Amber's Pov:

Layla, the sarcastic, fun, but sweet seven year old took me by surprise as I once again laughed at another one of her jokes.

She had that natural humor in her.

Like, you know how some people aren't that funny, but they try really hard to be and it almost comes out as annoying in a way?

Well, that is the exact opposite of Layla.

She was just so happy, and free spirited, that I nearly forgot about where we were.

...

A hospital room.

I tried not to think about it, I really didn't.

But her positiveness just really threw me off.

I didn't understand how such a person could be like that if they were stuck in a place that made you feel isolated, alone, different...

Sick.

And then, thinking back to how Damien has been coming here for years, and she was the reason he was here, made my heart start to swell in my chest as thoughts of what she must have been through consume me.

As she talked, joked, and played around with us, I picked up on the little things.

She winced.

She scrunched up her nose...

She squeezed her eyes shut...

She bit her lip...

She squeezed the sheets...

In Pain.

But even then, even through the pain, she would smile.

I didn't say it out loud, but she must have been the strongest seven year old I had ever seen.

To be at such a young age and learn to smile even through pain...

It really amazes me.

"Damien, you need to bring her more often, she's more fun than you!" Layla grins, as Damien ruffles her hair.

I laugh as Damien looks up at me with a pouty face, as Layla complains about her now messed up hair.

"You messed up my hair!" She whines as Damien looks back at her and grins.

"Sorry, who did you say was more fun again?"

She pauses, looking at me as I sat beside her on her bed, while Damien was standing but on the other side of Layla.

"Amber~..." she sings as Damien let's out a sigh and sits down on the chair, leaning back in defeat.

Layla and I giggle to one another at Damien's look of annoyance.

But I could tell that he really wasn't annoyed. When she wasn't looking, he would smile to himself. Even when they were being just like normal siblings, teasing one another, I think he cherished those moments.

She was his sister, he loved her.

Damien sighs again causing us to giggle even more until suddenly the door opens and in walks one of the nurses.

Her eyes travel from Layla to Damien without any falter. As I assume she was used to seeing Damien in here.

But then her eyes travel to me, a sense of shock, and surprise. But the kind smile of the nurse covered up her surprised face as she stops right in front of the bed.

I couldn't help but notice Damien quickly sit up straight in his chair, almost like he had an understanding of what would happen next.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but it's time for Layla's..." she didn't even have to finish her sentence as Damien stands up from the chair, nodding his head at the nurse in which she does so back.

Damien then walks around the bed toward the side I was sitting at. I got the hint that it was time for us to leave.

"Let me help you down." He whispers to me before I had the chance to attempt.

I nod my head as once of his hands grabs mine as the other softly grabs a hold of my arm, helping me down from the high up bed.

I give him a thankful smile, but it didn't really feel like a smile because it wasn't a happy one.

Turning towards Layla and seeing her looking up at me made my heart drop.

Of course, I didn't ask what the nurse was talking about, or what Damien understood, for it was simply not my place to ask.

"It was really nice to meet you Layla." I try to smile, to stay positive

I felt so bad.

I don't know how long I've been here, it felt like I was here for a long time, but it wen't by too quickly.

"You will come back... right?" She asks, with hopeful eyes.

I turn my head towards Damien, who was already looking down at me. His doe like eyes gave him an innocent, sweet sort of appearance.

After a second, or two, or three, I'm not sure because I just felt so captured in his stare, he turns toward his sister, giving her a small smile.

"Of course she will."

I turn towards Layla who looked about seconds away from bouncing around in her seat as a big, dazzling smile graced her face.

I was about to say something until something caught my eye. It was the book from before, the one that I brought up earlier when we first entered the room.

I soon remembered something, quickly looking up at her, "You know Layla, that book we were talking about earlier, I actually still have the whole series if you would like-...."

"Are you serious!!" She interrupts, her eyes widen her mouth drops looking back and forth between me and Damien.

I nod my head, "Of course, I don't really read them anymore, I would be glad to give them to you."

Not being able to talk from the shock, she nods her head continuously.

Which I would understand.

For some reason, they don't sell the full series anymore. Dad used to say that I should sell them to make a lot of money.

But for some reason, I just kept ahold of them, and now, I am really happy that I did.

Sadly, the moment of happiness dies down as the nurse clears her throat, signaling that it was time for us to go.

"I guess it is time for us to go, I love you Layla, I'll visit soon." Damien walks up to her and kisses her head.

"Okay Damien, and thank you Amber." She waves to me from her bed, as I wave back, my other hand holding the back of Damien's shirt as he leads me out of the room as I wasn't looking forward.

When exit the room, he closes the door behind me, while I let go of his shirt.

He turns toward me shyly, shoving his hands into his pockets, which I started to pick up on that he does quite often.

"Thank you for that." The sincereness in his voice made my heart flutter as I looked up at him.

"For what?" I had to ask. He was the one who let me see her, who trusted me to see her. For that, I felt like the grateful one, I wanted to thank him.

"For making her happy. You being there.... I think it meant a lot to her." He moved away the few strands of hair that fell in front of his eyes as he tried to hide his shy smile.

"I... really?"

He nods his head, "Other than my parents and myself, she doesn't get a lot of visits. My grandparents once in a while when they visit, and maybe my little cousins come to see her when they are out of school in the summer, but other than that, she is alone in that room. So many times she wanted to leave, but the stakes were to high."

The feeling again hit me.

Feeling bad for something that I couldn't control, I hated it.

When I was little, my mom used to tell me how lucky I was when I was being bratty, or upset over the little things in life that shouldn't matter.

When she told me I was lucky, I thought she was just using that as an excuse to make me feel bad about myself and stop me from acting out.

But it wasn't until helping out in the children's hospital...

Meeting kids who have it so much harder in life made me realize that she was right.

If my mom was still here, I would have told her how right she was, and how lucky I am to be healthy, and have the ability to live a life that's not trapped inside a hospital room.

"Uhm... again, thank you, for trusting me. I- I know you already said it was because I helped you and all, but your trust actually means a lot. Thank you for that."

Damien looks taken back by my words, "You don't have to thank me-..."

"Please just take it." I couldn't help but whine as he laughs at my expression.

"Okay I will," He pauses as he looks down at his watch, "oh I didn't realize how late it has gotten."

My eyes suddenly widen, "What time is it?"

"Almost 8:00pm....." he draws out, looking up at me as I look back in horror.

My dad was supposed to pick me up almost an hour ago!!!

I quickly reach my hand into my jacket pocket for my phone, but then, I let out a sigh of relief.

Dad - 5:45pm

Hi sweetie! Something came up today and I won't able to pick you up at 7:00 like I usually would. Can you catch a ride from a friend?

Dad- 6:05pm

Love you.

Dad-6:25pm

Sorry, don't be mad.

Dad-6:50pm

I'll pick up food, watcha want?"

Dad- 7:30pm

I. Want. Tacos.

Dad- 7:50pm

I'll be home in a half an hour, stuck in traffic. I will hold off eating so we can eat together.

Dad- 7:55pm

I might have ate... a lot.

"Are you in trouble?" Damien asks with guilty eyes, but I look up at him and shake my head, letting out a sigh of relief.

"No, my dad's stuck in traffic, I don't think he knows I'm here though. I think I need to catch a ride-...."

"I can drive you." Damien says.

"Are you sure? I mean, you don't have too-..."

"Don't worry, it's not a problem at all. I usually end up staying here late anyways, my parents are used to it."

I thank him and I soon find myself following him as he leads me to his car.

We get to the car and before I could reach the passenger side, he runs over and opens the car door for me.

And yeah, I blushed.

And yeah, my heart melted by the simple action.

He closes my door gently before running over to the drivers side and getting in.

Gosh, I couldn't wrap my head around how a guy like him could literally Be so perfect-...

"Where do you live?"

"Huh?" I give him a shocked expression as he laughs.

At first I was confused, but then I soon realize what he meant. I hide my face in embarrassment.

"Ah sorry, you caught me off guard." I hide my face in my hands, feeling like a complete idiot.

"It's okay." I feel him stare at me, but I was still to embarrassed to uncover my face with my hands.

"I live..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey can I ask you a question?" Damien asks, interrupting the silence of the car.

"Yeah, anything." I look at him.

"Earlier you asked me why I am always at the hospital if I don't have an internship, if you don't mind me asking, why do you?"

I sit back in the car seat.

"I don't know, I guess I just like helping out, but the internship just was too much time, and with school and everything, I feel like it would stress me out."

But I knew the actual reason why, my mom.

It's not that I don't trust Damien, but, it's honestly just a hard subject to talk about.

My dad and I, Liam, along with some of the nurses who worked with my mom, were really like the only ones who really knew about the impact of her death.

I don't really like sharing it with anyone else because it's hard telling people how my life that once felt perfect shattered before me.

I didn't tell Damien because I felt like he wouldn't understand, I didn't tell him simply because I was ready to share such a negative part of my life.

"I understand, and I've gone through that too, you know, about the internship and all, it takes a lot of time that I don't have."

I nod my head at him in understanding, "Right, especially with school and you being on the boxing team, how is that by the way?" I ask.

He shrugs his shoulders, focusing his eyes on the road, "I mean, it's been okay. It's just... the team doesn't really get along too well."

I look at him in confusion, even though he couldn't see me, he continues, "When Ashton, Zander, and Jake were here last year, I felt like they kept the team in check. I mean, no offense to Luke, he is a great captain, but, you know, now that those three are gone and off to college, it just doesn't feel the same."

"I understand, they were your best friends, and from my understanding, I think they would want you, Damien, to help Luke control the team."

Again, he shrugs his shoulders, "I don't know, it's just, I've always been quiet, shy. I don't do well with telling people what to do, so I'm certainly not good at controlling a team. I feel like in the past year, thanks to a really good friend of mine, I was able to come out of my shell a little more, but I just don't know if I'll ever be ready. Coach says that I could be leading the team next year... I- I just don't feel I would ever be ready."

To be honest, I always assumed Damien... was perfect.

Everyone liked him, he was kind, sweet, handsome, and he was good a working for what he wants.

To say the least, I guess overall by his words, I was surprised.

"Damien, just because you think you aren't able to do something, doesn't mean you shouldn't try. Although you are scared of taking control, you have to think about the team. Like you said, Luke is for sure a great captain, but he can't control a team all on his own. I'm not telling you what to do, but I think you should take a chance. Even if you take it slowly, step by step, I think the thing that is holding you back from doing so is yourself."

He glances at me, "Myself?"

I nod my head, "I believe you look at yourself a certain way. You see yourself as shy, and not having the capability to speak for the team, which is why the only thing that is holding you back is you."

I didn't even realize we were pulled up to my house until he parked the car and turned to face me.

"I... never thought about it like that."

"And, I know we don't really know each other that well, I mean, this probably doesn't even help-..."

"No, it actually... helps a lot. Maybe I am holding myself back, I guess I still feel like the same boy from a year ago." He runs a finger through his hair as he sighs. Almost like he was frustrated with himself for thinking like that.

"Hey, don't beat yourself up over it. I guess we both are a little stuck in our past." I give him a small laugh, but he looks at me in confusion.

"Both?"

My heart drops as I realize what I said, quickly, I think of something to say, "Oh... uh, because... sometimes... I feel like... the same girl who... struggled with having close friends."

Even though it wasn't the full truth, how I almost let the past with my mom slip, the friend part was true.

I have friends, but other than Liam, it was hard for me to keep them so close because I was afraid of sharing my past with them. It was hard to share things with them because I wasn't telling them something that was such a big part of my life.

"Can we be friends?" His words catch me by surprise.

"I'd... love that." I give him a shy smile, but my eyes drift to the clock seeing that my dad was supposed to be here in less than five minutes, "I think I should..."

"Yeah, of course."

I open the car door and step about, but just as I was about to close it, he speaks up.

"I feel like we say this a lot to one another, but thank you, for the talk."

I nod my head, "Really, it was nothing, I enjoyed it."

He smiles, "See you tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow it is."

And it took me a while to realize...

But in one single day, I saved, trusted, and helped out the person I have been crushing on for years.

And now, we are friends?

...

Liam. Is. Going. To. Freak.