Umm so apparently I switched to third person now. Sorry?

Cary smiled up at us when we walked in the door. His braces glinted when he did, and his dimples were a nice reminder of our wonderful friend. He was laying in a bed, surrounded by random hospital stuff.

"Hey dude. How are you?" Charles asks.

Cary laughs. "I'm bored as shit, and I need to blow something up now!"

We laugh as well.

Alice smiles at him. "I'm glad you're feeling better."

"Me too. Now hand me one of dem sparklers." Cary says.

"I don't think we're allowed- this is a hospital." Charles mutters.

"Does it look like I care?" Cary asks back.

Martin laughs. "Not really…"

"Um guys, maybe we should be discussing what happened last night." Joe mumbles.

"Dude, that was awesome! I almost died!" Cary shouts.

Alice shakes her head. "Hush guys; we shouldn't talk about this here." She looks at the clock. "You know, I should be going. My dad is probably getting worried." She turns to Cary. "Bye, hope you get better."

Cary waves. "Bye Alice."

Joe watches her leave longingly.

"Dude, just…" Cary starts to say, but then notices Joe's expression. "Umm…" Cary reaches his hand up toward his backpack that is filled with sparklers, assorted fireworks, and random firecrackers. The straps lift up, but no one touched them.

"Dude. What. The. Hell." Charles says unbelievingly.

Cary still has his hand up. "I don't know…" he drops his hand, and the backpack crashes down with a thunk.

The boys shake their heads at each other, not believing anything that just happened.

Suddenly, a knock is heard at the door.

A female voice asks, "Cary?"

Cary immediately recognizes the voice and says, "Come on in Lily!"

A pretty girl with short blonde hair and green-gray eyes walks in. She looks stunningly like Cary, but obviously more feminine.

"Cary, how are you?" she asks worriedly.

Joe motions to Cary, then at Lily.

Cary gets the message. "Oh. Guys, this is my friend Lily.

She turns to smile at them, and Cary mouths, "She's hot, right?" to Joe.

Joe laughs softly, then nods. "But I like Alice." He mouths back.

"So I'm Lily, Cary's… friend." Inside, she wishes she was more than just a friend, but Cary never noticed her affections for him, just as she never noticed his affections for her.

Charles steps forward, extending his hand. "Hi, I'm Charles."

Lily takes it kindly, shaking gently. "Nice to meet you." She turns to Joe, Martin, and Preston. "Who might you be?"

The boys introduce themselves accordingly.

"I'm Preston."

"Martin."

"My name's Joe. How are you?"

Lily answers Joe's question happily. "Well, I'm fine!" she laughs. "But I want to know how Cary is."

Cary grins at her, showing off his large but irresistible teeth. "Great, actually. They best let me leave soon."

Lily nods understandingly. "I may be able to arrange that." She walks out the door.

"So… is she your girlfriend or something?" Charles asks.

Cary smiles. "I wish, man."

"Why don't you ask her?" Joe wonders out loud.

"Dude, she doesn't like me like that." Cary replies sadly.

"I think she does."

At this point, Lily returns. Although something keeps her from going back inside the room.

"Lily doesn't like me the way I like her. That's final."

The way I like her? Lily wonders. What could that mean?

"Can't you tell she likes you back?" one of the boys ask.

At this, Lily opens the door and struts in like nothing happened. Cary likes me back! This is the best day ever!

"Oh, hey Lily!" Cary responds.

He sure is good at hiding it.

"So, the doctors say you can leave after they give you a check-up." She informs cheerily.

"Yes!" Cary yells. His fist shoots up in the air, and a golden blast knocks over a small light bulb attached to the ceiling. "Oops."

Lily looks in wonder. "How'd you…?"

"I really don't know." Cary replies honestly.

Suddenly, a doctor walks in the room. "Cary Lark?" he asks.

Cary nods.

"Stand up. I'll help you to the checkup room."

Cary stands up carefully, stepping one foot down at a time. His arm looks much better, but we hadn't noticed a gash on his leg. It seemed to be healed too.

The doctor, apparently named Marc, helps Cary leave the room.

Lily sits down on the bed. "I hope he's ok enough to come home…" she mutters longingly.

Joe sits next to her. "He'll be ok. Don't worry."

She looks up into his eyes.

Man, she is beautiful. No wonder Cary likes her.

"Thank you Joe." She says gratefully.

They sit awkwardly until Lily randomly says, "Do you guys think Cary likes me?"

The boys sit in silence, not really knowing how to respond.

Martin finally cracks. "Yes, he does. Do you like him?"

She nods. "I knew it. I heard you guys talking… only that last half."

"You didn't answer my question." Martin says.

"I do, ok." She shoots at him angrily.

"Geez,"

Joe looks at her. "Why don't you two get together then?"

"I- I don't know." Lily replies quietly. "He's never asked me…"

"Why don't you ask him?"

"It- it's complicated. We have- an interesting relationship."

Joe sits, not knowing what to say next.

As though saved by the bell, Cary walks in to save Joe from an awkward silence.

"They said I'm good! I can go home!" he yells excitedly.

"Yes!" Lily yells. She runs over to Cary, and without thinking, she embraces him warmly.

"Oh, uh…"

"Ah!" Lily steps back, embarrassed.

Cary smiles, and takes her hand. "It's ok."

She smiles, and looks into his eyes.

"Not to ruin the moment, but…" Charles points at the doctors and nurses behind them.

Lily and Cary turn to look, still holding hands.

"Cary, we have your parents here to fill out your forms. As for you Ms. Lily, your parents request you in the lobby. You are leaving." One of the male doctors tells them.

Joe, Charles, Martin, and Preston stand up. "We'd better go too." Joe says.

Cary nods to them. "Thanks for coming guys." He squeezes Lily's hand, and turns to Joe. "Tell Alice I'm ok, and not to worry anymore."

Joe nods. "Sure Cary." He walks over, and pats his back. "See ya tomorrow."

Cary nods. "Yep."

Charles is up next. "Bye man. See ya."

Martin and Preston say bye too, then they all leave the room.