Hey everyone! I'm going to just point you towards all the other stories I've updated in the last couple days for info. Basically, it's my one year anniversary week, and I'm updating all my stories to celebrate even the ones I'm taking a break on this summer. So, enjoy!

Jay had every intention of spending the night quietly in his dorm studying. In fact, he almost did do that. Exams were coming up, and Business and Java were going to be toughies. Honestly, he wasn't overly concerned though. He'd finally gotten back on track with reading his Bible thanks to the encouragement of his small groups, and unlike in high school, he'd managed to admit that God was bigger than finals.

He'd almost finished his paper for business, when a knock at the door interrupted him. Startled, he got up and opened it to find Nya there.

"Hey Nya, what's up?" Jay asked, all smiles. Her coming over without notice was enough to make his day. Jay had determined weeks ago that Nya was unaware that he had been crushing on her since the day they'd met.

"Hi Jay. Can we talk? I tried to talk to Kai, but he's not in his dorm, and his phone must be on silent," Nya replied whilst trying to fight back tears.

Jay wanted to try to comfort her, but was afraid she'd take it the wrong way, "Yeah, but not here. Whatdoya say we walk to Cool Beans and get something. My storm's kind of a mess with exams and all."

Nya nodded, "okay."

"Hold on a sec," Jay ducked back inside and stole a Kleenex from his desk and gave it to Nya who accepted gratefully, "so what's up?" He asked as they began their walk.

Nya wiped her eyes with the tissue real quick, "I got a call from my mom earlier today. One of our family friends, Sheryl, passed away yesterday," she sniffed wiping her eyes again.

Jay was silent for a second. What was he supposed to say? He'd never really lost anyone he'd loved before. He couldn't just say it will be okay when clearly it wasn't, "I'm so sorry Nya. Did she die of old age?" Jay replied hoping he'd said the right thing.

Nya sniffed and nodded her head, "she hasn't been doing well for weeks. I just wish I had a chance to say goodbye. She's the reason why my parents became Christians really. We saw her all the time after that."

"Really?" Jay asked, "I guess I just always assumed your parents were always Christians based on how involved you and Kai seem to be in Bible study and church."

"No, they weren't," Nya said as they turned a corner and entered the coffee shop.

The conversation paused as they took their order: two hot chocolates. They didn't need caffeine at night right before exams.

"So, as you were saying?" Jay asked as they took a corner table and waited for their cups.

"My parents didn't become Christians until Kai and I were six really," Nya continued as she finagle with the charm bracelet she always seemed to be wearing, "I was diagnosed with lung cancer then, and our doctor gave us a Bible. Our parents sort of pushed it aside, and Kai and I took it and started reading it at night when our parents thought we were asleep."

Jay continued listening as he watched Nya keep twisting her bracelet. She did that a lot it seemed. That's when a white fish charm between a cross and a water droplets charm Nya had explained during a small group were from when she and Kai had gotten baptized, "Nya, sorry to interrupt, but is that what your ribbon charm on your bracelet is from?"

"Actually, Yeah. It's the white ribbon for lung cancer. My dad gave it to me after I survived the treatment," Nya replied, "I've worn it ever since."

"Wow, I always thought it was supposed to be a fish, you know, from the Bible?"

"That's what a lot of people think actually. I don't think I've told many people that I've battled lung cancer. Anyway, my mom met Sheryl at a coffee shop at a time when I was only supposed to have about a month left to live, and she really gave her hope for the first time. Mom started reading Bible stories and praying with us after that. My dad became a Christian shortly after that too."

A waitresses dropped off their mugs then rushed off to serve the only other table filled in the shop.

"Sheryl sounded like a great person."

"She was. When our parents were still at work, she'd come over and watch us. I was still throwing up from chemotherapy then, so shed always give me a stick of gum and remind me that it might stink now, but God was going to use all the pain for great things," Nya blew at her mug and took a sip.

"And was she right?" Jay asked.

"Well yeah. When we graduated, I got a scholarship for reading books to kids at the hospital with lung cancer actually. Sheryl was really proud of me then."

"Then don't you think she's still right now?"

Nya swallowed her hot chocolate then replied, "I guess so, I've just been so upset and stressed out about having to make up exams when we get back from the funeral that I never really thought about it that way."

"Don't worry about the exams Nya. You've been doing great all tri, making up exams should be no big deal for you."

"You really think so? I've felt so overwhelmed that I'm taking to hard of classes and I'm going to fail the exams."

Jay paused for a second, "what's your lowest test score?"

"A b minus, why?" Nya replied.

"See? There's nothing to worry about. Exams are only part of our grades. There's no way you're going to fail especially if a b minus is you're lowest!" Jay assured her.

"Thanks Jay," Nya smiled, actually smiled for the first time all evening.

Before they new it, their mugs were empty and they were already almost back to the dorms.

"Jay?" Nya said as she and Jay walked up the steps to her dorm.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for talking with me just now. I know you're just as stressed about exams as I am and you wanted a quiet night, but it really meant a lot to me just then."

"No biggie. That's what friends are for," Jay shrugged.

Nya quickly hugged him then unlocked her door, "thanks again Jay. See you tomorrow!"

"Bye Nya!"

Jay stood starstruck for a moment. Nya had just hugged him and they had went out together just the two of them. Was that considered a date? Did that mean they were boyfriend and girlfriend?

He didn't know, but he'd have to figure it out. By the time he got back to his dorm, he'd decided that since Cool Beans was a nice place, it was just the two of them, Nya had hugged him, and she'd admitted secrets she hardly told anyone, that it was indeed a date. But boyfriend and girlfriend? Not yet. Jay knew he'd have to make a move, and fast before someone else took her.

Then what thought came bouldering on through: will Kai be mad? I haven't even met her father, what if he doesn't approve?

There you have it. So is Jay going to get the guts to ask Nya to be his girlfriend?

Find out next time, which will hopefully be soon!

Thanks to all of you who have read and reviewed this story. You've all been a big help in making this one year.

Gotta go, so see ya!

#God's Not Not!