'Dying?" Blake kept saying over and over in his head. It didn't seem possible. How could Tori be dying? She was young, and for all he knew, healthy. He raised his head to the sky and watched the stars shining above. The wind began to blow, making his wet cheeks cold. He had to find out what was happening.

Tori raced to the one place she always turned when she was in need- the academy. She went through the waterfall and into the main building. She ran into the sitting room, and sure enough, Cam was sitting reading a book.

Cam heard her come in and looked up. He saw tears on her face and rose. They met in a tight embrace and just stood there holding each other. Cam gently stroked her hair. "What happened?" he asked.

Tori sobbed against him. "I- I told Blake," she got out. Cam sighed and steered her over to the couch. They sat down and Tori continued her story. "I called him and told him I couldn't go out with him, and then went to the beach. He found me. . . and then- well- he kissed me," she said softly.

"Then what?" he asked.

"Then I pulled away and told him I couldn't do this. . . then he asked me why and-" she stopped as another fit of tears came over her. Cam put his arms around her again and gently rocked her back and forth.

Blake went to the only person he could think of- Cam. He knew, talking to the others, that he had known Tori the longest. Maybe he could help. He quickly made his way over to the academy and up the stairs to the main building. He walked along the corridors to try and find him. He looked into the common room and stopped dead in his tracks.

Cam was holding Tori tightly to him. Blake felt like his heart was being ripped from his chest. Why would she let Cam comfort her and not him? He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and looked into Sensei's worried eyes.

"It is not what you think Blake," he said softly. Blake turned back and saw them part. "Tori and Cam have been very close ever since she came to us," he said gazing over at them. Blake turned back to him.

"She came to you?" he asked. Sensei led his down the halls as he spoke.

"When Tori was a young girl, her parents enrolled her here. Her father passed away soon after, and then her mother passed as well when Tori was thirteen. I have raised her as if she was my own ever since. Cam is like a brother to her- his intentions go no further than that," he finished.

Blake was in shock. Why hadn't anyone told him about this before? "Sensei- what's wrong with her?" he asked shakily. Sensei sighed and led him back to the sitting room where Tori was lying on her side on the couch alone.

"I think perhaps she should be the one to tell you." Blake slowly walked into the room. Tori's eyes were closed and she appeared to be asleep. He looked back to the doorway and saw Sensei, and now Cam, walking away. He turned back to her. She looked so small and weak there.

He walked over and sat on the couch just in front of her. Tori felt the depression and opened her eyes expecting to see Cam, but when she saw Blake, she felt a huge lump form in her throat. He looked down at her and gently placed a hand on her face again, running his thumb along her cheek.

Without another word, he gently lifted her into his arms and held her. Tori didn't protest and settled into his embrace. She wanted to cry, but the tears would not come. Blake began running his hand over her back lovingly. After a long while, he asked the question that was unanswered.

"Tori- why did you say that?" he asked. He felt her shudder slightly and then she pulled away so she could face him.

"because it's the truth," she said lowering her head. Tears began to gather in Blake's eyes now. "I'm sick Blake, and I don't want to lead you on," she got out.

"If you're sick, you can get better- right?" he asked nervously. Tori shook her head.

"I have leukemia," she said softly. Blake's head shot up. Tori raised hers and looked into his deep brown eyes. "I had it when I was young- right after my mom died,' she said as more tears began to fall. Blake moved closer and held her. She still continued on. "They said I was in remission, but when I went for a checkup. . ." she didn't finish her thought.

Blake couldn't believe what he had just heard. The one person he cared more about than anyone else in the world had cancer. "Isn't there anything we can do?" he asked.

"No," she breathed. "I've gone through all the treatments- nothing's worked." Blake turned his head and kissed her temple sending shivers down her spine.

"There must be some-" he was cut of by her placing a finger on his lips.

"Please," she pleaded. "Could you just hold me a little longer?" she said silently. Blake let out a small smile and nodded his head. Not even thinking about what Sensei would have to say, they lay down on the couch and drifted off to sleep in each other's arms.

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Blake woke up very early. Tori was nestled deep into his arms. She was everything to him- he had realized that the moment he thought he would lose her- but now the thought came crashing down on him like a ton of bricks. She was sick, and he didn't know what to do.

"I promise you Tor, I'll find a way to help you," he whispered as he leaned in and kissed her forehead. He was on the outside of the couch, and carefully unwrapped himself from her. He got up and walked out into the hallway that led outside. The sun was just peaking its head over the mountains as he walked through the large green lawn.

"Blake!" he turned and saw Cam running towards him.

"Uh, hey Cam," he said nervously, wondering what he would say about him spending the night with Tori.

"She told you?" he asked. Blake slowly nodded his head. Cam put his head down and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"How much time does she have?" he asked- not wanting to know the answer, Cam sighed.

"The doctors gave her three, maybe four months at the most," he said lowering his head.

"Isn't there anything we could do? I mean, aren't there any treatments or-"

"The only thing that would help her is a bone marrow transplant," Cam interrupted.

"What type is she? Have you guys been tested? Where can I go to see if-"

"You don't get it Blake!" Cam interrupted again. "She has a very rare type of leukemia. Before, she went through some experimental treatments and we thought they worked, but they didn't. The only person that could match is a blood relative, and even then we don't know if it'll work," he said.

Both men were quiet for a long while. Blake finally broke the silence. "Cam? You know her better than anyone," he said softly. Cam turned his head back to him.

"Yeah." He said smiling a little. Blake got a sudden gleam in his eye.

"What's the one thing she wants more than anything else in the world?" he asked. Cam let out a small, sighed laugh.

"She'd kill me if she knew I told you this," he said. Blake gave him a pleading look, and Cam caved. "She always said that if there was one thing she could do, it would be to go to Hawaii and surf at Pipeline on her custom board." Blake looked deep in thought.

"Custom board?" he asked. By now they were walking out to the waterfall.

"yeah- she has this design for a custom surfboard that she's always wanted. She was hoping that when she got her first sponsor deal, she's get it done," Cam said.

"Do you think you could get me a copy of the design?" Blake asked. Cam stopped and looked him right in the eyes.

"Are you serious?" he asked. Blake nodded his head, and prepared himself for what he was about to say.

"yeah I am Cam. . . I love her," he said. A small smile crept across Cam's face.

"I'll get it for you by the end of the day," he said. Blake nodded his thanks and disappeared through the falls.

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Tori woke up and went to find Blake. She didn't know what had happened to him, and wanted to see him. She could still feel his arms around her and she sighed happily. No one had ever made her feel like this before. Even in her darkest hour, she felt such comfort from him, and she didn't want to let that go.

She made her way out of the Academy without seeing anyone, and decided to get herself together. The last time she had been told she was sick, she had come very close to death. She was walking alone in the forests behind the academy and she collapsed. A terrified Shane found her a few hours later and they rushed her to the hospital.

Since that day, she promised herself that she would never give up her fight- she beat it once, and she knew she could beat it again. She opened the door to her apartment and went to her bathroom. She showered and took her daily regiment of medications. After she dressed, she felt better than she had in the past few days.

She smiled as she thought of Blake. She wouldn't be alone this time if she didn't want to be. She knew she loved him- last night had confirmed that. Even after she had pushed him away, he went after her and comforted her in a way she had never felt before. Sighing, she walked over to her nightstand and changed her earrings.

Her eyes rested on a picture that was taken almost six years ago- it was of her and her sister. Tori stared at the picture of the two blonde haired teens. Her sister was five years older than her, and they looked very much alike. She knew a marrow transplant could increase her chances to fully recover, but she had no clue where her sister was. 'If only I could find you,' she said in her head.