A/N: I've decided on a name change for this story. I was never totally satisfied with its original name but I'm impatient and posted it anyway. This new name, Count On Me, has been stuck in my head for about a week so I'm gonna go with it.

Chapter 7
Stunts and Freedom

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014 | 9:30 PM

Uriah clenches and unclenches his jaw, almost to a rhythm as he revs the engine of the 1971 Camaro he fixed up with his dad. He glances at the driver of the tricked out late-model Acura NXS in the next lane, then stares intently at the light again. The instant it turns green, Uri expertly floors the gas pedal while releasing the clutch in perfect time, then he's shifting into second, then third, and before I know it we've passed the mile marker sign that signals the finish line, the Acura trailing almost a car length behind. The wind from the open window blows my long hair around, tangling it, as Uriah and I both grin and laugh.

"Shit!" Uriah hisses and I glance in the mirror to see blue lights flashing a couple blocks back. Uriah quickly maneuvers the car right at the next intersection, weaves through a back lot behind a grocery store, and through the neighborhood taking several rights and lefts at random until he pulls into an alleyway.

We hold our breath, but no sirens or lights come. We look at one another, breathless, and both break out into big grins.

"Worth it," he laughs.

"Definitely worth it," I agree. Uriah turns on the radio and relaxes back into his seat so we can wait this out and make sure the cops have given up on looking for his car. As soon as the smile falls from his face, I see the dark circles under his eyes, and the way the corners of his mouth turn down. It's not natural on his face. I sigh. "So what did the doctor say today?" I know he's been avoiding this conversation, and I'll have to pull it out of him. Uriah has a habit of hiding behind humor and reckless antics, but it's only a cover-up.

Uriah sighs and shifts in his seat so that he's at least partway facing me. "It's spread to his bones and his lungs." I reach out and take his hand. "We don't have much more time left with him, Beatrice. A few weeks, maybe. And I'm not ready to say goodbye. He's—I mean, he's my dad! I'm only sixteen, his job isn't done yet!"

I'm dreading the next update from my mom's doctors; she certainly doesn't seem to be getting any better. I know she's losing this fight, just like Uriah's dad is.

"Did you tell Zeke?"

Uriah nods. "Yeah. Mom couldn't do it. It kills me to see her so…" he trails off and just sighs.

We sit in silence for a long time. That's what we need most on days like this—someone to just be there. To not try to make it better, because you can't, nothing can make this better; to not pretend that everything's going to be okay, because we know it won't, how can it?

"There's a little piece of me," I say, breaking the long silence, "that still believes that my mom will get through this. She's a fighter. There's still that part of me deep down inside that believes she can beat anything, that she's invincible, because… she's my mom." Uriah nods. "Do you still have that piece of you that holds out hope?"

Uriah nods again. "Yeah… yeah, I do. I think it would be better if I didn't. But it doesn't seem to go away. Part of me still holds out for a miracle."

"Me too," I whisper.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2014 | 9:45 AM

I rush into the IHOP and scan the dining room for Uriah; he's already seated and it looks like he even got me something to drink. I drop into the chair across from him. "Sorry I'm so late." We were supposed to meet at 9:30.

"I'll find some way for you to make it up to me." That grin on his face makes me nervous. "Oh, I ordered for you, by the way." I raise my eyebrows but he just keeps smiling.

"I'm afraid to see what they bring me," I deadpan. "So anyway… any idea what you want to do today?"

Our moms talked us into taking a day off from visiting the hospital. They think we spend too much time there. I have a feeling they may be making big decisions with their doctors and spouses.

"Hmm… Navy Pier?" Uriah suggests. I quickly shake my head and my eyes burn; that place holds special significance for Tobias and me. I don't think I can handle a visit there, not yet. "Okay… well, there are normal things we could do—like go to the skate park, or paintball, or go to the beach…"

"All good options," I say.

"Or we could do something weird like… dress up as pirates and go to the mall…"

"No thank you."

"Or go to the animal shelter and pet all the puppies…"

"Seriously, Uri, how do you come up with this stuff?" I ask shaking my head.

"Shush, I'm still thinking!" he protests. His eyes light up just as the waitress stops at our table and sets one plate in front of me, and an identical one in front of Uriah.

I look from my plate to Uriah. He's trying to hold in his laughter and failing, but it's coming out as this weird quiet giggle. I fight to keep my face blank as I say, "The funny face pancake? Really? What are you, twelve?"

"And a half!" Uriah blurts out as he finally begins to openly laugh. I can't hold it in any longer and start laughing along with him. It's not even that funny, but his face… he looked like he just pulled off the world's best prank, so self-satisfied.

We finally quiet down and begin eating our pancakes. "I've got it," Uriah says. "Cliff diving. I know a spot. We can hike the waterfall and jump."

"Are you sure the water's deep enough?" I ask nervously.

"Positive. I've done it before, promise. Come on, Tris, don't be a pansycake!" I roll my eyes at his juvenile insult but… I can't have him labeling me as a pansycake, now, can I?

"Okay," I agree, "let's do it."

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2014 | 2:30 PM

I can barely hear over the roar of the waterfall as I stare at the river thirty feet below. Uriah and I picked up a few of his friends from school. Jack peers over my shoulder and Kenny hasn't even approached the edge, while Madison stands next to me.

"So, who's jumping first?" Uriah asks with an evil smirk. "Anyone brave enough?"

"I will." I quote Uriah: "I ain't no pansycake!" He whoops and gives me a high five. We all back away from the edge, to give me space. I start a few yards back, take a deep breath, then I run a few steps, bending my knees and jumping when I reach the edge.

All I can hear is the rushing water and I feel weightless. Time stands still as I fall and the spray of the water needles my skin. I reach my arms out to my sides and close my eyes, and as the air rushes over my skin, it feels like freedom—freedom from all the worries and problems that weigh me down.

And then all at once I crash through the water's surface, tumbling under the water, frantically kicking and moving my arms until I right myself and pop up to the surface with a gasp. The water is cold and it presses against my chest making it hard to breathe.

From up on the cliff, I hear Uriah and his friends cheering and Uriah screams out, "First jumper—Tris!" I laugh. I guess 'Tris' really is my bolder, braver alter-ego.

I quickly swim away from the waterfall and the deep pool beneath it until I reach the shallow at the river's edge and watch as Uriah hurls himself off the cliff with a high-pitched scream.

I wish my life could always be filled with fun and laughter, stunts and freedom, and I wonder if that life will ever be within my reach.