Phoebe's POV

It's technically my first official day here at Ocean Park Hospital. I'm reaching for a fruit cup across the serving counter in the bright lunch room when I feel something bump into the back of my heel.

"Ouch," I say stepping out of the way and looking down.

"Oh crap, I'm so sorry!" Says a bald guy in a wheelchair. "I'm still trying to get the hang of this." He swivels the wheels on his chair a little bit causing it to turn side to side slightly.

"You're totally fine." I say smiling kindly down at him. He returns the gesture and reaches for a fruit cup unsuccessfully. I chuckle and hand one down to him.

"Heh, thanks" He says and I think I see a little pink in his cheeks. I smile and take a few steps forward in the line, him carefully wheeling behind me. "So, am I going out on a limb here when I ask if you're new around here?" I shake my head and shrug.

"Nope. That's absolutely right." He clears his throat and carefully moves up beside me.

"Well I'm guessing if you're like most of us you still have yet to find a lunch group." He says coolly and I scan the room noticing various clicks at different tables.

"Yep, but I have a good feeling that you're going to extend an invitation to me." I bat my eyelashes actually hoping that he will and I'm not stuck sitting alone at a table like a loser. He shrugs.

"Maybe." I squint my eyes playfully at him and his serious expression gives way to a smile. "I'm kidding. It's unlike the Red Banders to reject a new member." We make our way out of the line and towards an almost full table.

"Red Banders?" I mumble wondering if I've gotten myself into a satanic cult. We approach the table slowly, the bald guy being extra cautious not to bump into any tables or chairs. I could see now the loose fabric beneath his left knee and made the connection that he was missing his leg.

We finally come a table with four of the six seats filled. All eyes are on me when we come over and I feel my face grow warm. I smile despite the awkwardness while the bald teen introduces me.

"Hey guys this is," He stops abruptly and his eyes widen at me. "Oh. well actually I don't know your name."

"Oh," I laugh nervously and address the whole table. "I'm Phoebe, Phoebe Johnson. But everyone just kind of calls me Bee." They all nod and I let out a shaky breath. There is a moment of silence before a dark skinned boy finally speaks up.

"Leo, man, are you just gunna make our girl Bee stand there all lunch or you gonna invite her to sit with us." I giggle and glance at the bald guy who moves out of the way just to bump into the empty table behind him.

"Damnit" He mumbles and he gestures towards the table. I look at the empty seats trying decide who I thought hated me the least -the dark skinned boy or a girl who looked slightly older than me with something on her chest when I hear a voice speak up.

"Hey Kara scoot over a bit." A cute brown haired boy says.

"Why? Does lover boy want to sit next to the New Girl?" The dirty blonde girl with the thing on her chest snickers before reluctantly bumping over a seat.

"Don't listen to Kara, she just likes to embarrass the Hell out of everyone." He whispers to me when I sit down. I laugh because its all I can find myself doing in the presence of this cute guy. He smile sweetly before my attention is snapped across the table.

"So what are you in for?" A small girl asks softly. He has long brown hair and is wearing a small black bowler cap that surprisingly she can rock

"What?" I ask feeling like an idiot for paying more attention to the warm brown color of the boy next to me's eyes.

"She's sayin, why are you here? What's your illness." The dark skinned boy speaks up again. I feel my heart jump into my throat as I flounder for a lie to tell them.

"Um, actually its inconclusive right now." I shrug and try to keep color from exploding in my cheeks. "One day I just blacked out and now here I am. They did a bunch of tests but they still have yet to find out the cause of the problem."

"Oh, so that means that you're only a short stay patient." The dirty blonde retorted taking a bite out of her green salad. I shrug

"I honestly have no idea." She glares at me but I keep a calm demeanor and a small hint of a smile on my face. I suddenly feel a hand on my shoulder and find myself face to face with the cute boy again.

"Hopefully you get to stay for a while." He smiles before he shakes his head and corrects himself. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that like I hope you get sick and have to stay here and stuff and and," he stuttered. "I'll just shut up now." I grin and he smiles sheepishly at me.

"So what about you guys?" I ask curiously picking at the pineapple in my Styrofoam cup but not really having an appetite. "I mean the only person I really somewhat know is Peg Leg Pete over here." I point my thumb at the boy in the wheelchair to see his expression falter and everyone at the table start laughing. "Ohmygosh" I say covering my face with my hands embarrassed. "I'm so sorry I didn't mean that, I just kinda noticed and I didn't know your name." The rest of the table is hysterical and I just shake my head. "I'm just making this all a big awkward situation I'm sorry."

Wheelchair guy just shakes his head. "No, no its no worries. It's hard not to notice and I suppose none of us have really introduced ourselves to you. I'm Leo, and I lost my leg to cancer basically." My eyes widen.

"Oh gosh I'm so sorry!" He just shrugs and says he's getting used to it. They all go around the table introducing themselves and why they were in the hospital. The dark skinned guy was Dash and he has Cystic Fibrosis, the snobby blonde is Kara and she has some sort of heart defect. The amazingly cute guy next to me is Jordi and he has Ewing Sarcoma and then the pretty petite brunette girl is Emma and she is Anorexic.

We all finish eating and are parting our separate ways when I rush up to Emma hesitantly.

"Hey Emma," I say. "I have to ask you something."