I stood in front of my wardrobe, staring at the jumble of clothes inside. Dresses, tops, and trousers all mixed in a colourful mess. My eyes darted from one item to the next, but nothing seemed right. I needed something perfect for tonight. But why? It wasn't even a proper date. Or was it?

Nathan had been so confusing lately. First, he'd asked me out on what sounded like a date. Then he'd backtracked, saying it was just a friendly outing. I couldn't understand it and wasn't sure how I felt about it either.

I glanced at the clock on my bedside table—4:05 pm. Nathan would be here in less than an hour, probably even sooner than that, and I was still standing in my dressing gown, hair a mess, and not a clue what to wear.

A soft knock on my bedroom door interrupted my spiralling thoughts.

"Beth? Are you decent?" Mum's voice called from the other side.

"Yeah, come in," I replied, returning to face the wardrobe.

Mum poked her head around the door, a gentle smile on her face. "How's it going, love? Found something to wear yet?"

I sighed, shaking my head. "No, nothing looks right. I don't know why I'm making such a fuss. It's just Nathan, after all."

Mum stepped into the room, her eyes twinkling with understanding. "Just Nathan, eh? Is that why you've been standing here for the last half hour?"

I felt my cheeks grow warm. "Has it been that long?"

"I'm afraid so," Mum said, coming to stand beside me. She peered into the wardrobe, her head tilted to one side. "Now, let's see what we've got here."

As Mum began rifling through my clothes, I fidgeted with the tie of my dressing gown. "Mum," I started, then hesitated.

She turned to look at me, eyebrows raised. "Yes, dear?"

I took a deep breath. "Do you think... do you think it's wrong of me to want this to be a date?"

Mum's expression softened. She reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "Oh, sweetheart. Why would that be wrong?"

I swallowed hard, feeling the familiar lump in my throat. The one that appeared every time I thought about my diagnosis. "Because... because of everything. Because I'm ill. Because I don't have much time left. It's not fair to Nathan, is it?"

Mum's eyes filled with tears, but her voice remained steady. "Beth, listen to me. You have every right to live your life to the fullest every single day. If you want this to be a date, let it be a date. Nathan cares about you; we all do. Don't push people away because you're afraid of hurting them. That's not fair to you or them."

I nodded, blinking back my tears. "But what if he doesn't want it to be a date?"

"Then you'll still have a lovely evening with your best friend," Mum said firmly. "Now, let's find you something gorgeous to wear, just in case."

We turned back to the wardrobe, and Mum began pulling out various items. "How about this top?" she suggested, holding up a blue blouse.

I wrinkled my nose. "Too formal, I think."

"Fair enough," Mum said, putting it back. "Oh, what about this dress?"

She held up a flowy, knee-length dress in a soft pink colour. I'd forgotten I even owned it.

"Oh," I breathed. "That's... that's perfect."

Mum beamed. "I thought you might like it. And look, your white cardigan would go beautifully with it."

As I slipped on the dress, I felt excited. For a moment, I forgot about my illness, about the ticking clock hanging over my head. I was just a girl getting ready for a night out with a boy she liked.

"You look lovely," Mum said, her eyes shining. "Now, shall we do something with that hair of yours?"

I nodded, suddenly feeling a bit overwhelmed. "Yes, please. I don't think I can manage it on my own today."

Mum guided me to sit at my dressing table. She picked up my hairbrush and gently worked it through my tangled locks. "So, tell me more about this not-date," she said, a hint of teasing in her voice.

I couldn't help but smile. "Well, Nathan said he wants to take me to that pizza place we used to go to, the one with the fairy lights above the booths. Then we're going to the cinema.."

"That sounds wonderful," Mum said, separating my hair into sections. "Very romantic."

"Mum!" I protested, but I was still smiling.

"What? I'm just saying what I see," she replied innocently. "Now, how would you like your hair? Up or down?"

I considered for a moment. "Maybe half-up? With some soft curls?"

"Coming right up," Mum said, reaching for the curling iron.

As she worked on my hair, we chatted about everything and nothing. It felt so normal, so right. For a while, I could pretend that this was just another Saturday night and that I had all the time in the world.

"There," Mum said finally, setting down the curling iron. "What do you think?"

I looked in the mirror and gasped softly. My hair fell gently around my face, with the top half pulled back. "It's beautiful, Mum. Thank you."

"You're welcome, love," she said, squeezing my shoulders. "Now, how about some makeup?"

I nodded, and Mum began to apply a light layer of foundation. As she worked, I voiced the thoughts swirling in my head.

"Mum," I said hesitantly. "Do you think... do you think Nathan might actually like me?"

Mum paused, eyeing me in the mirror. "I think there's a perfect chance he does, yes. Why do you ask?"

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "It's just... he's been acting differently lately. More attentive, I suppose. And then there's this not-date..."

"Well," Mum said, resuming her work on my makeup, "I've seen how he looks at you when he thinks no one's watching. And he's been round here more often than not these past few weeks."

My heart did a little flip in my chest. "Really?"

"Really," Mum confirmed. "Now, close your eyes. I'm going to do your eyeshadow."

As I sat there, eyes closed, I allowed myself to imagine what it might be like if Nathan did like me if we could have a few months together before... well, before. Would it be worth it? Or would it just make everything more complicated in the end?

"All done," Mum announced, interrupting my thoughts. "Take a look."

I opened my eyes and stared at my reflection. The girl looking back at me didn't look ill. She looked hopeful, excited, maybe even a little bit beautiful.

"Oh, Mum," I whispered. "Thank you. It's perfect."

Mum smiled, her eyes misty. "You're always perfect, love. This is just the icing on the cake."

Just then, the doorbell rang. My heart leapt into my throat.

"That'll be Nathan," Mum said, glancing at her watch. "Right on time, too. Shall we go down?"

I nodded, suddenly feeling nervous. As we went downstairs, I heard Dad's voice in the hallway, greeting Nathan.

"Now remember," Mum whispered as we reached the bottom of the stairs, "no matter what happens tonight, just enjoy yourself. You deserve it."

I took a deep breath, smoothed down my dress, and stepped into the hallway. Nathan stood there, looking smart in a button-down shirt and dark jeans. When he saw me, his eyes widened, and a slow smile spread across his face.

"Wow, Beth," he said softly. "You look... wow."

I felt my cheeks grow warm. "Thanks," I replied. "You look nice too."

We stood there for a moment, just looking at each other. Then Dad cleared his throat, and we both jumped.

"Right," Nathan said, shaking himself slightly. "Shall we go?"

I nodded, reaching for my bag. As we headed towards the door, I caught sight of Mum and Dad exchanging a knowing look. I chose to ignore it.

"Have a lovely time," Mum called as we stepped outside.

"And don't be too late," Dad added, though his tone was light.

As Nathan and I walked towards his car, I felt excitement and nerves bubbling up inside me. I didn't know what this night would bring, but I was determined to live in the moment and enjoy it for once.

After all, who knew how many moments like this I had left?

As we settled into Nathan's car, I couldn't help but notice how clean it was. Usually, it was a bit of a mess, with old water bottles and crisp packets strewn about. But tonight, it was spotless.

"You've tidied up," I remarked, buckling my seatbelt.

Nathan glanced at me, a slight flush colouring his cheeks. "Oh, yeah. Thought I'd better, you know, for tonight."

I felt a little flutter in my stomach at his words. For tonight. What did that mean?

As we drove towards the pizza place, I glanced at Nathan. He looked different tonight, more grown-up somehow. His usually messy hair was neatly combed, and I could smell a hint of cologne. It was nice but also a bit unsettling. This wasn't the Nathan I was used to.

"So," I said, trying to break the slightly awkward silence, "how's college been?"

Nathan's knuckles went white on the steering wheel. "Oh, uh... it's fine, I guess."

"Just fine?" I pressed. Something was off.

He let out a big sigh. "Look, if I'm being honest... I haven't been going much lately."

"What?" I nearly choked. "But you love your course. What's going on?"

Nathan went quiet for a bit, chewing his lip like he always does when he's nervous. Finally, he mumbled, "I've wanted to spend time with you instead."

My brain short-circuited for a second. "With... me?"

"Yeah," he said, his face going red. "I know it's stupid, and I'll catch up. It's just... ever since we found out about your..." He couldn't finish.

"The whole dying thing?" I finished for him. You might as well call a spade a spade.

"Right," he winced. "I just... I dunno. I can't stand the thought of wasting any time, you know? I want to be around you as much as I can."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. In a good way, does that make sense? "Nathan," I said, reaching out to touch his arm. "That's... God, that's really sweet. But I don't want you messing up your future because of me."

He shook his head. "You're more important than some stupid classes, Beth. It's not like I'm dropping out or anything. Just... changing my priorities a bit."

I didn't know what to say. Part of me wanted to tell him off for being an idiot, but another part... well, it felt nice to be someone's priority for once.

"Just promise me you'll try to go more?" I said. "I'd feel awful if you fell behind because of me."

He flashed me that grin that always made my stomach do weird flips. "Promise. Don't worry, I'm still doing the work. I'm not a complete moron."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Could've fooled me."

He chuckled, too, and suddenly, things felt normal again. Well, almost normal. There was something else there now that felt an awful lot like...

No, it's best not to think about that.

We arrived at the pizza place, a cosy little Italian restaurant we'd been to countless times before. As we walked in, I noticed Nathan's hand hovering near the small of my back, not quite touching, but close enough that I could feel the warmth of his skin.

As we settled into our usual booth, the familiar smell of dough and melted cheese filled the air. Nathan fiddled with his napkin, a sure sign he was nervous about something.

"Right," I said, deciding to break the ice. "Shall we get our usual?"

He nodded, visibly relaxing. "Large Margherita with extra cheese?"

"You know it," I grinned.

After we'd ordered, an awkward silence fell. It was weird - we'd never had trouble talking before. Why was tonight so different?

"So," Nathan said suddenly, "I've been thinking."

I raised an eyebrow. "Dangerous pastime, that."

He rolled his eyes, but I could see the corners of his mouth twitching. "Har har. No, seriously. I was thinking about your bucket list."

"Oh?" I managed, trying to sound casual. "What about it?"

Nathan leaned forward, his eyes bright with excitement. "Well, I was wondering if you'd given any more thought to what you want to do next. You know, after tonight."

I blinked, surprised. "You're putting me on the spot now."

He smiled. "Always, Beth."

I felt a lump form in my throat. God, he was making it really hard not to fall for him.

"Well," I said, swallowing hard, "there is one I've been thinking we should try."

"Yeah?"

I took a deep breath. "Skydiving. Definitely Skydiving."

Nathan's eyes widened. "I have always wanted to try that. You know, I was surprised you wrote that down."

I couldn't help but laugh at his enthusiasm. "Really? And I thought you were afraid of heights."

He shrugged, grinning sheepishly. "I am. But I reckon I can manage if you jump out of a plane, too."

I felt a warm glow in my chest. That was Nathan all over - always ready to face his fears for the people he cared about.

"There's just one problem," he said, his smile fading. "Will your mum let you? I mean, it's not exactly the safest activity..."

I shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. "I'm dying. She has to let me."

Nathan froze just as the pizza arrived. For a moment, I thought I'd gone too far. Then he burst out laughing.

"Christ, Beth," he said, shaking his head. "You're always so blunt about this stuff. It shouldn't be funny, but somehow it is."

I grinned, relieved. "Well, no point beating around the bush, is there? Besides, what's the point if I can't laugh about it?"

He nodded, his laughter fading to a soft smile. "You're right. So, skydiving it is. What else is on that list of yours?"

I told him about other things I wanted to do as we ate our pizza. Especially visit Paris—the Eiffel tower to be exact.

"We can do all of that," he said firmly. "Easy peasy."

I felt a twinge in my chest. "Nathan... you don't have to do all this. I don't want you putting your life on hold for me."

He reached across the table and took my hand, his expression suddenly serious. "Beth, listen to me. I'm not putting my life on hold. This is my life. Being here, with you, doing all this mad stuff? That's exactly where I want to be."

I blinked hard, holding back the tears that suddenly threatened to spill. "You're such a sap," I managed to choke out.

He grinned, squeezing my hand before letting go. "You love it."

By the time we'd polished off the last slice, I felt more relaxed than in weeks. This was why Nathan was my best friend. He could always make me feel normal, even when everything was falling apart.

As we returned to the car, I felt a flutter of excitement in my stomach. The night was still young, and who knew what might happen?

We climbed into the car, and I suddenly remembered something. "Oh no," I groaned.

Nathan looked at me, concern etched on his face. "What's wrong?"

I felt my cheeks heat up with embarrassment. "I forgot to bring any snacks for the film. I'm so sorry; I've been a bit forgetful lately."

To my surprise, Nathan burst out laughing. "Beth, you daft thing. Look in the back seat."

Confused, I twisted around to peer into the back of the car. My jaw dropped. The entire back seat was filled with bags of crisps, chocolate bars, fizzy drinks, and even a couple of blankets.

"Nathan!" I exclaimed. "What on earth? That's... that's a lot of snacks."

He shrugged, looking a bit sheepish. "Yeah, I probably went overboard. But I wanted to make sure we had everything we might need."

I shook my head, still amazed. "But I didn't bring anything," I repeated, feeling guilty.

Nathan's expression softened. He took my hand, sending a jolt of electricity up my arm. "Beth," he said softly, "you brought yourself. That's more than enough."

We just sat there, hand in hand, looking at each other for a moment. Then Nathan cleared his throat and dropped my hand, turning to start the car.

As we pulled out of the car park, I peeked at Nathan. The streetlights cast a soft glow on his face, highlighting the curve of his jaw and the slope of his nose. Had he always been this handsome?

"So," I said, trying to distract myself from these dangerous thoughts, "this drive-in cinema. How'd you find out about it?"

Nathan grinned, keeping his eyes on the road. "Did a bit of Googling. It turns out there's one not too far from here that does special showings of old films. Thought it might be fun, you know?"

I nodded, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. He'd gone to all this trouble just for me.

As we drove through the darkening streets, I thought about the future. Not the big, scary future that loomed over me like a shadow, but the immediate future. Tonight. Tomorrow. Next week.

For the first time in a long time, I felt excited about what was to come. Because whatever happened, I knew I had Nathan by my side.

The drive-in cinema appeared in the distance, a large screen glowing against the night sky. Cars were already lining up to enter.

"Ready for this?" Nathan asked, glancing at me with a smile.

I grinned back, feeling a thrill of anticipation. "Ready as I'll ever be."

As we joined the queue of cars, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change. Maybe it was the romance film we were about to watch or how Nathan's hand brushed against mine as he switched gears.

Whatever it was, I was ready for it. After all, what did I have to lose?