That morning I woke at 5am to Lexi's excited squeals and the thunking of plastic wheels clacking against the floors in the pool house. I slipped on my dressing gown and ducked my head out of the crack in my door.

"What's going on Lex?" She turned and ran towards me, pushing my door wide open.

"Ohmygod Quinn, Zach's parents have got the whole weekend off last notice so they're flying Zach and I interstate to see them! Isn't that exciting?" I watched the happiness exude from her whole body as she explained the details when suddenly my stomach dropped.

"You mean today? You're leaving today?" I asked trying to squeeze my words out. Lexi just nodded with a confused look on her face.

"You remember how I told you I had that appointment thing? That's today." I looked at Lexi and started knotting my fingers together nervously. Lexi gasped and covered her mouth with both hands.

"Oh shit! I forgot! I'm so sorry Quinnie. Im sure Mase wouldn't mind taking you." She started to bite her nails looking as nervous as I felt. I just shook my head.

"No, I really don't want Mason to come with me. It's okay I'll just catch a bus. In the meantime, you have fun at Zach's parents. I'm sure they'll fall in love with you like your parents did with Zach."

I pulled Lexi's hands away from her mouth and gave an assuring smile, even though I was slightly pissed.

"Thanks babe. I'm actually really excited... but you missy, I don't want you taking the bus. I'll be checking if you asked Mason." She pointed to my face. It just made me smile more because even tough she had her own things to deal with, she was still looking out for me. There's no doubt she would ace motherhood. Even though she said she'd check with Mason there was no way I was going to ask him for a ride. I didn't want him to think I was using him.

The sun was just peeking over the hillside when Zach and Lexi left for the airport leaving Quinn and I waving in the driveway. I could feel her anxiety just standing next to her so I asked,

"So what's on for today?" to try and break her tension.

"I'm just gonna run an errand and be back before lunch hopefully. Maybe then we can have a jam session or do something fun?" She smiled tightly.

I knew her 'errands' were as detailed as she was going to get if I asked her what the errands were. I didn't want to push her away because we'd have to spend the rest of the weekend together, I had to start out on the right foot.

She reminded me of a precious bird you have to sneak up on in order to get close enough to see it's beauty. If you're too hasty, it'll fly away. I needed to take the slow and easy approach especially after reading her body language. Crossed arms, chewing her lip, eyes darting from one thing to another in thought.

"You hungry? I'll make you breakfast and you don't even have to sleep with me." I nudged her playfully. She smiled nervously again and shook her head when I heard her stomach growl. I don't know why but hearing her stomach growl made an intense protective feeling wash over me. I stormed over to her,picked her up and threw her over my shoulder. I loved the sound of her squeal, they were full of emotion that she didn't always portray.

"That's it AmicaMea, I'm feeding you now. I wont take no for an answer so you'll sit your cute butt down while I cook for you." I stomped through the double glass doors and sat her at the breakfast bar. She was smiling freely now, tucking back her silky blonde hair out of her face. I wanted her to smile carefree like that always. As long as I was around her that would be my mission because when she smiled it lit up the whole room. It made me believe that impossible was just a word. The thing that made her beautiful to me wasn't just her looks or in what she said but just in what she was.

"Thanks Mase. I just don't want you to think I'm a mooch." She stood up and started taking out plates and cutlery for us both.

"Ey, I know you can't help but enjoy my cuisine while I offer you some eye candy." I winked trying to lighten the mood. I couldn't help but notice that she was closing off again like the first time we met. What had I done to make her so cautious around me?

"Well the eye candy part I can agree with. The cooking, ehhh, needs a little work." She squinted jokingly at the thought of my food. She was such a smart ass, I loved it, but she was confusing the fuck out of me. One minute hot, the next minute cold.

I had to get to the bottom of her her hot and cold temperament. Was it the secret she didn't want to tell me? Whatever it was, I had to find out. I'm too emotionally invested in her now to just walk away.

Once Mason and I finished breakfast with our typical flirty banter I decided to leave while he was having his morning shower so he didn't feel obligated to offer me a ride. I know that it was stubborn of me but ever since I left home and went out on my own I've been wanting to prove not only to other people but to myself that I'm self sufficient and strong.

Even though my parents were no longer in the picture, I wanted to do this for me. I wanted to know I was strong enough to conquer whatever came my way and not be the damsel in distress.

I was halfway to the bus stop which was 12 blocks from Zach and Masons. I still thought of it as their place and not mine even though I'd been staying there for over a month now.

I'd just passed an empty intersection when I heard a car honking. I quickly spun around, afraid it might have been the police or something even though I waited for the light to turn green before crossing.

"What do you think you're doing walking all the way down here by yourself, crazy?! Chris is still on the street you know?" Mason called through the passenger side window. I adjusted my bag to my other shoulder and just shook my head smiling. He was ruthless, I'd give him that.

"I was just walking to the bus stop, I have somewhere I need to be in an hour." I explained slowly walking while he began to drive beside me. Mason tisked and gripped the wheel a little tighter.

"Why don't you ever ask for help Quinn, I want to help. I'm free all day." He pulled the car over to the side of the road and leaned over to open the passenger side door.

"Get in before I come out there and carry your sexy self into the car." He said with his eyebrows raised and hand outstretched.

There was no way I was getting out of this one without hurting his feelings by ditching him. My palms started sweating and a cold wave came over me. I swallowed hard and when I looked back up from my feet I saw a concerned look on Mason's face. I adjusted my bag strap again and painted on a smile before climbing into the car.

"Thank you. I really appreciate it." I said not looking at him. I was getting nervous now that he would know where I had been running 'errands' off to.

"Where to?" He asked, clearly pleased with himself that he managed to win me over. The smile on his face was so contagious I felt a small smile sneak across my face.

"Um, I don't know how to get there from here so I'll just put it in the GPS?" I asked with my hands hovering over the GPS waiting for his permission.

"Okay, cool. I'll start driving and you punch in the address." He said, pulling out from the curb and back onto the road.

He was driving the range rover today which felt like a bus it was that big. I'd always wondered where he got the money to buy cars like the ones he has but thought it was too rude to ask. Maybe it might come up in conversation one day, I silently hoped.

On the way to wherever we were going we played I spy like any normal adult on a long car ride. Quinn was relativley quiet unless I spoke to her which only made me want to comfort her and speak to her more. I hated seeing her hands in knots and the look of uncertainty on her face.

"Turn right in 500 meters", the GPS directed us into an underground car park. I shot a look at her to make sure we were at the right place. She nodded and pointed to an empty car park with a sign that said 'Visitors'. As I was lining up the car into the tight car space underground I couldn't stop thinking why she's be visiting a hospital of all places. I didn't think she knew let alone spoke to anyone else but Lexi, Zach, the band and I. Who could she be visiting? A pang of jealousy slammed into me.

"2 hour parking should be enough, we'll only be 1 hour, tops... hopefully." A small apologetic smile graced her face.

"It's cool, if we need more time I don't mind coming out here and moving the car." I smiled back, trying to keep my cool.

She picked up her bag and began walking toward the elevators. I walked along side her with my hand on the small of her back just to let her know that I was there. I felt the overwhelming need to comfort her because I knew what it was like to have to visit someone in hospital when they were sick, especially if they're close to you.

My mother was admitted after she collapsed while hanging washing out on the line one day. She'd been getting headaches sporadically throughout the months beforehand but no one thought anything of them because headaches were as common as dogs balls.

After various CAT scans and MRI's the doctors confirmed that she had stage 4 brain cancer. It was inoperable which meant she didn't have much time left between the diagnosis and death. Three weeks after she'd been admitted I was visiting in the afternoon and fed her green jelly. It was our favourite. She used to make me frogs in a pond by dropping freddo frogs into the jelly before it had set.

"Mase, can you remember something for me?" She asked, her voice hoarse and the veins in her neck were straining against her skin. I watched her, wide eyed and nodded, ready to remember anything she wanted to tell me because I knew she was very sick, even at 11.

"One day you'll meet new people, maybe even a girl..." I scrunched my nose up and gagged.

"Eww mum, girls are gross!" She laughed breathily and put her finger to my mouth to stop me from interrupting.

"Shh, just listen. You might not need this now but you will when you're older, okay?" She raised her eyebrows like she always did back at home when she was well. I just nodded, wishing she could stay on this earth until I needed to hear this.

"The most beautiful people you will know are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss and have found their way out of the depths. These people have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people don't just happen. Do you know who quoted that?" She stroked my cheek lovingly with her frail paper thin skin on her fingers. I shook my head trying to hold back tears.

"Elizabeth Kubler Ros... And she is very right. Sometimes people go through horrible things in life like losing a mummy or a daddy but you..." She pointed to my heart. "You have the choice whether you want to use it to make you a beautiful person or not. It's easy to see the bad in things in life if you focus on them, so you need to choose to see the good..." She started closing her eyes and drifting off. I shook her shoulder gently and her eyes groggily opened and strained, focusing on me.

"DAD! DAD! Mum needs you!" I called down the empty hallway. He went to get coffee from the coffee machine 10 minutes before so I thought he'd be back by the time mum was going to fall asleep.

My mum gently tugged on my arm and pulled me closer to her while she whispered.

"Mase, Remember to take risks in life. If you win, you will be happy. If you lose, you will be wise." She smiled and kissed my forehead. Tears started streaming down my face because I knew that look in her eye didn't mean she was going to sleep. If she fell asleep now she would be asleep for good.

"Mummy, don't leave me. Please, I need you." I squeezed her hand tightly in mine with tears stinging my eyes. Her eyes closed and her breathing started getting shallow.

"I'll always be with you. Especially when you eat green jelly." She smiled and then her whole body fell limp and the long, constant sound of the straight line from the pulse monitor resonated through the empty hospital room.