A month. That's all she had left. It wasn't even enough time to take her final exams in school.

She had a library book due back next month, would she even be here to return it? So many bad thoughts plagued Kaylie's mind and filled it with a list of things she wouldn't be able to do.

An unsettling stillness fell over the Goldsworthy household during the days that followed Kaylie's diagnosis. It wasn't as though none of them cared; they simply didn't know what to say to each other anymore.

Kaylie, who had become rather pale and fragile in appearance, sat at the kitchen table and stared into what may have looked like an ordinary bowel of cereal, but to Kaylie it was a portal. As she sat there mesmerized by the crackling oats, she saw pictures of her life play like a slideshow over her eyes. She remembered all the things she'd done and then reflected on what she would have done differently.

"That must be one intriguing breakfast," Said an equally sick looking Eli as he glanced over her shoulder, "But you know, staring at it won't make it magically teleport into your stomach. You may want to try using one of these." He placed a spoon between her fingers but she let it slip from her grasp and fall to the floor.

"You have to eat something." Mr. Goldsworthy begged.

"I'm not hungry."

Mr. Goldsworthy sighed. He got up and kissed Kaylie lightly on the forehead, "Why don't we go out to eat later then? Anywhere you'd like."

Kaylie nodded slowly.

"You're going to be late for school Eli." Mr. Goldsworthy pouted.

Eli shrugged, "One can only hope."

Mr. Goldsworthy shook his head at him hopelessly, and continued to do so even after Eli was out the door.

"You look like shit." Adam said during lunch

"Thanks for those inspiring words of confidence Adam, I really appreciate it." Eli hissed.

Claire reached across the table and touched his arm, "You really don't look good Eli, are you not feeling well?"

"Oh, I'm feeling absolutely grand."

"Just promise me that you won't try to get back at Shay and Fitz. You're in no condition to go around starting fights."

Eli held up a hand for her to stop, "Whoa, back up, what do you mean get back at Fitz and Shay? Why would I need to get back at them?"

"No reason!" Claire slurred, immediately regretting she had mentioned it.

"Now you have to tell me." Eli insisted.

She knew that he would find out sooner or later, so in a calm easy voice she told him everything she knew about what Fitz and Shay had done to Kaylie. By the time she had finished, Eli's hands were balled up into fists and there was a raging fire in his eyes. "I'll kill them."

"Eli stop," Claire whined, "It's already over with."

"Well what am I supposed to do, let them get away with it? I'm sorry Claire but I can't do that." He tossed his lunch tray in the trash and walked away.

Fitz and Shay were smoking on the curb outside of school. Eli had been watching them for a while, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

When the time came, Eli approached them with a purposeful stride. He felt the anger building inside him with every step.

"So you two think you can just take advantage of my sister and get away with it?"

Fitz blew a stream of smoke out of his nose, "Kind of."

"You're disgusting!" Eli fumed.

Shay flicked his cigarette butt in front of Eli's shoe and stomped on it, "Your sister should be thanking me. I gave her more action than she'll ever see again."

That was it. Eli lunged forward tackling Shay to the ground. He straddled over him and punched him square in the mouth.

Fitz shoved Eli to the side, leaving Shay wide open to kick him in the ribs. Eli got to his feet, sending a devastating blow to Fitz's head. Fitz cursed and pulled Eli up by his hair. Shay got a grip on Eli's shoulders and held him steady while Fitz scoffed, "Let's see how you like this, tough guy" And he dug his cigarette into Eli's forearm.

Eli screamed, he managed to free his left hand and used it to elbow Shay in the chest. They released him and stumbled backward.

"Stop it, all of you!" Claire yelled from the top of the stairs. Simpson was right behind her.

Shay and Fitz fled the scene before Simpson saw them.

"I told you not to fight!" Claire bellowed, rushing over to Eli, who was bent over his knees, panting.

"Another fight?" Asked Simpson hotly, "This had to stop. I'm already on thin ice with the school board. This will ruin us!"

Eli straightened himself up, "I had to, they were trying to use my sister. They stole her medicine!"

Simpson looked at Eli, unsure of whether or not he believed his story.

"It's true," Claire stepped in, "Eli was just standing up for his sister who's too sick to do so herself...besides you said yourself that you're on thin ice with the school board, so maybe it would be best for everyone if we pretended like this little fight never happened."

Simpson pondered this a moment, then he winked and said, "What fight?"

When Simpson left Claire exhaled heavily as though she had been holding her breath the whole time.

Eli swayed on his heels and nearly collapsed but Claire caught him and pushed him back on his feet, "I told you that you were in no fit state to fight. Come on, you should go home."

Claire helped him to his car. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Eli offered Claire a ride home to which she hesitantly accepted.

"I defended you back there." Claire said as they pulled into her driveway. "You know I don't usually promote fighting, and I'm not starting now, but I defended you because I know you must be upset. They hurt your sister; you're allowed to be mad..." Claire pursed her lips like it hurt her to talk, "You can protect Kaylie from bullies Eli, but you can't protect her from dying...you have to realize that..."

"Just get out of the car Claire." Eli said, barley managing to submerge the anger that was boiling beneath his skin.

Claire reluctantly got out of the car and went in her house leaving Eli sitting alone with Morty, a lone tear slipping down the side of his face.

His sadness was cut short by a buzzing in his pocket. He pulled out his phone and flipped it open.

"Hello?"

"Come home now!" His dad screamed, than the phone went dead...

A/N: This isn't going to turn into another war between Fitz an Eli, I just felt that Fitz should be punished for what he did, he really had it coming to him this time. Haha. As a mini preview, the next chapter will be pretty dramatic for the Goldsworthy family. (I know, not much of a preview)

And thank you again for all your reviews! I was so shocked to see how many people read my story. No one has ever liked my writing before so it really means a lot to me! Okay, I'm getting all emotional now.

Please keep leaving comments and reviews! Thanks so much!