Ethan

Sophie and Matt dropped by early in the morning to check on us and I introduced them to my parents. Then Sophie went to pay Grandpa a visit. Meanwhile Matt went to grab something to eat from the vending machine. Politely, he asked everyone if they needed anything which made mom "Aww" over how sweet he was.

Minutes later, Skye was pulled a few feet away from me by her aunt and they spoke in a low tone. I didn't mean to eavesdrop again, but my last night's question was left with an unsatisfied answer and couldn't let it go. Especially when I heard 'How are you holding up?' Another question that raised hundreds of questions in my head. That previous accidental eavesdropping got turned to full-on purpose. There was a moment of silence but I heard Skye saying, "Just fine"

Something wasn't right.

"Hey guys, why don't I drive you home so you two cou..." Hank cut off his sentence.

Sophie was talking too, but she too has stopped. I tried to get a single sound from the people around me, but nothing. I wasn't sure if it was me or there was some sort of tension going around.

Did something happen?

Soft fingers entwined through mine, setting my what was once increased heart rate to a bliss of mess.

"What's happening?" I asked as I leaned close.

Her words smiled, "I think my aunt and your uncle like each other."

As if on cue, I heard Hank stumbled on his words, "Um... Ah... Hi... I'm Hank, Ethan's uncle." Hearing the mighty Hank nervous for the first time in my life had me grinning.

Skye

"And now, live from our studios, Hank is reaching for a hand shake. Sophie is reaching out too. Watch out people they are gazing into each other's eyes." I was whispering to Ethan. Seeing his smile got me going on with the details, well, in a funny way.

"And one Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi... more hands joined the simple hand shake. Now all four are in." My voice changed, "I think we've just witnessed love at first sight."

It looked real, they were still holding hands, simply lost, gazing into one another's eyes. Wide opened, with a twinkle. There were a few times where I was a hundred percent sure of how right something could be, this was one of my few moments. Unmistakable attraction.

What broke my heart right then and there was that I've just noticed that it has been a long time since I saw Aunt Sophie's eyes sparkle and her face light up like that. I think Matt noticed that too. He stepped closer standing beside me and I rounded his small shoulders with my arm.

"You're not from around here?" Hank asked in a dreamy voice, still gazing into her eyes.

Sophia answered in the same voice, "No, we moved here recently."

He nodded, "Must be, or I would have remembered seeing you."

Nice one Hank! I cheered silently.

I saw the way he treated Ethan. How much he cared about him. How he treated his family. The guy was awesome in many ways and he might be just what Aunt Sophie needed. And from the looks of it, she might be what he needed too.

Hank volunteered to drive me and Matt home, so I could catch some sleep. Ethan was going to do the same. Now that everything turned out to the best sleeping seemed like a fluffy, cozy and soft idea.

Ethan

Skye took it upon herself to drive me to the hospital after school. When Dr. McCartney released Gramps from the ICU to a regular room, she wanted to visit him, and I couldn't say how much that meant to me. I was just about to introduce her to him when the old man took over.

"You must be the gorgeous Skye everyone is talking about." He said when we stepped into his room.

Apparently, news traveled fast in this family.

Just like that, they were talking like some ol' pals. I sat on the end of the bed hearing her giggle over something the old man said. He laughed at something she said. I didn't concentrate much on what they were talking about. Their voices fell right in place. Skye got along with every single person of my family. She captured all of them as she captured me.

I couldn't help not to envy everyone who could see her. I heard the words gorgeous, beautiful and cute being used around me and I envied every one of those people. I couldn't imagine how she looked. Whatever images I've built in mind never seemed to do her justice. Not that seeing her would change anything from my side. I'm already hooked.

The realization of admitting those words whipped through my body and stormed in my brain.

"Earth to Ethan..." Hank's voice reached my ears and snatched me out of my thoughts.

When did he get here?

"What were you thinking about that had you smiling?" He asked curiously.

I just shook my head saying nothing. For a now.

Abbey and Timothy came to visit Grandpa. The gesture gave the meaning of friendship a new prospective. The day after, mom told me that Kyle came to visit him too while I went home to change. Mom said he kept apologizing.

My first thought he shouldn't have come at all, but then, strangely, it didn't matter anymore. A new light was shed over that friendship part. And new profound respect and appreciation towards the people I knew.

********

The first bell rang as I waited for Skye near the lockers as I usually did. She was running late today. Actually, that was a first. Skye must be the first girl I've known who has been on time in all history.

The sounds around me started to ease when other students walked to their classes, none was Skye. There were no usual confidant steps walking towards me. Or the chirp of her voice as she greeted me in the morning. Not even the scent of what became my favorite perfume that she has been wearing since I met her.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, blasting the caller ID in its electric tone "Skye"

I picked up in a rush, "Hey, where are you?" I started.

"Hello Ethan..."

That wasn't Skye's voice.

"This is Sophie."

I failed to hide the disappointment in my voice, "Oh... hi."

Why is Sophie calling from Skye's phone? Did something happen? My heart sank at the thought. "Is everything okay?" I asked right away.

"Everything is fine." Sophie replied calmly.

If everything was fine, then where is she?

"Skye asked me to call to tell you that she'll won't be coming to school today."

"Why? What happened?"

Sophie's voice didn't change, "She has a sore throat, running a fever, coughing and today she woke up without a voice, so she will be staying home for a couple of days."

Playing back the last few days in my mind, the time she stood with me under the rain. The lack of sleep because she was with me in the hospital. The exhaustion from the days that followed. She did cough a few times yesterday. Cleared her throat before she talked. It was only then when I recalled her hands were warmer to the touch, but I just hanged it on the weather.

Guilt ate over me uncontrollably. Just like that my day flipped to darkness.

"Hello... Ethan, you still there?" Sophie's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah... sorry, I'm here."

Sophie sighed all of the sudden, "Um... how should I say this?" Sophie was more talking to herself now before getting back to me, "Well, she wrote and I quote... have a nice day Your Awfulness. Oh great Lord of Evil and Despair," then she spoke fast, "I'm really sorry but that what she wrote down. She wrote that you'll get it."

I smiled, "Tell her thank you, I will. Thanks Sophie."

I've never experienced that feeling of someone knowing me so well. Skye did that.

She got me.

She understood me.

Despite Skye's message that lifted my spirit, my day dragged endlessly. The whole day seemed just wrong, absolutely meaningless without her around. There was no death trap backpack. None of the occasional arm brushing against mine as she took notes- I could have moved a little and made some space, it was just that I didn't want to-. Itwas how I confirmed that she was still there. Even lunch was tasteless. Tim and Abby tried to get the conversation going but nothing fell in place. I think they sensed my mood and stop trying, so I apologized and excused myself falling into the trap of feeling abandoned.

By the end of the day, I was on my last straw of patience. I pulled my phone out and started to dial Skye's number. I memorized it the minute she gave it to me after our first fight. Two digits away and I hung up as I raked my fingers roughly through my hair.

Sore throat, idiot!

Her aunt just told me a few hours ago that she lost her voice. How exactly was she supposed to answer the phone! I was banging my stupid head with my stupid phone I was clinching tightly in my stupid hand.

The moment I heard Hanks voice calling my name I blurted, "I want to buy a teddy bear."

I could hear his approaching footsteps on the pavement coming to a sudden stop after my announcement.

"Um ... ah... not be judgmental or anything, but aren't you a bit old to play with a teddy bear?" Confusion and laughter mixed in his voice.

Okay, I had to admit, that sounded weird even in my ears, but I wasn't about back down now, "Not for me, it's for Skye."

"Aha, aha, you don't have to explain to me." He laughed.

If I could roll my eyes I would have done that by now, but I wasn't sure if that was a possibility in my current status.

"Skye is sick and I'm going to check on her. You are driving by the way." The words came out as flat as -a matter of fact-. Nothing was going to stop me.

"Is she okay?" Hank sounded genuinely concerned.

"I don't know, I couldn't speak to her."

There was a low ruffle as he slid into his seat followed by the click of his seat-belt.

"Anything else beside the teddy bear?" He asked as we started to move.

I kept my grin to myself when I decided to get mean and sneaky, "Well... her aunt is going to be there," I think going to Skye's house was putting me in a good mood, "How about some flowers for a first visit."

"Sophie..." was all he said in a dream-like voice.

Somehow, I knew he was thinking of her all the time. He would stay quiet and still for a long time. Sometimes I have to call his name a few times to get his attention. He even started to sound different, happier. As far as I could remember, Hank has been out with a few girls but nothing like this. I think he has fallen in love.

Ringing the bell, Hank and I proved -without a doubt- that we could pass as blood-related uncle and nephew. He was as nervous as I was. I could hear the low rustle, of what I assumed, was from the paper the flowers were wrapped with. Meanwhile, I was fidgeting with the bear in hand. I believe we both snapped into full attention as we heard footsteps heading our way.

The door creaked open and the surprise in Matt's voice obvious, "Um... hi?"

"Hi!" Hank and I said at the same time. A little more like barked.

There was a smug of laughter in Matt's voice, "So... visiting the ladies I guess?"

"Yes!" We said at the same time again.

The problem wasn't our matching words, the problem was that we said them in the same short, snapping way that made the kid hardly able to hide his chuckles.

We stood inside while Matt called on Sophie. Hank had cleared his throat a couple of time and started to pace with loud thuds on the floor.

"Relax!" I said running out of patience.

Him being nervous was making me more nervous.

"That obvious, huh!" even his voice came out edgy and uneven.

"Yup! And hearing it from a blind guy it means buckets. Breathe..." I instructed.

"I can't breathe..." he spoke in a low voice, "she takes my breath away."

I knew exactly what he meant.

Sophie walked in cutting Hank's sharp inhale mid-relaxation routine. They exchanged some weird, awkward greetings. Followed by long seconds of awkward silence. Finally, Hank remembered to hand her the flowers.

I knew he was going to embarrass me.

"Thank you, they're beautiful!" Sophie complimented happily.

"You're welcome."

I could've swore right then that my uncle had a big goofy grin on his face.

Then Sophie turned to me, "How have you been Ethan?"

"I'm good, and you?" I said politely.

"All good."

The way her words reached me indicated that she was probably looking at the other nervous guy in the room.

"Are you here to check on Skye?"

"Yes."

"I was about to go check on her myself. Let me see if she could come downstairs."

"No" I stopped her, a little firmer than I intended to. "If it's fine with you and Skye's parents I would want to check on her."

"Oh..." was all Sophie said.

I remembered one of the talks I had with mom and then some more with dad. The talks that started with when a boy and a girl...

I carried on without shame, "The door will stay open all the time. I promise, I'll keep my hands to myself and you guys can come too." I could have cared less how it sounded.

I'd think about that later. For now, my focus was solemnly zeroed on getting to Skye. The long pause that engulfed the room told that me I might went a little overboard.

Sophie finally spoke, "I was about to make her a sandwich. Do you mind taking it for her? I think she's awake."

I nodded.

Then she asked, "Would like to drink something while you waited?"

"Nothing for me thank you." I answered.

"I'll have water, please." said Hank in a bit of a gruff voice.

Two pair of steps left the room. I could hear Sophie thanking him again for the flowers.

Now that I'm a tad relaxed, I took in the smell of the house. Could a scent be described as warm? Because that was what this house smell like. Something flowery mixed and a home cooked meal.

"Easy on the teddy bear." Matt said from somewhere in the room.

My head snapped to the direction his voice came from. It took me a moment to analyze that I was holding the bear by the neck. Tightly. I cleared my throat and adjusted my grip into a more human, less serial killer.

Matt's chuckle made the tension ease a little. I felt him move to the point that he was standing right in front of me.

"So, you like my sister."

The question got me off guard for a split of second, "I do." The confidence in those two words jolted a new realization that stirred inside of me. I wanted more than just liking.

"If you hurt her I will..." he started.

"I have no intentions to hurt Skye." I cut his warning.

Even for an eleven year old he sounded serious. The little man owned my respect.

"I do like her. A lot. Hopefully she likes me too." I bent my knees to the point where I calculated that would bring me face to face with Matt, "I respect that you are looking out for Skye. Let me promise you this, hurting Skye is the last thing I want to do."

I think that got me on his good side when he finally announced sounding satisfied, "Glad we made things clear."

His steps started to move when I stopped him, "Hey, Matt..."

His steps stopped and then he said what I wanted to hear, "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me." And walked away.

I smiled.

All of Skye's stories about Matt were something and being confronted by him was something else. I never thought I would say this about an eleven-year-old, but that kid was cool.

Sophie came back, "Here, let me help you get to Skye's room." She offered.

Her voice was heading my direction, when I took a step back making her stop, "I'd appreciate if you just pointed me in the right direction."

"Of course! Sure." She didn't sound embarrassed or annoyed. Sophie simply placed a plate in my hand, then she pointed me towards the stairs, "Second floor, second door on the right."

I nodded my thanks then got moving until I reached the stairs. I dragged the tip of my shoes to measure the height of the step, then slipped it forward to check if there was another step and repeat. I kept my palm flat on the grainy wall guiding my way, I knew I've reach the first room when I smacked my finger with door frame. It reminded me to slow down. By the time I came to a stop in front of her door my heart jumped out of rhythm. My fingers ran over the frame memorizing the touch of the smooth cold material.

Dry, rough coughs slipped through the door followed by an exhausted, gripe sigh. Knocking on her door, I couldn't shake off the feeling that her being sick was my fault. I've always notice things, changes, then why didn't I catch up on it this time?

"C..m.. n."

I made out where the handle was and gently opened the door, "Marco..." I called out.

There was a sudden ruffle, "O..m.. g..d, p..lo. Pol.."

Her voice was different, hoarse and gravelly. It faded and strained through the words. That bothered me in some way. Voices were one of my ways to identify the people I knew. It was my indicator of what was person status was. If they were happy, sad, anxious, disappointed. What I lacked in sight I've learned to cover with hearing. At this moment my hearing wasn't cutting it for me.

"Wh..t ar.. y.. d..ng h..r..?"

I was still standing at the threshold and haven't stepped inside yet. The surprise and glee were conspicuous. I knew then that I've made the right decision by coming to visit.

"I'm on delivery duty." I moved the plate a little, "Sophie made you a sandwich." Then I made a serious frown, "Please tell me there is a sandwich on this plate I'm holding and I didn't come up here with an empty one!"

Skye got my joke and laughed. Not her regular ringing laugh. Rather a throaty faded one that ended in a series of painful coughs.

Slowly, I made my way inside, "I'm sorry." I apologized. The tightness in my chest increased.

Skye's room smelled like, Skye. Warm and if I imagined it right, bright a cheerful just like she was. Her perfume scented the place lightly. There was the distant scent of medicine too.

"Car..fu.. m.. sl..p..rs ar.. ..nth.. w..y", she warned me followed by the low rustle like she was getting out of bed.

"Stay in bed!" the words came out as an order.

"I w..sju..." she started to squabble.

"I said stay!"

Skye

I could not believe my eyes. Ethan was in my room. He came to visit. And he was yelling at me. This guy was the sweetest.

My heart was threatening to jump out of my chest any minute. Nervously, I ran my finger through my hair and I froze in shock. I must look horrible. Looking down at my pink and white shirt that had "Almost an angel" written between two fluffy wings and matching pajama pants, didn't help my embarrassing moment. I knew he couldn't see me, but still I felt self-conscious with him here. I dug my fingers through my hair taming the strands and failing in process.

Not to mention how I sounded. My voice was like some sort of a sick goose. In first grade I went on a school trip to a farm to learn about all the farm animals. I heard how geese sounded when Sarah Noels was chased by one. They might look nice, but not when they opened their beaks. And now I sounded like a one and I was dying of shame.

"Knock on something so I'll know where you are." Ethan said softly, making it safely pass my puppy slippers.

I didn't know why I should knock. If he listened hard enough he could hear my heart beating as loud as a marching band. I sure could hear it. I used the nightstand as a locator. He almost hit his foot with the leg of the bed and I almost jumped to help. Reminding myself how much he hated that pinned me in place. Until his hand lightly touched my bed. I took the plate he offered and placed it on the stand next to me.

Ethan sat down on the edge, on the very far end of the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"G..." the word was supposed to be good but the goose in me had it trailed off. So I tried again, "B..t..r." I pulled my legs to my chest carefully watching him. Suddenly my room seemed different with him sitting here.

Ethan placed a light brown fuzzy teddy bear next to my feet. With big brown eyes and a cute nose and a sewed line that made it look like it was smiling. A blue bow-tie rounded its neck. Could someone hearts shake? 'Cause I think mine just did.

"Aw.. th...n yo..!" I tried to say thank you but my throat itched and a round of coughs irrupted making my head pound.

"Here..." Ethan dug into his pocket and pulled out his phone, "I'll talk, you type." Then he spoke to his phone, "Open new message."

His phone screen came to live and a female mono-tune confirmed, "New message open."

He handed me the phone. "No more talking for you."

Quickly, I sanitized my hands with the blue sanitizer bottle I had next to bed before holding his phone. It was enough that he was in my 'germy' room.

It took me a minute to figure out how the numbers work. I never used one of those before, half screen half and buttons kind. The type where all letters distributed between nine numbers. Pressing the number a few times until I reached the letter it was assigned to.

Then hit read. Erase. Repeat.

Piece of cake! I got this!

Click... click... click.

"Hahaha that will never stop me," hearing those words including the laugh coming from a robot-like voice made us freeze. Then burst out in laughter. I coughed. Wiped my tears then laughed roughly some more.

For the first time since I've met Ethan he laughed. Not the usual gruff couple of chuckles, but a hearty one with perfect white teeth and dimples and dazzle. I sighed inwardly and melted into one big mash of pure happiness and fluttering heart.

Ethan sighed catching his breath. His mood lightened up from when he first came, "Maybe this wasn't the best idea."

I started to type, "This is why machines will take over the world, because you worthless humans are making fun of us we will get rid of every last one of you" I had the phone say.

That started him laughing again, "You're crazy." He shook his head.

I smiled and click- clicked, "How is Gramps question mark".

Ethan bend his leg to the side and slightly slid sideways so he'd be facing me. My already warm cheeks were getting warmer.

"Much better, the surgery went well and he'll be allowed to go home in a few days."

"Glad to hear that," the phone-lady said on my behalf.

I stared openly at him. Catching every expression that wasn't hiding behind those shades. Still not the believing that he came.

"I'm sorry." His smile slowly fading away taking away my dimples, "I can't help thinking that you got sick because of me."

I already started typing madly while he talked, "The rain, staying in the hospital with me, driving me to the hospital. I didn't even realize you weren't well until today."

"Caps Lock on", my girl announced in her plain mono-tune. Not exactly how I wanted the words to come out, but since I had no control over her speech that would have to do, "NONSENSE EXCLAMATION POINT NEW LINE".

Okaaay, this girl isn't helping my point at all!

"I WOULD DO IT ALL AGAIN WITHOUT QUESTION NEW LINE AND PEOPLE GET SICK ALL THE TIME NEW LINE MY IMMUNE SYSTEM IS NOT YOUR FAULT NEW LINE SO LISTEN YOUR AWFULNESS YOU GET THAT IDEA OUT OF YOUR HEAD",

"Caps Lock off", then I added to lighten my tough-love speech. "Plus how do you know that I didn't get sick on purpose to get out of that history research question mark"

Ethan forced a smile. He looked like he wanted to say something, but held back.

"How was school today?" I changed the subject. Pulling the covers around me and over my shoulders feeling cold shivers.

"Good," and then his head set in a way that he was facing me right on. That feeling that he was looking at me gushed in making my breath hitch, "I missed you!" He proclaimed.

My eyes widened in surprise and I froze for a moment.

I rolled with my covers, his phone and my new teddy bear and settled next to him. Lightly placed my head on his shoulder. I cleared my throat, "I m..s..d yo.. t..", I said with whatever voice I had.

I loved the softness of his shirt on my cheek and the strength of his shoulder underneath my head.

His hand touched my cheek, "You're burning up!" He worried.

Click... click, "The meds didn't kick in yet," the phone said.

Ethan's arm moved slipping his shoulder from underneath my head so that he could round my shoulders and pull me closer. My head ended resting on his chest and my eyes widened on the fact that we were this close. My heart was singing and I didn't dare to move. Thank god I already had a fever or there would have been another type of fever that had to be explained.

His silence was heavy with words, "Are you okay question mark" I asked through the clicks.

"Yes..." he nodded then followed it by, "No..."

"Tell me"

Ethan took a deep breath, his chest expanded under my head, "Today... with you not there... it made me realize how... things were before you came along. And today.... I realized how important you became to me."

My heart was thumping loudly in my ears. Usually, I don't have many speechless cases, but that status was getting much worse recently. Ethan tightened his arm around my shoulders for a second. It felt like an embrace. Soft, gentle and strong. My stomach did a back flip while my spine tingled. All was good until he pressed his lips to the crown of my head for a moment- that was when my nerve system caught fire.

Then he slid off bed standing tall, "I guess what I'm trying to say is, get well soon."

He was doing that thing again were he messes with my head making me believe he was seeing me.

"Is it okay if I visited you again?" he asked.

"Of c..rs.." I forgot to type it in.

He gave me a genuine smile that showed those dimples and made my insides dance.

"Take care."

Pulling his hand I placed his phone in his palm, "Yo.. t.."

"Get some sleep..." he spoke in a hushed voice as he closed the door behind him.

I knew there would be no sleep any time soon.