A/N: Thanks to WreckItRalphFan for reviewing that last chapter.

Also: I'm quite fond of my OC, Lily, and since she is the other main character in this fic, I thought I'd do a chapter from her POV. Now, be warned, she is a tad crass.

Chapter 3

Lily

"Hey sweetie, where are you going?" Mom asked when I made my way downstairs. I looked up at her, and felt my eyes soften. She was pudgy, her hair cropped short, a face that looked about 8 years younger than she was. She was pretty, she had a warm smile and a warm hug.

"I'm going to Youth, mom, Rory's picking me up," I replied, swiping my hair into a messy ponytail, "I'll be back late, probably, so don't wait up," I pressed a kiss to her cheek.

Something attached to my leg, and I laughed, bending down, "Hey sweetheart," I said and the little girl smiled at me, "You take care of granny, okay?"

"Where are you going, auntie?" She asked. She was pretty, and she looked a lot like her father. Her skin was dark and she had the same naughty expression that my brother always had. Her dark brown hair came down in a bob cut. She had her mother's eyes; a dark green. Mine were a shade lighter, though.

"I'm going to Church, uncle Rory's picking me up," I said, pulling myself to my feet.

"Have you told him yet?" Mom asked next, a frown creasing between her eyes.

"Nope," I said, moving to fridge, "Milk?"

"Yes!" Hannah giggled, "Please, auntie."

"Bring a glass, baby. Mom?"

Mom shook her head as Hannah put a glass on the table.

"Get another one for your brother, please," And Hannah ran to cupboard again.

"You have to tell him sometime," Mom said, "He's your best friend."

"No, you're wrong, Lynk is," I corrected her, "Hey mom, I was thinking, can we move my room?"

She looked up at me sharply, and I shrinked internally.

"Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine, but please?" I said, "The fridge is too far away. I can take the kids' room and they can take mine. It's bigger anyways." I finished with a shrug.

It was a lie. I was afraid that I'd be confined to a wheelchair in the future and my parents would have to struggle with the stairs.

"So you want a smaller room, because it's closer to the fridge?" She smiled, though I knew she saw through my lie. She always knew.

"Yeah. Hey, do we need anything? Rory's coming early, I asked him to take me to the store first," I put the milk away as Hannah took her plastic glass, thanked me, and sat down at the small yellow table we got for them.

"Danny!" I called, and a chubby three year old boy came into view, the spitting image of his father. Same brown eyes and same expression. The only difference was that Danny actually smiled when we took his picture.

"Give me a kiss, baby," And Danny pressed a kiss to my lips before joining his sister.

"Maybe grab some bread, milk and a Coke?" She said, "And some yoghurt, I finished yours."

"Okay, no worries," I replied, then I heard a car outside, "See you tomorrow," I kissed her cheek again, before kissing dad goodbye, "Love you guys!"

"Love you!" Mom and dad yelled in unison. And the cries of 'love you' echoed from the two kids.

My brother, Daniel, died in April a year ago, and the kids are living with us. Their mother is three years my senior and can't really care for them.

My brother died of brain cancer too. The same one I have. Only he was 28 and I'm 19. It's tearing my mother apart, I can see it. Plus my older sister is being a total bitch, I forbade my mother from telling her.

Fucking cancer. Starts as a small cell and then blooms into a poisonous flower, eating you from the inside out, sometimes even daring to steal your sanity at the very end. I repeat, fucking cancer.

Rory met me outside; his face lit up when he saw me. He's 24, and I know the man has a crush on me. And if I'm honest, I kinda like him too.

But I am dying. And I'm not that selfish. I prefer to play the part of ignorant schoolgirl in all of this.

But I did nearly fall into his arms, because his expression said he was so excited to see me and his arms were wide open and waiting... He enveloped me in a warm hug and I breathed in his scent; he smelled like cinnamon and coffee.

"Hey Lee," He said, kissing the top of my head, "Come on, let's go." He opened the door to his small, red car.

An hour later and we were waiting at the church, early, eating soft serve ice cream.

"So, are you going to tell me what been bothering you?" He asked after a while.

"And I thought I'd been hiding it so well," I said sarcastically, "I just... I can't talk about it."

"Lily... You're my best friend, you know that, right?" He said, putting a hand on the side of my neck, "Is it James?"

"No, I haven't spoken to James," I spat, "And I don't intend to. Piece of shit."

"You can trust me, you know?"

"Yeah, I know," I replied, "But not yet."

"I trust you," he said, taking his hand away to save his falling ice cream, "But you can come to me anytime."

I met Rory at a local private school. He's a priest in training, used to be a national football player, but gave it all up for CFC - Church for Christ. He had been standing in as a Bible teacher and coach, whilst my department was more in the Science department. I did help him coach, though, or I yelled at the people how to breathe correctly and to lift their knees when running.

He quit and I was fired (or asked to leave because they couldn't afford me anymore - the dicks, they were supposed to pay my studies). I work as a nanny now, and I still have to tell my bosses that I'm dying. I wonder how they'll take it.

I was diagnosed in February, and I turned 20 in April, I just keep forgetting that I'm 20 years old. Now it's October and I have neglected to tell everyone but my parents and the people at the cancer support group.

I sighed, I should tell my bosses, though.

Rory got out of the car, and I waited patiently for him to open the door for me. He was really insistent on being a gentleman. It's rather adorable, the way he carries me on his hands, figuratively, of course.

As I got out, I nearly bumped heads with him. I stood, but leaning back, because he was suddenly really close to me.

"You should leave your hair like this more," He said, toying with a lock of my hair (I hadn't even combed my hair), "It's really pretty."

"Thank you," I breathed, wondering where the hell my voice went. I could smell his breath, like mint after the pepermint ice cream, and I could smell the cinnamon I associated with him...

He took a step away to allow me to exit, mostly because another car entered CFCs lot.

It was Hazel. She had her oxygen tank with her, and Rory immediately opened the door for her. She was taken aback a bit, but went with it.

"Hey," She said when they were near Rory's car, "Is it just us?"

"For now - give it a moment," I smiled, though it probably came out as a smirk, "How have you been doing?"

"I'm fine, thanks, and you?" She lifted an eyebrow, and I knew she was silently asking me if I had told Rory.

"I'm okay, been a bit down," I replied, "And no, he doesn't know."

"Yet," Rory filled in, and I rolled my eyes.

"It's between us girls," I said, putting an arm around Hazel's shoulders, "Right, babe?"

"Do not call me babe," She said, though I knew was just kidding.

"But... calling people babe is my thing!" I moaned, and I let my arm fall from her shoulders.

She laughed at my silliness and patted my arm.

"Wait 'til you meet JM and Liz - you're gonna freak," I said, just as the two arrived in the former's car. JM was tall, broad-shouldered and blonde, like Rocky Horror blonde, and Liz was a short, semi-pudgy girl with strawberry blonde hair. She was also one of my best friends and I attacked her with a hug.

I pulled her away from the group as Rory introduced Hazel to JM.

"Liz... I, uh, I have to tell you something," I said, putting a careful hand on her bicep.

"You and Rory finally got together?" She gussed, and I rolled my eyes.

"No, and we aren't going to," I said pointedly, settling down on a patch of grass, patting the lush green so she would join me. She plopped herself down and looked at me expectantly.

"So... What is it then?"

I bit my lip, "Liz... I-I have... I have..." I couldn't say it. Why was it so fucking easy at the support group and not to her? I've known her for years!

"Words, Lily, use your words," She said, her face twisted with worry, "What do you have?"

"Cancer," I said softly, looking at the dark green near my feet. I didn't dare look up, knowing how she would look at me, "I have brain cancer. Same as Daniel's."

I didn't cry. I was empty of tears. I cried my last tear when my brother was buried the day before my 19th birthday.

"What did your mom say?" She asked shakily, and I knew she was crying, but she didn't want me to know.

"Nothing. But I can see it's getting to her," I answered, starting to play with my ponytail.

"And you?" Her voice sounded okay, so I looked up. Her eyes were red and the tear tracks from her eyes to her cheeks were evident.

"I'm fine," I said, "Seriously, I am. I thought I would be sad or angry, but... I don't know, I'm calm and full of calm resignation."

"When?" She asked, and I cringed inwardly.

"February." I said, and I waited for her to blow up.

"You've known for eight months?" She half-shrieked, "Who else knows?"

"My parents and Hazel," I pointed to the new girl, "She's at the cancer support group, and Patrick asked me to go..."

"I wanna kill you," She said, before letting a deep breath out, "But I can understand why. So, when are you gonna tell the others?"

"I'm not," I said, "And neither are you, please?"

"Why not? They could pray for you," She reasoned, and whilst I believed that prayer could work miracles, I... I don't know, I wanted to die.

"Because I'm terminal, Liz," I breathed, "And miracles only go so far."

"Our God, Lily, is an awesome God," She said, quoting one of my favourite songs, "You seem to forget what the Lord has done for us."

"I haven't," I replied coolly, "But, Liz, I'm so tired. So many things have happened in the span of eight months and I'm tired."

"Are you tired of life?"

"Yes!" I answered.

"Will you let me pray for you?" She asked softly, and I nodded. I was hoping she would.

I had known her since we were nine, and while our relationship wasn't always as firm as it is now, I knew she would come through for me.

She reached into handbag and produced a tiny bottle of what I knew was olive oil, anointing oil. She rubbed her hands in it, her eyes closed, before she reached forward and took my hands.

"Our Heavenly Father," She started, "Bless this girl. This amazing girl, and make her feel Your amazing love. Jesus, fill Lily with hope! Hope to carry on and fight! Because she is Your child, and You love her. Please, Jesus, give her this. Give her a miracle. In Jesus' name. Amen."

I opened my eyes, and Liz started to laugh at me. I joined in, wiping my eyes. No tears.

She helped me to my feet and we moved to the others, where others had joined. I saw Hazel glance at me cryptically, and I moved to her side.

I knew what it felt like to be alone at this youth group and not have anyone to guide you.

"Just remain calm," I whispered to her, "They're actually quite harmless." I was looking at two tall boys, one was 17 and one 21, the one 21 actually still attending school and the 17 year old not. They were always so happy, so full of love and willing to spread the word of God.

I glared at the 17 year old, I wasn't a fan of his and everyone at this fucking group knew it.

"Hey, Lily-pie!" The 17-year old screeched as he saw me. I went to hide behind Rory, but he was already in front of me.

"Hey Jamesie," JM said, or Rocky as I call him, as James came up to us, "You're an asshole." And he struck his large fist into James' nose.

"What the hell?" Hazel yelled, "I thought this was a Christian Youth Group, not a cult!"

"Wait," James said, pulling his body up to his full height, but with his hand covering his nose, "I beserved bat," He attempted to say, "I'b sorry, Lily."

"Save it." I snapped at him. I saw something in his eyes, but he didn't reply.

"He's just a jackass, Hazel," JM said, "He deserved so much more."

JM glanced at me, and I fastened myself to Rory's shoulders.

"Come on, guys, let's go," Rory said, and I quickly let go.

Time to face the music.

. . .

A/N: Please review!