The phone ringing obnoxiously next to my head coaxed me from my sleep. Sitting up with a start, I automatically reached for the landline and picked it up. “Hello?” I mumbled tiredly.

            “Rose? Did you just wake up? It’s almost noon!”

            Ugh. It was my mom. I wrinkled my nose. “No, I woke up earlier. I just fell back asleep.”

            “Why aren’t you in school?”

            “Teacher professional day.”

            “Well, as long as I have you on the phone, I want to talk to you since I had to leave on Sunday before I got the chance.”

            Sighing lightly, I flopped back down onto the couch I’d crashed on. “Dad already made the appointment. Today at one. Dr. Vasquez is going to make sure my fall didn’t have any permanent negative affects on my vision.”

            “That’s not what I’m talking about.”

            “What are you talking about then?”

            “I told your father to tell you, but I guess he didn’t. My friend Mark will be coming to your house every Thursday from now on to teach you how to read Braille.”

            My heart sunk in my chest. “What…?”

            “Honey, I know you like to play ignorant, but it’ll be harder for you later on if you don’t start adjusting now.”

            “I’ll be fine,” I snapped. It was too early to deal with a topic like this. And what right did she have to go behind my back and do things like this? This was part of the reasons my dad had asked for a divorce! She never asked before doing something!

            “No you won’t,” she responded just as snippily. “You can’t even tell the people you love about your disease.”

            My hand clenched around the phone. “I can tell them! I just don’t want to!”

            “Rose, don’t you think it’s unfair of you to keep it from them?”

            “How is it unfair?” I demanded. “Isn’t it unfair that I don’t even have a choice about whether or not I lose my vision? I’m seventeen, Mom! Not seventy!” Tears started gathering in my eyes and I blinked rapidly, suddenly furious.

            My mom hesitated before speaking. “I know it’s hard—”

            “Yeah, it is,” I interjected rudely. “That’s why I pretend it’s not happening. I rather live my life happily than worry about it.”

            “I know, Rose. Getting angry isn’t going to solve anything though.”

            Knowing she was right, I forced myself to calm down, wiping my eyes. “Yeah, you’re right. Sorry for snapping at you.”

            “It’s okay. You’re just upset. You really need to talk about this more. Should I get you a counselor? Maybe—”

            “No,” I cut her off quickly. “No counseling Mom.”

            “Well you need to talk about it.”

            It was really a feat to not be annoyed by her. “Fine. I’ll tell Kate.” Kate would be an easy person to tell. Her dog was blind, so she knew kind of what was going to happen to me. I just didn’t want to be compared to her dog, so that was one of the reasons I hadn’t told her. Though I didn’t see how talking about my problem was going to help anything. Wouldn’t bringing it up bring me more stress than just pushing it aside?

            “You know, one of these days you’re going to break down and need someone by your side, Rose. It might not be for a while, but I can promise you it’ll happen.”

            “Geez Mom, aren’t you the positive one?”

            This caused her to chuckle. “What about Chace?”

            “What about him?”

            “Are you going to tell him soon? He seems like a nice guy. You don’t want to keep this from him. It might hurt him.”

            My stomach twisted uncomfortably because her words rang true. “I’m planning on telling him…”

            “When?”

            “I don’t know,” I sighed, letting my shoulders sag. “It’s hard. He’s so happy all the time. What if I scare him away?” My voice caught and I swallowed forcibly. “I really like him.”

            “If he really likes you, nothing will change.”

            I almost snorted. “Nothing will change? Yeah, right.”

            She chuckled a little bit. “Okay, so he might hold your hand a little more often, but where’s the bad in that?”

            “That doesn’t sound bad,” I responded, smiling a little. “I love holding his hand.”

            “Tell him, Rose.”

            “Kate first. I want to see how she reacts first. Then I’ll tell him.”

            “Even if Kate’s reaction is bad?”

            I rolled my eyes. “Good to know you have confidence in Kate.”

            “That’s not it! I just—”

            “No,” I said with a laugh, “I understand. If she takes it bad, then I’ll just pray to God that Chace takes it well so someone will be by my side.”

            “Your father and I will be by your side.”

            “You guys don’t count.”

            She laughed. “I see how it is. I’m going to let you go so you can make your appointment. Did he say if it was okay for you to drive there or not?”

            “Yeah, it’s okay.”

            “Okay. Be careful. Tell your dad to call me when he gets home.”

            “Okay, bye,” I replied, waiting for her bye-bye before hanging up. After closing my eyes for another moment, I forced myself off the couch and into the bathroom to fix my hair before heading out.

            Fortunately the roads were pretty dead, so I was able to speed and make it to the office on time for my appointment. Dr. Vasquez admitted me immediately and proceeded with his usual examination of my eyes. Aside from confusing an E and F, I received the same result as I normally did— my vision was perfect. My concussion had caused no damage to my eyes at all.

            “Rose, do you remember that test I had you do before I told you about your condition?”

            Grimacing, I nodded my head. How could I forget having my eyes surrounded by sticky patches with wires connected to them?

            “Well, we’re going to have to do that really quickly. I need to start recording the strength of your eyes to see how fast they’re deteriorating. Judging by the normal tests, your vision is deteriorating at an incredibly slow rate. You may have more than just three months more before you go blind.”

            My heart swelled with hope. “Really? You think?”

            “I can’t make any promises.”

            “But I can hope?”

            He smiled and nodded. “You can hope.”

            “Awesome,” I responded with a grin. Two months didn’t sound like a lot, but who knew if those two months could be come three? Or four? Or a year?

            “Before we go into the test room, let me ask you a few questions.”

            “Shoot.”

            He took a seat on the wheely chair by his computer desk, turning to face me with his clipboard. “Have you still been getting those moments of fuzziness?”

            I nodded. “Yeah, but this week they haven’t been as consistent as last week. Just two really quick ones. I hardly noticed and I was alone.”

            “That’s good. Has your vision been blurred around the edges?”

            I shook my head. “Nope.”

            “How would you say your vision at night is?”

            “Average?”

            “Can you smile for me? Nice and wide so I can see your teeth.”

            Confused, I bared my teeth at him for a few moments until he nodded. “What’s that about?”

            “A symptom of CRD is teeth discoloration. Yours seem perfectly healthy though.”

            My face fell. “Will my teeth get worse as my eyes get worse?”

            “Not in all cases.”

            Frowning, I glared at the floor. Well that was just great. Not only was I going to go blind, but I was also going to have disgusting teeth.

            “How have the headaches been?”

            “Well, bad because of my concussion.”

            He smiled. “I’d say that’s due to the concussion then.”

            “I would agree.”

            “Alright, then we can go do some other tests now. I won’t be able to give you the results today, but I’ll call and leave a message tomorrow.”

            “That’s fine,” I told him, pushing myself up from the bench.

            An hour later, I left the eye doctor’s, my stomach rumbling loudly. My first stop would be to McDonald’s. Humming happily, I nearly skipped to my car. Regardless of the fact Dr. Vasquez had told me I was still going to go blind, the fact it could be slowing down excited me. Maybe it would hold off until I was seventy.

            Just as I pulled out of the parking lot, my cell phone rang. Since the road was still pretty dead, I decided to answer it. “Hello!” I chirped.

            “Ah… Is Rosie there?” an attractive voice responded.

            “This is Rosie…”

            “Oh,” Chace laughed. “I didn’t recognize your voice. You sound happy.”

            I smiled. “Are you saying I don’t sound happy all the time?”

            “Basically.”

            “Well, I’m happy.”

            I could almost hear the grin in his voice. “Why’s that?”

            “Because you called me,” I responded teasingly. It wasn’t the truth, but if I told him the truth, it would lead to unnecessary questions.

            “You’re cute.”

            “So what’s up?”

            “Not much. Just finished my math class and now I’m about to go meet Noah for our talk.”

            Switching on my blinker, I turned right onto the street McDonald’s was on. “Are you nervous?”

            “Yeah,” he admitted. “But I’m not going to chicken out because I’m doing this fro you.”

            I smiled wryly. “You should be doing this for yourself, Chace.”

            “Oh, I’m doing it for myself too. I don’t want you nagging all the time.”

            “Chace!”

            He laughed. “I’m kidding. I wouldn’t mind being friends with Noah again. Besides, there’s a few things I need to tell him myself.”

            “Like what?”

            “Secret,” he responded slyly.

            As I opened my mouth to respond, someone blared the horn at me. Scowling, I resisted the urge to flip the person speeding by me off. “The speed limits thirty-five, not fifty asshole!” I yelled even though he couldn’t hear me.

            “Are you in the car?” Chace questioned in an amused tone. “I didn’t know you had road rage, Rosie. Huh. Road Rage Rosie. Why are there so many possible nicknames for you?”

            Feeling a blush coming on, I bit my tongue to keep from snapping at him. “Haha very funny.”

            “Well, you shouldn’t be driving and talking on the phone at the same time. It’s too distracting. I know for sure I’m distracting you right now.”

            “I didn’t know you were so cocky, Chace.”

            He laughed quietly. “I’m not, I’m just stating a point.”

            “I’m not distracted,” I told him, rolling my eyes. Mid roll, I caught sight of the McDonald’s entrance coming up not even five feet away. I slammed on the brakes, the momentum of my body forcing me forward into my seat, my seatbelt nearly strangling me. “Shit!”

            Seconds later, I was jolted forward again roughly, gaining a crick in my neck. I knew immediately this lurch was caused by someone rear ending me.

            And it would be my fault.

            “Rose? Are you okay? What happened?”

            “Chace, I’ll have to call you back. Someone just hit my car—”

            “What? Where are you? Are you okay?” he demanded anxiously. “Should I call an ambulance?”

            Laughing, I unsnapped my seatbelt. “Only if you can find one that will fit my car in it. I’m fine. I have to go talk to the other driver, so I’ll be right back.”

            “Move your car out of the road first,” he ordered.

            “Oh. Right. I’ll do that,” I mumbled, a little embarrassed at my idiocy.

            He chuckled. “Okay. I’ll call you later tonight, Rosie. Stay safe.”

            “Thanks,” I responded, shifting my car back into drive. “Bye, Chace.”

            “Bye-bye.”

            Sighing, I maneuvered my car around the curb and into the McDonald’s parking lot and parked it, cutting my engine immediately. The person who’d hit me followed after, pulling up next to me. Glancing over at the person, surprised filled me.

            Staring back at me was Noah.

            He immediately broke out into a grin and I found myself grinning back, filled with relief. If all went well, he wouldn’t force me to call my insurance company. If there was any damage, I could just hand some cash over. “Hey,” I greeted, climbing out of my car as he climbed out his.

            “Hey yourself,” he responded, pushing his blonde hair out of his face. “Crazy driver. You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

            Grimacing, I nodded. “Yeah. Sorry about it. I was talking on the phone and was… distracted,” I admitted begrudgingly. “I didn’t realize the entrance was so close.”

            “You must be really hungry.”

            “Yeah. How’s the damage?”

            Noah studied the front of his car with an expressionless face. As he continued to check it over, his face grew grave. “That’s going to be expensive.”

            My heart skipped a beat. “Um, how much? I’ll pay you! Just please don’t make me call my insurance place!”

            “I don’t know, Rose…”

            “Noah, please!”

            After taking one look at my pleading face, he burst out laughing. “You’re so desperate! Maybe I should make you pay with your body?”

            Now I glowered at him. “Very funny! How much do you think I owe you?”

            “Nothing,” he told me, smiling friendly.

            “Nothing?” I repeated.

            He nodded. “Yeah, I managed to slow down enough in time. Let’s check out your damage—”

            “Forget about that,” I interrupted, waving my hand. “If you didn’t have any damage, I don’t either. My car is tough.”

            “Yeah?”

            “Yeah. Anyway, I don’t want to keep you. You’re going to meet Chace, right?”

            Noah raised an eyebrow. “How did you know?”

            “Uh, he was the one I was talking to on the phone…”

            A grin flashed across Noah’s face. “I see. Apparently he didn’t tell you where we’re meeting.”

            “Where?”

            “Here.”

            I laughed. “Oh. You’re early than.”

            “Yeah, so let’s go have a chat ourselves. You can stick around so I’m not lonely.”

            “Okay,” I agreed easily. “Are you excited to chat with Chace?”

            Holding open the door to the fast food restaurant for me, he nodded. “Yeah. There’s a lot of things I want to ask him that I didn’t get to before.”

            “Before your fight?”

            “Well yeah. Like what was the true reason he broke up with his girlfriend. She was a good friend of mine, so I was a little angry because he said he just didn’t feel it anymore.”

            I shrugged. “That’s a legit reason.”

            “Yeah, but you didn’t see him back then. Whether he admits it or not, he moped around half the time. I thought it was a cause of his depression. That’s why I was worried. And it was around his mom’s death anniversary—”

            I stopped dead, causing Noah to run into me. What’d he just say? That Chace’s mom was dead? “Wait, what? Anniversary? Chace’s mom isn’t dead.”

            Noah stepped around me, frowning. “Yes she is.”

            “No… Chace told me she was still alive. She still lives in California.”

            “What? Why would he say that? She died about a year after he moved here. She had leukemia.”

            Suddenly I felt dizzy. Was Noah telling the truth? Why would Chace lie to me? No… Chace wouldn’t lie to me. “You’re lying…”

            “I’m not. What did Chace tell you?”

            “That his mom’s alive…”

            Noah frowned. “Why is he lying about it?”

            My mind was thrust into turmoil. Why would Chace lie to me? The question resounded in my head like a strike of a gong. How could he lie to me?

            “Don’t feel too bad about it,” Noah insisted, laying a hand on my shoulder. “It took him a year to tell me. It was in our junior year around her death anniversary he finally got up enough courage to tell me.

            I shook my head. “I can’t believe he didn’t tell me…”

            “Like I said, don’t take it too hard.”

            As much as I wanted to, I knew I couldn’t be upset with him for lying to me. I was lying to him too, in a way. Of course I never flat out told him I wasn’t going blind, but I never did tell him I was going blind either. I was just avoiding the topic. Was that the same as lying? Not quite, I decided, but close enough.

            “I’m sure he was going to tell you soon,” Noah said soothingly, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “What do you want to eat?”

            “I’m not hungry anymore,” I mumbled. “I can’t believe his mom’s dead…”

            Noah squeezed my shoulders. “I couldn’t either. But it made so much since to me.”

            “Why?”

            He raised an eyebrow. “His mom’s death has to be the reason Chace tried committing suicide.”

________________________________ 

            IMPORTANT: I already said this in WDIW, so if you read that, you can skip this, but I have some news. On Wednesday my dad is going to the hospital for 10-12 days because he has to get surgery because he has intestinal cancer. If you don't know, I only live with him, so this leaves me by myself. Right now I'm still trying to convince my mom to let me stay home alone, but I don't know if she'll let me for the whole time. She might send me to my grandpa's where there is no internet, or her house, where I'll have no privacy to be able to write. I don't know yet. So if I disappear for a while, know it's not voluntary. And then after my dad gets home, he's going to need to be watched all the time for at least the first few weeks, so I'll be really busy. I really hope I have a chance to update, and I'm going to do my best to try, but bare with me. And also, my dad runs his own business by himself, so my sister and I will have to start doing odd jobs for his customers (like shoveling if it snows) so we can have money to live on. So I'll be busy. It sucks. 

            Anyway. If you haven't already, please go vote for me in the Watty Awards :) "A Surreptitious Relationship"! It's the fourth one down! It means so much to me (more so now haha)! Now I'm only two percent behind! :D Thank you so much! The link is in the external link! 

            About the chapter... surprised? ;D