"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." – Ephesians 4:32

Jake woke up on Monday morning, rolled onto his side, and stared blearily at the numbers on his alarm clock until they came into focus. Then he gasped.

9:30? He was over two hours late to school!

Immediately, he threw off his sheets, swung his legs over the side of his bed, and placed his feet flat on the floor. But the second his head was in the upright position, he felt woozy. His hands gripped the mattress as he slowly lowered himself back down. What was wrong with him? His head was pounding, his whole body ached, and his throat was sore to swallow.

Jake lightly pressed his palm to his forehead. With a groan, he realized he had a fever. He quietly pulled his bed sheets back over his body and closed his eyes. He drifted in and out of sleep until Mrs. Sanders opened his bedroom door twenty minutes later.

"Jake, honey?" she asked softly. When he cracked open an eye, she walked over and sat down on the side of his bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Sick," he muttered.

She pressed a hand against his forehead. "I checked on you earlier when you didn't wake up for school."

"You should have gotten me up, Mom."

She smiled wryly. "You're burning. There's no way you're going to school today."

Jake realized his mother's hand was still resting on his brow, but he didn't turn away like he usually would have done. Rather, he looked into her eyes and saw sorrow reflected in them. "Mom," he croaked out.

She placed both hands against his cheeks and smiled. "Do you want me to get you anything?"

Just stay, he thought.

Suddenly, the phone rang from the den, and Mrs. Sanders quickly stood up. "That's the doctor," she said. "He's calling about my chemo treatment."

Jake sank lower beneath his sheets and watched his mother's figure disappear out the door. A few moments later, he heard her voice talking on the phone. Oh God, please give the doctor wisdom. Please let her chemotherapy work...

The thought of losing his mother made tears spring into his eyes. He didn't care if lying in bed, crying over his mom made him look like a pathetic little boy. Jake had a fever, his mother had cancer, and he had missed an important opportunity to make amends with Maya today.

That was the main reason why he was so upset. Of all the days to come down with a fever, it had to have been today! Jake had stayed up late last night rehearsing what he wanted to say, how he wanted to say it, and when he wanted to get Maya alone for his confession. But all that had been snatched away when he woke up with a fever. He could only pray that he would get over this fever soon.

Though Alana's palms were sweating and her heart racing as she stepped out of Cole's Volkswagen, she felt a wave of peace wash over her whenever she looked at him. She knew she had made the right decision. Cole was a great guy, and after praying and receiving Dylan's approval, she knew their relationship was meant to be.

Telling the rest of the gang, however, was a different thing altogether. Koa was already against their relationship and Alana knew the news wouldn't go over well with Maya since she had neglected to open up to Maya about her feelings for Cole. As for Jake, Alana hoped he would approve, just like Blaine.

Now she understood the tension Maya and Jake had gone through when they debated whether or not to announce their relationship to the gang. Alana felt like she was drawing lines between her friends, and she hated it.

"You ready?" Cole asked, giving her a small smile.

Suddenly, every doubt vanished from Alana's mind, and she returned his smile with confidence. "Yes."

But when they walked into the gym to meet up with the surf team, Jake was nowhere to be found. Coach Kerr finally told them that Mrs. Sanders had called him in sick for the day. Alana's hopes deflated—there went the one person she hoped would support her and Cole's relationship.

"Don't worry," Blaine said quietly. "Just tell Maya and Koa the truth."

The gang circled around Alana as Blaine stepped back, giving her room to talk. She glanced at Maya, who smiled curiously, and then at Koa, who seemed to know what was going on but betrayed no emotion.

Then Cole placed a hand on Alana's shoulder and said, "We have something we want to tell you guys."

Maya's eyes widened.

"We...um..." Alana stammered.

"We're dating!" Cole blurted out.

Blaine started laughing, and Maya's smile blossomed into a grin. "I knew it," she said triumphantly.

"You did?" Alana asked.

"I had my suspicions," she said.

Koa nodded, glancing between Alana and Cole. "Way to go, guys," he said, attempting a smile.

The awkwardness between them was dispelled when Blaine suddenly wrapped his arms around Cole and Alana, bringing the trio together in a bear hug. "Congratulations!" he cried.

"Wait," Cole complained, "I haven't officially asked her yet!"

Blaine immediately dropped his arms to his sides. "You haven't?"

"Well, I'm about to." Cole turned to face Alana. "Will you go out with me?"

She laughed. Koa placed his hand against his forehead, muttering, "Typical, Cole."

"That is not the way you ask out a girl," Maya said.

But Cole didn't seem ruffled in the least. "Well?" he asked Alana. "Will you be my girlfriend?"

"Sure," she replied, just as casually. Everyone burst out laughing.

"Now it's official!" Blaine declared.

Alana smiled at Cole, her official boyfriend, and then at Blaine. She felt Maya swing an arm around her shoulders and saw Koa give a genuine smile. So maybe breaking the news to them hadn't been so hard after all. She was lucky to have her friends.

On Tuesday morning Jake woke up feeling the exact same way as the day before—groggy, sick, and feverish. On Wednesday he was only slightly better. He was home alone for most of the day because Mrs. Sanders was gone to another doctor's appointment. When she returned, it was late in the afternoon, and almost all of Jake's energy had been spent sitting up doing homework that the Anderson twins kindly brought from school.

On Thursday, Jake was feeling much better, but he had a hacking cough that made going to school impossible. His head and sinuses cleared up immensely in the evening, though, so he went to bed once again prepping for the moment he would see Maya tomorrow.

Finally, the day came—Friday morning, just one hour before school started. Jake hurriedly showered, got dressed, and finished a few extra pages of homework that he had forgotten the night before. Once he was ready, he kissed his mother on the cheek and said goodbye. Koa was extremely glad to see him when Jake swung by his house a few minutes later. However, despite Jake's best attempts to start conversation, Koa seemed down about something. Jake figured he would find out what it was sooner or later.

When they pulled into the parking lot at Ventura High, they were five minutes early. That left just enough time to walk to the gym and place their belongings in the locker room before their workout.

Jake's heart was pounding as he headed towards the gymnasium. He heard girls' voices laughing and talking when he rounded the corner towards the locker rooms. To his surprise, it was Maya and Alana. They stopped when they saw him and Koa approach. Then, cheerful as always, Alana greeted them with a warm hello.

"Hey," Jake said halfheartedly. His eyes almost flickered towards Maya, but he kept his gaze in place. Now wasn't the time.

"Feeling better?" Alana asked.

He nodded vigorously. "Much better, thanks."

That was the only close call he would have with Maya all day. It was odd, he thought, how he and Maya tried so hard to avoid each other at school, but the moment Jake actually wanted to see her, she was nowhere to be found. He got a few glimpses of her in the four classes they shared together, but since they sat on opposite sides of the room, he never got a chance to talk to her. Even at lunch she managed to disappear. Jake figured she was eating with Hannah, Benji, or another one of their friends outside the gang. Meanwhile, the ache in his heart grew more and more intense.

The bitterness he felt was only amplified by the fact that Alana and Cole were now dating. Apparently they had announced their new status on Monday morning, but Jake hadn't been at school to hear it. He was happy for them, of course, if not a little surprised. Though Alana and Cole had definitely grown closer in the past month, Alana was the last girl Jake would imagine to take time for a boyfriend.

But their relationship was clearly different than Maya's and Jake's had been. Alana and Cole hardly did more than hold hands, and when they did hold hands, it was underneath the lunch table or where they thought no one was looking. They were close, but at the same time, they kept their distance. Jake wondered if that was where his relationship with Maya had gone wrong. Had they broken up ultimately because they were moving too fast?

All these thoughts were disquieting, but when the final school bell rang, Jake had to resign himself to his fate. He would just have to confront Maya at her house—if she was even home. It seemed like lately she was always working at Scottie's. Jake sighed and forced his heart rate to slow down by taking deep, even breaths. The anxiety he had suffered all day had been for nothing.

Jake was grumbling to himself when he came within sight of the parking lot. He suddenly stopped cold when he saw a familiar dark-haired girl standing beneath the shade of a tree. His jaw dropped open. Oh, now they crossed paths—right when Jake had given up all plans of apologizing!

He swallowed and took a tentative step closer. Maya was standing with her feet shoulder-width apart, rolling back and forth from her toes to the balls of her feet. She clutched a few books to her chest while she scanned the parking lot for any sign of her ride. Her hair, which had been let down to show off her natural curls, shielded her face from Jake's view.

He gulped. It was now or never.

After murmuring a quick prayer for the right words to say, Jake stepped onto the grass. Dozens of leaves crunched under his feet, which was why Maya turned to look at him only seconds later.

As soon as their eyes met, Maya's widened in surprise. She took a step backwards but quickly mastered her emotions. "What are you doing here?" she asked curtly.

He took a deep breath and decided to put it bluntly. "I came to apologize." Her brow furrowed.

"Maya," Jake began, ignoring her puzzled look, "I'm so sorry for everything I've done to you. You're an amazing, beautiful, headstrong girl, and I can't imagine why you would ever choose someone like me." As soon as the words were out, the rest came easily. "I let you down, and I'm sorry. I apologize for not thinking things through and for jumping to conclusions when should have come to you first. I apologize for being shallow, self-centered, rude, and stubborn." He took another deep breath. The hardest part was out; now he needed to let her how he felt deep down. "These past few weeks have been torture for me, Maya. They've been horrible. I can't bear it to see you avoiding me in the hallways and not sitting next to me at lunch. I'm so sorry for abandoning you and pretending like I didn't care. The truth is, I did care—I cared this whole time. Even though our relationship needs a lot of thoughtful planning in the future, I sincerely hope you'll forgive me. I hope you'll be willing to try again."

Maya's bottom lip quivered, and she put a hand over her mouth to stifle her words.

"Maya, please...I know you don't deserve someone like me, but I want to make things right," Jake pleaded. "Please forgive me."

For ten seconds—the longest ten seconds of Jake's life—Maya stood completely still and silent. Jake resisted the urge to reach out and sweep those brown curls away, to hold her face in his hands, to prove that she was the love of his life. His insides twisted into a cruel knot. Maya, why are you doing this to me?

As if reading his thoughts, Maya opened her mouth, about to speak. But just then, the sound of tires screeching jerked their attention to the parking lot. Jake recognized the faded Sedan with a sinking feeling in his stomach. The passenger window rolled down to reveal Mrs. Mallory's beaming face. She urgently motioned for Maya to hop in.

"Come on, hon!" she called. "We have some important news!"

Jake leaned forward slightly and realized Mr. Mallory was sitting in the driver's seat. They were obviously excited, but one look at Maya's countenance told Jake that she felt the complete opposite.

"I—I have to go," she muttered, avoiding eye contact and darting towards the Sedan.

Jake's mouth fell open. "Wait!" he called. "Maya, you can't—"

But as soon as she pulled open the door to the car, her parents burst into a flurry of conversation. Jake stared at Maya's face for the longest time, but she never acknowledged him. She simply closed the door and turned away from the window.

With a deflated heart, Jake watched as the Sedan squealed away from the curb and out of sight. He suddenly felt weak and collapsed against the tree. With his back propped up by the sturdy trunk, he leaned forward and put his face in his hands. What had he done wrong? Why hadn't Maya's parents recognized him? The Mallory's should have realized that they were having a serious conversation!

With a sinking feeling, he realized what must have happened: while talking to Maya, Jake had been standing slightly behind the tree, out of sight for anyone looking in their direction from the parking lot. Jake groaned and slid down onto the grass, stretching his legs out in front of him. He thought he had done well. He thought his apology had been sincere, thoughtful, and heartfelt. Had he left something out? Had his words been too rushed? Had the entire conversation just occurred at the wrong time?

With a heavy heart, Jake realized Maya had probably never wanted to get back together in the first place.