The Way Out

by Forfun100

Jason Grace, Hollywood's Golden Boy, is dying on the inside. With a screwed up home life and friends who just don't understand, he is lost in a daze of 'normalcy'. The only way out is to be himself. But how can you be yourself when someone else has been living for you? Well, you start doing things just to do them. And sooner or later... You find out what it means to be alive.

14. Chapter 14

When I get to the lake, Piper is laying out on the roof. Staring solidly and attentively at the storm clouds up above.

"I don't mean to be rude." I call attention to myself, "But that is not the recommended course of action in case of rain."

She doesn't move, she doesn't speak, she stares at the sky. Waiting for something to happen. I think.

I get myself on the roof, "Hello?"

She looks at me slowly, eyes gleaming with some kind of happiness I've never seen before.

I see her mouth the word hi, but don't hear a sound.

"A storms coming, don't you think we should get inside?" I ask her.

"Nah." She sits up and gestures for me to sit beside her.

"Why not?"

"The air is nicer up here."

"What do you mean?"

She takes my hand and smiles warmly at me. There's a wind that blows in from the lake. Cool crisp air that sends a shiver down my spine.

"See?"

"But the rain-"

"I don't worry about rain. When it comes it comes."

"Alright."

She leans on my shoulder, "I love you." She says.

I kiss her in response, bringing her closer to me, "Maybe during the summer we can come out here and star gaze. You and I on this roof.

"I'd like that." Piper says as thunder crashes nearby.

"You know, Thalia loves lightning storms."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I like wind storms better."

"You can tell a lot about a person by the kind of weather they like."

"Oh really?" I tease.

"Yes." She says, "Wind, the feeling of freedom. When the wind blows through your hair it's like you're running without the effort. Like you can fly. Like you're invincible. An unseen element. Invisible, but powerful. Strong enough to blow down homes, and soft enough to blow the seeds off of dandelions.

"Lightning, spontaneous beauty. Explosive but controlled. Powerful but distant. Lightning always seems far away but it lights up the darkest of clouds. It was used by the most powerful of gods, and cannot be tamed."

"Ever think about becoming a writer?"

"No actually." She chuckles.

"What kind of weather do you like then Miss. Poet."

"Rain." She smirks, "What would you say to that?"

"Hmm..." I think dramatically for a moment, "Rain, comes in many different forms. Can be gentle and only kiss the things it touches, or come down in a hard pounding fury. Weathers away the rough edges leaving smoothness and growth everywhere it goes. Sometimes it's sad, sometimes it's freeing. It can be warm or cold. Rain always leaves its mark."

Just then we feel the first droplets fall from the sky. I feel a smile dance across my face as we climb off the roof.

"May I?"I ask holding out my hand.

"A dance?"

"I'm hoping for more than just one my dear." I chuckle.

She takes my hand and leads me through the open field. As cool, but not quite cold rain, falls down around the two of us. We match to the rhythm of the rain. Swaying and spinning in time with the thunder. Piper and I find the sound of laughter our lyrics. The world around us begins to smell like rain and sweetness.

"I love you." Piper laughs, "I love you lots. Even in the pouring rain."

I laugh along with her and repeat her words, taunting her lovingly.

I eventually drag us inside, wet down to my bones, shivering but just fine with that because I have her.

"Come here." She says, swinging me around, closing the door, and kissing me in one effortless motion.

Holding on to her rain soaked figure I fight the bubbling laughter inside of me. It's just because of how precious she is.

"Go on and shower?" She asks shoving me playfully.

"And if I don't want to?"

"Then you can stand right where you are."

"Ugh, life is hard." She pecks my nose before running of to shower herself. Just as I'm about to walk down to the other bathroom, she chucks dry clothes at me.

I take a quick shower and hurry out to meet Piper again.

She standing in the kitchen, look lost.

"You okay?"

"Huh?" She looks at me, "Oh yeah, I'm just kind of confused."

"About what?"

"I kind of forgot who, what, and where I was." I laugh at her for a moment, "Shush."

"You're too cute, you know?"

She sticks her tongue out at me, I retaliate with the same gesture.

"Obscene." She scoffs, "You want soup?"

"I'm down."

"... All I have is Clam Chowder and Baked Potato."

"Yes."

"You're helpful as fuck."

She pulls out a can of soup and starts cooking.

"So." I start talking, "Coworker."

"Yup." She says.

"We have to kiss 'n stuff."

"Ew gross. Kissing."

"I know right. And my father's going to watch."

"That's terrifying."

"I'm sure he won't mind since it's for work."

"What if he shanks me for having too much chemistry with you?"

"Well... That's only happened once."

Piper chuckles, "I'm scared to meet your father."

"I was scared to meet your dad too."

"But that was different."

"Maybe..." I smile to myself, "Hey, don't worry Piper. I'm not going to let anything bad happen."

"I know." She says softly, stealing a quick glance at me.

"You can look you know." I chuckle.

"Well." She sighs and looks at me fully, "I have a question."

"Shoot."

"Who do you want to be?" I can't help but laugh. "What?"

"It's just." I get up and kiss her forehead, "You know what to ask. What really matters. Normal people ask what do you want to do, or where you want to go. But you? You ask who I want to be. That's so much better, so much more important." I kiss her lips this time, "Thank you."

She jumps up to kiss me this time. I adore how short she is, that she has to stand on tiptoes to kiss me. That she has to jump up to reach my eye level. She's darling.

I take a step back, "The problem is, I don't know how to answer that."

"What do you mean?"

"There is just so much to who I want to be."

"Well then..." She turns off the stove, "Make a list."

"A list?"

"Of traits. Parts of you."

I sit back down as she serves up soup. She sits beside me, waiting patiently.

"I want to be kind."

"Kind."

"Compassionate. Caring. Optimistic. Hopeful." She smiles at me, "I want to be thoughtful. Understanding. I want to be the reason someone smiles." She nods slowly, "I want to be well loved, not necessarily by everyone. I'd rather be loved strongly by a few people than hardly loved by all.

"I want to be good... No, wait, I want to know good. I want to see it in the world. I want to know the world is a good place. I want to see love. I want to see kindness. I want to experience all of the things I want to be.

"I want to be the kind of person who inspires kindness and goodness in others. I want people to see me and know the world isn't all bad. I want to be the kind of person who sees this life through to the very end. I want life to be full."

She looks so proud. Maybe she thinks I've read too many books for my own good. Maybe she thinks I'm a wuss, "That's a beautiful person to be." I think I blush as she kisses my cheek, "Now all you have to do, is be that person."

I kiss the crease of her brow.

"You're my little Hufflepuff."

"Oh my god I'm such a Hufflepuff." I laugh.

"Hufflepuff rocks."

"Are you a Hufflepuff?"

"I'm not sure."

"Well, who do you want to be, darling?"

She lets out a soft chuckle, "I want to be the girl my grandpa believed I could be."

I her lips softly, "Who did he see?"

"A thoughtful, brave, intelligent girl. One with a no bull shit attitude. A girl who knew what fights to pick and when to back down. A girl who was strong enough to weather any storm.

"A girl whose last worry was how beautiful she was on the outside, a girl who knew how to be beautiful inside. He wanted me to appreciate being alone. He wanted me to be ambitious. To have dreams larger than life."

I look fondly at her, before smiling broadly,

I don't know why you sound so sad

when your heart is open

you think you've gone mad

I know it's hard to see

but you're almost there

you're half way to the person you want to be

"I sang that song two years ago." I tell her, "But it never made sense until now."

"A lot of things are that way."

She cleans up our dishes, throwing them in the sink. Looping our pinkies together she takes me to the couch where we curl up into one another. She lays a blanket across our legs, the pounding rain still fills the cottage with sound.

We keep one another warm with kisses and whispered affections until I get a text.

Music video is uploaded. Almost 3 million views in the first hour.

Lupa's text makes me smile.

"Piper." I get her attention, "You want to watch the video?"

"I'm going to be so embarrassed." She smiles at me.

"But you're so cute."

"Thanks love." She rolls her eyes, "Give me a second." She stands up to grab her laptop and plops right back down where she'd been nestled into me.

We look up our video. The beginning starts off with us laying in the grass smiling softly at one another.

"You're my best friend." Piper says in the video. Playing with a loose curl.

I nod in the video, slowly and thoughtfully. I bite my lip as the music starts. The scene changes to us on the porch of the house. Piper laughing gorgeously, delighted in our merry making as I sing to her.

I think I'm smiling but I can't tell

The camera zooms in on her flawless face. Her beautiful, perfect face. She smiles and as the camera zooms out she holds her hands out to me.

Your eyes are daring me

Taunting me, but you know well

I take her hand in the video as she leads me into the house. I twirl her in circles around me before stopping to sing to her.

How I feel, and what I to be

So why don't you

Make your move

Bubbling with laughter, video Piper begins to run out of the living room and into the maze of the house.

I know you want to

I grab her from behind and lift her in circles before placing her gently on the ground. I then sing to her blushing face.

Just give me your hand

And I'll follow through

We start dancing in the kitchen, where we ended up. We do a halfway waltz around the kitchen furniture as the music grows. Then, as I sing the chorus, we're transported outside around a small bonfire near the lake. The country styled outfit she'd been wearing has turned into a dress. We dance awkwardly smiling and laughing the whole way through.

Can we dance like the stars

With the only rhythm in our hearts?

Can we dance all night

With the moon our only light?

Will you sing with me

And make this moment

Ours?

Suddenly we're sitting next to each other, our eyes locked with love. Fully of wanting of one another as I sing the rest of the chorus.

And if I'm lucky

By the time dawn arrives

Will you please

Baby please

Be mine?

Then we're back to running through the house. Piper turns around every so often to see I'm chasing behind her, lovingly.

I can't tell why you're holding back

You're hesitant

But, dear, I'm ready to attack

She's climbed up the stairs and leans over the raining as I sing the next part from the ground floor.

Oh, I want you

Think I need you

I'll do anything I have to

Just to know you're in this

She runs away, laughing wildly.

I have to know your heart is true

You know I'll follow through

We're back to the lake, the stars shining bright above us. The lake a dark sheet of silk. Not nearly as beautiful as the lake here, but close. With my arms wrapped around her I sway her back and forth.

Can we dance like the stars

With the only rhythm in our hearts?

Can we dance all night

With the moon our only light?

Suddenly our faces are impossibly close,

Will you sing with me

And make this moment

Ours?

The camera zooms in on the profiles of our faces, so you can see our lips near touching.

And if I'm lucky

By the time dawn arrives

Baby would you please

Be mine?

During the music break you see us dancing in the daylight in the field. Then you see me looking through the house for Piper. And as I open the door to one of the rooms you see that she's playing the piano. A little known fact, she's very good at the piano. I only found that out during filming.

I walk over and sit beside her. Slowly joining in the piano solo before singing to her.

Can't you see it?

I take her chin in my hand, lovingly caressing her face. Like I want her to really look at me and see how much I love her.

That I'd never let you go.

Oh, I need you

I take her hands off of the keys and hold them gently.

Wherever I go

I will

Let my love show

Darling just you know

I love you so

I kiss her in front of that piano. In the field of grass. By the bonfire. Right next to the lake. You see me sing by myself on the porch of the house for the next line.

Can we dance like the stars

With the only rhythm in our hearts?

You see Piper and I run into the lake, playing and splashing in the water. We dance in the room with piano,

Can we dance all night

With the moon our only light?

Will you sing with me

And make this moment

Ours?

With the piano in view we kiss again before she runs down the hall. We're back on the beach, our foreheads touching as the bonfire crackles beside us.

And if I'm lucky

By the time dawn arrives

Baby

You are mine

I catch her after we run back into the living room. Once I've caught her, I spin her in around. She clings to my neck for dear life before kissing me so I collapse on the couch.

Can we dance like the stars

With the only rhythm in our hearts?

Can we dance all night

With the moon our only light?

We're back on the beach dancing with the stars, the moon as our spotlight.

Will you sing with me

And make this moment

Ours?

You get to see Piper laughing, her fingers wrapped up in my hair. My hands gently holding her neck.

And if I'm lucky

By the time dawn arrives

You see me on the porch alone again.

Oh by the time dawn arrives

Yes by the time dawn arrives

There's a montage of Piper and I dancing before our kisses.

You're mine

We're back to the beginning of the video.

"You're my best friend." I lean down and kiss her this time.

"I like dating my best friend." After a moment of us smiling at one another the video ends.

"We're adorable." Piper says.

"Yeah we are." I kiss the back of her neck. I scroll down the page at the related videos. As I do I feel Piper deflate a bit.

"What?" I ask her.

"Look." She says pointing at the comment section.

"OMG cute song! But why isn't Jason kissing Reyna."

"Man, why is this song so tame? We know Jason probs tore into her. I would."

"You get Piper McLean for a video and she's always wearing clothing? Lame."

"I don't know about that pairing. Piper's skin is too dark for Jason."

"GET THAT SLUT OUT OF THIS VIDEO IT'S FOR MY OTP JEYNA."

"Guys it's been confirmed Jason wrote this song for Reyna!"

"Are Jason and Reyna getting back together?"

"I don't want to see Piper McLean kissing another man. I want to see her tits."

"Whoever that girl is, needs to back off. Jason is a taken man. Reyna's going to beat the crap out of her and I'll pay money to see it. Good song though."

"I love Jason's songs but that hoe can't even play piano. Why the fuck is she here and not Reyna?"

I'm in shock at what people have to say. They love my song but not my girlfriend. My real, true girlfriend.

"Oh my god Piper-" She turns around and hides in my chest. She's crying and I feel terrible. I hush her softly, brushing through her knotted hair with my fingers. Rubbing her back at the same time.

"I am so sorry."

"Me too." She whispers softly.

"I'll make it up to you."

"No." She tries to stop crying, "You don't have to make it up to me Jason. It's not your fault. Right?"

"No, it's not. I've told Reyna a hundred times-"

"Don't say her name."

I brush her hair off of her tear stained face, "Okay."

"I don't want to hate her. You know that?"

"Of course. Of course I know that. This is entirely my father's fault."

Tears start spilling out of her eyes again, are you sure you don't have to break up with me?"

I kiss her before I start crying too, "I couldn't do that Piper. I couldn't. Don't make me. Please. I don't care what they want." Fucking tears, getting in the way, "I care about you. I love you and need you. And don't give a shit that they don't see how much I love and adore you. Piper. You're everything to me."

She kisses me this time, mixing our tears together. I suddenly feel so heavy, I hear the rain pounding harder, the wind blowing stronger. It sounds how I feel, heavy.

"I love you, Jason Grace. I really do."

I smile through the ear down at my girlfriend. My red faced girlfriend, with her knotted randomly braided hair, and sad crying eyes. Sitting with me in sweats and a tee shirt. I still can't help but think that she's the most beautiful person I've ever seen.

"I'm glad." I tell her, "I'm so glad."

We stop crying and settle down back into the couch. I take apart and re-braid Piper's hair as she reads a book out loud. I requested a happy book, she picked Everyone Sees The Ants.

We're about three fourths of the way into the book when I get a phone call from Nico.

I answer without hesitating.

"Hello?"

No response.

"Nico? You there?"

I hear only the sound of breathing.

"Nico, talk to me."

I hear nothing.

"Nico? Nico are you alright? Nico?"

He hangs up.

Piper puts the book down, "Is everything alright?"

"No." I say dialing the number again. He picks up, "Nico what's wrong?"

"Percy... He... Says my dad... His mom almost told my dad."

"Oh my god, Nico-"

"I'm telling them. I know Sundays are yours and Piper's day but... Can you... Can you come over. Just in case they kick me out?"

"I'll be right there."

"Thanks man. Hurry."

I hang up and quickly kiss Piper, "I have to go."

"What's wrong?"

"Percy's mom almost told Nico's dad about Nico being gay. He's going to tell them."

"They wouldn't kick him out would they?"

"I don't doubt they might. Sorry Piper."

"Don't be." She get up and kisses me, "I'll bring your clothes to school."

"Thanks."

"I love you."

"I love too."

"Now go." She sends me sprinting off into the woods. Through the cold pouring rain. I speed off to Nico's place and I find myself getting there before Nico's parents.

I race inside and find Nico in hysterics pacing his room.

"Nico." I walk over and grab his shoulders, "It's okay."

"They're going to kill me. They're going to kill me."

"No they're not. Persephone will not hate you. Your dad will learn to accept it."

"Why did Percy have to go and fucking tell his mom? Like-..."

"Breathe Nico. Just breathe." He looks ready to cry but takes deep breaths anyway, "I'm here for you. Okay? I'm right here and I'm not going to leave until you tell me to. Got it?" Nico nods, "I'm not going to leave you alone."

We here his parents pull into the driveway.

"I'm going. Stay out of sight Jason."

"Sure." I nod following a few feet behind Nico.

"Persephone. Dad. I think we need to talk."

"I do too son." I hear Nico's dad agree. They walk into the study, leaving the door open I hide near the stairs, but close enough to hear the conversation.

"Persephone... Dad... I've been keeping something from you guys."

"What is it Nico, honey?" Persephone asks.

"I've been going through some weird stuff lately. And... I guess around the beginning of Sophomore year I started having feelings... for boys." Nico pauses for them to speak up. For them to scream.

"Nico, honey, what are you trying to say?" Persephone asks.

"I have a boyfriend. His name is Jake and we've been dating since Homecoming. He's... He's..."

"Gay." His dad says. I can almost feel how much that comment is a punch in the gut to Nico, "He's gay. And you, my son. My only son are gay."

Nico bravely says, "Yes. I am. I'm gay, dad." He's on the verge of tears. I hear his dad jump up and storm out of the room, "Had-" Persephone tries to stop him, but I watch Nico's dad slam the garage door. Thunder crashes outside as he drives away.

"Nico-"

Nico runs out of the study and slams into me. I think that was the goal. Him trying to hug me. I say nothing as he sobs into my chest. I hold him tighter with each heart wrenching sob.

I see Persephone silhouetted in the light from the study. She walks over slowly before placing a gentle hand on his back.

Nico coughs a little trying not to choke.

"Ti amo, mio figlio." She says in a poor Italian accent. She kisses the back of his head before walking away.

"Come on Nico." I say taking him upstairs.

"He hates me."

"No, he doesn't."

"Yes he does. He hates me. And I don't disagree with him. He should hate me."

I open the door to his room, "Nico." I say to him, "He may not love you perfectly, but he loves you as well as he knows how." I quote from one of Piper's books, "It's stupid that this is hard for him to accept. It's stupid that he can't just love you the way you are. It sucks, believe me I get that. But Nico, you don't deserve to be hated and he doesn't hate you."

Nico sits down on the bed. He wants me to keep talking. I can see it in his eyes, "What you just did, is the bravest thing I've ever seen. You are braver than I have ever been. Nico, please believe me. In my eyes you are the bravest person I have ever met."

Still crying, Nico lays down on his bed, "Thanks for being here, man."

"Any time." I say back.

"I should call Jake... Right?"

"Yeah." Nico gets up and walks into the bathroom.

"Hey Jake... I told them." He closes the door The rain seems to lighten up, but the thunder is just as loud as ever.

I call Piper.

"Hey."

"Hey."

We're silent then, "I'm sorry I left."

"Don't be."

"I love you."

"I love you more." She chuckles through the phone.

"See you Tuesday?"

"Oh yeah, holiday huh?"

"Yeah... Piper?"

"Yes?"

"I'm not going to break up with you anytime soon. I'm aiming toward never breaking up with you actually."

"... I'm glad. Thank you. Get some rest."

"You too, I love you."

"I love you too my dear."

I think I just told Piper I may want to marry her someday. I hope she caught that.

Nico comes back and asks me if I'll stay the night. I agree, remembering my father's going to be out of town until Friday.

I text Thalia who allows me to spend the night.

I fall asleep on the couch in Nico's room, the solemn sound of lonely thunder singing me softly to sleep.

I wake up early in the morning to the sound of more thunder. But then I realize, a few minutes later, that's just the sound of my ears ringing.

Good job, Jason. I tell myself, got yourself sick. Idiot.

Nico's still soundly asleep. Even as I feel like crap I get up and stretch. I'm a dumbass.

I get up and walk downstairs to find Persephone in the kitchen.

"Morning Jason." She smiles tiredly at me, "I made pancakes. Do you want to take some up to Nico? You guys can hang out there."

"Thanks, Mrs. Di Angelo." I say.

"Are you sick dear?"

"I'll be okay." I assure her.

"Drink orange juice and plenty of water okay?"

"Thank you." I look at the plates of pancakes. Chocolate chip pancakes in the shapes of dicks. With whipped cream coming out of the ends, "Mrs. Di Angelo. I don't think this is appropriate."

"Why dear? he likes whipped cream."

I nod slowly, "I'll just take the can of whipped cream then." I grab the can.

"Okay honey."

I get upstairs to see Nico waking up.

"Persephone made pancakes." I say.

"Did you get hit by a truck?" He asks tiredly.

"Here." I hand him a plate.

"Is it shaped like a dick?" He asks.

"Yup."

Nico sighs, "Knew it." I squirt whipped cream onto mine, before handing him the can, "Thanks."

"Yeah."

Once we've eaten our penis pancakes I decide to head home. My head pounding loudly the whole way there. I get inside and find Thalia getting ready to see Luke.

"Hey loser."

"Hey."

"You sound awful."

"Thanks, sis."

"Come here." She tells me. Sighing, I walk over to her. She places a hand on my forehead, "No fever."

"Cool, I'm going to bed."

"Go." Thalia rolls her eyes.

"Thank you mother." I say walking upstairs. The moment I'm under the covers I'm out. I wake up again at one in the afternoon to the sound of my phone going off.

Guess who has twenty texts? Me. That's who. Fucking hell.

I start going through my messages. Annabeth, Percy, and Leo want me to come hang out with them at two. Hazel's telling me how Nico's doing, well according to her. Reyna saying she'll be hanging out with Percy and Annabeth and that she wants to talk to me. And the last text is from Piper.

Guess who's dying this morning?

Me?

You're sick too?

Yup.

We're a pair. XD

Quiet.

As I wait for her to text back Thalia walks into my room.

"You're up."

"Uhuh."

"And you still sound like shit." Thalia says, "Your friends are asking me where you are. Text them back."

"But I don't want to." I say before finding myself choking... I mean coughing.

Thalia takes my temperature again, "And hey guess what? Now you have a fever."

"Yay... So does Piper. Wow."

"Who got who sick."

"It was a group effort."

"It was your fault then." Thalia jokes, "I'll bring back dinner later. I'll text you."

"Mkay. Don't get pregnant."

"Don't die." Thalia exits my room. I decide Percy is the safest bet.

Hey, can't hang out today.

Why not!?

Is sick.

My little boo.

I know.

Can we come see you? Annabeth wants to hang out.

No. I'm going back to sleep.

Get better.

Trying.

So, I go back to sleep. And find myself actually able to be left alone for longer than five minutes. I wake up when it's dark out to Thalia calling me.

"Hey baby, sorry to wake you but I'm on my way home. You want a burger?"

"Sure." And wow I sound like crap.

"And ice cream then. See you in a few."

"Bye." I rasp hanging up. I see that I have a text from my father.

Sent you a few articles in your email, son. Read through them.

Slowly, I get up and turn on my computer. Upon opening my internet I see my father's email. I open the three articles quickly.

One of them is an article on how to ask girls out. Which is just fucking creepy one. Two entirely inappropriate. And three where was this when I needed to ask Piper out? I close it almost as soon as it opens.

The second article is all about how popular my music video is and how preorders from my new album have skyrocketed. While that's cool and all I don't want to read it.

The last article is written by Venus weekly. Another update on Reyna and I. I'm so pissed off I just close the tab. Fuck my father.

I don't go to school Tuesday. I stay in bed trying not to cough my lungs up. I get back in school Wednesday though.

And that's just terrible, not just because school is a piece of shit. My friends seem to think I was on my death bed and keep making fun of me. Yes normal, but then at lunch I end up alone with Reyna.

We're sitting at the table together as everyone else orders.

"So." She smiles shyly, "How are you?"

"Uh..." I start coughing which makes me both awkward and embarrassed.

"Right." She blushes. Please stop that, "I was worried about you, you know."

"Why? It's just a cold."

"Yeah, I guess... Hey, um. Jason, Percy and Annabeth want to double date for Valentines day."

"Huh?"

"Yeah, they want it to be the four of us. Like old times."

"Reyna, these aren't old times."

"I know. But... Can't we try again? Even as friends?"

"Reyna I know you don't want to be friends and I'm tired of your bull."

"Excuse me-"

"Reyna we're over. Find a way to deal with it." I've found myself storming away a lot this year. I always know where to go.

I sit right next to Piper.

"Hey."

"Hey." She sniffles next to me, "You came to school today."

"As did you."

"Yeah but I came yesterday too."

"Why? Weren't you sick?"

"Yeah, but dad didn't notice."

I laugh at her, "You're terrible." This is going to sound pretty creepy, but she has a really cute sneeze, "Bless you."

"Thank you." She chuckles, "I could be a whole lot worse."

"You are, you suck."

"Thanks dearest."

"Anytime sugar."

And the two of us, sick and miserable, laugh together. Because what else are we to do when everything is out of our control?