During the car ride, I once again looked out the window at my surroundings. The storm was growing worse as we got closer and closer to Malibu, and it fascinated me. I ended up falling asleep, I guess it was because Miley had woken me up so early this morning, or because chemo was starting to effect me, but I fell asleep and didn't wake up until we were back at the house.

"Afternoon sleepyhead," was the first thing Mr. Stewart said to me as I woke up. "Are you feeling okay, or do we need to set you up on the couch again?"

"Couch," I whispered weakly, as the nausea seemed to come back for the first time since I came back from the hospital. Mr. Stewart took one look at me before he got out of the car and came to my side – and by that time, I was half unconscious. Mr. Stewart ended up having to carry me all the way to the couch and tucking me in with a blanket as I started to shiver. "Thank you Mr. Stewart," I whispered again. I fell asleep as the phone rang in the distance, and the last words I heard Mr. Stewart say were, "Oh hey, Martha, hey Bill." And when I woke up, Mr. Stewart was sitting beside me reading a magazine.

"Oh good your up," he said as I turned in my duvet to look at him. "I have some bad news – your mom and dad have to fly to Vancouver to do some work, and although they said they'd be back next week – they may have to be there for quite a while."

I groaned I didn't enjoy having my parents away – but I knew they had to; otherwise my hospital bills wouldn't be paid. "Define quite a while," I asked Mr. Stewart – picking myself up and leaning my head against the armrest.

"Another couple of weeks," He sighed, putting down his magazine. "But they'll be here in a week for the day to check up on you." I smiled quickly, and turned back forward – picking at a string on my blanket, "So, how are you feeling now Lily?"

"A little cold still," I told Mr. Stewart quietly – shivering as I said this. "But otherwise I feel fine."

"Good," Mr. Stewart smiled, walking over to the kitchen and getting himself sandwich meat and two slices of bread so that he could make himself a sandwich. "Would you like one?" Mr. Stewart asked me, pointing a knife at the sandwich that he'd made. I turned to Mr. Stewart quickly and shook my head before I turned back to snuggle into the covers again.

I found that I was actually lucky that time with the chemo, because only a week later and after three more treatments I was back to throwing up everywhere. I was on the same couch, with the same blankets, and the large bowl on the table next to me. Luckily, Dr. Chow granted me permission to attend school three times a week, and I was starting today.

Miley and I sat in my room, all ready for school, and Miley was brushing my short hair back into two pigtails. "Are you excited?" Miley asked me when she was all done. I nodded my head, and turned to face Miley. "You finally get to come back to school, are you sure you're ready?"

"Dr. Chow said I could," I shrugged – I was feeling better since yesterday's treatment. "I just hope I can keep up with everything – I mean, finals are in two weeks."

"I know, I know," Miley smiled, taking my hands in hers. "But you'll do fine."

I sighed, and looked at the clock. It was time to go, and Mr. Stewart was probably waiting for us downstairs to drive us to school – we weren't going to take the bus, me coming to school was a surprise for Oliver.

"You girls ready now?" Mr. Stewart asked as Miley and I walked down the stairs, and made our way into the kitchen where Mr. Stewart had set up a bowl of fruit for us. We nodded, and Miley took her bowl as we walked outside to the car, no one seemed to notice that I didn't have mine.

We pulled up to Seaview High School twenty minutes early, so that I could catch up with some of my teachers. "Good luck Lily," Mr. Stewart said as Miley and I got out of the car. "And have a good day at school." Miley smiled, and kissed her dad before we both made our way to the front entrance. First thing we did was go to find Oliver – which wasn't hard, because at this time in the morning he would be one of two places. The library – so that he could catch some more sleep before class, or his locker – where he tries to act cool and get girls.

We found Oliver near his locker, reading a book on the floor – one I recognised as the book I read to keep up with the English class and finished last week. Miley cleared her throat, but Oliver didn't look up – he put up one finger to tell Miley to wait a second. We watched silently as Oliver finished the page and looked up.

Oliver smiled, looked down at his book and then looked up at the both of us again as he realized I was standing in front of him. Oliver stood up quickly and pulled me into a huge hug.

"Are you starting school again today?" Oliver asked, while still hugging me. He pulled me back, putting both his hands on my shoulders, "I love your hair that length."

I smiled, "thank you Oliver." I touched the end of my hair, and looked at Miley with a smile. "And yes, I'm back at school – for now," I announced.

Oliver smiled, and pulled me in for another hug before the bell rang a couple seconds later. Oliver released me, and Miley grabbed my hand pulling me to homeroom as the both of us waved goodbye to Oliver. I turned to face Miley as we walked into homeroom, I was nervous after not being in school for the longest time – people would be talking.

Miley patted my back, "you'll be fine." She reassured me, practically reading my mind. "Just breathe, and you'll be fine, and the day will be over before you know it."

I nodded, and took Miley's advice. "Have people been talking?" I asked before I walked through the door, I dragged Miley to my side of the doorway so that people could get past us.

"Honestly?" Miley asked quietly, so I already knew the answer. I nodded, "yeah – they're talking, but it's all stupid, and Oliver and I have been trying to stop it."

I nodded, looking into the classroom; I suppose I was ready now. Miley watched me, and realized that I was going to go in, so she grabbed my hand again and squeezed it for luck before the both of us walked in and took seats across from each other.

"Welcome back Ms. Truscott," the homeroom teacher smiled, before she started the announcements.