His hands were intertwined with mine on the plane home.

It was the first time we've made any kind of physical contact today. After the call, we all packed our bags and are crossing our fingers that we can get out of here and to the hospital fast. I was a tiny bit disappointed we didn't get to do much in Orlando, but this was more important.

Hunter was quiet on the plane ride, Amy and Sebastian were quietly watching a movie to pass time. And Eugene was staring out the window, tapping his foot
in-patiently.

My chest burned when I saw the hurt in his eyes, I instantly grabbed his hand. He glanced at me, and stopped tapping his foot. He squeezed my hand and laid back in his chair.

His eyes are closed but I knew he was still awake.

Once the plane landed a couple of hours later, he got up quickly, swinging his luggage over his shoulder with his hand still clutched in mine.

He didn't let go until we reached the car. Everyone was silent.
I just really hope everything is okay. I hope it's good news not bad news.
I was the driver, I didn't speed but I went quicker than normal. I clutched the steering wheel tightly, I just wanted to get there already.

Eugene swung his door open before I properly stoped the car, he got out and power-walked to the hospital doors. Hunter was following his footsteps closely.

Amy was looking down at her hands, Sebastian had his arm wrapped around her.

"Do you think everything is okay?" Amy finally says, non of us having any clue what's happened.

"I don't know." I mumble.

"Come on, lets go inside now." Sebastian said bluntly, opening the car door. I knew he knew what was up, it just wasn't in his place to tell us.

I crossed my fingers as I walked to the reception.
"Bea Rider." Sebastian says.

Bea? Of course. They never told me where she was, I'm just so glad she hadn't passed. I sigh of relief that Bea was alive. But her in hospital still wasn't a good sign.

"Room 34." The woman said.

I nod and Sebastian was first to take direction to the room.
Amy looped arms with me and we followed behind until we reached Bea's room.

Through the door, I see Eugene sitting on the chair beside the bed and hunter hugging a girl his age.

"That's Bea," Sebastian says before entering the room.

As I stepped into the cold room, a new pair of brown eyes from the hospital bed looked up at me. I'm guessing Sebastian and Amy stayed outside.
Her blonde locks was down passed her shoulders, red cheeks and a small smile was plastered on her face. She looked like Hunter.

"Who's this?" Bea asks turning to Eugene. "Is this your girlfriend? Is this a new one? You've never brought a girl in here before."

Eugene scratches the back of his head and chuckled at his baby sister. "No, she's not my girlfriend."

"Oh. I'm Bea." She smiles at me.

"Hi Bea, I'm Edythe." I smile back standing beside Hunter.

"Oh, your Edythe! I've heard about you." Her smile brightens.

"Bea..." Eugene starts.

"All good things." She laughs.

I laugh along with her, I love this girl, she's awesome.
But the question is, why is she in hospital? And for so long?

"Have you told her?" Hunter says to Eugene.
He shook his head. I looked at them curiously.

"I want to tell her. It is my condition." Bea says.

Condition?

Eugene didn't say anything, but his facial expression was hard to read. Instead he lead Hunter out the room, leaving Bea and I.

"Just remember, Eugene has been through tough times. This is one of them." Bea says as I sit down in the chair looking at her curiously.

"I have cancer."

A gasped, my heart fell. How could a girl so beautiful as Bea, have the fear to die at the age of ten? Why her?

"Bea..."

"The hospital rang Eugene to say that my condition is getting worse. Instead of going into a coma, I'm- going to pass." She explains.

I'm speechless, I know I should say something. A poetic quote of hope but I have nothing.
So I do the first thing that comes into mind.

I hug Bea, she wraps her small arms around me tight.
She breaks away and smiles pushing her hair off her shoulders.

"Your much better than the other girls I've heard." She says.

"Eugene and I, were not-"

"I know, but can you promise me one thing?" She asks me with her amazing brown eyes.

"Anything." I say sitting beside her.

"When I'm gone. He's going to shut everyone out. But please don't give up on him. He will need you." She says, her eyes travelling to the white wall across the room.

"Believe or not, he's a butthole, but he cares about you." She says looking back at me. "A lot."

I smile at her, my heart beats faster when she said he cares about me.
"I promise."

••••

I was relaxing in the chair in the library, reading Between The Lines, when I realised something.

Since I've been here, The only time Eugene hooked up with a girl was the forced blind date-- which we interrupted-- point is, the other times he left the house, we was with Bea.

It's nearly unusual. Well, it is.

I get rid of the thought that entered my mind of him falling in love with me and blah blah cause that won't happen. He uses girls then leaves them. And I will not let that happen to me.

But what if he changes?

For me.

Pfft are you crazy. Once an asshole, always an asshole. My mind needs to stop thinking about cliche things that won't happen. People don't change.

What if they do?

Stop!

I slam the book closed and put it down on the table next to me.
It reminds me of the Library in Beauty and the Beast.

Great. Now I think it's a fairytale. What is wrong with me?

I shake my head and follow the steps to the hallway.
I needed ice cream. Vanilla or chocolate? Do they even have ice cream?
I walk into the kitchen to find Mrs. Rider filling out forms. Well then...

"Hello Mrs.Rider." I say shaky, not wanting her to yell at me.

"So your still here?" She asks firmly.

"Okay," I sit on the chair across from her. "Listen. I'm not trying to get in your way, I'm not trying to ruin every date you plan for him, don't think I intended to interrupt the last one because I wanted him for myself. I don't. But Eugene is an amazing person, yeah he can get ticked off quite a lot, but I wouldn't blame him. Your controlling him. I'm not telling you how to parent, but god! His sister is fighting for her life, trying to make the most of it! What about him? What about his life too?" I ran out of breathe, a tear slipped from my cheek.

She just looks at me completely stunned.

"All I'm saying," I breathe. "I couldn't care less about his ego or his car, or his bed sheets. I just want him to be happy, and any mother would want that too." I finished there.

I sighed and turned to leave the kitchen without my ice cream.