A/N: Well… Long time, no update. Ironically vacation times are the busiest for me. But here is the next chapter.

Chapter 11

Hazel

Going to this Youth Group was possibly one of the best things I had done. My cancer was shrinking and I've made a lot of friends. Lily and Rory were officially together – a good thing too. The angst had been killing me.

She was out of the hospital, her rib healed faster than expected, even the doctor was surprised. Maybe she was a miracle child – maybe she would be healed from her cancer, like I was.

"You know, Hazel," She said to me one day when I went to visit her at the hospital, "My Dad's a king."

I started. Was she joking? I saw their house, yes it was big, but it was no castle. But the look she had on her face – calm and happy. She was happy most of the time, or she did a very good job pretending to be.

It was almost as if she had gotten both a boost in self-confidence and if someone had bought her the world.

"What made you so happy?" I teased, "Or should I ask who?"

She sat up a bit straighter.

"A who, yes." She got up without any trouble. I stared for a moment – I had visited her two days earlier and she still needed help sitting upright.

She had broken a rib and who knows what else, but she was fine. She was smiling and the way she was walking made me think she was dancing down the hospital's hallways.

"Why are you so happy, Lily?" I laughed at her antics. I couldn't understand it – she had just been hit with a mass of bad luck, but there she was, dancing down the hallways, singing the song she'd sung the night the entire YG had come to visit her.

"My Dad is the king of the universe, you know. And come what may – I'll never forget that. The mountains can fall and the sea can overflow the land – I don't care! My DAD is the king of the universe, Hazel. He promised to look after us, and He will." She said it all in a sing-song voice.

I wished I was her. She was so sure of herself, of the fact that God loved her and would save her.

"And your fears?"

"I am scared of nothing." She said, a grin splitting across her pretty face. "I am the King's daughter – I'm a princess… remember what I told you? To live is Christ, to…"

"Die is to gain, you told me," I answered. "But I'm just me."

It sounded so unfair. To have a King you can call dad. She saw my face fall and laughed.

"Did you forget, Hazel Grace? Listen to me…" The brunette smiled again – she did that a lot. "We're co-heirs, girl. Your Dad is the King of the universe too."

"I don't think He'll accept me after all I've done." I said softly. Lily put a finger under my chin and forced me to look at her.

"You are Hazel Grace Lancaster, correct?" She wanted to know. I nodded. "You're middle name is Grace – God's grace is as large as an ocean, and we have only dipped our toes into it."

"You think He'll accept me, Lily?" My voice sounded small in my own ears. Lily let go of me and reached for her Bible. I thought she was going to read to me, but instead she gave it to me.

"Take it, Hazel." She said, moving her head up to the hill and closing her eyes. "You need it more than I do."

"But… you're dying…" I couldn't stop myself. I thought the dying person would need it more than I would.

"And that's okay," She sighed, "I lift my eyes unto the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth."

"That's actually really pretty." I mumbled, staring at the Bible on my lap. She tapped it.

"Psalm 121. It's my favourite part. And whenever I look at the hills, I remember that I am not alone and that I will never be alone."

I was never one for much physical contact besides my parents and Gus, but something mad me surge forward and hug her.

. . .

I went to Isaac's house once she was out of the hospital; we hadn't hung out in a while. His parents were happy to see me, and Isaac was happy to hear my voice.

"Can we go for a walk?" He asked, reaching for my arm. I moved a bit so he could find it easier and we walked down the road.

"So, what's up?" I asked once I was sure his parents were out of the earshot.

"Nothing really, I just missed you," He shrugged, "You're my only friend, Hazel, and I'd like to keep you close."

My heart melted. "You're stuck with me, Isaac." I said. He took a deep breath and slid his hand from my arm to my hand.

I stopped. But I didn't pull my hand away. Isaac lurched to a stop, not expecting my sudden stop.

"I-is this okay, Hazel?" He stuttered, obviously nervous. I gave his hand a soft squeeze.

"Look, Hazel," He said, "I like you. And I mean… more than a friend…"

He stuttered over his words. It was honestly one of the cutest things I had ever seen. I laughed at this, and then sobered up. I probably should answer, though.

"Isaac…"

"Wait, I know you don't feel the same way… but I want you to give me a chance to… win your heart? I know Gus was my best friend and you guys dated for a long while and you were the love of his life… but…"

I put a hand over his mouth to stop his rambling. He stopped talking and sighed.

"I'm sorry, I know… but it's been a while… and I didn't like you back then, I like you now…"

"We can go on a date tomorrow?" I cut him off. He stared at me, or he would have if he could, right now his face was just pointed at me and his mouth slightly open.

"Just like that? I had a whole speech planned." He laughed. I took his arm again and we continued our walk.

. . .

A/N: Please review.