(alaina's outfit for the first part of the chapter is shown above)

Alaina was walking down the steps in front of the hospital, walking besides her friends Lahela and Stephanie. Lahela had a break from her hospital shift so the three girls planned to hang out. Alaina will forever be impressed by the fact that Lahela is a sixteen year old prodigy. Lahela was updating Stephanie and Alaina on what happened with her boyfriend, Walter. Alaina knew that she had been having a rough patch with him and she hoped things would get better with them.

"And then I found out that Walter's surf friend Blake is an actual human woman that looks like t his." Lahela showed a picture to her friends of Blake.

Alaina and Stephanie stares at the picture with wide eyes. "Yep, you and Walter are done. Relationship over." Stephanie remarked.

"I wouldn't say that." Alaina said, sending Lahela a reassuring smile. "I'm sure they're just friends, right?"

"Yeah." Lahela nodded, but she looked nervous.

"Bye!" Stephanie quickly said and jogged ahead of the girls.

Lahela groans and catches up to her along with Alaina. "Steph, okay, no, this isn't one of those stupid '80s movies my mom's always trying to get me to watch, okay? Girl don't necessarily have to be in competition with each other."

"Unless that girl looks like Blake." Stephanie retorted and Lahela grimaced.

"I think you can still be friends with Blake." Alaina quickly chimes in, trying to cheer Lahela up. "I agree with you, girls don't have to be in competition with each other. If there isn't anything going on between Blake and Walter, then maybe you should try and befriend Blake. She's nice, right?"

"Yeah, super nice." Lahela admitted.

Suddenly a motorcycle engine revs nearby and the three girls were quick to step back when a motorcycle sped in front of them. Tires screech as the boy on the motorcycle came to a stop. Alaina chuckled and rolled her eyes when she realized who the boy was.

"Hey!" Stephanie shouts in a New Yorker voice. "I'm walkin' here!"

Alaina shares a confused look with Lahela before they both look at Stephanie. Stephanie smiles proudly. "My grandma Shirley's from Manhattan."

The girls glance back at Nico, Alaina's best friend, as he took his helmet off and ran a hand through his hair. Lahela scoffs and rolls her eyes. "Jerk."

When he noticed Alaina with the other two girls, he locked eyes with her and smiled, sending her a playful wink which made her giggle a bit and smiled back at him. Nico then put his helmet back on, the tires on his motorcycle screeching as he turned around and sped off.

"Okay, what was that?" Stephanie curiously asked.

Alaina glances at her with confusion. "What was what?"

"That eye contact and the wink?" Stephanie points out. "You guys acted like you know each other."

"Wait, don't tell me that's your best friend." Lahela groaned in annoyance.

Alaina sheepishly smiles. "Alright, then I won't say anything."

"Ooh, so he's your best friend, huh?" Stephanie grins. "Well, can I be the first to say that your best friend is hot?"

"Steph!" Alaina scolded.

"What? He is!" Stephanie said defensively. Alaina rolls her eyes and shakes her head at the blonde. "And anyway, Lahela, at least if you and Walter break up because of Blake, we can be single together."

Alaina sits between her friends on a bench. "Kai and I kissed months ago and we still haven't talked about it." Stephanie rolled her eyes.

Alaina glances a her with surprise. "Really?"

"Not even at the Shave Ice Truck?" Lahela furrowed her eyebrows.

Stephanie pouts. "No. I only got that job to push things along, but it's gotten me nowhere. I just need a moment alone with him. It's just tough because his dad is always around."

"You mean my dad?" Lahela raises her eyebrows and Alaina snickers. "Sorry, it's just weird talking about my brother like that." Lahela said with a grimace.

Stephanie nods in understanding. "I feel you. But I can't be in limbo with my...." She pauses after seeing the look Lahela sent her. "Nameless coworker forever." She continued, earning a small giggle from Alaina.

Lahela chuckles. "We both still know who you're talking about."

"I'm sure Kai will eventually will come to his senses and realize what a great girl you are." Alaina reassured her.

"I hope so." Stephanie sighs. She glances at Lahela. "But back to Walter and his wildly hot not-a-man fiend, Blake."

Lahela sighs, her shoulders dropping in defeat. "Things have just been rocky since he got back from Australia."

"Well, I'm sure everything will go back to normal now that he's back at home, living with his aunties." Stephanie reassures her. "Sharing a bathroom with sixteen middle-aged women keeps you humble."

"Speaking of the devil." Alaina teased, gesturing with a nod of her head to Walter, who was skating over to them.

After he did a skate trick, he takes his helmet off and walks over with a smile. "Hey. Sorry I'm late. But guess what? Now that I'm sponsored by Nuked, they're moving me and my surf buddies into their official house. It's like this insane three-story mansion on the North Shore." He grins. "Bye bye, aunties."

Stephanie stares at him with excitement and Alaina grins. "Walter, that's amazing!"

"More changes." Lahela comments, forcing a smile. "Yay!"

****

(alaina's outfit for this part of the chapter & for the shoes she has white converse)

After hearing that Nico's cancer was back, Alaina was devastated. She thought things were getting better, but she hated to find out the cancer was back. She hated that he had to deal with this. He didn't deserve this. She decided she was going to go visit him, not wanting him to be alone. Nico was sitting on his bed, looking down at his guitar, strumming quietly. She paused at the doorway to his room, smiling a little. She didn't really mean to listen in, but she was curious and usually her curiosity got the best of her. Plus he didn't realize she was there yet so she wanted to listen a little.

"You're the light, you're the night. You're the color of my blood. You're the cure, you're the pain. You're the only thing I wanna touch. Never knew that it could mean so much, so much. You're the fear, I don't care. 'Cause I've never been so high. Follow me through the dark. Let me take you past our satellites. You can see the world you brought to life, to life"

His singing was so beautiful. She could listen to him sing forever. And she had to admit she was a bit flattered by the lyrics he chose. The way he sang those words, they sounded so meaningful. Alaina couldn't help but smile and blushed slightly. She wondered if he was thinking about her when he was writing that song. Unknowingly to her, he was thinking about her as he sang 'Love Me Like You Do' by Ellie Goulding. She smiled because that was her favorite song and he knew that.

"So love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do. Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do. Touch me like you do, ta-ta-touch me like you do. What are you waiting for?"

He was about to start the next verse when he noticed Alaina standing there. "How long have you been standing there?" He asked her, a blush rising on his cheeks out of embarrassment. How long had she heard him sing? He couldn't help but let his gaze linger on her. She was always so beautiful. She reminded him of a ray of sunshine. Her blonde hair was braided, falling gently over her shoulder, and her eyes sparkled with warmth and kindness. She wore a white crop top, high waisted denim jeans, a short floral printed cardigan and white converse. She looked effortlessly stunning.

Alaina smiles gently at him, feeling a rush of emotions seeing him there. "Not too long," She replies softly, stepping into the room. "I just got here."

Nico set his guitar aside and patted the space beside him on the bed, inviting her to sit. "Come sit with me, sunshine." He said softly, his gaze warm while she approached. Alaina nodded, trying to ignore the way her heart flutters as he casually called her 'sunshine'. Her heart always fluttered when he called her it. She loved that nickname he had for her. She placed her bag on the chair near the bed before she took a seat beside him, feeling a sense of comfort wash over her just being near him.

"How are you feeling?" She asked, concern evident in her voice as she reached out to gently place a hand on his arm.

Nico sighs, leaning back against the headboard. "Honestly, not great," He admits, his voice barely above a whisper. "But having you here makes it a little better."

Alaina felt her heart ache at his words, wishing there was more she could do to ease his pain. "I wish I could take it all away." She murmured, squeezing his arm gently.

Nico turns to look at her, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Just being here with me is enough," He said softly, reaching out to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. "You always know how to make me feel better."

A blush crept up Alaina's cheeks at his words, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "I'll always be here for you, Nico." She promised, butterflies swarming in her stomach when he grabbed her hand off his arm to intertwine their hands together and squeezed her hand.

"Same goes to you, Alaina." Nico responded.

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, simply enjoying each other's presence. Despite the circumstances, being with Nico felt like home to Alaina, like she belonged right there beside him.

"So, have you been able to keep busy? I know it's probably annoying being cooped up in here all the time." Alaina murmured.

"Yeah, it is." Nico agrees. "I feel like there's not much left to watch, I read all the books you brought me before and I tried drawing and painting, but my skill is not nearly as good as yours." He mumbled with a heavy sigh. He looked down at their intertwined hands, mindlessly twirling one of her rings around. He found it cute how she always wore different rings. They were always different. Some were simple bands, while others were adorned with intricate designs or colorful gemstones. He had noticed that she always wore them on different fingers, never sticking to just one. It was one of the many things he found endearing about her.

"I'm sure your drawings and paintings are amazing," Alaina reassures him, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "But if you're feeling up to it, I brought my sketchbook and some color pencils. I was thinking we could do another one of our drawing sessions."

The two of them often spent time drawing together, finding solace and comfort in the simple act of creating art. It was one of their favorite ways to pass the time together, allowing them to escape the harsh realities of life, if only for a little while.

Nico's eyes lit up at the suggestion, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I'd love that," He said softly, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "Thank you, Alaina."

Alaina returned his smile, feeling a warmth spread through her chest at the sight of his happiness. Despite everything they were going through, being able to bring a smile to Nico's face filled her with a sense of purpose and joy.

Nico was so relieved she came to visit him. Every time she did, she always made things better for him. She made him forget about him having cancer and made him act like he was just a normal teen. She was the best thing that has ever happened to him and he was grateful that he had her. She was the light at the end of the tunnel. She was the rainbow after a storm. She was his ray of sunshine. She was his inspiration. She was his everything. She was the one who was helping him through his dark times. He wouldn't know what he would do without her.

Same goes for her. She couldn't imagine life without him. He was her best friend. He was the one who was there for her, who cheered her up, and helped her. Without him, she'd be a mess. He's the reason why she's who she is today. If it wasn't for him, she'd probably still be a shy girl who'd hide in the shadows and not talk to anyone. They were a perfect match for each other. A yin to his yang. The sun to his moon. Alaina had always been drawn to him since they first met and Nico was always the one she was thinking about. She could get lost in his eyes. Whenever she'd look into his eyes, she felt safe. Like she was at home. He was her home.

As they began to sketch together, the room filled with a peaceful ambiance. The scratching of pencils against paper mixed with their quiet conversation created a serene atmosphere, temporarily whisking away the worries and fears that plagued them. They were both grateful for moments like this, where they could forget about the world and just enjoy each other's company.

"Okay, what do you think?" Alaina asked after she finished with her sketch. She turned her sketchbook around, showing it to him with a nervous smile. She had drawn a simple sketch of Nico, capturing his handsome features with ease. His dark eyes sparkled with life, and his lips were curled into a soft smile. She had also included a few details, such as his tousled hair and the guitar resting beside him.

Nico's breath caught in his throat as he gazed at the sketch, his heart swelling with emotion. "Alaina, this is incredible," He murmurs, his voice filled with awe and admiration. "You captured me perfectly."

A soft blush spread across Alaina's cheeks at his praise, feeling a rush of happiness at his reaction. "I'm glad you like it," She said shyly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I've been working on it for a while."

"You're so talented, sunshine." Nico praises, his eyes shining with sincerity. "Seriously, this is amazing."

Alaina smiles brightly at him, her eyes sparkling with joy. "Thank you, Nico," She replies, feeling a flutter in her stomach at the nickname. "That means a lot coming from you."

Nico smiles back at her, feeling his heart skip a beat at the sight of her radiant smile. "Okay, I'm done with mine, but I don't think mine will be as good as yours." He mumbled softly, shyly showing his sketch of her. He was so nervous about showing her. He felt like it was nowhere near as good as hers. Her eyes widen in surprise and a bright smile crosses her face. He didn't give himself the credit he deserved. She was impressed. He drew her beautifully. He managed to capture her unique features and her gentle personality. Her eyes sparkled with warmth and kindness, and her hair fell in loose curls, framing her face perfectly.

She looks up at him with a warm smile, feeling a rush of affection for him. "Nico, this is amazing!" She exclaims, her voice filled with awe and excitement. "Are you kidding me? Who's the artist here?" She teases him playfully, gently nudging his shoulder with hers. "Seriously, you did a great job."

Nico blushes, feeling a warmth spreading through his chest at her praise. "You're too kind, sunshine." He says softly, a shy smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I'm glad you like it."

They stare into each other's eyes for a moment, both of them feeling a sense of comfort and familiarity. They were both drawn to each other, unable to look away. The world seemed to fade away as they gazed at each other, losing themselves in the depths of each other's eyes. In that moment, nothing else mattered. Only the two of them. It was like time stood still. Neither of them wanted to pull away, wanting to stay in this moment forever. Their faces slowly begin to move closer to each other, both of them feeling a magnetic pull between them. They were so close now, their noses were almost touching. They could feel each other's breath on their skin, their hearts racing in anticipation. Just as their lips were about to touch, the sound of the door opening caused them to jolt apart, reality crashing back down around them.

"Hey, sorry to interrupt." A nurse apologizes, her gaze flicking between the two teens. "I just came in to check on Nico's vitals." She quickly takes Nico's temperature and blood pressure, giving him a reassuring smile. "Everything looks good. If you need anything, just let me know."

Nico nods, giving her a grateful smile. "Thank you, nurse."

Once the nurse leaves, Alaina lets out a nervous laugh, running a hand through her hair. "Well, that was close," She murmurs, feeling a blush creeping up her cheeks.

Nico chuckles softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Yeah, definitely," He agrees, his heart still racing from the close encounter. "But I'm not complaining."

Alaina smiles shyly at him, feeling a warmth spreading through her chest. "Me neither," She admits, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of pink. "I, uh, I should probably get going soon."

Nico's smile fades slightly at her words, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes. "Yeah, I understand," He murmurs, trying to hide the disappointment in his voice. "Thanks for coming to visit me, Alaina. It means a lot to me."

Alaina's heart squeezes at his words, feeling a rush of affection for him. "Of course, Nico," She replies softly, reaching out to give his hand a gentle squeeze. "I'll come visit you again soon, okay?"

Nico nods, giving her a grateful smile. "I'd like that," He says softly, his eyes shining with sincerity. "Take care, sunshine."

Alaina smiles back at him, feeling a sense of warmth and happiness wash over her. "You too, Nico," She murmurs, reluctantly letting go of his hand. "I'll see you soon."

With one last smile, Alaina gathered her things and heads for the door, her heart feeling lighter than it had in days. Despite the challenges they were facing, being with Nico always seemed to make everything a little bit better. And as she walked out of the room and down the hallway, she couldn't help but feel grateful for the bond they shared. No matter what happened, she knew that they would always be there for each other, supporting and comforting one another through the darkest of times. And for that, she would always be thankful.

A/N alaina & nico are too cute omg i love them