Hello again. It seems like ages since I've sat in this chair and typed up a chapter. Well, this isn't my favorite, but it's the first chapter I wrote while I was away.

And don't ask about how many chapters because I'm not telling until I feel the time is right.

Also, I have written the final chapter, and it will be ended sadly by the end of the summer.

Anyway...

Chapter 15

Mack sighed and leaned against the doorway that led into Troy's room. He and Gabriella had left earlier that morning so they could make it to their Monday classes. Troy wasn't fully back to normal, but he was given an okay to travel from Elaine.

She hadn't been shocked at all when the night before Troy and Gabriella had told them their big news. Smiling, she remembered herself squealing and giggling. Elaine had smiled and kept fairly quiet. Mack could tell she was happy, but shocked. Jack hadn't said anything for a minute and Troy's eyes had been on him the entire time. Finally Jack smiled and told Gabriella to keep him in line.

Mack walked over to Troy's bed and laid down on the freshly made up covers. She felt some paper crinkling beneath her and she turned over. There was nothing there. She searched around her before untucking the covers and throwing the sheets from the bed. There she found a piece of paper with Troy's handwriting scribbled over it.

'Dear Who Ever Finds This,

I hid this in my bed so that no one would find it until after I'm gone, but I'm sure someone's stumbled upon it. I bet the first to read this will be Mack, but you never know.

Anyway, the point of this is...well I don't know how to put it. I've been really sick lately. Sicker than I've been in a long time. I think maybe my time's coming to a close and I want to get the most out of it as I possibly can. Mack, if you reading this I know you're thinking 'Troy you can't give up!' and I'm not. As I said before I want to get the most out of it and that means- no matter how sick I am- I don't want to see the insides of another hospital.

And, I hope I can die peacefully at home, whether that be at my house, Mom and Dad's house, UCLA, or any other place. As I'm writing this I'm coughing. Colby's reading over my shoulder, it's really annoying because I know he's sympathetic for me, but that's the last thing I want. No one knows how it feels to go through what I've been through except a select few and I hate it when people think they can understand.

My life has been great and I'm happy that everyone has helped me in the past 21 years, but right now...I don't know.'

Mack's eyes filled with tears. So Troy really did think he was going to die. She didn't know what to do with it, show it to her mother? Show it to her father? Show it to no one?

Who would write such a letter! "Ugh! Why," Mack screamed, hoping no one heard her. "Troy you're so stupid! I hate you!"

Then she collapsed into a fit of tears. She really didn't hate him, she loved her big brother with all her heart. Mack brushed her tears away and grabbed a piece of paper similar to Troy's out of a notebook. She shut her eyes quickly before grasping a pen in her hand and beginning to write.

'Dear Whom Ever Opens This,

My name is Mackenzie Bolton and I'm a senior at East High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I'm writing this because I just found a letter my brother wrote. It was a 'just in case I die' letter.

So, just in case, I'm writing one too.'

hsmhsmhsmhsmhsm

Calum laid down in the grass of his front yard and took a deep breath of air. He felt the bright May sun hitting his skin and sighed. His eyes shut and he stretched his long muscular legs out and threw his arms over his head.

He only had about one month left of high school. One month left of being a kid, then off to Duke.

In some ways he was excited about going. It was the best place for basketball, it was a good university. But, he'd be away from all his friends and more importantly Mack. He hated the thought of that. Adam was worrying about what he was going to be. "I have no talent," he had yelled Friday when they were talking about careers.

In reality Calum really hadn't thought much about it. The only thing he knew was that he didn't want a job that would require him to be away from his family for long periods at a time. He wanted to be able to coach his kids' teams and be the father he himself had never had.

"Comfy?"

He opened his eyes and looked at the voice. "Oh yeah," he answered before flashing a smile at Mack. "What are you doing here?"

"Is it a crime that I want to be with you," she asked playfully.

Calum sat up and stared into her blue eyes. She walked over from the sidewalk and sat down in his lap, looking into the deep pools of brown that surrounded his pupils. "I've been thinking..."

"About," Calum asked intrigued.

"Nothing," she said hurriedly. "Never mind."

"You can tell me Mack."

She smiled and shook her head. "It's nothing."

Calum pressed his forehead onto hers. "You can tell me Mack. If somethings bothering you...I'll listen."

"I said that it's nothing. Now, what are we going to do today?"

"I don't know, I was hoping that my wonderful, brilliant, beautiful girlfriend would know," he said. "But since she doesn't, we'll have to call Adam up for some ideas."

Mack's eyes widened. "No!"

"I liked Adam's last idea."

"No way, I'm not letting Adam with his sick little mind come up with something to do, because I have a plan. Follow me."

She grabbed his hand and started to run down the street.

hsmhsmhsmhsmhsm

Bailey sat in her chair behind Keisha during history class, but she wasn't paying attention. She was staring out the window where Adam and Calum were having gym class - their elective. She couldn't figure out why the two would do extra gym when they could have another course under their wings.

They were boys, they didn't need reasons.

A note fell on her desk. She carefully opened it so that the teacher didn't see. I can seriously can not wait until prom!

Bailey shook her head at Keisha's note. That was all Keisha ever talked about ever since the date had been set. I know Bailey wrote before sending it back up.

I bet Calum and Mack with be king and queen! Have you thought about a dress yet?

No, have you?

Bailey could have sworn she heard Keisha snort. Of course! Are you stupid Bail, you need to start thinking. The prom is three weeks away! Don't you want to have a gorgeous dress Adam will die for?

You've got to be kidding me.

Keisha scribbled fast on the paper before placing it on Bailey's desk. What? Are you not going or something?

Maybe.

BAILEY MONTELLO! You are going! I am helping you pick out a dress! And you are going to have a great time!

The bell rang as Bailey finished reading the note. Keisha led her out of the classroom and to the Spanish room where they found Mack stuffing her books in her bag. "Hola," she greeted. "What's up girls?"

"Bailey was thinking of not going to the prom," Keisha told her as if it were an outrage.

"Why Bails," Mack asked confused.

"I don't like dances."

"That isn't a very good reason for missing the prom," Mack told her. "Even if you do have a horrible time, you have to go to your prom. Plus it won't be bad because we'll all be there."

"Fine," Bailey exploded. "I'll go."

Keisha clapped and Mack smiled. "Why did you not want to go?"

"I don't know, I just didn't want to."

Keisha rolled her eyes. "Okay now on to more important matters. What color dress are we looking for?"

Again, not my fave, but maybe someone likes it. I'll try to post, but I can't make any promises about how many times a day.

So, Tell me what you think!

Review!