"Want to go out?" I texted Miles as I looked at the weather report on my phone, noticing that it was going to be above 60 for the first time in weeks. It would be good enough to kick the ball around and I didn't want to miss my chance to practice since tryouts were next week.

It had been a few weeks since we got back from LA. And slowly, I saw him start to improve. He even wore short sleeves the other day. Here in Redding, he wasn't guarded. Many people in town knew he was famous, but they didn't seem to give him any special treatment. Miles liked that.

"Sure. What did you have in mind?" Miles texted back instantly.

He was always quick to respond.

I smiled as I pulled on a pair of shorts that I stole from Everly's room. "Just wear some gym clothes and sneakers. I'll see you soon," I texted him, then slipped on a shirt as mom walked into my room.

"Isla, can we talk?" Mom asked as she walked into my room with a concerned look.

I nodded as I sat down on my freshly made bed, ready to give her my full attention.

"I have to go to Portland for business. I was trying to get one of my contacts to do it for me, but he just bailed."

I breathed a sigh of relief. I was expecting something worse from her worried face. "Sure. When do you leave?"

"Now."

So, it was last minute, but this wasn't anything new. She had gone on last-minute trips for work before. I knew I had to look after Everly. "When will you return?"

"Tomorrow night if it all goes to plan."

I got up from the bed and hugged her. I could hold down the house while she was gone, but I would miss her. "Ok. Be safe."

She held me tight. "I will. I don't want to wake Everly up, can you tell her?"

"Of course."

"I love you, Isla."

I smiled at her as I watched her leave the room. "I love you too."

As I pulled my straight blonde hair into a ponytail, I heard the garage door open then close again, signaling she left.

I walked down the stairs, each step seemed to echo. With mom gone, the house felt empty. Memories of the first days that Dad died came flooding through my mind as I slowly shuffled my socked feet around the house.

My throat tightened as I tried not to focus on those thoughts.

Breathe.

Mom refused to go any farther than the garage after he died.

Breathe.

I shook my head to clear the memories as a knock on the door came. On the other side, Miles was dressed in workout clothing and wore a smile on his face, unsure what I was fighting back. "So what is the plan?"

I forced a smile as I tried to get excited about soccer. "Want to practice soccer with me?" I asked as I slipped on some Nike shoes.

"That sounds perfect."

He always thought my ideas were perfect. But I wondered if he really liked them. No wanting to linger on the thought, I forced him out the door again and within minutes we were at the school soccer field running around, kicking the ball back and forth.

I stole the ball from Miles easily as he tried to get it back. We did this continually until Miles stumbled to the ground.

I waited for him to get up from the ground, but as I looked at his sweaty and pale body, I knew he couldn't go any further. I ran over to him, leaving the ball in the field. "Are you ok?" I asked as I handed him a water bottle.

He downed the water almost instantly. He nodded with a cough as he looked at the field in front of us. "Can we take a break?" he begged.

I nodded as I sat down next to him, not caring if my shorts got wet from the grass I sat on. "Sure. I think I got enough practice anyhow," I lied. The truth was, I needed more time out here, but I didn't want him to feel guilty.

He laid down on the grass and shook his hands. "Damnit. I'm so sick of this." He threw a rock in anger.

I didn't know exactly what he dealt with. I didn't understand the fear he had about getting another relapse. I didn't understand the pain he felt daily. I don't think I would even scratch the surface of understanding it, but one thing I knew was MS was exhausting.

"Sometimes I feel like I can't get a break. It's wearing me down, Isla," Miles said with a sigh as he looked at me with hurt and frustration in his eyes.

"Then get away, take a break," I suggested, as if I knew it was that easy.

He frowned as he shook his head at me. "I can't." His green eyes looked out onto the field as if there was an answer out there waiting for him.

"Ok," I said as I held his hand. "Well, I'm here for you. Whatever you need, I'm here."

He kissed my hand as he looked up at the sunny sky. "That's what keeps me going."

I smiled at him, and for a moment we were silent, knowing Miles wanted to change the topic. "You have true skill out there. I wouldn't be surprised if you got a scholarship for soccer."

I shook my head as I thought about last year's championships. No one would want me to play on their college team. I lost all my chances after my meltdown. "I don't think that's likely."

"You think they will not give you a scholarship because of one meltdown?"

Panic rose within me, wondering how he knew about that since I didn't tell him. I wonder if Rodger told him and if so, how long has he known? Did it affect how he felt about me?

He smiled. "Relax, Isla, I have known long before we started dating. You did your research on me, and I did the same on you. I honestly can't blame you for attacking that girl. She was asking for it."

Try telling that to the scouts. They would say I wouldn't be stable enough to play in a team setting and maybe they were right. I had hardly any friends; I wasn't a team player, I just pretended to be one.

"You think you tainted your name by just one event? I think you're mistaken. Scouts will still come. I'm sure of it," he said as he pulled out his phone. "You have too much talent. Scouts see that."

I shrugged. Maybe.

"Anyhow, I made this song. I was wondering if you wanted to hear it," Miles asked, with hesitancy in his voice.

"You know I always enjoy hearing your new stuff."

He smiled as he pushed play on his phone.

A guitar played a simple melody, then his voice chimed in.

I listened to the lyrics in detail, hanging onto every word. It was about change, growth, and the warmth of people close to pull you out of dark times. There was such a feeling in these lyrics. He sang from his heart, which didn't happen often. But this was my favorite kind of music he made.

"You inspired me to write this," Miles said as the song ended. "I want to dedicate it to you."

I beamed as my insides felt warm and gooey. No one had given me something with such meaning in my whole life.

"When I first met you, I thought I had it all. I had a dream job, friends, money, but I wasn't happy. When I met you at the skate park, you made me realize what happiness was. I was missing you, but I didn't realize that until I met you. You have improved my life in so many ways," Miles said as he kissed me.

I pulled him into me as my heart sped up. What he said rang true to me as well. He brought light into my life that I hadn't felt in months. He had brought me out of my shell when I thought nothing could.

Our kiss became more heated until my stomach rumbled loudly, killing the moment. I swore in my mind, wishing it would stop.

Miles chuckled as he pulled out of the kiss. "Want lunch?"

There was no use in hiding it, I was starving. I stood up from the ground and offered my hand for him to take, then helped him off the ground.

Quickly, we were back at home, digging through the fridge to find leftovers for lunch as Miles sat at the table.

"HA! I knew we had leftover pizza last night," I exclaimed as I pulled out tin foil-wrapped pizza. I placed it in front of Miles with a smile, but he didn't smile back at me, instead, he looked conflicted. It caused my smile to fall off my face.

"I might have to go for a bit," Miles said hesitantly.

Normally I would just shrug this off but there was something in his voice that made me worry. "To LA?" I asked, hoping he could answer this simple question with ease.

His frown deepened. "Actually, somewhere farther."

"Maine?"

He sighed in silence. Whatever was on his mind was hard for him to share. But the silence made it worse.

My stomach tied into knots, not able to put up with this silence. "For how long? Where to? And why?"

He opened his mouth to share but suddenly Everly walked into the kitchen, spoiling our moment. She looked at me from head to toe and frowned. "Isla, did you take my shorts?!" she accused.

Not wanting Everly to know we were talking about something serious; I quickly forced a smile. Guilty. "They were cute."

"You are like 5'8" and I'm 5'2". How did they even fit you?"

I shrugged as I pulled on the soft black fabric around my thighs. That was a good question. "I guess we have the same hip size."

"I swear, if you stretched them out, you are going to get it," she pouted as she took a seat next to Miles and then grabbed a piece of pizza. "So any plans tonight?"

Any other time, I would have no problem with her hanging out with us, but now was not the time.

"Nope, no plans. Want to hang?" Miles spoke up as he bit into his slice of pizza.

I glared at him but he just shrugged. He was dodging the bullet, and he knew it.

"Want to play a card game?" she asked with excitement.

Miles smiled at her. "Sure. Let's do it."