Tommy pressed the pack of ice against his busted lip as they sat in his room the next morning, "Phil, she can't know anything,"

"But why? It was so hard to see her last night and not tell her the truth." Phil admitted in frustration, "Why don't you want her to know, other wise she's going to hate you for hurting her,"

Tommy sighed, turning in his computer chair, to look away from the questioning eyes, "That's what I want,"

"I don't understand," Phil shrugged, trying to comprehend what the guy in front of him was thinking, "Why would you want her to hate you, Tommy that doesn't make sense. I think she'd understand that you left because you had cancer and didn't think she'd be able to deal with it."

Tommy sank back into his seat, "I didn't leave because I thought she wouldn't want to deal with it, I left because I knew she would." Tommy explained, "She would want to be there for me, she would revolve her life around my condition, and she's too young to have to do deal with that,"

"You were too young to deal with that,"

"But I didn't have any other way, she did. I know this doesn't make sense to you, or I'm not making sense, I don't know, but this how I felt. We had just started high school, she was smart, beautiful, caring –the whole package, how could I burden her with me?"

Phil shook his head, "But, she wouldn't feel burdened, she would want to be there for you, she would-…"

"She loved me, so she would put her whole life on hold to be there for me, but I loved her too, and I would never let her do that." Tommy stated simply with a little shrug, his eyes clouding over slightly in thought.

Phil stared at Tommy for a second, how could he have been so selfless? He was so young and had just been diagnosed with cancer, yet he still thought of what was better for my sister. Phil couldn't understand how someone could make that big of a sacrifice, he knew he would never be able to do that. He would want his family and friends and the person he loved with him, taking care of him, trying to cheer him up. But he never thought of what the other person goes through. Their hurt, their change in life, their barriers… but Tommy did that for Lil, for all of them.

He would rather have Lil hate him then hurt over him.

But Phil looked up suddenly, "But now you're back, and you're fine. So why can't you tell her now?" He asked.

Tommy didn't respond for a second, causing Phil to stubbornly not say anything until Tommy answered. Finally, he saw Tommy's lips move, but he couldn't hear anything, "What?" He asked, squinting to hear.

"Phil… I'm not better,"

"I'm glad you came," She said, as they sat on the love seat in her room, her between his legs and her back pressed comfortably against his chest as his legs were propped up so his feet were resting on her bed and her legs were resting on his. Her head was just below his chin as she turned to look up at him, "I was afraid you wouldn't," She admitted.

He sighed, "Lil, why would you be afraid I wouldn't come. What I said yesterday about falling for you was the absolute truth," He said sincerely, looking down at her face, "But I'm afraid you weren't being honest, when you said it back,"

Lil looked back down away from him at her socked feet, "I was being honest," She murmured.

"If you were being honest, you would be able to look at me right now, and if you were being honest, you wouldn't have ran after Tommy last night," He said, regretfully.

Lil intertwined her fingers with his, "I'm sorry I ran after Tommy. I was wrong, and I know that now. That's my biggest regret of the night," She agreed bitterly, "And I'm sorry, he's my past," She replied, before finally bending her neck to look up into his eyes, "And he will stay there,"

Lucas paused for a moment, before leaning down to capture her lips.

It had been a month. A month since the day after the dance… and a lot had changed.

Tommy and Phil had slowly built back their best friend relationship they once had, and even though Phil didn't totally agree with Tommy's decision to not tell Lil, he some what understood it –and respected him for it. And what about Lucas and Lil? Those two were going as strong as ever. They were tied to the hip as they were rarely seen apart unless it was different classes, and even in that case the one who got out first would be waiting for the other one right outside of their class. The biggest change of all though, was Lil. She had gone from the innocent sweet broken angel to a bitch. Well to Tommy at least, and wasn't shy to snub any others that hung out with him –including Phil.

"Dude, you can't play in the game today," Phil instructed exasperated that Tommy even considered it. The captain of the football team had offered Tommy a quarterback position when one of their players got injured last game, and after checking his skills during a practice, he was part of the team… and playing in today's game.

Tommy shook his head, "Don't worry about it, I'll be fine,"

"Are you kidding me? You don't think I searched up your condition, you're-…" Phil trailed off as a group of friends neared, "Your condition, you shouldn't risk anything, I don't know, but I don't like it," He stated, trying to be as stern as possible.

"Relax mom," Tommy teased, but when he noticed Phil wasn't going to cave, he sighed, "I'll take care of myself. I'm sick of not getting to live my life the way I want to." From the side of his eye he saw a couple turn the hall, and he turned to find Lucas and Lil arms around each others waist, walking down the hall.

Phil saw the slightly pained look on Tommy's face and followed his eyes to see his sister with her boyfriend and grimaced.

"I think I've sacrificed enough," He murmured, more to himself.

Phil hung his head, "Promise to be careful,"

Tommy shrugged at him, "I don't have a choice,"

Tommy glanced slightly at Lil, unfortunately she looked up and caught him just then, and turned up her nose in disgust with a slight scowl on her face, but it suddenly turned to a smirk and as they walked past, she covered her mouth slightly, "Asshole," She coughed out.

Phil glared at her, "Bitchier and bitchier by the day," He commented, his glare continuing after the couple.

Tommy shrugged, "C'mon, the teams meeting early,"

Lucas and Lil leaned against the school wall outside, with Lil between Lucas and the wall, "Get this, the loser's gonna qb in today's game,"

Lil rolled her eyes, "What's he trying to do, be cool again or something? Like I think he's not that dumb, he knows that to be cool, he would have to be accepted by us, and that's not happening."

Lucas nodded, "He isn't getting into the jocks, because they know befriending him would mean being disowned by us. The only one he's getting is your brother, which I don't understand. He use to hate Tommy before, don't know what got into him,"

Lil shrugged, "I don't get it either. That's what pisses me off. Why would he betray me like that?" She asked, masking the pain in her voice.

Lucas shrugged, wrapping his arm around her, "Who cares babe. I have to get to my team meeting, you're coming to the game right?"

Lil grinned, "Wouldn't miss it," With that, he pecked her lips quickly before rushing off to catch up to the others.

Lil could see Tommy and Phil making their way toward the stadium as well, and frowned. Why would Phil do that to her. Phil knew that Tommy broke her heart, why would he betray her? This had slowly caused a build up of resentment in her, where she hardly ever spoke to her brother anymore. Where her and Phil once were able to talk about everything, and had their playful banter every morning over the car, now they hardly saw each other, despite living in the same house. Lucas picked and dropped her off, and Lil was usually out with Lucas after school and then went straight to her room. Nothing compared to their late night conversations, and playful teasing. She missed her brother, which caused her to hate Tommy even more.

Lil met up with Kimi outside her class. Kimi had kind of gotten stuck between the twins. Her friendship with Lil and relationship with Phil were both slightly taking hits due to their hostility to each other. She smiled at Lil, "Hey, where's Lucas?" She asked, surprised he wasn't with her.

Lil rolled her eyes, "He isn't always with me,"

Kimi raised her brow in argument.

Lil laughed, "They have a football meeting before the game. Which reminds me, are you coming?"

Kimi sighed, "You know how I hate football games, the screaming as you watch the guys run back and forth on the field, ugh,"

"But you still go to every game," Lil questioned, amused.

Kimi smiled, "I like being there for Phil,"

Lil frowned, "Yeah,"

Kimi didn't say anything, choosing to not get into that again, "So let's get some food, and head over to the bleachers,"

Lil nodded.

At first, when the game started, Phil didn't keep his eyes off Tommy. His eyes set in alarm, not sure of what to expect, but as the game carried on he loosened up, satisfied with Tommy's game and safety.

Lil cheered for Lucas from the bleacher, but every so often glanced toward Tommy, who seemed to be doing very well for his first game that year. Which pissed her off, and every time she heard appreciation remarks for him, she gritted her teeth. She could tell Lucas was pissed to, as he was taking his quarterback thunder. Before Tommy, Lucas was their best quarterback, but now, he had competition. As the game dragged on, Lucas frowned more and more, even though Tommy was earning them points with his good steady throws, Lucas hated it.

When the game finally ended, Tommy was gasping for air as an arm wrapped around his waist in pain. Phil rushed up to him, "Are you okay?" He asked in concern.

Tommy, who still wasn't able to speak, nodded. Some of the team-mates gave him congratulatory pats on the back as they walked past in their team's victory. He grinned at all of them, masking his pain. Shit, this probably wasn't the best idea.

"Good job for your first game,"

Tommy and Phil turned to see Lucas walking up to them in the crowd, with a little smirk on his lips. Tommy nodded stiffly, and Lucas gave him a pat on the back before pushing past him, accidentally bumping into him and in that bump his elbow connected with his rib –hard.

Tommy groaned loudly in pain, and clutched his sides.

"Oops, sorry," Lucas grinned, walking past as Lil ran up to him from the crowds and threw her arms around him.

"Congrats," She grinned, before pushing her lips against his and pulling him into a kiss.

"What happened?" Phil asked, as Tommy kneeled slightly. No one noticed in the huge crowds that had formed on the field as all the audience had run on at the end of the game in victory.

"Fucking bastard," Tommy spat painfully, "The asshole elbowed me in the ribs," He said, breathing in deeply.

Phil's eyes widened in anger, "You're fucking joking me," He spat.

"Phil," Kimi called out, making her way toward them through the huge crowd. But Phil ignored her, as he stormed past her and to the kissing couple. Tommy looked up startled, "Phil wait-…"

But it was too late, he had already pulled Lucas away from Lil, "What the fuck is your problem?" He asked enraged.

This caught a lot of attention, and Chuckie who had been busy with Angelica turned to look, as well as the other players.

"What are you talking about?" Lucas asked smugly, pushing Phil away.

"Phil-…" Lil started, but before she could finish Phil had curled his hand into a fist and quickly pulled back his arm before connecting his fist with Lucas's face forcefully.

Lucas fell back, and the crowd behind him had scattered. He clutched his eye on the ground, and Lil screamed.

"What the fuck Phil," She yelled, before kneeling beside Lucas, "Oh my god, are you okay," She asked concerned.

Kimi ran up to Phil and put a hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged away from her, causing her to step back into the crowd, "Phil-…" She started, but couldn't finish.

"You shouldn't have done that," Lucas threatened, his jaw clenched in anger.

"Do something," Phil challenged, and by now the other players had already run up to them, Chuckie grabbed Phil's arm.

"What the hell?" He asked.

Phil pulled away from, and just then Lucas had gotten up and had charged at Phil with his fist raised. It was too late; Phil saw it when it was less then 30 centimetres away. He reflectively turned his face for the blow… but it never came.

Phil opened his eyes slowly to find a hand stopping the fist, and he followed up the arm to find Tommy standing there, glaring at Lucas. Tommy's knuckle was less then an inch away from Phil's nose, which was currently straining Lucas's fist.

"Bitch please," Tommy sneered before pushing Lucas's fist back, causing him to swagger back in surprise.

Lil's eyes set in a glare, and she moved past to step in front of Lucas, "What the fuck is wrong with you?" She yelled.

Tommy raised a brow in amusement, "What? You wanted your brother to get hit?"

"Shut the fuck up, I don't wanna hear shit from your mouth. Phil, what the fuck were you thinking to punch Lucas?" She asked angrily.

Phil stepped up beside Tommy, equally angrily, "That basted elbowed Tommy on purpose," He stated.

"So? Are you his fucking body guard?"

"Yo, you might have lost value of your other relationships since getting with that asshole, but if anyone tries shit with my friend, then they're asking for a black eye. And now you're boyfriend can be the example of that," He smirked angrily.

Lucas tried to get to them, but was grabbed by his team mates, "Let go of me, he's gonna eat dirt," He yelled.

Tommy smirked, "He already has. Actually your girlfriend has too; dirt was their favourite snack back in the day, didn't you know?" He teased.

Chuckie cracked a smile, and Phil laughed out loud, "Yeah, remember those days Lil?" He asked harshly.

Lil didn't smile, "Yeah, the days you actually gave a shit about me. And here we are today; you're hitting my boyfriend to defend the guy I hate? Who, if I remember correctly, you hated too. So what the fuck is this, huh Phil?"

Phil glared at her, "My friendship has nothing to do with you,"

Lil glared back evenly, setting stage to gossip that was sure to spread. The two twins, in a heated argument in front of half the school population, which involved Lil's once popular relationship with ex boyfriend Tommy and her current boyfriend Lucas, this was like the juiciest gossip and no one moved.

Lil shook her head, "How can you be friends with someone I hate?"

"I grew up with this guy, and if some next punk is gonna try shit-…"

Lil whirled around to Lucas, "Did you do it?"

"I bumped into him accidentally," He lied, and Tommy grunted in response.

She turned back, "Exactly, is no one allowed to even bump into your precious Tommy? Everyone should watch out don't even brush slightly against Tommy, his boyfriend Phil might smash you,"

A whisper of laugher was heard around them, "He did it on purpose. He's jealous that Tommy's better then him." Phil responded, ignoring the crowd.

"He's tried to be me long enough," Tommy smirked.

Lil glared at him, "He's not like you," She spat, "He's so much better. He's something you can never be, so get over yourself, you're nothing,"

"He's so much better?" Tommy asked amused, "Lil, are we talking about the same thing here?"

The guys cheered in laughter, and a few girls snickered, causing Lil to turn beet red, "Fuck you Tommy, what were you trying to prove coming back here? Why the fuck are you even back? No one likes you here anymore, no one wants you here. Why don't you go back to wherever the fuck you were because you don't belong here anymore."

Tommy didn't respond, as he watched the anger in her eyes, but just simply smirked.

"I hate you," She spat, "You're the worst type of scum. You're nothing to me, and you're nothing here. Lucas did take your spot; he's the popular one that everyone likes. You made two years of my life hell when you disappeared on me. I didn't know what had happened to you, at one point I even thought you had died or something." She stated, her face twisting in hurt as she recalled the past, "Now I wish you had," She ended in disgust.

Tommy felt a clenching inside him, and the hurt flashed through his eyes before he quickly masked it, "And?"

She took Lucas's arm as she started past them, but paused as she got beside Tommy, "And now, I will make your life a living hell,I promise it," She whispered dangerously, before walking past him. A few steps away from him, she turned once more, "I'll make you wish you were dead," She promised, and with a scowl from the couple, they turned and walked past the shocked crowd.

Many waited to see Tommy's reaction, but when they realized they weren't getting one, group by group, they all left with their own versions and exaggerations of the story, ready to sell to the regretful people that missed it.

When everyone was gone, Tommy kneeled in pain, a tear leaving his eyes, "Shit," He winched.

Phil kneeled beside him, "Tommy, are you okay?" He asked, scared.

"No," He admitted, "You need to get me home, quickly."

Phil put Tommy's arm around his shoulder, "Have you felt this before?"

"Yeah, I need my meds," He whimpered, "And go to the hospital,"

Phil nodded, trying to get Tommy to walk slowly with his support, but it didn't do much because Tommy kept bending over in pain.

"Shit," Phil cursed at his hopeless state.

"Dude-…" Tommy started painfully, but was shocked when he felt another pair of hands take his other arm and put it around a neck. Tommy frowned, looking up and was startled to find Chuckie looking back at him.

"I got you, bro," He said, a tear in his eye.

A/n Nothing worse then a women scorned eh? What type of cancer does Tommy have? And where did Chuckie come from? Next chapter : We find out what exactly is wrong with Tommy… and so does Chuckie. But when will Lil find out…will she even find out? R & R