Hey, its themortalsaga posting this chapter today because churchthecat is on holiday and she wanted me to update for her. She did still write this chapter, I'm only uploading for her.

We're best friends in real life, in case anyone was confused.

Anyway, ENJOY! and REVIEW!

It was a week later and Jem still had not been released from the hospital. He was now awake and stable but they needed to keep him for observation. Tessa and Will put aside their differences and ignored the awkwardness for Jemmy's sake. Every day they went to visit him straight from school. Tessa would wait and play board games with Jem whilst Will went to get them a Starbucks and food. The hospital food was disgusting and Jem couldn't wait to go home. They never spoke about the illness. It was as if it did not exist. Jem relished these moments because they both made him feel normal. They were the only people who did not constantly ask how he was. If he just ignored their worried glances and silent conversations then he felt almost normal. Tessa, Will and Jem got along well in the hours they spent together. If not for his visitors Jem was not sure how he would take the boredom. He missed Sophie, he missed staring at her beautiful face, marred by that one childhood scar. He missed making her laugh and talking to her, even if they were just friends. Soon it was time for Will and Tessa to leave and, despite how much he liked having them there, he was so worn out he was glad.

It was the next day at school and Tessa was worried. She hadn't heard from either Will or Jem all day. Usually she got several texts and snapchats from them both. Instead of her usual state of happiness mixed with worry Tessa was almost in despair. She didn't pay attention to anything. She bumped into everything and everyone. She went through all her classes in a daze, desperate to find Will at lunch. Not soon enough the bell rang, Tessa raced out of the classroom. She ate her lunch as usual, antsy to leave. She stood up after about 5 minutes and made up some excuse to leave. Sophie and Gideon thought that Tessa and Will were meeting in private. They hadn't had a full conversation with her in days. Tessa raced around the school trying to find Will. She checked the library, the gym, and all of his usual haunts. She went outside as a last resort, standing against the wind was a lone figure. Sillhoetted against the murky grey skies of London.

"Will?" the figured held up a hand in acknowledgment. Tessa barrelled straight into his chest, almost knocking him over. She smacked her fist against his chest and then sagged in his arms.

"Where have you been?" she practically whispered, her voice hoarse with unshed tears. "I thought something bad had happened."

"It has." He whispered, leaning on her body as if it was all the support he had in the world.

"How is he?"

"Not good." Will sounded exhausted. They let go of each other as they headed back into school. Tessa grabbed his hand, not sure if she was supporting him or he was supporting her.

"Is he going to be okay?" Will shook his head and Tessa's heart tightened. She didn't know what to do. How would she deal, all that would be left was a broken Will and a damaged Tessa.

"I just don't know." Tessa's eyes filled with tears. She knew that he hadn't been in her life very long but he meant so much to her. He was the best friend that she had never had. She couldn't imagine how Will was feeling, how it felt to know that your best friend was going to die long before you.

"Is there anything that they can do?"

"No." Will's shoulders sagged as he let out the breath he had been holding, for such a long time this had been a burden he had taken all by himself. For so long he had to take care of Jem when he was ill. Not knowing whether or not he would make it through. Every time Jem got worse it took him much longer to get better. Seeing the distress on Tessa's face he took her into her arms, the passing students gave them odd looks, the two lonely figures in the middle of the hall. The bell rang and they had to head inside to English. Mr Bane, seeing that something was not quite right, left the two alone for the period. Not minding that neither of them completed any work. He could tell they needed the space and time to think. Neither of the two let go of each other the whole time. They were always touching, holding hands, pinkies or entwining legs. He wasn't sure they meant it, but he was sure that Tatiana, his least favourite pupil, was absolutely raging.

By the end of the school day both Tessa and Will were shaking like leaves. They hopped on the back of Will's bike and headed straight to the hospital. Tessa's head was filled with memories. The first time she met Jem, the sweet boy that helped her on her first day, talking to him, laughing with him, watching films together, curled up on the couch wrapped in a blanket, sharing a ben and jerry's. She remembered all the visits over the past week. Similar memories were in Will's head. He remembered the first day they met, when Jem showed up at the home.

WILL'S POV

Today was the day that the new boy should arrive. That stupid boy from china whose parents were abducted. Charlotte doesn't seem to understand that I don't want knew friends. I am perfectly happy with Percy and Harry. I mean who wouldn't be. Both were brave heroes. Boys that I could aspire to be. This new boy would be a drivelling little shit head. I hate him. I don't want to talk to anyone. Charlotte does't seem to understand. There is nothing to say. Both my parents are dead and I am an orphan. Clearly I have accepted this and Charlotte should shut up.

"Will!" Charlotte yelled. "Jem is here!"

I sighed. Leaning back against the window seat I returned to my book. I don't want to leave this perfect little world. Who would. I hadn't left the house in months. Charlotte blames stress but really I'm just too lazy.

Someone knocked on the door. I turned to glare. A young boy walked into the room, his hair was white and his eyes were pale. If I wasn't used to books I would be scared of him.

"Hello?" The boy said.

"What do you want?" I asked brutally. "If you can't see I am trying to read."

"I can see that. Is that Harry Potter?"

And that. Was the start of a beautiful friendship. Jem just got it. He wasn't part of the fandom but he appreciated it.

Will remembered bittersweet memories from his childhood. The time when Jem bet him he couldn't climb the side of the house. Will made it half way up before falling to break his arm. Jem never left his side until they left the hospital. Will remembered the day that Jem was diagnosed. The two boys sat on the ground hugging, filled with despair. He remembered the blood oath they took, that as long as they were alive they would be best friends. Jem was always there for him but Will had always lacked in the friend department, forgetting that they only had a short amount of time together.

They ran through the hospital and came to a skidding halt when they reached Jem's room. Both stood like idiots, their mouths gaping in a perfect o. Jem was up and alive. The colour in his cheeks reflecting none of the illness he had the past week.

"Jem?" They said at the same time.

"Good news!" Tessa and Will both stood in the same position a look of apprehension and fear on their faces. When he got no answer Jem shook his head and laughed.

"I can come home!"

"What?! How?!"

"Well the doctors said I was fine."

"Really?"

"Yup."

"Always fine or fine for now?"

"Indefinitely fine."

Look of pure delight crossed all of their faces as they went to join the most emotional group hug ever. They had tears rolling down their faces. Relief at having not had to accept the inevitable.

Charlotte took Jem home because he wasn't allowed to do too much and was already quite worn out. Je was never going to tell them but he was only allowed home because he was stable, there was no cure. He was basically being told he would die soon enough but they would rather he was in the comfort of his own home. They couldn't know. The looks on their faces when they saw he was well were priceless, he couldn't take that happiness away from them. He had no right.

Tessa and Will went to a small café on Will's bike. His bike was perfect for London as he was able to skip all of the traffic. They arrived at the small café, it was and adorable wee café on a street corner. It was strung with fairy lights outside and the night was warm so they sat out with their hot chocolates.

"I'm so glad he is okay" Tessa said.

"Me too, but how long will it last?"

"It doesn't matter. We will be there for him no matter what."

"Using the royal 'we' are you?"

"He has always been there for you. You owe him the same decency."

"I know. It's just so hard sometimes."

"It's always going to be hard but that doesn't matter because we love him and he needs us. Do you understand me? If you leave him behind I will hunt you down and kill you." Will gulped.

"Okay. You're right." After this they sat in silence, drinking their hot chocolates.

"Would you like to go on a wander?" Will asked.

"I've never seen London at night before."

"I'll take that as a yes."

They walked along in companionable silence, occasionally bumping shoulders. Tessa was starting to feel the cold and, in a rush today, she had forgotten her jacket. Silently Will handed her his hoodie and wrapped it around her.

"Where are we going?"

"Boy, you sure are curious aren't you?"

"Always. So where?"

"You'll see." Tessa hated surprises even more than she hated book adaptions.

Suddenly they came to a clearing, a large empty area in the middle of a busy city. All the noises were gone, she could see all the stars in the sky.

Will lay on the ground and patted the spot next to him. Tessa lay beside him, her hair tickling his face.

"This here is the north star." He said, pointing to a rather bright star in the distance.

"This is orison, this is Jupiter and over here is the plow." Tessa had no clue what he was on about but was happy just listening to his voice. She was glad that they could be together without arguing. She was so emotionally exhausted that she needed some time where she didn't have to think about Jem. It had been a hard week. She looked across when she realised that Will had gone silent. He was gazing at her in admiration. Surprised she looked at him properly for the first time in ages.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked her.

"The vastness of life and the significance of one human being."

"Oh." Tessa sighed. No one else ever seemed to think about this. When Tessa saw the sky all she saw was a dome encasing the human race in a protective bubble. She had always wanted to see space. She knew it would never happen but there seemed a ridiculous amount of science to explain what seemed, to her, like magic. She had a basic knowledge of physics but she would never run out of questions. That's what life was, a quest to find all your answers. Will was still watching her.

"What?"

"Time to go." They stood up and dusted off their bums. She looked up at Will, only to find him staring at her again.

"Why do you keep staring at me?!" Will ducked his head. He couldn't help but stare at her. She was so beautiful. She was stunning. He brought her close, breathing in the scent of her. Her big grey eyes looked up into his, full of confusion and lust. He wrapped one arm around her waist and knotted the other in her hair. Her eyes went wide and she opened her lips. He took this as an invitation. And there they were, out in public, having a passionate kiss. Oops.