I sleep very deeply that night. Between the chemo and the rollercoaster of emotions, I am exhausted. The next morning is chemo; Jordi and I head down together as usual. We talk quite a bit, I try to say as much as I can, because I know it might be my last chemo session with Jordi and I want to enjoy it as much as I can.
We spend the whole time laughing, which would normally anger the old man who does sessions with us, but he isn't there for the first time. I was too afraid to ask what had happened to him when I noticed his absence.
After chemo, we have class. Usually I'd skip class on chemo days to get some rest, but this day was different. This was the day before everything changed. I went to class, and I regretted it. We had a debate we had to partner up for. Luckily, partnering up is a no brainer. I partner with Leo, Jordi and Emma partner up and Dash links himself to a very cute girl who sometimes sits next to me in class.
Leo and I retire to my room to work on the project. It's slow going, only because every few minutes he wants to take a break in order to make out. I protest a bit, but nine times out of ten we do make out. But, we finish the debate fairly easily. I also learn while we are there that he left with Kara the night before because she lost her sight for a bit. That conversation went something like this:
"Hey, so what did Kara pull you away for last night?"
"Oh, um, she went blink for a while, I tried to get her help, but then she disappeared and Brittany and I had to find her."
"She's okay now though, right?"
"Yeah…you aren't mad that I left with Kara without saying anything, are you?"
"She was blind and needed help, why would I be upset?"
"I don't know, I was just wondering."
"Is there something I should be upset about? Something you aren't telling me?"
"What, no – I –"
"Did you have something with Kara too before I got here?"
"No! We're just friends – you –" Leo paused and really looked at me. "You're messing with me again aren't you?"
"You got so scared!" I laughed. "That's really cute! I like that I can make you that nervous. And I like that you care that much." I smiled and leaned in for a kiss. Leo pulled away.
"You don't deserve my kisses after that." He said, pouting.
"Awe, Leo…Leo, can you really resisting kissing me that long?" I raised an eyebrow. We stare at each other for about two minutes.
"No, no I really can't." Leo concedes and we kiss again.
The next day I wake up late, and am surprised to find that I missed my usually scheduled CAT scan. When I leave the room, I walk up to the front desk and find Kenji and Brittany there.
"Hey, where's Nurse Jackson? She usually wakes me up for my CAT scan." I look between the two of them as they frown.
"She's been suspended."
"What? Why?"
"She falsified Charlie's medical records to keep him here." Kenji sighs.
I immediately go to find the group. Dash, as it turns out has already heard. "We're going to write a letter." He explains.
"Is that really going to work?" I raise an eyebrow.
"We don't know, but it's worth the try."
The boy I bumped into in the hall way is slowly walking closer to us as we talk. "You really think that matters?" He scuffs.
"Excuse me, but who asked you?" Leo starts.
"None of this stuff matters. You guys really think this Nurse whatever cares about you?"
"Who are you anyway?" Leo says.
"Guys, this is Hunter." Kara introduces.
"You know this guy?" Emma asks, annoyed.
I am silent as I stare at him. He is familiar to me, but I can't tell why exactly. Everyone keeps talking around me, but I can't focus on the conversation. "Wait, Hunter?"
"Yeah, that's my name." He rolls his eyes at me.
"Oh my God, Hunter!" A smile breaks across my face suddenly.
"Do I know you?" He stands again, taking a closer look at me this time.
"It's me, Piper!" I watch as the confusion still clouds his face. "You know, Pied Piper." I blush and try to speak as quietly as possible.
He leans in closer, then the recognition dawns across his face as well. "It is you." Hunter smirks. "Well, how about that, Pied Piper is all grown up."
"Yeah, and I haven't been called Pied Piper in years. It's just Piper now. Not like you can talk, look at you."
"How exactly do you guys know each other?" Leo looks up from his cell phone, which has been chiming every few minutes.
"Oh." I chuckle. "We went to the same elementary school."
"Yeah, Piper was always excelling at everything, especially music class, that's how she got the nickname Pied Piper."
"Yeah and Hunt, er, Hunter," I blush and correct myself. "Was always protecting me from the other kids, who used to tease me. We were neighbors too. We used to have sleepovers…" That's when I realize I've said too much and trail off.
"Seriously? You don't really seem like the sleepovers type." Kara raises an eyebrow at Hunter.
"Yeah, what is up with this whole man of mystery façade?" I look at him questioningly.
"It's been a long time since you last saw me Piper." Is all Hunter says in response to that. I can tell there is more to the story, but I don't want to pry just yet.
I shrug and turn to see Leo shooting a hard look between me and Hunter. His phone beeps again and he looks down, then back up at me, rolls his eyes and leaves.
"Hey, Leo, man where are you going? What about this letter?" Dash watches him leave in shock and annoyance.
"I'll go after him. Keep at this Dash, we need Nurse Jackson back." I smile encouragingly before rushing out after Leo. "Leo." He just keeps walking. "Leo!" I rush to catch up. "Will you stop?"
"My friends are here, and I'm going out to eat with them." He states coldly.
"What's wrong with you? You're just going to leave without saying anything?" I stare incredulously at him. "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong is you getting all buddy, buddy with that guy, who's a total douche!"
"Are you kidding me? You're about to ditch us so you can go hang with some old friends, but when I meet an old friend it's wrong?"
"You were blushing at him."
"You are an idiot! God, why do I always fall in love with idiots?" I huff out, throwing my arms in the air in defeat.
There is a silence that follows and in that space of time it hits me that I've just used 'the L word'. My heart starts pounding hard in my chest as I wait for him to catch this as well.
"Love?" Leo looks at me shocked. I just swallow hard. "You love me?" A smile creeps across his face.
"What do you think, idiot." I grumble a bit, but a smile is also forming on my lips.
"I am an idiot, aren't I?" Leo shakes his head. I shrug as my smile grows. "I love you too." He finally says. Then he pulls me to him with one arm and kisses me soundly.
"This isn't exactly how I pictured telling you." I laugh.
"It just wouldn't have been us if it had happened any other way." Leo laughs as well. "My friends really did just show up. I didn't know they were going to be in town, otherwise I would've told you. They want to go out to get something to eat, will you come with me? They really want to meet you."
"You told them about me?"
"Of course, didn't you just hear me say I love you?" Leo jokes as I lightly punch his arm. "So will you come?"
"I'm actually feeling really tired. The chemo is kicking my butt. I'm going to nap and then help Dash get this letter done." I smile apologetically, then kiss Leo again gently. "Tell your friends I'm really sorry I couldn't make, but if they want to come up after you guys lunch I'd love to meet them."
"It's okay, they'll understand. And if they don't I'll make them." He jokes. "I'll see you when I get back." We kiss one more time, then Leo hops on the elevator and heads down to meet his friends.
I head back into the lounge only to find that nobody is there anymore. I can't even think of where they might've gone. I head back out and start wandering the halls looking for any sign of them. I'm just about to give up when I see them rushing away from someone, dressed in surgery gear, further down the hall from me. I start towards them, but the pain in my head starts again. I double over in shock.
This time I know I can't hold off telling someone. I run back towards the nurses' station on my floor. My vision starts to blur. I see Kenji just a few steps away from me. "Kenji!" I manage to call before the ground tilts from under me and everything goes black.
AN: I know this chapter is kind of short, but I hope you guys like it anyway. My updating will continue to be a bit slow over the next few weeks as the holidays are coming up and that's a crazy time for my family. But I promise I am not abandoning this fic. I will finish it, you'll just have to wait a bit in between chapters.