Chapter 1 Hey, I'm Haley. I'm just your "average" sixteen year old, but I have a huge secret- I'm dying. This may come as a shock to you, but I'm used to it. I have cystic fibrosis. I'm expected to live (maybe) another year or two, but I try not to let that fact get me down.
I go to high school like a normal child would, but I would be labeled as an outcast. No one knows of my disease, and I don't tell them. My doctor's have told me that making friends and stuff of the like would make the end of my life come later, but I don't want to hurt anyone.
In fact, I want to make a difference before I go. I want to help this hell-hole we call Earth ebtter, reflect some light into this dark world. To tell you the truth, I want my first kiss with a charming boy as well.
One day, during school, I was called into the office. Nervous, I walkd there. A boy appearing to be my age was there standing and talking to my Principal. He was wearing a blue-and-red-checked flannel over a white t-shirt and dark blue jeans. He had longish, shaggy dark-brown hair framing handsom dark-brown chocolate colored eyes. "Hello, Haley," smiled Principal Franklin. "Phew," I thought, glad I wasn't in any trouble.
"This is Grayson," the Principal went on, "He's new here. He has cystic fibrosis, too." (I forgot to mention- obviously my teachers and the faculty here knew. . . they needed to in case anything were to happen) "We were hoping you would help him feel welcome."
"Sure," I answered, "Hello, Grayson," I whispered softly I could tell I was blushing. Was he the boy I had been waiting for all along? "We were hoping you could show him around. I even put y'all in the same classes," Mrs. Franklin added. "Alright you two, let's get back to class."
On that note, Principal franklin left and marched toward her office.
"Well..." I began, "we'll be having English this period." I wasn't sure what all to say, so that was my start on conversation. "It's this way.." I pointed out. "This here is the 400 hallway," I
added.
He had been relatively quiet as we mazed around the school, taking the long way to class. In fact, he said nothing until we finally made it to the classroom.
"We're here," I awkwardly said motioning toward the door. I felt like quite the tour guide. "B.. Before we.. we go in.." stammered Grayson, with a voice as angelic as St. Paul himself, "I.. I'd like to formally introduce myself. I'm Grason Burke. I'm sorta glad I moved here now.. I had no one to.. 'connect' with at my old school. No one really understood anything I was going through. I've always been pretty depressed I guess.. but I'm glad that now I have someone at school who understands.. I bet this is really weird sounding." I stood awestruck for a while, and soon replied, "Wow. Thanks. we should maybe hang out after school sometime.. you sound just like I would." I smiled. He smiled back. We smiled to each other a moment before I got taken out of my slight daze. I barely knew him, and yet it seemed like we'd known each other forever, like something just clicked. "We should probably go to class," I muttered, turning the brass doorknob.
And that's pretty much how the day went on. I chauffered Grayson around the school the remainder of the day, having slight conversations here and there. I learned that his father's job forfced his family to move here from NEW YORK! Why anyone would go fromt here to this small southern town is beyond me. It took a little, but we finally were able to talk about our... disease. I'm gonna admit it wasn't very easy. I never really had anyone to talk to about it.. so I never quite knew how. But, he understood. He said he never kept it a secret from anyone, and he actually had a few friends at his old school. I began to cry when we were discussing how long of time we had left before it took over. He took me into his arms and rocked me, saying everything would be okay. IF there wasn't one thing that was for certain.. I was already in love with Grayson Burke.