arm won't straighten out so he's decided to give up and help me get my legs moving instead.

"I...I think I...I r...remind her of h...him. Why sh...she p...probably hangs out w...with m...me."

"Maybe, maybe not. Does it really matter? You both like each other and you both make each other happy, right?"

I sit up on the side of the bed and let my feet dangle over the edge for a few minutes. She makes me happy for sure. She's all I think about and who I want to be around. She says I've made her happier too and I hope that's the truth.

My phone dings and Liam grabs it for me.

"Speaking of said girl."

He hands me my phone and there's a text from Greya.

"Hey Lox, thank you for going along with our virtual date, it was nice. I still want a real date though, when I'm feeling better. We're all sick now lol. The 4 of us are quite the sight!"

Liam's staring at me like he's waiting for the gossip.

"Sh...she's sick. H...her, Fynn, Ch...Chase and F...Fynn's b...boyfriend T...Tim."

"Ugh, that sucks. Ask if she needs anything."

No shit Sherlock. I give him the one raised eyebrow.

I ask her and of course she says they'll be fine but I don't believe that. Who's going to take care of them when they all feel like crap.

"I..I think w...we should g..go over and h...help them. B...bring a...soup or a...something. I...I need a...a shower f...first."

"Yeah, good idea. Come on." He lifts my arm up and wraps it around the back of his shoulders so he can support me to the bathroom since I'm not wearing my brace.

Thirty minutes later, we're ready to go. Liam stops at the grocery store on the way and buys all the essentials.

I feel guilty when we knock on her front door. What if she was sleeping.

Greya opens the door. Her hair is in a messy bun on top of her head. She's wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt. Her nose and her cheeks are red against her pale complication. She's still the most beautiful person I know.

"What are you guys doing here? We're going to get you sick too!" She opens the door wider to let us in.

"We're here to take care of you all, make you food, do the chores, whatever you need." Liam answers for the both of us.

Her eyes roam over my body, noticing my bent arm and that I'm using my crutch, not my cane. "I don't want you to catch whatever this is," she whispers.

She thinks if I get sick, it's harder on my body. She's right but I don't care. Helping her feel better is worth the risk.

"I'll b...be f...fine L..Love."

"Liam!" Chase comes barreling out of the living room and bear hugs Liam.

"Chase! They're here to hang out but we need to keep a little distance so we don't get them sick too." She scolds her brother.

"Don't worry about us Grey," Liam tries convincing her again.

"What did you bring us? I hope food because Grey's too sick to cook today," Chase teases his sister.

"H...he seems t...to be f..feeling b...better."

"Yeah, he's doing better than the rest of us." Greya tilts her head towards the living room. Blankets and pillows are spread all over the floor and couches, Fynn and Tim buried somewhere underneath it all.

"Come on buddy, you can help me make the food." Liam and Chase head toward the kitchen.

"You sh...should b...be r...resting." I say to Grey. Knowing her, she thinks she's responsible for taking care of everyone.

"We've tried to tell her Lox but she doesn't listen!" Fynn's voice appears from the fort of blankets.

"L...let's get y...you to th...the couch." I gently nudge her shoulder.

"I have a pile of Chase's laundry to do first."

"We told her Chase can do his own laundry since he's feeling better." Fynn's on my side here.

"Last time I had him do his laundry he washed his clothes with only fabric softener and mixed the reds with the whites." Greya keeps making excuses.

"Hey, I heard that!" Chase yells from the kitchen. At least they all have their sense of humor.

"Liam w...will t...take care of th...the f...food and I'll d...do the l...laundry. N...now go r...rest." I smile at her when she finally takes our advice.

She lays down onto the couch cushions and I cover her with a blanket using my one good arm. The smile I get from her in return gives me a boost of confidence.

I can take care of her.

An hour later, Liam and Chase have managed to make homemade soup and bread rolls and I've gotten one load of clothes through the washing machine.

While the clothes are drying I check on our sick patients and I catch Greya waking up from a little nap. A cat nap but at least she slept.

She sits up and pats the cushion next to her asking me to sit down.

"I'm g...glad y...you slept. H..how are y...you feeling n...now?"

Suddenly, I feel her hand in mine and it makes me want to wrap her up into my arms, or arm I should say. My other arm is completely useless today, although hasn't stopped me from doing the chores for Greya.

She gets up and I watch her move to my left side. Her warm hands gently grip my forearm and her first attempt at straightening my arm fails.

"Y...you don't h...have t...to." I'm not here for her to take care of me.

"You're helping me, so I'm helping you." She flat out tells me.

I chuckle and shake my head.

"Anyone e...ever t...tell you y...you're s...stubborn?" I smirk.

"Just about everyday," Fynn chimes in, causing us all to laugh.

"I can say the same about you, now let me try and fix your muscle contracture." She tries again.

This time she begins with my fingers, massaging and extending each one. I'd fight her more on this but what she's doing feels so much better than holding a constant fist.

As soon as she presses into a pressure point near my elbow the tension releases and my arm drops to my side.

"H...how did y...you d..do that?"

She shrugs, "I looked it up and thought I'd try it. I didn't hurt you did I?"

"N...no not a...at all. Th...thank you." My arm is limp and still seems useless, but I'll take it over the contractures any day.

"I'm s...still taking c...care of y...you. Don't f..forget." I wink.

"Food's ready!" Chase yells from the kitchen.

Fynn and Tim both rise up from the blanket grave together, looking like they were ran over by a bus. I quickly look back at Greya, she's as pale and tired and more than beautiful in my eyes. No virus or flu will cause me to see her any other way.

"What a perfect couple. Am I that nice to you?" Tim says to Fynn as they walk by us. "

"You're very nice to me," Fynn leans closer and hugs Tim.

Greya and I look at each other before quickly shying away. Tim thinks we're a couple, or it's the virus talking. Either way, I wish it were true and wonder if Greya wishes it too, even just a little.

"G...go eat s...something Love, I'll f...finish up th...the l...laundry."

"Thanks B," she leans towards me an kisses my cheek.

If only wishes came true.