Chapter 7

She was lying on her bed, scrolling through Instagram when she decided to go outside. She puts on a shirt and black yoga pants with white converses.

The first person she saw when she stepped out of her house was Liam. He was walking away from her.

She quickly jogs up to him, "Hi Liam." He looks at her then looks forward.

"Why are you following me?" He says when he notices that she was still waling beside him. "I'm not following you I just happen to be going in the same direction as you are." She sheepishly says.

She could see him clench his jaw from the side of her eye.

They arrived at a diner.

Sally's diner.

She followed him inside. The diner had a kind of homey feeling. She liked it.

They sat in a booth, "Still following me?" He glares and she looks away. "Hi I'm Cindy and I'll be your waiter for today." Her eyes stay on Liam. "What can I get you?" She bites her lips, looking seductively at Liam.

"A chocolate milkshake." Liam hardly paid attention to her. "I'd like a blueberry shake." She glanced at Reneè narrowing her eyes at her then turning her attention back to Liam.

"Are you sure that's all you want? I get off around four." Liam looks up at her and glares. "The milkshakes." Cindy rolls her eyes and walks away.

Renee was enjoying her drink when a large shriek startles her. "Liam!"

A little girl runs towards them wrapping her arms around Liam's neck.

Reneè's eyes widen as she sees the biggest smile grace Liam's lips.

So he actually can smile.

The little girl pulls away and her large blue eyes landing on Reneè, "Oh my God, hi." She beams at her, "hi."

"I'm Sally, what's your name?"

"Reneè."

She looks back at Liam, "I like her." She whispers to him but it was loud enough for Reneè to hear making her chuckle.

"Are you two dating?"

Liam chokes on his drink, while Reneè looks at her with wide eyes. "Um... No. Why would you think that?" Sally shrugs, "You two seem like you will be cute together."

"Wait how old are you?"

"I'm eight." She proudly says.

"Okay I think that's enough." Sally notices a small bag beside Liam and she gasps, "is that it?"

Renee looks at the bag and then at Liam who has a smirk on his face. "Say please and we'll see."

"Pretty please with a cherry on top." She places her hand together in a pleading manner. Liam hands her the bag. She quickly opens it, a smile lighting up her face as the takes out a large doll out of the bag.

She hugs Liam again.

"She's so pretty. And I love her hair it looks just like yours." Sally says touching Reneè's hair.

"Your hair is really pretty too." Reneè stares at her light pink hair wondering whether she dyed it.

Sally's face falls immediately. "It's not my real hair." In a swift motion she pulls at her hair, her bald head coming to view. "I have cancer."

Liam clenches his hands and looks away while Reneè's jaw drops as she notices the tears gathering at the corners of Sally's eyes.

"Sally I'm so sorry." Reneè reaches for her. A lone tear slips out of her eye but she wipes it away, "its fine, I'm used to it anyway." She smiles but Reneè could see the sadness in her eyes.

"Thanks Liam." She hugs him and then rushes to Reneè hugging her. "He's a good person." Sally whispers to her. Reneè blinks before smiling and nodding.

"I'll come visit soon." Liam assures Sally. He gets on one knee as Sally places a kiss on his cheek. He grabs her side tickling her, her laughs echoes through the diner. "Tell your mom I said hi. Bye."

She waves at us as we walk away. "How did you meet Sally?" He was quiet, she sighs already knowing he won't answer "I came to get something to eat when she just walked up to me." The side of his lips lift up "It just happened, the next thing we were talking as if we've been friends for so long. Some people may say she just a little girl but Sally is nothing close to little." She could see the love the love he had for her in his eyes.

She was happy.

Immediately the smile on Liam's lips fades. This time there was anger in his eyes and she knew the reason why. "Why does she have to have cancer? She's just eight, she hasn't even got to life her life but its going to be taken away from her just like that. It's not fair!" Some passersby looked at them upon hearing the shout but neither of them cared. He slowly looks up at her, she could tell he was trying everything in his power not to break down and cry.

"Liam I'm-"

"Don't. Sorry isn't going to make her better." That was the last thing he said before walking away.

She wanted to follow him but something told her he needed time alone.

She knocks on the door waiting for a reply. Carlos opens the door, she smiles as she sees him. "Reneè? I mean hey, what are you doing here?" There was surprise on his face.

"Are you not happy to see me or would you have preferred if I didn't come?" She raises an eyebrow. "No, I'm glad you're here, I'm just surprised. Sorry come in."

He steps away from the door, letting her in as he closes the door. Reneè finally notices that he was only wearing shorts, his lean muscular body on show. He notices her staring, "I just woke up, let me go put on a shirt." he pauses "Or do you prefer me without one?" He gives her a teasing smirk. She rolls her eyes, "Go change." He rushes upstairs.

"Reneè." Chloe, Carlos' sister runs to her, hugging her. "Hey Chlo."

"Where have you been? You hardly visit anymore." The little girl pouts. "I'm sorry, I've been really busy but I'm here now."

"I'm happy you are." Carlos comes down wearing an Adidas sleeveless T-shirt.

"I was thinking about baking cookies, wanna help?" Reneè nods.

"Yay!" Chloe exclaims.

Carlos was so focused on needing the dough that he didn't see the flour on Reneè's hand. He looks up at her as she slowly walks up to him. He gulps, their nose almost touching.

In quick movements she places her flour covered hands on His cheeks, dragging her hands down to his chest. Chloe busts out in laughter as Reneè runs away from Carlos.

"You are gonna regret doing that because its on." Carlos says, chasing both girls as their laughter echoes through the room.

By the time the cookies were done baking all three of them were covered in flour, Carlos even had an egg cracked over his head.

"C'mon, let's get you cleaned up before mom and dad strangles me." He says to his sister, ushering her up stairs. "You can use the shower in the guest room." He says to Reneè before going after his sister.

They were all changed and happily enjoying their cupcakes, Reneè had changed into some of her clothes which she kept forgetting in Carlos' closet.

Time travelled fast. Renee hadn't even noticed the sky was dark until Carlos' mom stepped into the house. "Reneè its good to see you." Selena says pulling Reneè into a hug. "Mommy." Chloe leaps into her mothers arms. "Hey mom." Carlos takes away her bags.

"Reneè would you like to stay for dinner?"

"I would love too but I have to get going."

"Let me walk you out." After saying good bye to Chloe and her mom Carlos escorts her outside. "Today was nice" she smiles, nodding.

They chatted about random things while walking until they reached the end of Carlos' block. "I'll see you in school on Monday?"

"Why not?" She stands on her toes, kissing him on his cheek. She was about to step away from him when he grabs her hand, stoping her. She stares up at him while he looks down at her with an unknown emotion in his eyes. Slowly he leans down until his lips touched her forehead.

"Good night." He smiles still standing close to her until he moved away. She hails a car, entering it she waves at Carlos before the car drives away.

Her mother was already home by the time she arrived. They ate dinner, watched TV together before her mom was convinced that it was time to go to bed.

She gets out of the shower about to get into bed when she sees Liam's window open. She walks over to her window, when he was about to get into bed when she calls his name. He looks at her. "Goodnight Liam." She smiles making his eyes soften. He nods, "good night." He mumbles but she heard it.

She falls on her bed, smiling.

He replied.