10:00 p.m.

Angelica had been thinking, for the past hour, about what Chuck had said.

"Why do you think that about me, Finster?" Angelica said this in a humble tone without looking at Chuck.

"What are you talking about?" Angelica looked at him and said, "You know, what you said earlier about how I could be a better person. Why do you think that?"

Angelica was surprised about what Chuck really thought of her. She wanted to know why. All Chuck could say was, "I have faith."

This answer stunned Angelica. She didn't know what to say about his answer.

Chuck looked out the window again, watching the rain fall. "It's really raining hard out there. It's like being inside a waterfall, if you take away the thunder and lighting, of course. If you close your eyes and listen to the sound of the rain, you could actually feel like you're there, listening to the waterfall."

Angelica was wondering why Chuck was saying all this about the rain. She just thought rain was rain and was no big deal. That's when Chuck turned to face Angelica and said, "Try it." Angelica was confused.

"Try what?" Chuck smiled, "Close your eyes." Angelica shook her head. "No! I don't want to."

Chuck came closer. "Come on. All I'm asking is to close your eyes and listen."

Angelica was hesitant at first. "If you try anything, I will break your arms and legs!"

Chuck smiled, "Just close your eyes." Angelica sighed and closed her eyes. Chuck grabbed her hand and pulled her close and whispered in her ear, "Now, listen to the rain."

Angelica listened to the rain for what seemed like ages, but was only for a few short minutes.

She said, "All I hear is rain, Finster." Chuck smiled and said, "Just listen." Angelica sighed again, deeply and listened to the rain. This time, as she was listening, the rain got louder to her ears.

She smiled and whispered, "I hear it! I hear the waterfall!" Just then, a loud boom of the thunder snapped Angelica back to reality. She looked down and noticed Chuck was still holding her hand.

"Move it or lose it, Rain Man!" Chuck let go quickly. Angelica walked back to the other side of the room and sat down.

Chuck sat down right beside her. "You don't have to keep doing this, Angelica." Angelica looked at him bluntly, "Do what?"

Chuck looked down, "Run away every time you begin to feel something. Why do you do that?" Angelica looked at Chuck and got angry.

She stood up to face him and said, "I'm not running away from anything, Finster! I just don't want to waste my time dealing with some emotional issue that doesn't mean anything! It's not rational!"

Chuck couldn't believe what he was hearing, a beautiful and intelligent young woman thinks love is a waste of time and not rational!

At that moment, the thunder boomed and lightning struck a telephone pole, which knocked out the electricity.

Chuck said, "Great, now what?" Angelica went to find a flashlight. Chuck reluctantly followed her. They went to the kitchen and searched the drawers near the sink. Chuck found a flashlight and turned it on.

He shined the flashlight on his face and said in a creepy voice, "Angelica, I have come to watch you ….well, to watch you!" Angelica burst into laughter. Chuck did too.

They went back to the living room and sat next to each other on the dusty sofa.

Chuck sat the flashlight on the floor so that the light would hit the ceiling, brightening up the room to where Chuck and Angelica could see each other.

Chuck looked at the flashlight he sat down, "The batteries won't last long." Angelica didn't say anything. Chuck looked at her, "Are you okay?" Angelica looked at Chuck, "I'm fine." Chuck smiled and nodded. "Okay. I'm going to see if I can find some candles in this place. Chuck Finster must be prepared!"

Angelica smiled and Chuck got up and headed out of the room. Angelica watched him as he walked away.

When he was out of sight, Angelica noticed a piece of paper lying where Chuck was sitting.

Her curiousity got the better of her and she picked it up. It was a letter addressed to Chuck Finster, from Dr. Carmichael. It read:

Dear Chuck,

"I'm afraid that the tests have come back and confirmed our suspicions. It has come back. I'm sorry to say that the location makes surgery impossible and Chemotherapy will do more harm to you than good. Come in as soon as possible to discuss Radiation Therapy and other options. We will face this thing together. Who knows how this will turn out. Be strong. Have faith. Keep believing, and never give up hope."

Sincerely,

Dr. Carmichael

Angelica just stared at the letter. She finally snapped out of it when she saw Chuck returning with candles.

She quickly hid the letter. Chuck sat back down. "Got the candles. Now we're set." Chuck looked at Angelica, who looked concerned.

"Angelica, you okay?" Angelica looked back at him. She answered quietly, "Yeah, I'm okay."

Chuck smiled and then looked down, "You read the letter didn't you?" Angelica snapped up and answered quickly tried to deny it, "I don't know what you're talking about." Chuck just kept smiling at her.

Then, Angelica gave a faint smile, "How did you know?"

Chuck scratched his head and answered, "I remembered I had the letter in my pocket before I got up to get the candles. When I checked again, it was gone." Angelica looked down.

Chuck told her, "You know when you get the news that your time has possibly been cut short….you start to see things differently. You asked me earlier, 'What made me think about you the way I did?' if you had asked me earlier today, like right after school, my answer probably would have been different. But, I know the real truth. I know the real you. I just wish I had seen it a long time ago. You're a wonderful girl, Angelica. Any guy would have to be lucky to know you. Your one in a million. But, I was lucky enough…to get you alone tonight."

Angelica scooted closer to Chuck.

He put his arm around her and kissed the side of her head and whispered, "The batteries are dying." Angelica smiled.