As always THANK YOU all for the comments. They truly do bring a goofy smile to my face.

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I am jolted from my sleep by the sound of an annoying ring. Thinking it is my alarm clock I roll over to my left and reach out to pound the snooze button. Why can't I find it? Why does my bed feel so hard? Why am I so cold? I wipe my eyes and look around. I am on the floor. How the fuck did I get on the floor? "Hello" A groggy voice says. It's Miranda. The annoying ringing sound must have been her phone. "Okay. See you at noon." She said and then threw her phone down on the bed. My bed. My bed that for some odd reason I am not in.

She looks down at me and snickers. "Sorry. I am a bit of a crazy sleeper. I must have kicked you out of bed."

"I knew I should have made you sleep in the guest room." She laughs again and I should take that as a good sign but I ask anyway.

"You okay?" She knows why I am asking.

"Yeah. I am. Thanks Ashley. For listening. For being here. For the shoulder." She smiles at me and then scoots over to the side of the bed so she can stand up. She then holds her hand out for me. I take it.

"C'mon. We gotta get ready. Have to be at the hospital by noon." Okay. Guess she is done talking about it.

I glance over at the clock and it reads 9:30.

"We have plenty of time. Why are we getting up now?" I just wanted to go back to sleep. In my BED.

"You are taking me to breakfast. Dur!" She giggles. So cute.

I am. "I am."

"Yeah. You own me."

"Uh. I do. For what exactly?" Did I miss something?

"For me being so cool about the whole Spencer thing. I mean she's practically my sister. I should kick your butt." Is she serious?

She laughed. "I'm kidding Ash. About the butt kicking thing. You're still buying me breakfast." That's the first time she has called me Ash.

"Oh please. Like your little scrawny butt could kick my ass. Did you forget who I am , already?"

"No. I haven't forgotten. I just added Big Softy to that list." She tilted her head and smiled.

"Haha. No. BAD ASS. B-A-D A-S-S." I am not soft.

"Oh. Right. Sorry. Ok BAD ASS. Let's get ready. I'm hungry."

"You know. I think I like the old you better. You know the one that didn't talk so much."

"Ash. You didn't even know that girl. And it's not like I didn't talk at all. I just didn't talk to people I didn't want to talk to." She said with her hand on her hip.

I come out of the closet ready to go. I look over at Miranda and she is staring at me with wide eyes.

"What?"

"You are not wearing THAT are you?"

"What is wrong with THIS?" I point to my outfit. Tight black skinny jeans, black bra, red vest.

"We are going to a hospital Ash. Not a club."

"Are you trying to say I look like a slut?"

"I don't know. Do you usually look like a slut when you go to a club?"

"Yes."

She laughs. "Ok. Then yes."

"Ugh. Hold on. I'll change."

This time I came out wearing a pair of blue jeans. Ripped of course. A tight white V-necked t-shirt and a pair of red chucks.

I look over at her waiting for her approval.

"Much better. Let's go."

Gosh. Who knew she could be so bossy. I kinda liked it.

We went to breakfast. Which I paid for. She left the tip. Afterwards she thanked me , hugged me and kissed me on the cheek.

"I'm really glad I met you Ashley." She smiled and looped her arm through mine as we headed to my car. Today I brought the Camaro and she begged me to let her drive it the whole way to breakfast. I told her nicely "Hell NO". We hopped inside the car and I turned to her.

"I'm really glad I met you too." She shyly smiled back and then looked out the window.

"We should get going. Spencer will be pissed if we're late." She said as she strapped on her seat belt.

Spencer pissed. I wouldn't mind seeing that again.

When we arrived at the hospital we headed straight to the main entrance. The door slid open and we saw her immediately. She was standing with about 5 or 6 other students. Most of them I didn't recognize. And of course the moment I saw her I felt it again. It coursed through my entire body. The heat. From the tips of my toes straight to my heart. Today she is dressed simple. And anyone else wearing blue jeans, Nike running shoes and a gray University of Michigan hooded sweatshirt would just look..normal. But seeing Spencer like this. She looks anything but simple and normal. She looks fucking hot. She has her hair up in a ponytail again and has very little make-up on. And still…fucking hot.

I try to keep myself under control. Now that Miranda knows about the crush I know I have to tone down my obvious obsession with her "sister".

"Hey girls. Glad to see you made it." She says with a smile. "Everyone, this is Ashley. Ashley this is Christina, Brandy, Martin, Tonya, Greg and Tiffany." We all exchanged greetings. Even though I didn't know any of them I am pretty sure they knew me judging by the looks I was getting. Whatever! Can't a girl change?

"Okay now that everyone is here we should head up. First I will explain what we will be doing today. I know most of you already know but we have a newbie. We are going up to pediatrics where there are eight kids we will be assisting. I have chosen a patient for each one of you. You will spend 2 hours with your patient and your job is simple. Talk to them. Listen to them. Play a game with them. Just sit with them if that's what they want."

She told each one of us what the patients name was and what room number. We hopped on the elevator and went up to the 5th floor. I was the last one out of the elevator and Spencer pulled me aside.

"Ashley there is a couple reasons I chose you for Alyssa. One, she is your age. Two, she loves to play guitar. Three, you can make her laugh and that may be just what she needs." She looked sad. Concern in her eyes.

"What are you not telling me Teach?" She took a deep breath and looked around. I could see it in her eyes. She didn't want to say it out loud. And she didn't have to. I knew what she was going to say.

I walked down the hallway and found a chair up against the wall. I sat down and put my head in my hands. Why me? I can't do this. Spencer sat down next to me.

"She has 6 months at most." Her voice was shaky.

"Are you kidding me? And you picked me ? You must be off your frickin' rocker Spence." To say I was angry would be wrong. I was stupefied. With a hint of anger and compassion for this poor girl who I hadn't even met yet. Why Spencer would want me anywhere near her was beyond me.

"Oh Fuck." The seriousness of the situation scared the shit out of me. I threw my head back against the wall and shut my eyes.

I suddenly felt warm hands holding mine. I opened my eyes to see Spencer kneeling in front of me. My hands in hers.

"Remember when I told you that this would be tough?" I nodded. " I told you I knew you could handle it. And I know you can. That girl in there. Alyssa. She may just need someone to talk to. Someone to listen. She may just want someone to sit and watch T.V. with her. Whatever she wants Ashley, I know you are the right person for her right now. I believe in you. You just need to believe in yourself. Just go in there and be you."

"What if I say the wrong thing?" I don't want to say the wrong thing.

"Well. It certainly wouldn't be the first time." She laughs but stops when she sees that I am not laughing.

"Ashley. You're thinking too much. Be yourself. Who knows? Maybe you'll say the right thing."

She finally let go of my hands. She patted me on the knee and stood up.

"Room 213. Two doors down from here." She points in the right direction.

"I can do this." I say mostly to myself.

"I know you can." Spencer smiles and then turns in the other direction and walks off.

When I get to room I was surprised. It looked more like a bedroom, not a hospital room. I am guessing she has been here for a while. I finally look over towards the bed and there she sat. She was super thin. She had short brown hair that just reached her shoulders. She was wearing gray sweat pants and a black Metallica shirt. Hmm. I like this girl already. She was bobbing her head to the music that was flowing from her I-Pod to the headphones she had on. Her eyes were closed. She looked peaceful. Music will do that for you. I know it does that for me.

I finally walked fully into the room. Her eyes shot open and she jumped.

"Geez Louise. You scared me." She had her hand over her heart and I prayed to God that she didn't have some heart disease.

She pulled her headphones off and put them around her neck.

"Sorry. Hi, I. I'm Ashley." I stuck my hand out towards her.

"Alyssa." She reached for my hand. I noticed the tubes sticking out of the top of her hand. I squeezed her hand gently.

"Whatcha listening to?" I pointed to the I-Pod.

"Paramore." She turned it off , pulled off her headphones and set them on the table next to the bed.

"Great band. Saw them Live twice now."

She frowned. "Wow. That must have been awesome."

"It was." It really was.

"Hmmm." Is all she said.

She motioned for me to sit down. So I did. We talked about music for a long time. We had a lot of the same interests. She very much like me liked all types of music. From Ella Fitzgerald to Eminem. From Adele to ACDC. From Lynyrd Skynrd to Linkin Park. And she loved to play the guitar. She pointed to the corner and told me to grab the guitar sitting there. It was a Gibson J-200 custom guitar. And what a beauty it was. I held it in my arms and immediately felt at peace. I had one just like it at home.

"Play me something." She said.

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Anything." I must have had that stumped look on my face because she laughed and shook her head.

"Okay. Do you know Hallelujah?" She bailed me out. I didn't want to upset her by playing something she didn't know.

"Of course. Great choice." I was so happy she picked one I knew. I wanted so badly to make her happy.

I tuned the guitar, cleared my throat and started the first chorus.

Well I heard there was a secret chord

That David played and it pleased the Lord

But you don't really care for music do you

Well it goes like this the fourth the fifth

The minor fall and the major lift

The baffled King composing Hallelujah

Halle-lu-jah, Halle-luj-ah, Halle-lu-jah, Halle-lu-ooh ooh ooh-ujah.

This song was one of my favorites. I think I might have sang the entire song with my eyes closed. My fingers strummed the guitar and my voice filled up the entire room. I was in my own little world.

When I finished the song. Alyssa clapped. The smile on her face was one that I would never forget. I heard more clapping behind me. A couple nurses and an orderly. Next to them Spencer. But Spencer wasn't clapping. She was crying. We locked eyes and suddenly I could see right through them. I had touched her. In ways I had never touched a woman before. I touched her heart. I didn't need to be a mind reader. I could see it in her eyes.

"That was amazing Ashley." Alyssa interrupted the non-verbal conversation between me and Spencer.

"Thank you. I am so happy you enjoyed it." I really was.

"Enjoyed it. I loved it. Damn girl. You rock."

"Thanks. Here" I hand her the guitar.

"You play something." I encourage her.

"Can't" She said looking down at her hands.

"These fingers don't work as good these days."

Wow. That sucks. I wonder if it has something to do with her illness.

"My muscles and joints are real weak." Well this girl sure doesn't have any trouble reading minds.

I know my expression is one of mostly sadness. I try not to frown but can't help it so I put my head down.

"Hey. It's okay. Let's not talk about me and my illness. K?" I can understand why she wouldn't want to.

"Okay."

We talked about music again. I told her about singing up on stage and the contract offers. I didn't want to but she forced it. I felt bad talking about my future knowing that she wouldn't have one. She showed no signs of self- pity , sadness or even jealousy. She said she wanted to come see me perform. I gave her my phone number and told her I would love it if she came. My time was up and surprisingly I didn't want to leave. She looked tired and the nurse came in and told me she needed her rest. I stood up.

"Hey Ashley? Do you uh. Do you think you could come back sometime?" She asked nervously.

I smiled. "Yeah. I definitely could. I would love to. You have my number. Just call and I will try my best." Alyssa and I had a lot in common and talking to her about music was rather enjoyable. As much as I didn't want to spend more time with her and get close to her. I couldn't say no. It would be selfish if I did. If me coming back is something she needed. I would do it, for her.

"Cool. Okay see ya." She waved.

"See ya later Alyssa." I waved back and walked out the door.

Spencer was right. I could handle it. She believed in me. And now I believe that I was the right person for Alyssa. Spencer is so smart. And there she is. She is standing at the nurses' station talking to one of the nurses. I briefly think about Alyssa. I think about how short life can be. The unexpected could happen any moment.

"Hey Ashley." She's not crying anymore but you can tell that she was. Her eyes are pink.

"Where is everyone?"

"Waiting downstairs for us. You were supposed to be done 15 minutes ago. Everything went well, huh?"

"Yeah. Everything went great. You were right. About …everything." We smile at each other.

We enter the elevator. It's just the two of us. I turn so that I am facing her.

"Spencer. I need to do something. And you're probably going to be pissed at me but I don't care. I have to do it. Life is short and if I don't do this now I may never get the chance." I move closer to her. She backs away. Right into the wall.

"Ashley. Don't please." She begged. But in her eyes I don't see the fear anymore as much as I see... passion. I see need. I see her blue eyes darken.

I have her pinned against the wall. Both my hands against the wall on each side of her. My right hand leaves the wall to caress her face.

"Ashley."

"Shhhh." I put a finger across her lips. I then move my thumb and trace her perfect red lips.

I lean in, my heart feels like someone is using drum sticks on it. I am inches from her face. She doesn't move or push me away so I lean in the rest of the way and press my lips against hers ever so softly. And just like that. Explosion. I couldn't suppress the moan that escaped my throat. Her lips felt so damn good and the taste..indescribable. I took her bottom lip in between mine and she grabbed my hips and pulled me into her. I'm pretty sure she moaned this time. And as quickly as she pulled me into her she pushed me off of her. I stumbled backwards nearly falling.

Ding!

The door opened at the 2nd floor allowing a few people in. I leaned up against the wall opposite of Spencer. She was staring at me. A look of..oh I don't fucking know. I never can read that woman.

We finally made it to the main floor. We were making our way towards the lobby .

"Never again Ashley. Never do that again." She was pissed. She was talking to me and not even looking at me. She just kept on walking.

"I'm sorry Spencer. But that wasn't all me. I initiated it but you reciprocated." She definitely kissed me back.

She abruptly stopped and turned towards me.

"Whatever happened up there will NOT happen again. Understand?" She spat nearly at a whisper. Her pointing finger close to my face. "God Ashley. Why did you have to do that?" Her voice cracked this time. She turned around and walked into the bathroom that was just ahead of us.

"Yeah. I understand." I say to myself. I knew I shouldn't have kissed her. I knew she would be mad. I said she would be mad. And clearly she was. But I had to do it. She could be mad at me all she wanted. I know she enjoyed it as much as I did. That kiss, even though short. Ignited something in me. Something I couldn't even begin to describe. I had never felt anything like it before. And it left me wanting more. But I had crossed a line today. A very important line. But it was worth it.

She was still in the bathroom. I waited patiently for her. Hoping she would except my apology. I wasn't sorry for kissing her. No not a fucking chance of that. I was sorry that I upset her.

I couldn't wait any longer. I needed to see if she was okay. I opened the bathroom door and walked in. She was standing at the sink. Wiping the tears from her face.

Fuck! I really screwed up this time.

Hope you enjoyed. Comment please :)

Hallelujah- Written by Leonard Cohen. Performed by several artist. Check out Kate Voegele's version. Angelic.