Travis was sitting at home counting the minutes until he would be in Roscoe again. He couldn't believe Lily had cancer. It wasn't possible. She was just so full of life. He sensed that something else was up too. When he had spoken to her on the phone a week earlier she had sounded strained, and she didn't sound like she wanted to talk to him. He thought that she was probably like that because she was worried. I mean who wouldn't be worried if they just found out they had cancer? But he still knew that something else had happened, something Lily wasn't telling him about. He wondered if something had happened with Ray. He didn't know what to think, but he would be back in Roscoe in a week and then he would know.

Robbie decided to go for a walk. Lately he didn't know what to do with him self. He missed Lily so much, but then again... He didn't know what to think. As he was walking he spotted Kim sitting in the park. He walked over to her, but when he got close he stopped. He forgot that Kim was mad at him. She turned around when she heard him approach.

"Hi..." Kim said.

"Hey Kim." Robbie looked at the dirt.

"Can I help you with something?" Kim sounded annoyed.

"No, I uh was just going for a walk to clear my head." Robbie didn't make eye contact.

"Oh." Seeing Robbie made Kim sad. She still loved him even though he had ended it with her.

Robbie walked over to her and sat down. "Kim, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you."

"But you did Robbie. You broke my heart." Kim looked away.

"I know, and I regret it so much."

"What do you mean you regret it?"

"I wish I hadn't ended things with you. I guess I juts got restless. I've realized now that I loved you, but I ended it because I thought I loved someone else, but all I really felt for that person was infatuation. And so now I regret breaking up with you." Robbie looked at her.

"I-I don't know what to say" Kim looked back at him.

Robbie leaned in and kissed her. She pulled away, but then smiled and kissed him back. They were both so happy.

For the next three nights Lily couldn't sleep. All she could think about was Travis. He was coming back. She didn't know what to think. She wanted to be excited, but she couldn't make it happen. She knew that as soon as Travis stepped off the plane her life would become even more complicated. She would eventually have to tell him about her and Robbie. And how she had treated Ray.

At school a few days later Lily got called down to the office. That was weird. She was never called down. She was never in trouble. When she got there Principal Waller was waiting there for her. He did not look happy.

"Lily..." Principle Waller was having trouble speaking.

"Yes..." Lily thought this was odd. It didn't look like she was in trouble, but if she wasn't why would she have been called to the office.

"Lily, I'm so sorry to have to tell you this, but... your father was in an accident."

"W-w-w..."

"I'm so sorry. Your mother phoned. She said that she will be here shortly to pick you up, and take you to the hospital."

"He's, he's in the hospital?" Lily could hardly speak.

"Yes, he-he's in critical condition."
Lily started crying. She didn't know what to do. She didn't understand how this could be happening, and at such a time. What if he didn't make it. How would they afford the medical bills. She was supposed to start her treatments soon. Without her dad she doubted they could get through.

Days later Lily was sitting in her room playing it over and over and over again in her head. She couldn't stop thinking about it.

Her mother had taken her to the hospital. She had walked in and seen her dad. He was cut up everywhere, he couldn't breathe on his own. They had just told her that he had a very small chance of making it. She asked why he wasn't awake, and they told her that he was unconscious. She had sat with him for hours. He had eventually opened his eyes. He told her that he loved her, and then...

When she was brought back to reality she was crying. Ray had awoken her from her daze. He was wearing a suit. She hadn't seen him dressed like that in a long time. He went and sat down with her.

"Lily, I-"

"Don't. Ray please don't. Nothing you can say will make this better. It's better if you just don't say anything."

Ray just grabbed her hand and held it. She looked at him. She looked right into his eyes. She hadn't really looked at him like this in a very long time. She could see how much he cared for her. She leaned in. Ray jumped up. Lily was startled

"What Ray?"

"Lily I don't think this is a good idea." Ray took a step back.

"You don't think what's a good idea?"

"What you were about to do. Lily you're vulnerable right now. Kissing me won't make things better. It will only complicate everything. Besides I know how you really feel about me. You would only be kissing me because you're upset about losing your dad." Ray felt so awful for her. He just wanted to wrap her in his arms and never let her go, but he knew that he couldn't.

Lily couldn't speak. She just looked at him. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Lily, if we were to ever kiss again, it would be because we both want it, and we both like each other." Ray saw her sitting there looking so helpless.

Lily walked over to him and said, " Kiss me Ray."

"No, Lily I can't. It wouldn't be fair to either of us.

"Just one kiss Ray I just want to see something."

"Lily I don't think this is the best time. You're really vulnerable, and... It just wouldn't be right." Ray took a step away.

Lily took a step forward, and said, "I want you to." And she kissed him. He kissed back. He felt a rush of emotions that he couldn't control. He pulled her closer.

She pulled away. She looked at him. She cried. She wanted so much to have someone hold her, and take care of her, but she couldn't do this to Ray, not again. She didn't know what she felt for him. She was so sure before that she didn't love him, but now... She kissed him again. And again. She backed away slowly and sat on the bed. She looked up at him, and couldn't hold back her tears. He sat down beside her and asked, "What's going on here Lily?"

"I... I don't know." She looked at him and bit her lip. She kissed him again, softly this time, and pulled away. She looked at him. She wondered whether or not it was right to take this risk. "Ray,"

"Yes Lily?"

"Make love to me."