*Ring *Ring *Ring

"Hello?"

"Jake, why would you ever think this was your fault?"

"Because you were in isolation for 3 weeks Blaire. And if I'm being honest, it worried me a lot. So I started looking things up, and the internet says that when a person with a compromised immune system is subjected to new or outside pathogens that it poses the threat of infection."

"...Did you just quote Wikipedia?"

"What? Of course not...it was WebMD Lassie. What do you view me as? An amateur?"

"Okay okay, my bad. I still don't see how you can find fault in this."

"I was the new pathogen source. I came from my germy school and an even germier basketball practice and then I thought it was okay to just waltz in and sit on your bed? Like how dumb could I be!"

"Jake, stop."

"What?"

"You're not allowed to do this."

"Do what?"

"Blame yourself. It's not your fault. The doctors have no idea where the virus came from. It was just as likely to be any of my family members as it was you. Hell, it could've been one of the doctors or nurses even. So Do. Not. Blame. Yourself."

"...I just don't want to hurt you Lassie. The last thing I ever want to do is hurt you."

"Jake, you didn't hurt me, I promise...if I'm being honest, the part of this situation that hurts the most is the fact that you don't want to see me."

"Blaire, that's not it. At all. If I could I would see you every single day...but more importantly than that, I want you to get better, and if my germs are going to get in the way of that then I have to put my wants aside."

"...You're so sweet Jake."

"No, no, no. You can call me a lot of things. Tough, rugged, manly, hot...but sweet doesn't cut it. Makes me sound like a cupcake."

*Laughing*

"Okay fine, you're not sweet. But you are being ridiculous...Do you want to know why I was so drawn to talking to you?"

"My sexy voice and undeniable charm?"

"...Not quite. No, it was your ability to treat me like an actual person. When people found out I had cancer, everyone started treating me like I could drop dead at any second, but you didn't do that. Even after Harper so rudely let you in on it, you still didn't treat me any differently. Just because I had one teeny tiny viral infection I don't want that to change."

"Blaire, I'll make you a deal."

"Oh this has gotta be good."

"I promise that I'll try to treat you like 100% healthy Blaire, even when I'm scared to do so, but you have to promise me something in return."

"Hmm, I'm intrigued. Continue."

"You have to promise not to break my heart."

"...Break your heart? What do you mean by that?"

"Whatever you think it means."

"Well that isn't vague or anything..."

"Do you agree to the deal or not?"

"I agree. I promise."

"And I promise right back. Alright Lassie it's getting late, we should probably go to sleep."

"Okay party pooper. Goodnight Jakey."

"Sweet dreams."