I could hear the distinct clanging of Avery's keys as she loudly entered the room last night. I remained unmoving though, feigning sleep. My thoughts were to jumbled as my mind ran a mile a minute trying to grasp onto the situation, I couldn't find it in me to have a proper conversation with her.

Eventually she crawled between her sheets after changing, the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest confirming she had already fallen asleep. I however was still wide awake even until the very early hours of the morning, thinking about where Holden could possibly take me, so many different scenarios running through head.

Groaning lightly at the headache that was coming along due how much I was thinking, I dug my head deeper into the pillow, frustration leaking from my every pore. I know it was probably a bad idea to go with him when I knew next to nothing about him, but so was letting him kiss last night.

My mother would be so disappointed at me, I thought.

You would think after being through everything I had I would know better, but I just seemed to lose all my rational thoughts when it came to him, I couldn't help it. My body yearned to be close to his while his eyes held me captive every time, they had me believing I could trust him. I shouldn't but I do.

The sound of a faucet turning ripped me out of my thoughts, as I grew conscious of my current location. I shuddered as I noticed how the once warm water had turned cold, hitting the expanse of my heated exposed skin. Sighing once again I turned off the water, patting myself dry before slipping on a change of clothes, I choose some dark jeans and a longs leaved grey top, not sure where Holden planned on taking me. Avery was still sleeping when I reentered the room, her soft snores floating within the closed space.

Seeing as I had over two hours before Holden arrived, I took the opportunity to walk to the cafe and get my usual soy late and Avery's iced tea. I pushed the door open the bell at the top chiming announcing my arrival. A few students filled the cafe when I walked in, most seemed half asleep as they lazily sat on their tables slowly seeping their drinks.

I walked over to the counter where the barrister stood lazily tapping away on his phone, a disinterested frown on his lips. At the sound of my shoes lightly tapping against the floor he looked up before a lazy grin stretched on his thin lips.

"Soy latte?" He asked even before I could recite my order. Asher had served me enough times since I joined USB to know my order off head. I simply let a small smile spread on my lips, nodding my head in confirmation.

"And an iced tea please" I quickly added Avery's order watching as his smile flattered slightly.

Disregarding the weird response, I picked up my orders, making my way back. Avery was already awake when I got back, her hair sticking up in all directions while her droopy eyes remained filled with sleep. I handed her the iced tea making her immediately perk up, her dull eyes eyeing me in appreciation.

"I never did get to ask how your first football game experience was like. Did you like it?" Avery said this while sitting up on her bed giving me her undivided attention. My cheeks immediately flooded with warmth at thought of last night

"Yeah I guess football isn't really that bad" it was true, the little parts that I had seen when my eyes weren't glued on Holden had been fascinating to watch and exhilarating.

"Yeah, what part? The one where a sexy Holden runs across the field in those tight pants or the actual game?" My eyes went wide as I chocked on my coffee, forcing it down my throat. She eyed me mischievously, unapologetically chuckling behind her hand.

"The game!" A total lie.

"Fine continue lying to yourself, but I still want to be the godmother to your children. I practically made its parents happen" utter amusement laced her voice as she pointed my way sternly.

We continued to chat, Avery thankfully ceasing her teasing as she told me stories from her highschool until we were both done with our coffee and she had to go shower. I went back to watching the time on my phone, without a distraction I was back to being a nervous mess.

A few minutes after it struck one, two knocks resonated in the room announcing Holden's arrival. I quickly rubbed my sweaty palms on my jeans clad thighs before stuffing my phone into my pocket, breathing in deeply as I willed my heart to calm.

Holden's lean figure stood outside the door, his hands dug deep into the pockets of his dark jeans as a plain navy blue shirt clung to his defined chest like second skin. His dark curls poking out from where they had been hidden under a black baseball cap.

"Hey" I said lowly, tucking a stray strand behind my ears. How am I even supposed to greet him? We did make out a lot last night and parted in good terms. So am I supposed to hug him, that seemed like something to do if he were my boyfriend but he wasn't. I restored into waving my hand awkwardly.

Amusement flashed in the depth of his pool of grey at my failed attempt at being casual, he murmured back a low 'hey' before slightly tilting his head towards the exit. I turned to shut the door behind me drugging in a breath past my compressed lungs before I settled beside him.

I was completely taken aback when he draped a long arm over my shoulder pulling me to his side as we walked out of the building, undoubtedly earning some curious stares. He walked us to a dark truck steering us around the car before opening the passenger door for me. Heat spread over my skin when his palms curled on my waist hoisting me to the seat as I reddened conspicuously.

The whole rid was quiet as Holden's fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel, feeling the peaceful silence. As we got further along the road the number of cars reduced until it was just us driving up to an open parking lot. He parked in front of a large hospital, sparking my curiosity further.

"I want you to meet someone" his murmured as he nervously cleared his throat, staring intently at the hospital's entrance.

"Okay" I had no idea what would be waiting for me inside those doors but greatly curious.

I shut the truck door behind me, meeting Holden at the front of the car. He grabbed onto my hand lacing his fingers in mine as he walked towards the large glass doors, his face void of any emotion. Holden expertly glided along the polished floors, like he had done it so many times before.

"Holden!!" A high pitched voice shouted as a flush of blue and white breezed towards him, clashing onto his leg. The copious amount of people seated around the playground like area, jerked their head towards the commotion, amusement lifting in them at the scene.

I watched as a young boy, not older than six beamed brightly at Holden, the fluorescent light bouncing off his shaven head. An uneven scar running from the upper side of his head to just below his ear had my heart clenching as I continued to study him. His hazel shone bright with excitement, a contrast to his dropping eyelids that had puffed up in exhaustion, fragile bones where concealed by skin that was a ghostly shade of pale.

"Hey kid, are you still kicking cancers butt?" Holden chuckled, scooping slightly to his level. The question seemed light and friendly but I could hear the graveness behind them, he was serious.

"Oh yes! The nice doctor gave me this!" He said while thrusting his frigid hand at Holden, flashing him a small bright red star. His words seemed slurred, like he was strangling to construct a sentence, but excited nonetheless. Finally noticing my presence behind Holden his eyes snapped to mine, quizzically running over my frame.

"Are you Holden's girlfriend?!" He gasped as his expressive eyes grew wider. The question was unexpected and I was completely unprepared for it, I ducked my head creating a curtain of hair around myself, desperately trying to conceal my mortification.

"Her name is Savannah and she's also an artist" Holden supplied, chuckling lowly at my embarrassment.

"Really, me too!" The young boy replied pouncing on the tip of his toes in excitement as he eyed me in fascination.

"Hey Tommy where is your dad?" Tommy immediately pointed to a muscular guy seated on a bench watching us with a smile.

"But you have to see my friend first" he diverted his finger towards a young girl seated at one corner of the play area, bussing herself by combing her doll's hair. Tommy pulled Holden's hand urging him to comply as he drugged him towards the pretty girl, I however remained at my spot watching the interaction.

"See I told you he was Tarzan!" Tommy exclaimed once he got the attention of his friend, gesturing proudly at Holden's incredibly tall figure beside him. The girl's large doe eyes stared up at Holden in complete awe, her doll long forgotten as her chubby cheeks flared shyly.

God, even children are affected by him!

"He has a large heart" a voice said behind me succeeding in making my heart jump. I turned around to face the dark haired man that Tommy had pointed out as his father earlier, he was looking ahead of me where Holden was gently pushing both kids on the swings.

"He dose so much for Tommy even though he knew nothing about him a year ago and I can't be grateful enough for him. Holden is a good man, he deserves to be happy" he said this redirecting his eyes towards me a meaningful look washing over his features.

I quickly caught on to what he was insinuating, immediately shaking my head as I turned to fave him readying myself to clarify his assumptions. I never got to do it though.

"Don't bother denying it, his never brought anyone around so you must be very special to him. I'm Knox's by the way"

"I'm Savannah" I mumbled shaking his outstretched hand.

Tommy had to cut his game short, reluctantly waving at his friend as his father lead him to his hospital room, Holden and I trailing behind them. A friendly plump nurse was already seated in the small room once we arrived, giving him a quick cheek up before breezing through the door.

Holden and Knox's later sat at a conner in the room discussing something heatedly as Tommy and I explored our art. I drew him an animation character I used to love when I was younger as he watched in fascination, talking excitedly about all the new friends he had made at the hospital.

It was gut wrenching and cruel how the world could be so heartless as to place such a burden as cancer on the shoulders of such lively young boy. the situation was completely unfair; Tommy didn't desert it and even though I had only just met him I knew he deserved more than to waste away in a hospital bed surrounded by tubes and loud machines.