So after reading the comments on the last chapter, I just wanted to go ahead and clarify the side effects to oral chemotherapy, because they're different than the side effects would be to intravenous chemo or other types.

Side Effects:

1) Fatigue

2) Hand-foot syndrome - a skin reaction on palms of hands and soles of the feet (pain, swelling and redness)

3) Nausea/vomiting

4) Flu-like symptoms

5) Skin rash

6) Low blood counts (watch for fever)

7) Hair loss and nail changes

8) Mouth sores

-Now obviously you don't get ALL of these side effects on oral chemotherapy. And this probably isn't a complete list. But these are the general possible side effects.

Hope this helped clear up some of the confusion!

-Rachel

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"This is nice," I said to Kylie, with a sigh.

"Sometimes it's nice just to get away," she agreed, sipping her Chick-Fil-A lemonade.

We were seated on a blanket in the middle of an empty soccer field, eating Chick-Fil-A.

Well, she was eating Chick-Fil-A. I was just drinking their lemonade.

"I feel like with all the stress lately, this is exactly what I needed," I said, as the wind whipped around me.

"It's so beautiful out here," Kylie said, looking around. "The serenity of uninterrupted nature."

The two of us sat in silence for a few moments, taking it all in.

"I think people should do this more often," I commented. "Take an hour just to get away."

"We should totally go to the dollar store and buy some cheap ass kites," Kylie said, with a laugh.

And so we did.

I came back with a unicorn kite, whereas Kylie had a duck one.

"Ready?" I asked her.

She laughed, nodding.

We both took off running, letting our kites unravel behind us.

My unicorn barely even left the kite.

"Fly unicorn," I called over my shoulder, laughing as I ran. "Fly you stupid thing!"

After a few minutes I collapsed on the floor, my unicorn collapsing as well.

Not that it was even five feet off the ground.

"Well that didn't work did it?" Kylie asked, collapsing next to me.

"It was fun though," I said, with a laugh.

"Did your unicorn ever fly?"

"No. Turns out it's just a little fat rhino."

Kylie laughed. "My duck got some air."

"So jealous."

We laid there, side-by-side, in silence, staring up into the clouds.

Nature is so beautiful when you take the opportunity to appreciate it.

~*~

"What?" I asked Clayton, as I headed up to Bryce's front porch.

Clayton was just leaving, an unhappy look on his face.

"I'd just be careful going in there is all."

"Is something the matter?"

"He's just not in the best of moods."

"He hasn't been lately," I pointed out. "I think he needs to get out of the house and away from the school environment."

"I don't know if that's it Sophie. I think he's just trying to deal with the fact he has cancer."

"Obviously Clayton, but I think he just needs a change of scenery to pick up his mood."

Clayton just rolled his eyes. "I've got to go."

"Please don't let me hold you up."

He left and I let myself into Bryce's house.

Bryce was sitting criss-cross on the living room floor.

No surprise that he was playing GTA 5.

"Get up," I said, nudging him with my foot.

"I'm in the middle of a mission," he informed me, without looking away from the screen.

"I don't care. We're going out."

"I'm not in a dog park mood, but thanks."

"I didn't say dog park."

Bryce put his game on pause, looking over at me with a sigh.

"We're going to the mall," I informed him.

"I'm definitely not in a mall mood."

"Well too bad, we're going anyways."

He rolled his eyes, un-pausing his game.

"You have ten minutes," I informed him, plopping on the floor to give Dawson some love and attention. "And we're leaving."

"Why?"

"Because I want to go to the mall. And you're my loving boyfriend that wants to accompany me."

He didn't comment, but paused his game again and disappeared back to his room.

I couldn't help but smile.

Within ten minutes he reappeared in a pair of electric blue shorts and a gray, tight-fitted shirt.

I love boys in colored shorts.

He grabbed a flatbill off of his kitchen table, slipping it onto his head as he followed me out the door.

"Why are we going to the mall?" he asked me, plopping into the passenger seat.

"For an afternoon filled with adventure!"

He cracked a smile.

The first one I'd seen all day.

I'd say that's a start.

~*~

"I just need to run into Bath and Body Works," I said, tugging Bryce's hand in that direction.

I geared myself up for what I was sure was going to be a disagreement.

"Okay," he agreed.

Did he just agree to go inside Bath and Body Works with me?

I raised my eyebrows at him, and he cocked his head towards Bath and Body Works.

"Are we going or what?" he asked.

Well alright then.

We headed into Bath and Body Works and I began to sniff the new scents.

Bryce didn't complain once, his eyes flitting around the store.

I knew that something had to be the matter, but I decided to test him a little bit.

"Sniff this one," I said, flipping open another scent.

He did as I asked, nodding.

He did that for the next three scents, which never happens. He's always complaining by now about how they all smell the same, or about how the store stinks.

Either way, Bryce is definitely a complainer.

"What's the matter?" I asked him.

"Nothing."

"You're willingly standing here with me inside of Bath and Body Works and you haven't complained once."

He just shrugged.

Okay?

I sniffed another scent, passing it over to Bryce.

I might actually buy this one for my car air freshener.

Bryce just nodded, looking distant.

I wasn't sure how to get through to him, but I knew that Bryce hated having attention drawn to him in public.

So I took a seat on the floor of the store.

"What are you doing?" Bryce asked me, raising his eyebrows as he looked down at me.

"I'm sitting here."

"I can see that. Why exactly?"

I shrugged. "Just thought I'd take a seat, got a little tired."

He tightened his jaw, clearly understanding my underlying message through my snappy tone and odd behavior.

He looked around at the other people in the store. "You're going to cause a commotion."

"Why do I care?"

Bryce tightened his jaw, letting out a sigh. "Babe, come on."

"Bryce, seriously."

He rolled his eyes. "Alright, get up and we'll talk about it."

"You promise?"

"Yes."

I stood up, brushing off my jeans.

"Do you remember when we started dating, Freshman year?" Bryce asked, leaning against the counter in the candle section.

"Of course," I agreed.

"I was pitcher for the baseball team," he reminded me, shoving his hands in his pockets. "And that's what you agreed to."

I had an inkling as to where this was going.

"You didn't agree to my drug addiction," he said, his jaw tight and eyes hard. "And you didn't agree to brain cancer."

I hate those words.

"And it isn't fair for me to be your dead weight."

I shook my head, unsure of how to get it through his thick skull.

So I turned and located another woman in the car freshener section.

"Excuse me ma'am?" I asked.

The lady looked over at me, a bit startled.

"Do you see this boy here?" I asked, gesturing towards Bryce.

"What are you doing?" Bryce asked me, with a sigh.

She didn't answer, clearly confused.

"I love this boy," I informed her.

Her eyes flickered between Bryce and me.

"Now I know what you're going to say, Sophie this boy struggles with a drug addiction."

Her eyes widened in surprise.

"But let me remind you that I'm the one that introduced him to those sleeping pills in the first place."

"Babe-" Bryce said, softly.

"And I know what you're going to say next," I said, still staring at the woman. "Sophie, this boy has cancer."

Her eyes flickered over to Bryce now, surprise clearly written across her face.

"But let me tell you something," I said, now turning to face Bryce. "I love every single part of this boy, including his brain alien. And one day, when it's been eradicated, I'll celebrate with him. But for now, I'll love that extra part of him, because it is a part of him. And I love every single part of you Bryce Harrison."

He stared at me, at a loss for words.

"Thank you," I said to the woman, and she nodded in agreement.

I turned back to Bryce, wrapping my arms around his neck and rising up on my toes.

"Ms. Allen," he whispered, shaking his head. "I am in love with you."

"Well I would sure hope so."

He bent down, pressing his lips against mine and letting them linger there for a few moments.

"Alright lover boy," I said, unwrapping my arms from him. "Help me find a Hawaiian Hibiscus candle so we can make your house smell like a tropical island."

So what did you guys think about Kylie & Sophie taking a break from the stressful world around them? I wish I could do that right now. What about Clayton's warning towards Sophie? Should she have heeded it? And then Bryce & Sophie's little outing at the mall? Do you think what Bryce said had any truth behind it? What about what Sophie had to say?

I had a Microbiology exam this morning that was make it or break it for my grade.

Teaser: A major league baseball game is taking place near Bryce & Sophie, and Sophie wants to surprise Bryce with tickets. But Bryce is mighty disappointed when his doctor has some disheartening news for him.