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Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.-- Anonymous

Troy pushed past the doctor and ran into the room. He stopped shot, looking at Chad who sat on the side of the bed, looking smaller then Troy remembered. He looked up when Troy entered and smiled tiredly. "Hey."

"Hey." Troy sat on the edge of Chad's bed, looking at him carefully.

Chad's smile grew wider. "I'm not going to die, Troy." Tears glistened in Chad's eyes and Troy scooted himself closer to his friend, wrapping his arms around his friend.

"'Sokay." Troy muttered, pressing his face deep into his friend's hair. "We'll get over this. You'll be okay." Troy didn't know whether he was trying to comfort Chad or himself. Either way it wasn't working too well.

The friends sat there for a moment. Chad took in a deep, shuddering breath and pushed himself away from Troy. Without looking at him, he questioned quietly, "Am I?"

"Are you what, Chad?" Troy's voice was quiet, his hand on Chad's back. He was jumpy. He hated hospitals, for reasons he could never explain to himself.

Chad gulped and looked away. "Am I going to die?"

At any other point, earlier in the day or week, Troy would have laughed. Here he knew his friend was serious, too serious. "Not if I can help it." Troy said fiercly. "They aren't taking you yet, Chad." Troy promised. "We'll fight this."

Taylor walked into the room then, Gabriella on her heels, dragging Zeke behind her. Taylor had been recently crying and seeing Chad brought the tears back. She collapsed into his amrs, hugging him while he muttered to her, "It's okay. I'm okay. Don't worry about this, Taylor."

Gabriella slipped a hand into Troy's. Zeke looked at Troy and smiled a little. "They were explaining this." He informed Troy. "Gabbi's going to do some more research, but it's a cancer of the blood. Chad's going to need something called Chemotherapy. It might help him get better, but it'll make him worse first."

Troy made a face at his Zeke. "You're not helping, you know."

Gabriella stood on tip-toes to kiss him just as Troy's dad entered the room. He looked between the girls and Troy and finally Chad. "Girls," he said, cleaing his throat. "I think you should leave." Taylor looked about to protest but Gabriella shushed her, and, after another quick kiss, both girls left. "Zeke," Mr. Bolton said, turning to him, "You too."

Zeke looked at Troy, who nodded slightly. He clapped a hand on Chad's shoulder before leaving, closing the door softly behind him.

Mr. Bolton looked at Chad, who turned away, his dark face turning greenish. "Chad, don't worry, you're coming home with us. They just need to do a test or two beforehand." Mr. Bolton's voice was soothing, and as a nurse came in to take some blood Chad concentrated on the adult, who didn't stop talking, saying anything that came to mind. Anything to keep Chad's mind off the present.

Troy helped Chad up and the two of them walked out of the room, Troy's arm around his friend's shoulders. He whispered something to Chad, making him smile. Chad whispered something back, the words barely audible to Mr. Bolton.

"I trust you, Troy."

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