A/N: I changed the barista Wren's name to Nile.

Chapter 40

"Differentiation of 2sinx?" Jamal asks, book in front of his face as he chews on a chip.

"Uh," I pick on my hair. "cosx?"

He lowers the book from his face, "what about the 2?"

"Doesn't it disappear?" I raise a brow, reaching for my book on the table.

"No, it doesn't." Jamal frowns at me. "Here, 2 is a constant with sinx so it doesn't change. The answer is 2cosx."

"Oh."

"Oh man, Issy!"

"I'm sorry." I desperately flip through my book trying to find the rules of this once more.

"We have calculus today bruv, in two hours time."

I run my hand over my face, "why am I even in this class?"

Jamal shakes his head at me and pushes the bowl of chips my way. "Eat, eat, fill up your brain."

"I'm just distracted."

"Yeah, big time and sleep deprived."

I have actually been sleeping, with the full aid of drugs that is. "I'm okay."

"Stop thinking about Sky so much."

"How can I not?" I close the book and drop my head on it. "He's leaving." He's leaving me.

"You guys would meet again."

I shake my head, my eyes already tingling. "He said not to wait."

"Then you'd meet someone else."

I shake my head, "I won't."

"You don't know that."

"Mal, just stop."

"Fine but Sky wouldn't want you to fail first term exams. Wake up and..." He trails off and I peek an eye open at him only to see him looking at something behind me with his brow raised and mouth open.

I get up and turn around only for my eyes to meet with that of Darcy Pickett. My breath gets caught in my throat and I narrow my eyes at her. She has her hair up in a pony tail, a few strands falling over her face. Her blue eyes flicks from Jamal's to mine and I wonder what she wants now. Is this the moment I'm ratted out?

"Hey guys." She greets, waving a hand at us and biting her lips.

Jamal relaxs back on his seat and crosses his hands. "Hey Darcy Pickett."

It's barely noticeable but I see Darcy flinch at the formality and use of her full name. She sighs and reaches into her bag, producing two canned drinks. She drops them both in front of me and I blink looking at them. "What's this?"

She shakes her head as if getting rid of all the thoughts holding her back and becoming herself again as she takes a sit without asking either of us. "I'm sorry."

I cross my hand too, playing her game. "For what?"

"Everything," she reaches forward and pulls my arms away from themselves. "I'm so sorry, Israel."

I cannot deny that I slightly resent Darcy now. And a part of me blames her for my break up with Sky. Everything was fine until she walked right into it and I don't think I can forgive her yet. But I can't also deny that I've kind of missed her bossy presence and I don't have the guts to push her away for something she's now sorry for. It's not her fault really and she didn't know any better. As least she cares and is here again.

I manage a small smile, "okay."

"Wait wait, what about me?" Jamal cuts in. "I was deeply offended and affected too by your bitchiness you know."

"Mal!"

Darcy hisses at him but reaches into her bag nonetheless and after a struggle, she produces a big bowl of chips that has my jaw hanging open. The wonders of a girl's bag... "There you go."

Jamal eyes twinkle and I see him bite on his lip, clearly holding back a squeal of excitement. I can't help laughing as he throws his head back, pretending to be tough about it. "A big bowl of chips, ha. Like that is going to-"

Jamal is cut off again when Darcy leans over the table and places her lips on his cheek in a quick peck. The table goes silent and Jamal looks up frozen, our eyes meeting. What the--

"Happy now?"

Yes!

Despite his colour, we all know he's blushing. Darcy's blushing too and can barely meet his eyes. Jamal shrugs, opening the bowl of chips. "Yeah, bowl of chips it is, Magdalene."

I don't miss the wide smile on Darcy's face on hearing the nickname she always claims to hate. I laugh, then groan. "No, no. You guys have no right to date!"

"Israel!" Darcy shrieks, flaming red. And Jamal laughs.

"Fuck you Issy."

"And you too," I point. "I'm too heartbroken for this."

"There's no this!"

Before I can say anything, Jamal does winking at Darcy. "Sure about that Magdalene?"

"Shut up Jamal!"

"Ooo," Jamal and I ooh causing Darcy to cover her face with her palms.

"Can we join the fun?" Someone says and all three of us turn to see the barista from Coffee And Cream, Nile, standing there with her tray Lou St Martin's behind her. She's so small.

"Uh," Jamal drawls looking around confused.

I see Lou lean closer to her, whispering something through his teeth and pulling on her jacket as if telling her to retreat. Nile blatantly ignores him, flashing him a smile. "Israel, you remember me right?"

"Yeah," I scoot over, closer to Darcy. "There's no fun here but sure."

She turns to Lou with a smile and drops her tray taking a sit beside me and patting the side next to her for Lou. I see Lou exhale, shrugging and taking a seat beside. His cheeks look pink, like he is blushing or has been blushing.

Nile has a smile on that looks teasing and excited all at the same time, she waves a hand around. "Hi everyone, I'm Nile Shepherd and my friend here is Lou, who everyone already knows as our golden star swimmer."

"Nile." Lou scolds but smiles at us nevertheless. "Hi."

Darcy, Jamal and I exchange a look and I subtly shrug. Darcy steps up, extending a hand to Nile. "I'm Darcy Pickett and I already know you Nile, I'm a big costumer."

"I know you too Darcy, I'm a big fan." She shakes her hand.

"Of what?" Jamal looks over at Darcy. "Holiness?"

"Oh Christ, Jamal I'm going to snap you into two!" Darcy says and they enter into an argument that I have been seeing coming.

Nile leans closer to me, "is this how they are?"

I nod my head, "all the time." I lean to her too. "Top secret, they are going to date eventually."

She gasps exaggeratedly, "ha, no way."

I laugh, nodding and she grins. "I ship it!"

We both laugh and my eyes meet with that of Lou that is already on me. He looks away but I don't. Nile cuts in, "ah sorry, Lou's a bit shy."

"I'm not."

"Uh huh," she eyes him and leans to me again. "Top secret, he totally is."

I smack my tongue against the roof of my mouth. "Who would have thought right?"

"I'm not shy, I'm just... Hungry."

Our eyes meet again and I look away. I'm in no mood for Louie St Martin right now. My attention returns back to Jamal and Darcy and I start missing Sky all over again.

"Hey, Israel?" Lou calls and I turn to him, looking away from the book I am pretending to read over. "Sky's leaving today. Wanna go see him together after school?"

"He's leaving... Today?" I didn't think it was possible for my heart to clench any tighter but it does.

"Yeah," he gives me a sympathetic smile and all I can do is nod.

I definitely want to see him again so I agree. "Sure, let's go after."

"Okay."

"Okay."

*

I don't expect for Sky to be in the hospital and when I follow behind Lou's BMW into St Anne's hospital, I spend some minutes inside the car catching my breath.

Oh my God.

"Is he okay?" I ask Lou as we walk into the white tiled hospital. "Why's he here?"

"He's been here for weeks Taylor." Lou answers, leading the way.

"Oh." I feel stupid and I can't believe he's been keeping this away from me all this while.

Apparently the nurses know Lou and he checks both of us in as visitors, leading the way into the elevator and up to Sky's room. I just silently follow behind me, trying to calm the thoughts in my head. I cannot believe this. The last time I was in the hospital was when I had pneumonia some months before I turned fifteen. It wasn't pleasant and I hated the hospital with everything I've got. Mum usual self medicates us at home and no one can question it. According to her she has learnt from experience and she works in the pharmacy after all. We rarely come to the hospital.

That time was just so serious, I almost died and I can't imagine Sky in such a predicament.

"Here we are," we both stop walking, standing before a door that read 106 and in the card slot- Sky Hunt.

I don't know how long I we stand there and I just keep reading the name over and over again, my heart hammering in my ears. When I feel Lou's hand on my shoulder, I flinch, startling back to reality.

"Sorry," he apologizes and runs his hand through his short curls. "I-its going to be okay, Taylor. He's a strong chap in there."

I nod and he opens the door, letting me walk in first before he follows. I can't pin point a particular scent in the room but the windows are drawn close, leaving the place a little dark but bright enough to see one another and walk without falling over. Sky's on the bed with a hospital gown on and there's a woman with long wavy black hair sitting beside him with his hand in hers. They both look up when we walk in and on seeing Lou, the smile she beams at us makes me do a double take. She's really beautiful, just like Sky.

"Louie," she calls, standing up and walking on her high heels to us and giving Lou a hug. "I didn't think you'd be coming in today."

"How can I not?" Lou asks, giving her an equally fond smile. "You're taking my friend away."

"Not my intention love," she pats his cheek and looks at me. "And you must be..."

"Israel."

"Israel," she repeats. "Friend of Sky's?"

I nod and she reaches over to hug me too. Her perfume sweet on her. "Real nice of you to be here."

"Sorry if we're interrupting any moment." Lou says and Sky coughs.

"Quit the gentlemanliness and just come in already." Sky says, beckoning us over.

"Sky be nice," his mum warns, then sighs and leaves the room.

"Mate, I was being polite." Lou chastise and we walk closer to the bed.

Sky flips him up, adjusting on the bed so he's sitting up. "No time to be polite and we're never going to finish talking anyway. There's still a lot of things left unsaid."

Sky has on a purple beanie and his glowing skin looks pale, his lips a little chapped. His cat eyes rest on me and they are still as wonderful but tired too with red rims and bags under his eyes. I don't stop my feet when it moves faster than my head and throws me around Sky in a I've been waiting to do this hug. Sky hugs me too and I want to pull him impossibly closer.

"I've missed you too," he murmurs against my ear tickling me at the same time.

I pull back, cupping his face with my hands and just looking at him. I am taking a thousand pictures of his face because in a thousand years to come I want to still remember Sky freaking Hunt; the boy that made me see the world through his eyes. Sky's eyes dart around my face too like he's doing the same thing and then he smiles— the truest smile I've seen on him in a while.

In the moment, everything is perfect and I follow my heart for the first time in forever, leaning over and placing my lips on his without a thought, talk more of a second one. Sky tenses up for a second but relaxes the next and kisses me back, his chapped but still soft lips moving with mine and cancelling out ever x.

We pull away and I avoid his eyes, blushing badly. "I know we're not together but I really wanted to do that."

"I'm glad you did," his finger touches my jaw and tilts my head back up. "Look at my face, everywhere else looks horrible."

"You look good."

"And you're still cute."

I smile, tracing his face with my fingers. The only sound in the room that of our breath, the heart monitor and heater. "Why do you have a beanie? Are you cold?"

He shakes his head. "They shaved a part of my hair and it's a bit swollen. Not attractive at all."

I gulp, "You're going today?"

"As soon as the plane lands on the roof."

I nod, jumping off the bed. It's then I notice that Lou is gone. "I'm going to sing and dance for you."

Sky crosses his leg under him. "What, why?"

"Because I want to," I shake my head and the shyness away, picking one of his slipper and using it like a microphone. Sky's already laughing before I even start.

♪
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you
You'd be like Heaven to touch
I wanna hold you so much...
♪

I throw my head back, sliding my leg out like Michael Jackson.

♪
I love you, baby
And if it's quite alright
I need you, baby
To warm the lonely night
I love you, baby
Trust in me when I say...
♪

Sky laughing so hard and crying all at the same time and I don't even register that I'm crying until we kiss again and I taste both our tears on our lips. After my show, I lie down beside him on the bed and we talk and talk like we're not about to just part ways. At some point Lou returns with tea and the discussion don't stop. I'm even surprised by how much I laugh given the state of my heart.

Some hours later, doctors come into the room— the helicopter to take him away has landed on the roof and they wanted to run final test. Lou and I excuse them and we wait at the lobby. Soon enough Sky is rolled out of the room and we both silently follow behind them all the way to the roof. There, there is really a helicopter with Sky's dad and more doctors. Mr Hunt greets us with a smile thanking us for being there and then it's time to go.

Lou actually cries but I surprisingly don't. Sky and I hug for the last time and he pats me on my shoulder like he usually does, mouthing, "Easy Issy." He's rolled inside the helicopter and Sky's parents wave at us before disappearing in after him. Some doctors follow and then we watch the helicopter lift and fly away.

The doctors leave the roof and then it's only Lou and I on the roof.

I'm the first to turn around and then he does too and while we walk away, his hand touches mine and he holds on. I hold on too and it feels like if I didn't my legs would give out and I'd fall.

Turns out, I really love Sky Hunt.

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The end... Drum roll please.

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