Seven.

“I’m so glad you are back.” I said to Sidney while we were leaving a coffee shop.

“Yeah, me too. I wish you didn’t have finals to study for.” He said.

“Yeah, I wish that too. I would rather do anything than go back to the library tonight.” I said.

“So you haven’t told me how its been with Liam.” He said getting into his car.

“Cause its weird to talk to you about it.” I said blushing a little.

“Why?”

“Because.. it is.”

“Have you kissed again?” He asked.

“We have kissed, but its like a quick kiss. Its like a habit, and I don’t know when it became that. We don’t really do anything together.” I said.

“You don’t do anything?!” He said getting this disgusted look on his face.

“I meant, we don’t like hang out alone together or anything.Seriously, I’m not a slut, Sidney.” I said.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, its fine. I get it.. I should either be with you and or with him, but its hard.”

“It can’t be that hard, Grace.” He said getting kind of serious.

“But it is. If it was you and anyone else.. I would be like Sidney of course. But, if choosing you means losing Liam, I don’t know.”

“So I might not be worth it?”He said.

“Sidney.. I have loved Liam longer than I have even known there was a Sidney Crosby. I have loved Liam longer than you have been playing in the NHL. No one may be worth losing him.” I simply said.

“I want you. I’m not going to lie. I want you all to myself. I get that Liam is always going to be around, and that’s fine. But, I don’t always want to worry that when I leave your apartment, Liam is going to be there to swoop in.”

“It wouldn’t be like that.” I said.

“I get that you are confused. Take time, figure it out. But, I’m not going anywhere until you tell me that you choose him over me.” He said.

April 24, 2008

Sidney’s POV

I just got a text from Grace telling me she was all done with finals!

I’m finally done! Thank God!!

We will have to celebrate.. Do you want me to pick you up after you volunteer?

No, I have a doctor’s appointment. I’ll talk to you later.

“That’s weird” I said aloud. Jordan must have heard me because he spoke up.

“What?” Jordan asked.

“Grace says she has a doctors appointment but I could have sworn she just went to one” I said.

“People do have more than one doctor, Sid.” Max said.

“I think Liam has an appointment today too.” Jordan said.

“Kind of weird that you know that, man.” Max said laughing.

“I wouldn’t worry about it, Sid. What could possibly be wrong?” Jordan asked.

“Yeah you are right.” I said.

Grace’s POV

Liam and I go have a checkup with our oncologist every 6 months. Its just standard procedure. But, everytime I get this feeling in the pit of my stomach. I know that regardless of what happens, everything is going to be fine. I’m not worried about me, because I can go through it again. I still have fight left in me. But, Liam.. Liam is more at risk to have a relapse. He also doesn’t have that fight left, because it took so much out last time. Liam is more bitter than me. I survived and I am better for it. I know that I couldn’t do anything to prevent this from happening to me. I know that God wanted this to happen, and he knew what was going on. I knew that I had more to get out of life, so I never thought I would die. That’s not to say I wasn’t scared when I found out, or mortified when I lost my hair. But, I knew I would be okay, because I knew I was a fighter and I knew my life wasn’t finished yet. Liam.. Liam is resentful that he got cancer. Liam thinks its unfair, and yeah it is unfair. Its unfair that one in every 5 people are going to get cancer, that’s unfair. But you have to play the cards that you are dealt.

So when Liam and I were walking hand in hand to go see our doctor, I could feel his nerves.

“Liam, we are going to be fine.” I said looking at him.

“They aren’t going to find anything. Its just a normal day.” I said. He looked at me, gave me a kiss, and said “Thanks.” It was just a normal act. People on the street probably passed us and thought we were a normal couple. That kissing on the street happened all the time.

When we got home from the doctors, I saw that I have a missed call from Sidney.

“Hey, Sid.” I said laying on the couch. Liam was eating food in the kitchen.

“How’d the appointment go?” He asked.

“It was fine. Nothing to report.” I said.

“Did Liam go with you?” He asked.

“Yeah, he had an appointment too.” I simply said.

“Oh..” He said.

“Hey, Sid.. can I call you back in like ten minutes?” I asked.

“Yeah, sure.” He said.

“Tell me, Grace.. if they would have found something today would you have told Sidney that things weren’t fine.. or would you have lied about that as well?” Liam asked.

“Drop it, Liam.” I said.

“I just don’t get why you haven’t told him yet.” He said.

“because I haven’t. When I have I will let you know, because its obviously your business.” I said.

“Its not, and I’m not saying it is. Its just crazy to me that you haven’t told him.”

“Yeah, well next time you want to think about me and Sidney.. think about Morgan instead. Because Morgan pops into my mind every time I walk into your room. So thanks for that.” I simply said then left the room.

“Hey..” I said calling Sidney lying on my bed on the verge of tears. Apparently, Sidney knows me better than I give him credit for because he picked up that something was wrong.

“Whats wrong?” He asked before he even said hello.

“I just.. Liam makes me feel guilty, but why should I? Atleast him and I are broken up when I decided to be with someone else!” I said.

“Why did you break up?”

“I walked into his room and he was with Morgan.” I said.

“What? Explain with a little more details? I thought it happened before you came to Pittsburgh.”

“Technically it did. I came to Pittsburgh to the apartment in mid July before school started. I was just getting things ready and stuff. You know, transitioning it into our family apartment to a college apartment. Rose came with me and we were staying for like a week in the city, it was going to be so much fun. Just me, Rose.. and Liam. Rose and I were out one day and I came back to the apartment and I walked in to Liam’s room to show him the new clothes I bought.. and there he was.. with Morgan.” I said.

“Did you know Morgan?” He asked.

“Kind of. That’s a story for a different day.” I said changing the subject a little.

“Well.. Liam is a jerk. What can I say?” He said.

“Yeah.. Can you get Rose and me tickets to the game tomorrow?” I asked.

“Yeah, you don’t want to take Liam?” He asked half serious, half kidding.

“I’m taking Rose back home in a few days so it will be better if we go together. Plus, Liam is probably going with Ben or something. I don’t know.” I said.

“So does this mean you are done with Liam?” He asked.

“I will never be done with Liam, Sidney. I’m sorry.”

“Okay..just let me know when you made up your mind.” He said.

“Sidney.. All I can say to you is that when I’m not with you, I miss you. For now, that has to be enough.”

“It is.. it has to be.” He said.

Four Days Later.

“Hey.” Sidney said. We were getting lunch before I drove back home with Rose and he left for New York.

“Hey, you.” I said smiling.

“So when will you be back?” He asked me.

“Like a day after you are back.” I said.

“Okay, good.” He said reaching for my hand on the table.

“Yeah, don’t miss me too much. I mean you will have hockey and all.” I said laughing at my own joke.

“Is Liam going with you?” He asked.

“No. Liam will be at the apartment or at home or something. Who knows.” I said.

“Don’t act like you don’t care. Because you do.” He said.

“Lets just keep talking about Liam every second we are together. I’m not thinking about him and then you bring him up!” I said.

“So I like this girl.. she is great. Actually, she is amazing. When I’m not with her, I want to be. She gives me another reason to love this city. She makes me laugh when no one else can. I drink more coffee than one should ever because of her. I do things I would never do. There is just one problem.. she can’t get over her ex-boyfriend. And it sucks, because I like her and I think we could have something good. But, I just wait. And I would wait for her for a long time, I think. But, I’m not sure if I could ever be her somebody.” He said to me before we were about to leave each other.

We kissed. “I’ll miss you.” I said.

“Me too.”

“I’ll call you.. Good Luck.” I said kissing him on the cheek.

“Hey, Liam.. we are leaving!” I called to Liam right before Rose and I were about to leave.

“Wait!” He said and ran out to the living room.

“What? Rose is waiting in the car.” I said. Then he kissed me.

“Liam, you can’t just keep kissing me!” I said.

“Why not?” He said.

“Because there is this boy named Sidney.. who actually kisses me for the right reasons.” I said.

“You don’t know the reasons I am kissing you.” He said.

“Tell me then.” I said.

“I’m kissing you because I want you back. You are amazing and I bet Sidney said that to you but he doesn’t even know the half of it. I would be dead by now without you. Okay, I love you. I need you more than Sidney could ever.”

“Just because you need me doesn’t mean I need you or that I want you. You can’t just keep assuming I pick you over Sidney.” I said. Then he kissed me again.

“You are picking me over Sidney, because I keep kissing you and you let me.” He said.

“Bye, Liam. Try not and burn down the place while I’m gone.” I said and shut the door.