"Have you been covered in bees recently? I just assumed, because you look sweeter than honey" Fletch said from across the table, his thick eyebrows wiggling suggestively.

"I'm glad I remembered to bring my library card today 'cause I'm checking you out!" Avery returned, using two of her fingers to wipe imaginary sweat off the top of her eyebrows.

"Do you believe in love at first sight? Or should I walk past you again?" Fletch whooped loudly, allowing pride to wash over his face after his less than worthy pickup line.

It had been close to three weeks since Holden and I began to date and I had long thrown caution to the wind, fully surrendering my fragile heart to him. The sex didn't hurt either. However, everything good had an untimely ending, ours probably had one too. But I'd never regret giving myself to him.

"Are you a loan 'cause you've got my interest" Archer added from beside Holden, grinning smugly.

"Dude, did you just hit on your sister?" Fletch asked, unadulterated humor oozing off his sentence.

"What! No!" Archer's eyes quickly swept across the table, horror portrayed on his face "I was...um...I was taking to Savannah!" He said hastily.

"I don't think her bodyguard would appreciate that" Fletch taunted, stretching his palm to give a snickering Avery a high five.

"Fuck off!" Holden grumbled from beside me, clenching the arm he had draped across my knee.

We were currently at the same rustic diner Holden had brought me to almost two months ago. The boys had gotten back from an away game last night and per Avery's suggestion, we were celebrating their win with burgers and milkshake. I can't tell you exactly when or who started the horrible pickup line competition, but watching Avery and Fletch faceoff had become a source of entertainment.

You'd be surprised at how many lines they had shot at each other. Some hilarious, others not so much. I could however, detect undeniable chemistry between them. Maybe it was from the fleeting looks or the lingering stares, there was definitely something between them.

The loud shrill of Holden's phone efficiently cut off whatever retort Archer was about to utter. I could see Knox's name on the brightly lit screen in the corner of my eye, Holden's body tensing up immediately. I could feel the pace of my heart quicken as I surreptitiously glanced his way.

"Is something wrong?" He tried to maintain his calm posture but his panic was vivid.

Tommy.

I was toppling over the edge of my seat as I struggled to grasp at the one sided conversation. It was mostly short, one worded answers and blank emotions. I wasn't one to grow attached to people, because I had my fair share of pain but Tommy was different. He was a breath of fresh air and his energy cleared most of my dark shadows.

Tommy had called earlier this week and it was unnerving how weak he sounded. His speech was slower and even through the phone I knew he was straggling to maintain his usually excitement.

"Knox" Holden explained, monosyllable after ending the call.

Sadness seemed to crawl through the cracks of merriment, understanding looming over the group. During the past weeks I had come to understand just how close knit the particular group of friends were. It didn't baffle me that they knew about Tommy.

"Is he okay?" Fletch was the first to break the grave silence.

"No"

Fear clawed at my heart, pins and needles pricking at my throat. I drew in a sharp breath as I swallowed to rid myself of the forlorn sadness.

"I'm going to head to the hospital" Holden said inaudibly while pushing his half eaten burger to the side. He must have been really upset, he didn't even react when he placed the discarded tomatoes back on his plate.

I was completely okay with going back to the dorms with Avery but I couldn't deny the relief I felt when Holden jerked his head for me to follow him. I walked mutely beside him to the truck, keeping all my overbearing questions at bay.

All through the ride I limply tried not to think of the worst, I had to or I'd implode. For a while Holden wasn't the poster boy of calm and collected, his teeth clamped on his lips as he bounced his legs anxiously. His hair was even more ruffled than usual from the countless amount of times his fingers had run through it, his eyes solemnly fixed on the road ahead.

He was scared.

The excruciating car ride finally came to a halt as Holden, rolled into the hospital's parking lot. Lully, I allowed Holden to led me down the familiar white halls. I didn't let the acidic smell of disinfectant deter my footing, the recoiling of my nose being the only evidence of my discomfort.

Holden knocked once before opening the soundless door. Knox sat crumpled by a sleeping Tommy, his face equally as vague as Holden's. It was no secret how curious I was about Tommy's current state, but I had no lasting connection to him. Neither Knox nor Holden owed me an explanation.

"Hey," Knox said while rising to his full height, shaking my hand. He shared a brief hug with Holden, whispering inaudibly before patting his back.

"How is he?" Holden asked whilst his eyes remained unwavering on Tommy. Dreaded hung in the vicinity as we awaited Knox's answer.

"The pain meds have him knocked out, but his better than he was this morning" Knox said while retrieving something form the small table beside the hospital bed "he made this for you"

Delicately, I received the oddly shaped paper, brushing a thumb over the surface. I nodded in thanks, my eyes still fixated on the harmless object in my palm. My line of sight shifted the the unnoticeable bump between the basic hospital sheets before I gulped.

"Could you watch him for awhile? We'll just go to the reception" Holden requested from beside me. Still tongue tide, I stiffly nodded my head. His artistic fingers lightly squeezed my arm, a strained smile creeping onto his lips.

I watched as the door shut behind their retreating figures, an unmistakable hollowness drilling into my chest. With unsteady fingers, I unfolded the crafty paper Knox had handed me. Chuckling, I traced the misspelled lining of my name.

It was a measly folded boat with countless superhero stickers in the inside and mismatched colours. It wasn't perfect, not in the least but it was the thought that counted. I smiled genuinely at the lone bed in the room, folding back the paper before carefully placing it in my back pocket.

My legs unconsciously edged closer to Tommy, the pitter-patter blending in with the beeping monitors. My heart pricked at the translucent shade his pallid skin had turned, green veins sketched on the side of his shaven head.

Sunken cheeks dug deeply into his childish face made Tommy looked haggard. The scarring under his eyes was dismaying, spreading mud against the image of the cheery boy I had first met.

"Hey, Blake?" The minimal air I had allowed into my lungs left heavily through my nose as I tilted my head to the white ceiling "If you're up there, could you tell the big guy to help Tommy out?...please"

Time tricked by as I just hovered by Tommy's figure bundled under the white blanket. During that time, I had used the pages of his drawing book to fold him a swan, returning the favour. I placed it on the side table, unfortunately I had no sticker to add onto it.

Through my peripheral vision I saw the door open, Holden walking into the ghostly room. He quietly stepped beside me, his gaze hauntingly fixed on Tommy.

"I wish things were different" he muttered gravely.

"What's wrong with him?" I whispered weekly.

"He has a tumor in his head...it got worse. He had to undergo surgery again" even through his emotionally detached voice, I could hear how much the matter affected him. Now, I wish I hadn't asked. I'd rather live in the dark with the false knowledge that Tommy wasn't under a larger threat.