My arms hung loosely over Avery's shoulders as she leaned her back further into my chest. She giggled cutely as I nuzzled my face into the crook of her neck and I could feel her fingers run through the hair at the nape of my neck. Everyone around us was oblivious to our affectionate ways, but that was perfectly all right with me.

I wasn't normally this touchy with girls in public. Actually, I hated public displays of affection, but this was my last chance to do anything like this, so I decided to throw all my rules out the window. You can always tell when a girl doesn't like something you're doing, but Avery didn't seem to mind at all. So I kept my arms wrapped tightly around her.

I couldn't even tell you what time it was now and I refused to look at my phone, knowing it would just ruin the happy high I was riding. You'd never be able to tell it was way past 3 am by the way everyone around us laughed and chatted away with each other. I sat up on a cement slab that had somehow found its way up here, Avery standing between my legs. She shifted slightly and my arms fell from around her as she turned to face me.

"So I was thinking..." She had a tiny smile on her lips as her hands ran up over my knees, leaving my skin tingling. "A couple of us were going to go to Malibu Canyon tomorrow and I think you should come."

I sucked in a quick breath of air, feeling sick all of a sudden. This couldn't be it. Was this where my perfect night ended?

I swallowed hard before answering. "That sounds fun."

"Yeah!" An excited smile broke out on her face as I tried to come up with a way of changing the subject. "It'll be great, you'll love it! There's like rock climbing and a giant waterfall."

My insides turned over as she continued to explain all the other things that were there. My body was becoming unbearably warm and I pulled at the front of my shirt in hopes of getting some cool air between it and my skin. I felt dizzy, but I restrained myself from rubbing my temples knowing Avery would only question me.

"I'll stop rambling now," She laughed and I involuntarily smiled at the sound. "I don't want to tell you everything, so there are some surprises."

"Really, Ave..." I paused, hating that I had to turn her down. But what else could I do?

"It sounds great, but I don't think I can make it," I watched her smile falter and my heart ached to bring it back.

"Okay, well," Her eyes turned up toward the night sky in thought. "Kevin is having a party next Sunday. Can you come to that?"

It was obvious how much she wanted to see me again. She wouldn't have kept asking if she didn't. And I wanted nothing more than to tell her that I would go with her to Malibu Canyon or to Kevin's party, but I couldn't. How do you tell a girl you've just met, and most definitely have a crush on, that you might be dead come mid-afternoon tomorrow?

"I don't know if I'll be able to make it to that either," The frown was now evident on her face as I spoke.

"So do you just not want to see me at all after this?"

My heart rate increased as I reached out and squeezed her arms reassuringly. "No, that's not it at all."

"Why would you hang out with me all night and act the way you have been if you don't really like me?" Her eyebrows pushed together in frustration.

"No, Avery, that's not it!" My voice was strained as I felt tears burn the backs of my eyes.

"I do like you... A lot," I tried to pull her toward me, but she only took a step back, which caused my heart to drop. "I would love to see you again. I just-"

This was it. After prolonging it for a month and six days, I was finally going to tell someone what was wrong with me.

"I don't know if I'll be able to," I paused, scanning my eyes over her pretty face. "I'm having a surgery tomorrow."

And then she did something I hadn't expected, she laughed. "Niall, if you don't want to see me again, just say so. You don't need to make up an excuse like that."

She had no idea that I was telling the truth and that just made it even worse.

"No, Avery," I cleared my throat hesitantly. "I'm being serious."

Avery stared back at me with a stern look, contemplating if I was really telling the truth. Her lips turned down into another frown as she finally realized she should take what I was saying to heart.

"Are-" She shook her head. "Are you going to be okay?"

I bit my lower lip, feeling like my heart was about to rip right out of my chest. "I don't know."

I spoke just above a whisper. "It's brain surgery. I don't really know what's going to happen, honestly."

Her eyes were wide as she stared up at me in disbelief, not knowing what to say. Everyone else at the party moved around us like we weren't even there. I have never felt more alone than I did right now.

"What?" Her voice cracked as she turned away from me for a second. "You've got to be kidding me."

I shook my head, answering her nonexistent question as I rubbed my sweaty palms over my jeans. I could see tears start to well up in her eyes as she covered her face with her hands.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" I could barely hear her as she choked back a sob. "You should have told me before all this happened."

My frown only grew as I stared down at the crying girl in front of me. This was the exact reason why I hadn't told anyone my diagnosis. And I hated myself for making Avery so upset, but I would never have guessed that she would care so much about me and my well-being.

"I'm sorry," She spoke again trying to compose herself. "You must think it's stupid that I'm acting like this since we're practically strangers."

I understood what she meant because we were strangers. But there was an undeniable connection between us and I didn't want to give that feeling up just yet. My eyes widened in terror as she took a large step away from me, wiping the last few tears from her eyes.

"I'm going home," She turned away from me unexpectedly.

I hastily slid from my spot on the concrete slab and followed her. After all this, there was no way I was letting her get away that easily.

. . . . .

A/N: Only one more chapter everyone. I really hope you've enjoyed this book because I've absolutely loved writing it. Let me know what you think in the comments!

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