It's been two days since I emailed Maxwell Hickman and still haven't received a reply. I close my laptop and walk into the kitchen. Mom, dad and Kai are sat around moms laptop, all reading something.

"What...what are you looking at?" I ask, slowly walking over.

The other three jolt and dad shuts the laptop down before I can see the screen.

"It's nothing sweetheart," mom says, standing up and kissing my forehead.

"Okay..." I lift myself onto one of the chairs.

Mom places a plate of food in front of me. I eat it and head back upstairs to my laptop, hoping I've got a reply. I open my emails and I feel my smile fall when there's no reply.

"Sis?"

I jolt and look up to see Kai stood in my doorway.

"You okay?" He asks.

I sigh and pick at the blanket on my bed. "There's been no response."

As soon as I sent the email, I told mom, dad and Kai. Maxwell is my childhood hero and I'd like to meet him before I die...cause I know it'll happen. I've been preparing myself for it for the past three years. I jolt when I feel an arm around my shoulders. I look up to see Kai sat next to me. When did he-never mind. I lean against him.

"I know you wanna meet him sis and I know he means a lot to you," he pulls me into his shoulder. "I'm gonna make sure you get to meet him, okay?"

I smile and push my head into his shoulder and thank him quietly. He rests his head on mine and kisses my hair. Just as I feel myself begin to drift off, my laptop beeps, making me jump out of my skin. Kai chuckles and places my laptop on my knees.

I click my emails and gasp in surprise when I see a reply from Maxwell's assistant, Seth. I open it and grab Kai's hand with my free hand.

Dear Ms. Smith,

I fear your faith has been misplaced- but then, faith usually is. I cannot answer your questions, at least not in writing, because to write out such a complicated process which you might publish or share on the network has replaced the brains of your generation. There is the telephone, but then you might record the conversation. Not that I don't trust you, of course, but I don't trust you. Alas, dear Nya, I could never answer such questions except in person, and you are there, while I am here.

That noted, I must confess that the unexpected receipt of your correspondence via Mr Finch has delighted me: what a wondrous thing to know that I made something useful to you-even if that book seems so distant from me that I fell it was written by a different man altogether.

Should you find yourself in Amsterdam, however, please do pay a visit at your leisure. I am usually home. I would even allow you a peek at my grocery lists.

Yours most sincerely,

Maxwell Hickman

c/o Seth Finch

"WHAT?! WHAT IS THIS LIFE?!"

Kai jumps violently from his position next to me. There's heavy footsteps and mom appear in my doorway.

"Nya? What's wrong sweetheart?"

I shake my head. "It's nothing."

"Nya..."

"It's nothing."

Mom sits on my other side and reads the email. I bite my lip and look up at her.

"Nya, I know this means a lot to you but-"

"We don't have the money. I know." I'm the reason we don't have the money.

Kai wraps an arm around me again and I lean against him.

"I'll speak to your father okay?"

I nod against Kai's shoulder. Mom gets up and leaves. Kai rubs my shoulder gently, I close my eyes and rest the side of my head against Kai's neck. Kai rests his head on mine.

I must have drifted off because when I wake up, I'm curled up underneath the covers.

I blink wearily and lean over to my bedside table to grab my phone. I open it and click on Jay's contact, ringing him.

"Hey Nya."

"I received a reply."

"What did it say?" I can hear Jay's smile in his voice.

"He can't answer the questions in an email or on the phone."

Jay hums and waits for a response.

"He's invited me to Amsterdam."

"Oh...have you used your wish from The Genie Foundation?"

The Genie Foundation is an organisation which grants sick children one wish.

"Yeah...I used it when I was first diagnosed three years ago...we went to Disneyland."

The reason I used it was because I thought I was going to die, that I was going to tear my family apart.

"Okay, I have to go now, I'll speak to you later."

"Bye Jay."

Jay hangs up and I lay back down, feeling tears prick the corners of my eyes. There goes my last chance at meeting him.

It's been a few days since Finch replied and I haven't really spoken to Jay since that day. Just as I finish lunch, I get a phone call from Jay.

"Jay?"

"Are you free?"

"Now?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, where and what time?"

"I'm in City Park if you wanna meet up."

"Sure...I'll be there in ten."

"Bye," I hear Jay's voice change from calm to ecstatic.

I smile and hang up. I turn to mom who is smiling at me.

"Mom can-"

"Yeah...sorry I couldn't help but overhear. Of course I'll take you."

"Thank you."

Mom leads me to her car and dives me to Central Park.

As soon as I climb out of the car, I spot Jay waving frantically from one of the benches. I wave bye to mom and walk towards him. Jay stands up and meets me halfway.

"Jay? You okay?"

Jay smiles and nods. "I'm fine, I wanted to meet you because I have a surprise for you."

I snap my head up to look him in the eyes. I shield my eyes from the sun. Jay reaches out and takes my free hand. I look down and feel my face heat up. There's a light squeeze, making me look up at him. There's a light blush dusted across his cheeks, which almost blends in with his paler skin.

"Come on,"

Jay gently tugs on my hand and leads me into the city.

Jay leads me towards the local museum, the International Gallery of Inventions. He leads me towards the picnic area, which is next to the small playground.

There is a small picnic blanket set out. Jay leads me over to it and we sit down on it.

"I have something to tell you."

I hum and look up at him.

"Hickman invited you to Amsterdam right?"

"Yeah...b-but the trip it'll be too expensive and-and we can't afford it."

"I never used my wish from the Genie Foundation."

Why is he telling me this? I don't understand why he's telling me this.

"And they've agreed to fly us out to Amsterdam."

Wait...what?!

I look up at Jay, almost asking him to confirm his statement.

Jay nods. "I used my wish so you can meet Maxwell Hickman."

I feel tears of happiness prick in my eyes. Jay smiles and nods. I hug him tightly. I feel him hug me back.

When I pull away, Jay touches my cheek, making me freeze up. Jay puts his hand back down.

I like him, so why did I tense up?