Christina-

I woke up with a smile on my face. Walking out into the living room, my sister was on the couch eating cereal and watching cartoons. My brothers stretched out on the floor covered in blankets. I watched them laugh at something funny. My brothers might be in college, but cartoons were their thing every Saturday morning. I was going to miss it if they ever transfer to Arizona. It reminded me of when we were little, bundled up in blankets on the floor and made a blanket fort.

I went to get a bowl of cereal, my mom was in the kitchen.

"Good morning. How are you feeling?", she asked.

"Tired, nervous", I said.

"Your arm was hurting last night?", she asked.

"I'm fine mom", I said.

She smiled.

"Your dad told me about Joe. He's a good kid", she said.

I nodded while pouring milk into my bowl.

"Why can't you kids wait till I'm done making breakfast", she sighed.

I laughed softly. Picking up my bowl and heading to the living room. I sat down next to my sister. There was a knock at the door.

"Don't you all get up at once, I'll get it", our mom said.

My brothers grunted and gave her a thumbs up. My mom shook her head and answered the door.

"Hey, come on in", she said.

I put a spoonful of cereal into my mouth. Turning to see who came in. Joe stood there with his mom. I gave him in awkward wave, remembering I was in my PJs and my hair was in a messy bun on my head.

"Whats up man", Isaac said.

"Hey", Joe said, sitting down next to me.

He lifted the blanket and pressed his thigh next to mine. He smiled at me and he leaned over, kissing my cheek.

"You look good in the morning", he whispered.

"Hey, watch yourself Joe", Jesse said, pointing at him.

Joe lifted his hands in defense. We could hear our moms laughing and talking. I couldn't finish my cereal so I handed him my bowl. He finished it. Feeling my arm in pain again, I shut my eyes and bit my lip.

"You ok?", Cora whispered.

I shook my head.

"Jesse, get mom", she said.

He looked at me and jumped up, going into the kitchen.

"Whats wrong baby?", Joe asked, placing the bowl on the side table.

I took a deep breath as the pain went away.

"I'm ok", I said.

"Did you just call my little sister baby?", Isaac asked Joe.

"Really? Right now?", Cora said to Isaac.

My mom, along with Joe's came over to me.

"What hurts?", my mom asked me worried.

"It was my arm, I'm ok now. Just a little pain", I said.

Concern in her eyes.

"I'm ok, I promise", I said to her.

She nodded. I smiled at her and Joe's mom. They went back into the kitchen. I felt Joe's eyes on me. I finally looked at him, his eyes told me he was worried.

"We need to talk", I said softly.

I got up and he followed. My sister smiled at me and my brothers just sat back and watched. Going into my room, he sat on my bed. I took a deep breath and stood in front of him.

"Just tell me", he said.

"Joe, I, I have cancer. More specifically bone cancer", I said.

His eyes looked away from me and to my floor. I knew by now that a million different thoughts were running through his mind, along with a million different questions. I waited for him to say something, anything.

"Joe", I said.

He looked back up at me.

"When did you find out?", he asked.

"When I was fourteen almost fifteen. Then I got better and then that day I came home early and my mom and I were yelling", I said.

"Thats what it was", he said.

I nodded.

"My doctor said if I do the chemotherapy again, it can help", I said.

"Then do it, I want you to do it", he said.

I nodded.

"I am", I said.

"Good", he said.

"No its not. You've never been through this, you've never seen me like that Joe. I am not a good person to be around when I'm sick", I said in tears.

"I don't care", he said.

"I start Friday", I said.

He nodded, his fingers under my chin to turn my head to look at him.

"Lets enjoy tonight ok. You and me, then when Friday comes we will deal with it then", he said.

I nodded. He kissed my lips softly. He leaned his forehead against mine.

"We are gonna get through this, I'm going to get you through this. You've got me baby girl", he whispered.

There was a soft knock on the door.

"Come in", I said, standing with Joe.

My mom smiled.

"Your mom's ready to go", she said to Joe.

He smiled at her and nodded.

"I'll pick you up at six, still ok", he said to me.

"Ok", I said.

We went back out to the living room. His mom smiled at me.

"Bye", they both said and waved.

My mom closed the door and looked at me. Serious expression on her face.

"You're still going out", she said angry.

"Mom, I want the little freedom I have left before I'm locked in a hospital room and in this house for who knows how long", I yelled back.

"You're not going out", she yelled.

"Mom please. You don't understand how I feel, please let me have just a little bit of fun", I yelled.

"No, its not that I don't want you to have a life Chris. You're not healthy, you're sick, deal with it", she yelled.

"I am. I have since I was fourteen", I yelled.

"Ok that's enough", Isaac said.

I looked at my mom angry before turning away and going to my room.

"Christina", was the last thing I heard.

My brother Jesse tried stopping me. Slamming my door.

Cora-

I watched as my brothers tried to convince my mom to let Chris go out, but she wouldn't budge. Saying no over and over again.

"Mom, she's seventeen and Joe is a good guy", Isaac said.

"It's not Joe I'm worried about. She is sick, why don't any of you see that", she yelled.

"We do mom. Don't you think we were terrified of losing her too. We watched her go in and out of hospitals. She was depressed for most of it, mom let her have this one last amazing thing", Jesse yelled.

My mom shook her head and started crying.

"You just don't understand", she cried.

"We do mom, but you also have to understand her. She has never felt this way before. Joe is good for her and might keep her from going back into that depression she was in", Isaac said.

"Mom let her have this, please", Jesse said.

My mom wiped her tears.

"Whatever", she said leaving.

My brothers sighed.

"I'll go tell her she can go", Isaac told Jesse.

Jesse looked at me and smiled. He came over and hugged me.

"This will be good for her", he said to me.

"I know", I said.

Christina-

My brother Isaac jumped on my bed. He sighed.

"Alright. She's not happy, but we got you the green light kid", he said.

"Really?", I asked.

He nodded with a smile. I hugged him.

"Thank you", I said.

"What are big brothers for. So, about Joe calling you baby", he said.

I laughed.

"I need him to not do that, he can't call you baby or love or any of that crap or I will kick his ass. Also the touching, no touching", he said.

I laughed and pushed him lightly.

"In all seriousness, please be careful. If you're in pain have Joe drive you home", he said.

Jesse came into the room. Smile on his face. Isaac looked at him.

"Joe called our baby sister baby", Isaac rolled his eyes.

"Stop", I said laughing.

"What? I'm gonna kill him, none of that crap", Jesse said.

I couldn't stop laughing.