Best friends are for forever and beyond.

It was a bright sunny Saturday when two best friends, a boy and a girl,  found each other.

The Feliciano couple had moved into their new house with their seven month old son. They were new in town and were not expecting any visitors so they were surprised to find a small family of three- a mother, a father and a baby girl, who was in the arms of her mother- on their doorstep later that day.

Earlier that day the Stuttgart's woke up in the morning only to discover they had new neighbours. They decided to change the status of strangers to friends. Mrs.Stuttgart made her famous cheesecake, which was to die for, for the newcomers.

The Feliciano's welcomed the guests with big warm smiles glad to know they had kind neighbours and a daughter which was the same age as their son. Maybe they could be friends. What the Stuttgarts and the Felicianos didn't know was that the boy and the girl would not just be friends but be each other's lifeline.

Mrs.Feliciano took Mrs.Stuttgart into her baby boy's room. The boy's striking blue eyes flew from his mother to the strange lady and finally stopped on the baby girl who was staring back with those big green eyes of hers.

The baby boy tried moving towards the edge of the cot and simultaneously the baby girl tried to get out of her mother's arms.

Both the mothers smiled at each other and then at the babies. Mrs.Stuttgart gently kept her daughter in the cot. Both the babies looked at each other and let out cute baby giggles showing a teeth or two. They reached out to each other with their hands and giggled again at the contact.

Since the day they held hands, they haven't let go of each other.

                                                      *****

After my slip in the car I was ignoring Carlos. I knew I couldn't continue my feat for long because if Carlos got the wind that I was ignoring him he would come rushing to my house, kill me for what I was doing and then bring me back to life so he could ask me why in God's name I was ignoring him.

The thought brought a smile to my face.

When you get hurt, you just don't hurt yourself. You hurt everyone else around you. I felt guilty. Guilty for what my family and Carlos were going through because of me. Carlos is  an outgoing boy. He loves to socialise. But the last get together  he must have gone to was before my diagnosis. Before everyone started treating me how they do. Carlos was my rock. I might not have been where I am today if not for him.

Baby, I am perfect. Baby I am perfect for you.

I looked at my phone to see Carlos's name flashing on it. I sighed and laid down on my bed. I stared at the ceiling. It was plain white. I looked around my room. It was a normal teenage girl's room. The walls were a light pink covered with posters and the study table which was in the corner was a complete mess. I got up and went into the bathroom. I was greeted with a normal looking girl with shoulder-length ginger hair and green eyes.

I looked normal. My habits were normal. Why was I not normal?

The doorbell rang. "Lorraine open the door!",my mother shouted from somewhere in the house. I did not get up. I had a feeling who it was at the door. The doorbell rang again. A few minutes later someone opened the door and I heard a familiar voice say,"Hello Carla. Is Lorraine here?" I could not hear my mother's reply but the next thing I knew someone was running up the stairs. I could easily hear all this since my room was where the stairs ended on the upper floor. I closed my eyes pretending to be asleep. The door to my room opened and he walked in closing the door once he entered.

Silence.

There was some shuffling then I heard a door open and close again.

Silence again.

A door opened and closed again.

What was he doing?

Next thing I knew I was drenched with ice cold water. I shot up sitting in my bed with widened eyes and chattering teeth. Carlos doubled over with laughter.

That idiot. He pour ice cold water on me! That too in mid-September!

"Yo-your f-face!"he somehow managed to say. Or something along those lines.

I rolled my eyes and went to my closet. I pulled out some clothes and went into the bathroom. All the time I was getting changed into dry and warm clothes I could hear my not-so-nice best friend laughing and making not-so-nice comments.

I walked out of the bathroom and and plumped down on my bed. Just as I touched the bed, I shrieked, and jumped again. The bed was wet too! How could I be so stupid?  My shrieking welcomed another round of laughter from this annoying boy. I glared at him and went to sit down on my purple bean bag which was right next to my bed. Thank the gods it was dry. And yes, I am a Percy Jackson fan.

I looked around to see if I could find something to show Carlos that I was ignoring him if he was oblivious enough to not know that by now.

I saw one of the best books ever written sitting on the bed-on the dry side thankfully or I might have to visit someone's funeral today or maybe not because I would be in a prison somewhere since murder happened to be  a crime. City of Fallen Angels.

Yes. I am a demigod and Nephilim. Any problem? I hope for your sake not.

"Cupcake."

I was far more busy drooling over Magnus Bane than to listen to someone who loves to make my life hell.

"Okay. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that." I peeked at him from over my book. He was trying very hard to fight off a smile. I scowled and went back to my book.

"Okay. Fine. I am not laughing anymore." I peeked at him again. He had a straight face. Good sign. I might acknowledge him but that does not mean that I am going to talk to him. Ever.

"How about I buy you.."he stalled. I waited expectantly. "..a book?"

Just as those words left his mouth I flung myself onto him.

"YES!"

                                                   *****

"I said I'd buy you one book. But I guess your math skills really are horrible." Carlos grumbled while carrying the two green bags filled with my treasures. "Cause you bought eighteen of them. Eighteen. And let's not forget the feast you had at Joe's Pizzeria and that  Chocolate Sundae which you did not share with me at all."

"That all happened because I was not the one paying." I shrugged and took a large sip of my chocolate smoothie which seemed to annoy him further.

"So why aren't you holding your 'treasures' as you like to call them?" He asked.

I showed him my smoothie. Oh, this oblivious boy.

He eyed the smoothie with hunger. He looked down at his hands which weren't free to snatch my drink from heaven all thanks to my books. Who ever said books are horrible? They might seriously mess up your emotions and you might never be the same again but who's complaining.

He scowled and started walking faster. I grinned and ran to catch up with him. Suddenly he stopped and turned around, guilt and concern covering his Spanish face. "Sorry"he said and started walking on a slower pace. I nodded and followed him. The good mood ruined because of me. Carlos sensing the tense atmosphere tried to make casual conversation but I would just reply with a nod not really listening to him. In the end he just sighed and we walked over to my house in silence.

Walk back home was not comfortable at all. Carlos kept glancing at me and kept avoiding looking at him. I mentally sighed with relief when I could see my house. I increased the pace of my steps enough for Carlos not to make a fuss. He must have caught up on the feeling that I wanted to be alone so he just followed me without a word. He gave me my bags and went over the house next to ours after saying a quick goodbye.

I turned to my own house and saw Dad parking his car in the garage.  I went up to the house door and opened it up for him and me. By the time I was done Dad was already at the door. He took one of the bags from me and left out a small 'Oof'.

"What might be in here?" He asked walking inside in the house.

"Books"

He raised his eyebrow.  "I should have known."

He kept my bag on the table. I looked confused. My room was upstairs so why did he keep the books over here? I picked up the bag again but before I could move my Dad said, "Lorraine, stay here. Your mother and I wanted to talk to you." I shot him a confused look. Talks like these never had a good result.

I sat down on the couch in the den but Dad kept standing. He called for mom who came rushing in trying to keep her curly red hair in control. I suppressed a smile. She could never tame them.

Dad cleared his throat, "Lorraine you know how you've been on medication since you were fifteen." Okay so this talk was about my sickness. So not good. I nodded.

"But your ailment hasn't been- uh- cured." I raised my eyebrow. Ailment? Seriously dad?

"What are you trying to say?" I questioned them.

"Honey, we heard about a reputable doctor who can help us."

Okay. "So what's the problem?"

"She lives two towns over."my mom said nervously.

I stilled. "We're moving." It wasn't a question yet my dad nodded.

"Not for good" mom added hurriedly. "We'll come back"

"Oh when? After my ailment is cured? Doubt we're gonna come back soon. Or ever." I snapped. I know that was wrong but I did not want to go.

"Don't be stubborn like that sweetheart."

"Fine, whatever.  When are we leaving?"

"Wednesday. In four days."

"Telling me a bit early don't you think?" I replied in a sour tone.

They just sighed. I got up and left for my room. My haven.

How could my parents just think I would be okay with this? This disease did nothing but make me hate myself more. Dad's job was here. Mom's friend circle was here. Carlos was here. Our whole lives were here. Everyone had to change their life because of me. Was that supposed to make me feel any better?

The only good thing that would come out of this would be a new start in a new town. And new school. Oh gods.