I start the ten minute walk to Arlo's house in the painfully cold air. I decide that rather than walking there in this silence between the earth and I, I'll put my purple earbuds in and listen to some Nirvana.

As I'm walking down the street "Lithium" comes on. I start to sing along until I realize that anyone who is outside could hear me. I get really self-conscious, and my face is no longer red from the cold but from embarrassment.

I am soon walking up the steps to Arlo's front door. I knock and his brother opens up the door.

"Hey, James, Arlo told you that I was coming over, right?" I ask.

"Yeah, come on in," he replies.

I walk in to the smell of muffins baking. James has always been a wonderful baker. Arlo on the other hand...well let's just not talk about that.

I quickly walk up the stairs to Arlo's room. I peek my head through the door to see a sleeping Arlo. I walk in and sit on the edge of his bed. I softly set my hand on his and watch him as he sleeps.

James pops his head in the door and says, "Muffins are ready. Come and get them whenever. They're banana chocolate chip, your favorite."

He then walks back downstairs. I shift slightly on the bed and stand up. I start towards the door to get some muffins until I'm stopped by the sound of Arlo's voice.

"Where are you going, Gwennie?" he asks quietly.

"To get you some muffins," I reply.

"Make sure to get one for yourself as well, please."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," I drone.

I then walk down the stairs and into the kitchen. I grab a plate from the cuboard and stick three muffins on it. I pour a glass of milk for Arlo and water for me. Once I have everything I walk back upstairs and into Arlo's room.

"Muffins are here," I say as I push the door open. I set the plate on Arlo's bedside table along with our drinks.

"They smell scrumptious," Arlo says as he takes a big whiff of the succulent air.

He proceeds to gobble up his muffins and gulp down his milk. I just sit there and wait.

"Gwennie," he says sternly.

"What?" I reply innocently even though I know what's coming.

"You haven't eaten your muffin."

"I ate before I came, so I'm not very hungry," I lie.

My stomach chooses then to sound like a dying whale.

"Gwennie, you know you can't lie to me."

"Fine. I haven't eaten, but you can't make me eat."

"If you don't eat you will end up sicker than I am, and that is the last thing that I want to happen. You're already severely underweight for your age and height, Gwennie. You need to eat."

"Fine, I'll eat the stupid muffin," I retort.

"Thank you."

I pick up the muffin and stare at it. I start nibbling at it. I need to do this. If not for myself, then for Arlo. I make it through the whole thing without gagging. I stand up and start toward the bathroom.

"Gwendolyn Renae, don't you dare. Get back over here."

I'm stunned at his use of my full name. He only says that when he's really upset. I decide it's probably best that I listen to him, and I shouldn't do this to him while he's sick.

I walk over and sit on the bed next to him. He pulls me into a tight hug.

"One day, Gwendolyn Renae Rogers, I will be able to prove to you just how beautiful you are."

With that, I start crying.

Author's Note ~

Ahahaha! One of the best cliffhangers yet! Y'all probably hate me for all of these. Anyway, I won't be able to update very often because I am always loaded with homework along with musical rehearsals. I am going to make it my goal to try and update every Saturday, so stay tuned! Love you all bunches!