Adelaide 

"February twenty-eighth," Justin tells me as we're walking from my locker to the cafeteria the following Monday. "Sorry I didn't say something when I talked to you on the phone."

I shake my head. "Don't apologize. I think it was best you didn't say anything. That – That was a lot of news to take in."

In fact, my mind is still reeling. I'm shocked that I was right, but I'm even more shocked that the hospital failed to do the one job it was asked to do. Justin's lost so much time in between then and now. I feel terrible. I wish I could give him back that time. But I know I can't. No one can. All we can do is make sure these moments we spend together count.

Justin shifts uncomfortably. "So...You told your friends about what happened?"

I look at our joined hands. All day, people have been gossiping about us; saying how weird it is for me to be with someone who is so quiet and introverted. It's ridiculous. Just because I talk at school and have friends doesn't mean I wouldn't choose to stay home alone and read a book over going to a random party at someone's house. Just like epilepsy, the concept of being an introvert has been greatly altered. Meaning, just because Justin and I are different in many ways, doesn't mean we don't work together.

"Yes," I reply softly. "But only about the medical side of things like you asked."

Justin doesn't say a word, but he does nod. After we narrowly avoid a cart of textbooks that's been pushed back to the library by a grumpy-looking staff member, I turn my face and look at Justin. He's staring off into the distance. At first, I think he might be having a partial seizure. But I know better. If he were, the stare in his eyes would be blank, very distant. He's thinking right now. And, my God, he's thinking deeply.

"What are you thinking about?" I ask, running my thumb across the back of his hand.

Justin looks at me and sighs. "I'm worried about what your friends are going to think. I rarely get as lucky as I did with you; people usually view me in a different way after they know the truth. Like I'm a timebomb."

I contemplate his words. In a way, he kind of is like a timebomb. I'm not trying to be mean or anything – I love him too much to be mean. But Justin has said that the seizures are so unpredictable that he doesn't know they're happening until they happen. However, just because he is unpredictable does not change who he is as a person.

Stopping, I tug Justin over to the small space in front of the school's café. I drop my backpack to the floor, let go of his hand, and reach up to cup his face. "Justin," I say firmly, staring him directly in the eye. "Yes, you are unpredictable, okay? It's not your fault, nor will it ever be." He tries to look away, but I tighten my grip, being careful so I don't hurt him. "That doesn't change who you are on the inside. You are you. You are strong and amazing and brave. A fighter. Our friends are not going to look at you differently than they did before." I don't mention my outburst or the looks of shame on Jacey and Sophia's faces.

Justin shakes his head. "I shouldn't care what they think, but sometimes I can't help it. Especially when I like those people."

"Worrying about stuff like that makes you a normal person, Justin. We all have things we worry about." I take a deep breath. "I didn't tell you, but after our argument at the hospital" – Justin visibly cringes at my words – "I had a panic attack just after I ran into my mom. It was the first time, but now I understand how my dad felt when he was a teenager. And, if I'm going to be completely honest with you, I've started to worry about them."

Justin looks at me. "Why didn't you say something sooner?"

I shrug. "I don't think it's fair to compare the panic attacks to seizures."

"But they still affect you," he argues.

"I know," I reply. "It's just...I feel like a privileged person complaining about something that seems so simple compared to a tumour."

"Hey," he says, pulling me closer. I instantly drop my hands from his face so I can hug him. "My problems don't overpower yours. If it's like you basically said, we all face our own problems. Yours mean just as much as mine."

I hug him tighter, wondering how I got so lucky to meet and fall in love with him. "Okay," I whisper.

"Okay," he smiles, kissing me on the cheek. He pulls away, but the warmth of his embrace doesn't fade. He's like a drug, pumping through every system in my body and intoxicating me. "Now let's get going – everyone's waiting."

The remainder of the walk to the cafeteria makes me feel like I'm a balloon floating aimlessly above the crowd because I'm next to Justin. I'm going to have to thank my parents for making me talk to Justin. I don't know where we'd be if they didn't tell me not to give up. I was so sure Justin didn't want me to ever come back to him. Thank God I was wrong – I'd miss him way too much.

Once we arrive at our usual table, the girls and Zander are in the midst of a discussion. We sit down in our usual chairs, and I scoot mine just a smidge closer to Justin's. Maybe it's everything that's happened or maybe it's because the skin where he touched his lips to my cheek is still burning. Whatever the reason, I just want to be closer to him.

"What are you guys talking about?" Justin asks as he pulls out our lunch. He had a spare this morning, so he decided to pick up sushi for us to share.

"The Valentine's Day party," Sophia replies, glancing dreamily at her boyfriend.

I'm tempted to roll my eyes – I've never liked Valentine's Day. But I stop myself, caught up in a sudden revelation. I have a boyfriend now. And I have no freaking idea what couples do on Valentine's Day. Crap (even if it is still weeks away).

"Are you guys going to come?" Zander asks.

Justin looks at me and shrugs. "If Addie wants to..."

I stare into those blue eyes I love, love, love. "Well," I say, rather bashfully. "We can. But only if you want to go."

I see the slightest spark in Justin's eyes as he nods and then looks at Zander. "Then I guess we're coming."

Sophia squeals and grabs Justin's hand. "Awesome! We should all get together beforehand and help Zander and his buddies set up."

Justin looks down at the food and smiles. "Yeah, that'd be great."

I look at Justin, my heart ready to burst. I never asked him, but from what I'm getting from this, I don't think he's ever been to a house party before. I've been to a couple (only because I promised my parents I would take a water bottle and only drink from that), but at least I have the experience under my belt. Justin, however, doesn't. And that means I have to make this extra special for him.

"So, uh, what do you guys do at these parties?" Justin asks after taking a bite of sushi.

Jacey shrugs. "It's pretty cliché. But there's always a bonfire, which is pretty cool. We always make s'mores."

And, as if Jacey's words are the initiative for conversations about parties, everyone at the table launches into more detail about what will be happening at Zander's house on the fourteenth of February.

While I enjoy the conversation and the sushi, I don't enjoy either of those components as much as I enjoy the brightening spark in Justin's eyes. I enjoy it so much that my eyes begin to sting a little. All I want is for him to be happy, so seeing him smiling and laughing with people I know will not judge him based on his condition and focus on who is his instead makes me emotional.

This is a small moment that anyone would probably push aside. But, to me, this moment is a bright light breaking through clouds that have been hovering for too long.

Justin has a couple more obstacles he's going to need to beat, but I know he can do it. He doubts himself when he shouldn't. The fact that he's sitting here, able to conquer everything that has happened proves more than words could ever mean. He doesn't know how strong he is.

But that's okay because if he does break at any point between now and the twenty-eighth of February, I'll be there to catch him.

We're in this together.