Chapter Ten:

"Are you ready?" Bianca asked from my bed where she was sprawled across it like it was the most comfortable thing in the world. I should know, that was why I had bought it in the first place. I had fallen in love with the bed as soon as I first laid down on it. I knew with Darcy being gone that my dad would be quick to buy me anything I desired. If I wanted a puppy, I am sure that my dad would have gotten me one, but thanks to my allergies, I got to pick a new bed.

And sleeping on that bed was like sleeping on a cloud. Pure heaven; obviously Bianca agreed with me.

"Almost," I told her as I tugged on my shirt again.

She groaned-again-as she stood up from my bed. "You're going to tell them that you have cancer, it's not a date." I glared at her. "What? I know everything about your situation and I don't remember what you were wearing when you told me."

I rolled my eyes and looked back at my reflection. Maybe she was right; it doesn't matter what I am wearing to tell them that I have cancer. I could go in naked and it still wouldn't register compared to the news I have to tell them. I smiled, now THAT they might remember.

"Okay, let's go before I lose my nerve."

"Finally," she said as she grabbed my arm and began dragging me out of the house and practically shoving me into her car.

I barely had time to hear the 'click' of my seatbelt before she was pulling out of the driveway and flying down the street.

I was disappointed that the car ride was only about ten minutes long-even with Bianca taking the long way. I'm pretty sure she took the side-streets just for me so I can compose myself a little bit more.

I could see them from the car as Bianca parked across the street. Drew and Adam sat with their backs to the window. Alli was across from Drew with a scowl; I knew that being in the same room with Drew got her blood boiling- in a totally different manner than he had before-so sitting at the table with him might be pushing her limit. But she was there for me, just like Adam and Drew. Just like Eli…

Who was staring right at me!

His face lit up when he finally caught my attention. I tried to smile back at him, but it came out forced. Even from across the street and through two windows with cars passing between us, Eli could see that my smile was fake.

"Are you okay?" Bianca asked pulling my gaze away from Eli's green ones.

I licked my lips…"yeah."

"You don't have to go," I looked at her and saw that she meant it; she was willing to drive off this instant if I just gave her a nod. How I wish I could take her up on it, but these people, my loved ones, deserved to know that I was sick.

I looked down and shook my head, "I have to do this now. If I don't do it now, I'll never do it. They need to know. If they were sick, I would like to know."

She nodded her head in understanding.

"Let's go," I signed as I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the door. Bianca met me at the side of her car and we crossed the street together.

I smiled and curtsied as she opened the door for me and bowed in exaggeration, one hand wrapped around her middle.

That was another reason I liked Bianca so much, she has a wicked sense of humor. We get along very well since we are both very sarcastic.

My smile faltered as I saw everyone looking at us as we walked in. "Here goes nothing."

Bianca bumped my shoulder with hers, "I'm gonna be here for you the whole time." I smiled gratefully and fought the tears that were threatening to fall at her reassuring words and sincere look.

"Hey," I turned around and smiled at Eli. He was standing there before me, looking hotter than ever. I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned in to give him a kiss. His arms wrapped around my waist and I couldn't help but feel safe and loved and protected.

"Okay, break it up!" Adam, called and I heard Alli giggle.

I smiled and blushed as Eli laughed and took my hand, then lead me to the table. I took the seat next to Alli and Eli sat next to Adam who grinned at me.

"Hi, Adam," I smiled in an obnoxious way. "How are you?"

He rolled his eyes at me, but played along. "I'm good, thank you. How are you?"

I grinned cheekily, "Just fine, thanks."

My gaze fell on Drew and I smiled and nodded at him; he returned the smile and nodded back at me. Bianca had pulled up a chair next to him and leaned her head against his shoulder and he placed his arm on the back of her chair. I looked down at my hand that was holding Eli and thought about how different our relationships are. I wouldn't change mine for the world and I our subtle hand holding meant the world to me.

Alli was playing with her nails, trying to ignore Bianca and Drew. I knew that she was uncomfortable with my friends. I knew that she didn't like Drew or Bianca, she didn't mind Adam and she didn't really know Eli. I can sympathize with her; this is how I usually felt when I hung out with her and Dave, Jenna, and KC.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Adam asked after a moment of silence.

I glanced at all of them. Eli, my loving boyfriend. Adam, my sweet best friend. Drew, the guy who will do anything to protect the ones he loves. Bianca, a girl with a bad attitude and a great heart. Alli, my best friend who was practically my sister.

I looked down at the table and sighed heavily. Oh my goodness! How was I supposed to tell them? "Where do I start?"

"How about the beginning." Drew supplied.

"Ugh, just shut up," Bianca said in exasperation. Drew looked at her in shock. I'm sure that this is not the first time that Bianca has ever said something mean to him. Lord only knows how many mean things she has said to me. Maybe he was just concerned that she did it in public? "Let her talk." Bianca said as she leaned back and folded her arms over her chest.

I wanted to smile at her, I wanted to thank her for being there for me. I wanted to do something, anything, but all I could focus on was the fact that my boyfriend was holding my hand tightly and my best friend had her hand on my shoulder in support of whatever I had to say.

Before I knew what was happening, I felt a tear escaped and I quickly whipped it away and sniffed. "Remember when I went to the hospital and I told you that nothing happened? That I was fine?"

Alli nodded and frowned in concern. The look on her face let me know that she was scared. She should be.

"I-I lied to you. I'm sick. I have a brain tumor. The Doctor Lee has asked for a specialist to come and take a look at my brain to see if it is operable."

I sucked in a breath of air and looked at Alli. She was crying. Bianca was rubbing Drew's shoulder as he held his brother who was in stunned silence. Eli's face was blank as he stared at the table.

I placed my hand on top of his that was covering mine. "Are you okay?"

Eli took his hand away from mine, "What do you want me to say? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't know!" I cried out. How could I make him realize that I wasn't intentionally trying to hurt him? "I could barely wrap my head around the fact that I have a brain tumor, let alone tell you that I had a brain tumor. I just wanted to understand more about what was going to happen."

"You should have told me so we could figure it out together. As a couple."

I whipped a tear away, "I know. I was stupid. But I was scared. I didn't know what I was going to do and I was worried about how you would react. I didn't want you to react like you did when you found out about Asher."

Eli looked like he was about to say something again, but Adam cut him off. "Wait, you went to the doctors like three weeks ago! You've known for this long?"

I nodded guiltily. "I'm sorry."

I looked at table and fought the tears. A hand reached out and took mine. I looked up and saw Adam smiling at me sadly. "It's okay Clare. I understand. I didn't tell anyone for a long time that I wasn't Gracie. It took me a long time to convince myself that it was time to tell everyone that I was really and truly Adam."

I smiled and held his hand tightly.

Eli let out a breath of air. "I shouldn't have reacted like that."

I looked at him, "It's okay. You're just concerned, I understand that."

He shook his head, "I shouldn't be mad at you. So, who all knew? I'm guessing your mom and dad?" I nodded.

"Darcy?" Alli asked.

I shook my head.

"What about Jake?"

"No," I whispered.

"Who else?" Alli pried.

I glanced at Bianca with a guilty expression. Alli caught the look that passed between me and Bianca and her mouth dropped open in shock.

"You told her! You told Bianca and not me?" Alli asked in outrage.

Bianca sat up and looked at Alli, "Maybe if you weren't so caught up in your boy troubles you would have realized that something was wrong with your supposed best friend!"

"Don't turn this around on me! You have no right. You don't even know Clare, let alone care about her."

Bianca stood up, "I don't care? You think that I don't care? She was sobbing under a staircase and I was there for her. She needed someone who could take her to get her medicine! That was me, not you!"

Alli was now standing, "How dare you! If I had known, I would have been there for her."

I tuned them out as their yelling continued.

Eli looked at me, "So, you tell Bianca, someone how you don't even know, and not me?" He asked the same question that Alli did. It was like everyone was repeating the question over and over again. I guess from their point of view it really doesn't make sense that I would confide in her and not them. To me, it makes perfect sense.

I turned to face him, "It wasn't like that. I just didn't know how to tell you."

Eli hit the table, "Didn't know how to tell me? You should have told me exactly what the doctor told you!"

"Eli, you need to calm down," Adam tried to appease him.

Things were getting out of hand! I didn't expect this. I had thought that there might be some tears Adam. So misplaced jokes from Drew. A comforting Eli who would try to be the understanding boyfriend. Alli would be sobbing and I would be the one comforting her.

This was not supposed to be happening!

I couldn't breathe.

I couldn't hear anything.

I couldn't see anything.

It was as if everything was in a daze as I stood up and tried to move away from the table only to stumble. I didn't know where I was going, all I knew was that I couldn't stay there any longer. Before I could take another step away from the table, Alli's chair came flying out and knocked into my knees.

In that moment I knew I was going to fall. I threw my hands out and tried to catch myself, but strong arms caught me before I hit the floor. I had this weird sense of Déjà vu; this had happened to me when Dallas had rammed me with the door and he caught me before I fell.

Please don't let this be Dallas. Eli was already angry; I didn't need Dallas and his snarky remarks to aid in his anger.

"What the hell is going on?" A deep voice asked in outrage and bewilderment. I knew that voice. That was the voice of Gavin Mason, AKA, Sinner.

My hero.

The voices all died down and I looked up to see everyone staring at me and Spinner. I felt something trickle above my lip but I ignored it and focused on trying to inhale.

Bianca was the first to react. She grabbed a napkin off the table and rushed towards me, "Are you okay?"

I watched in confusion as she brought the napkin up to my face and whipped at my nose. When she pulled the napkin away I saw blood. My blood. I had gotten another nose bleed.

I was starting to see spots now. I leaned my entire weight into Spinner and he grunted before he got a better grip on me so I wouldn't fall. I just kept looking at the napkin in horror; nothing else mattered but the napkin. I remembered Dr. Lee's words "Nose bleeds are common, but now that you are on medication, they should stop."

"That's not supposed to happen," I whispered before I passed out.