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2 weeks.

It had been 2 weeks and 3 days since I had realised my love for Aaron. However, it had also been the same amount of time that I hadn't seen him. My heart skipped a beat thinking about my last encounter with him.

After a substantial time for Aaron to calm down, I had taken him inside. The rain had slowed down in the time we were sat outside yet it still wasn't good for his health and nor was it good for mine. Although being slightly unwilling, Aaron had followed me inside. I still remember the look on his face as I seated him on the couch; it wasn't something I could quite forget.

Defeated- that's what it was and, despite all of my attempts to cheer him up, the look wouldn't go. My heart swelled at the memory of him; he looked like a lost child and it took everything in me to not pull him into my arms and hold him until he was back to the way he was before.

But I, of all people, knew that forgetting a loved-one wasn't that easy. I knew it would take him some time, especially upon seeing how close he was to his mother, and I was willing to give him that time. Yet a part of me still wished this hadn't happened- that his mother was still alive and he wasn't as soulless as I had seen him. I wished he would be as he was before, even if meant hearing the constant sexual remarks again and again. It was worth it.

I knew I was being selfish, but I couldn't help it. Before Aaron had came into my life, the closest thing I had to friends were my mother and grandfather. My father was always away, yet I never held anything against him for it, knowing he did it for us. My life was just them.

But, I didn't mind. My granddad was my light. Every time he came over, he would give me the euphoric feeling of companionship that I didn't get anywhere else. I still remember all the stories that he'd tell me- about his past; the fairy-tales. The way he'd pause in between story-telling and lean over to the ashtray, tapping twice before continuing. I still, however, remembered my last memories of him; when he had last spoken to me.

I remember it like it was yesterday.

I ran outside, my chubby legs tripping over my dress. My eyes set onto granddad sitting on the porch, his gaze on the sinking sun. I ran up behind him, my hands reaching out and grabbing onto his shoulder.

"Ahh!" I screamed, hoping to scare him. He turned slowly towards me, the smile falling off my face as I took in his sorrow-ridden eyes.

"What's wrong?" I asked softly, staring up innocently at him. His smile didn't seem forced at the time, but now- looking back- I knew how tense he was. He held his arm out, so I could sit beside him. I rested into his side and he sighed in what seemed like comfort.

"What happened?" My voice was soft and trembling, my bottom lip sticking out in sadness as I took in his demeanour. He exhaled slowly, his eyes returning to the setting sun. My body moved with each inhale and exhale of his, his familiar smell of cigars and mints blowing with the breeze into my nose.

"There comes a time," he began, his deep voice filled with wisdom, "where something you don't want to happen, something completely unexpected, will appear in your life. It could be good, it could be bad, but it'll happen one day. And you'll have no control over it."

"You mean like destiny?" I asked quietly, blushing as he smiled proudly.

"Yes, my girl, it's something like destiny," he whispered, hugging me closer.

"And when this comes, you'll have to be prepared. I want to make sure you'll be strong no matter what," he said as if he knew something, but- at the time- I didn't pick up on it.

"I'm not weak, granddad, I can take care of myself," I pouted, holding out my arms as if to prove my point. "And even if I can't, you'll be there to protect me, right?" He smiled sadly at me, his fingers digging into my shoulder.

"I won't be there all the time, my dear," his voice was low and the same sadness from before reappeared in his eyes.

"The unknown, in itself, is nothing; yet we fear it," he spoke deeply, his eyes set straight as he gazed into the horizon. I hung on to every word, transfixed as he spoke about something I, at the time, was not aware of.

"Just know that it is right to fear the unknown and know it is not in our hands" his words held a sinister meaning in them and I shivered slightly at his tone, but a smile was back on his face in less than a second later and, so, I dismissed the double meaning. He leaned forward, the familiar feeling of his moustache prickling my skin as he lay a brief kiss on my forehead.

"Smile always, sweetheart."

A few days after that, my granddad passed away. Whatever light he gave off, whatever light was in my home, disappeared and I was alone once more. No matter how many times my mother tried to placate me, I couldn't get rid of this hole that the absence of my granddad left. it had taken years to get over it and, yet, the scar still remained.

I knew just as well as Aaron did, how losing a person close to you was, and I knew he needed time to cope and understand the pain. Over the past few days, the only reassurance I had gotten for Aaron's wellbeing was from Justin and Danny. I didn't try to contact him after the day. After the incident that had happened between me and Aaron before the tragic ordeal with Sam, I knew there was a chance that Aaron was still upset with me. But at the same time, it felt wrong to just sit here, doing nothing while he was suffering.

My mother walked in just then, stopping my internal battle. She sent me a small smile, coming to sit by me on the sofa. She lay a hand cautiously on my leg as I looked up at her.

"A letter came," she started, her tone hesitant as if she were stepping on dangerous waters.

"Yeah..." I dragged out, waiting for her to continue. She looked down tepidly, as if contemplating her words, but finally looked up, holding something out from behind her back.

"It was from the doctor..." my eyes immediately narrowed into dangerous slits.

"No," I stated flatly, my face devoid of any emotion. Surprise flickered on her face, but was soon replaced with a look of annoyance.

"You say that every time honey-" she started, looking flustered.

"So, why haven't you got it by now?" I asked bluntly. Although knowing how rude I sounded, I also knew that it had to be said. My parent's would go to the lengths of poverty to try and find me a suitable donor, even if the chances for one existing were slim. I had made my decision with a scared but firm heart. However, as I thought about it, the image of Aaron involuntarily flashed before my eyes. I shook it away.

Why was I thinking about him at a time like this?

"The doctor can help you..." my mum whispered out, her tone desperate. I sighed, standing up and threw the blanket I had wrapped around myself onto the floor.

"I don't want help," I grit out the lie, walking to the stairs. But that didn't stop her. She scurried after me, practically screaming for me to stop. I had never explained to my parent's why I didn't get the treatment because I knew it would kill them to know I gave it up, so that they could live a happy life. So, I left it down to me just being unhappy in life.

"Why not?" She asked, her eyes pooling with tears. I stopped halfway, turning to look at her from the corner of my eye. She looked crazed, her hair sticking up as if she had ran her hands through it one too many times.

"I need you, sweetheart," she spoke, her voice raw as I stood and listened numbly, "I know you don't want it, I know you don't. But what about me, huh? Don't you understand that I want it? I want my one and only daughter by my side, I want her to live." My eyes tightened shut as I took in her words.

"I don't want the doctor to do anything," I couldn't stop the tremble in my voice, "all he can do is say what I already know and I don't want to be reminded. I know what I'm doing and I know what I'm losing, why can't you just get that?" My voice broke at the last part.

I loved my mum and dad, more than I loved anything else and I didn't want to hurt them by doing this. But for me, there was no solution. There was no point in searching for one and if there was, I couldn't fight against destiny. Granddad taught me that. I placed a cool hand to my forehead to ease the pain I was feeling. All this fighting; all this drama had- no doubt- taken a toll on my health. I grimaced as my head pounded rhythmically to every tear that fell out my mothers eyes.

Her nostrils flared at my words and she opened her mouth as if she was going to say something but, before she could, the doorbell rang, cutting her off. She rubbed the tears away, sending me one last look before walking into the kitchen, leaving me to answer the door.

I turned towards the door, shaking my head at what just happened. I knew that she had more to say and I would get an earful after I answered the door, but I couldn't change what I wanted just because she wanted me to. I had decided on this long back and I wasn't going to change my mind.

I grabbed the door handle in my hand, inhaling sharply before pulling open the door. However, as soon as I looked up on who had knocked, I regretted opening the door. He stood on the other side of the door, his eyes on the floor as he fidgeted with his fingers.

Upon hearing the door open, Elliot looked up, a shy smile on his face.

"Hi." He said while I stood rooted to the spot. I was speechless; my voice was stuck in my throat. I knew he hadn't seen me when talking to his friend yet did he really have the gall to act so nicely to me?

He was just playing a game- a game of revenge. He was using me to get at Aaron and all I was to him was a pawn. I wanted to say a lot to him. I wanted to give him an earful. But, I decided to stay quiet, waiting to see what he had to say. I wrapped my arms across my chest, tilting my head as I waited for him to talk. He let out a breath as he looked at me.

"I just wanted to...talk about what happened with me and Aaron," he all but spit out Aaron's name, as if it were poison. He shook his head, his hair fluttered messily on his forehead as he smiled innocently at me.

"I know you're angry," he started and I resisted the urge to scoff at his blatant remark.

If my anger was any more obvious, it would be written on my forehead

"But, I can explain," he carried on and I turned to him, surprise rolling off me in waves yet he didn't seem to realise this. I nodded my head, permitting him to narrate his excuse and he opened his mouth to speak.

"I started the fight. I know it was wrong, but I couldn't control myself." He said, his voice soaked with guilt. I eyed him suspiciously as he spoke.

Why would he admit to that?

He looked at me shyly before tugging a hand through his hair. Seeing him as innocent as this was enough to make me forget about all the cheap things he had said about me, but the next words he uttered bought them back with vengeance.

"I don't regret starting the fight with him after all the vile things he said about you- about how your innocence was just a game. He was betting how long it would take for him to bed you; I don't regret throwing the first punch. I would do that for your honour." He said bluntly, staring straight in my eyes and it was taking everything in me not to slam the door on his nose.

He was nothing but a liar. He was using me and he didn't look as if he regretted it at all. He, rather, looked as if he was enjoying it and my blood boiled at the thought. I didn't believe him anymore. Aaron hadn't given me a reason to not trust him whereas Elliot had given me numerous. This was the end of it.

Elliot looked down at me, confused as I glared up at him. My breathing was more erratic now. My anger or my illness, I didn't know what it was, but it was in control now and it was consuming my body.

"Alex?" The intimate name left Elliot's lips and as soon as he said this, I couldn't restrain myself anymore and my hand flung out, finding its way to his face. I could hear the slap resonating through the hallway and his face snapped to the side, my hand leaving an imprint on his face. I could hear my shallow breathing in the silence as I glared at him. His hand found its way to his face as he stood in silence, feeling his face as if he was mulling over what just happened.

"Did you just..." he started, his eyes not looking at me but on the ground, the shock evident on his face.

"Get out," I spoke, my voice venomous. His eyes snapped to mine, narrowing evilly.

"What-" he started but I cut him off, glaring at him.

"I said get out," my hands clenched at my side as I spoke. I couldn't believe that, all this time, I fell for the 'sweet' act that he had played me with.

Scratch that, I couldn't believe that I trusted this liar over Aaron.

"Watch what I-" he ground out, his voice threateningly low. I held a hand out, effectively cutting him off.

"I don't care for what you have to say, Elliot. Now, are you going to leave or shall I call the authorities to help you?" I spat at him, resisting the temptation to smack him again. He didn't speak, choosing- rather- to stare at me.

"Leave my house. Now!"

His nostrils flared as my voice rose, but he chose not to say anything. His hand remained on his face as he backed out my doorway. He gave me one last glare, and- from that- I knew that this was not the end of it, but I ignored it. I turned around, kicking the wall in frustration.

I regretted the action soon after.

The headache I was feeling returned full throttle and I used all the strength I had to stay upright. I hadn't realised my mum walking out the kitchen until she screamed my name, rushing to my side. I leant on the staircase, using it to hold my weight. My mum looked worried, her eyes darting across my sweat-covered face as she inspected me.

"Alexis, this is just getting worse," she pleaded, her eyes tearing again as she took me in. I could feel the bile rising to my throat but I pushed it away, trying to stand straight on my feet. Everything was normal one moment, then blurring out the next. I closed my eyes, resting my hot head on the cold wall.

"Just leave it, mum..." I answered, but my voice came out small and weak. I could hear her shoes as she moved around the room frantically.

"No, I can't!" She screamed and I opened my eyes as she rushed towards me with a glass of water.

"Please honey," she whispered, "just go to the doctor once. I know you don't want it, but for me. Please. Your health is getting worse by the minute, I can see it. If you keep going like this, your illness will just become worse."

I sighed at her words, attempting to stand up to show I was alright, but failed miserably as my legs gave out beneath me and I fell on the hard floor. She flinched as I fell and tried to help me upright again.

"What illness?"

We both froze in what we were doing as we heard the voice behind us. I recognised that voice. I looked to my mum, fear and shock on my face. She opened her mouth and closed it again, staring at the person behind us. I just remembered.

I had forgotten to close the door.

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