"Hey."

She hands him a packet of pictures.

"I wanted to give you these." Krystal says.

The boy takes the packet. Krystal rubs the back of her neck.

"They're pictures from the play."

There is a pause. Her expression soon becomes apologetic.

"I'm sorry about before." She adds. "About...the photoshop. Sending it to..."

"Hey, it doesn't matter." Y/N interjects, already having chosen to forgive her and his other friends.

"Yeah." She replies quietly, then gets sad. "I guess you're with who you should be."

Y/N looks at her confusedly. She continues.

"It's like she chose you."

"Yeah." He smiles. "I don't even know why."

Krystal, near tears, replies. "I do."

Y/N doesn't know how to respond to that. He continues to hold the packet in his hands. Krystal smiles weakly and clears her throat.

"Well..."

She grabs his shoulders and kisses his cheek before hurriedly walking off. Y/N waits a moment before he opens the packet. Then he turns and walks the other way.

Hailee opens her eyes slowly and spots Y/N sitting by the window. He's drumming his fingers against his forehead and reading her copy of To Kill A Mockingbird. Nearby, the boy's Echo device is playing Passionfruit by Drake.

Listen
Seein' you got ritualistic
Cleansin' my soul of addiction for now
'Cause l'm fallin' apart, yeah

She also notices the balloons and flowers decorating the room, to which she smiles and sighs contentedly. She is more happy seeing her boyfriend reading the book.

Y/N looks up, smiling back at her.

"Hey." Y/N shuts the book then goes give to lower the music. He walks over to her. "How you feeling?"

"I'm okay." She replies. "How are you?"

Y/N leans in to kiss her cheek before sitting down on the bed, careful not to sit on her.

"Pretty good." He answers.

"I have something for you."

"You do?"

Hailee nods. "Mmhmm."

The girl reaches behind her to grab a book. She hands it to him. Y/N looks over it dubiously.

"Don't worry. It's not a Bible." She says, smiling. "It was my mother's. It's got quotes from our favorite books, quotes by famous people. Her thoughts."

Y/N leans forward to kiss her fingers. He holds her hand.

"C'mon." She says quietly, to which he smiles.

"Okay. Let's check it out."

Y/N flips to a page. He finds a quote and begins reading.

"What is a friend? It's a single soul dwelling in two bodies. Aristotle."

"Mmm." She points to another passage in the book. "Right here."

"Okay." Y/N looks at the quote. "Find out who you are and do it on purpose."

Hailee looks up at him thoughtfully. Y/N chuckles.

"That's Dolly Parton."

She smiles. "I always thought she was smart."

Y/N smiles as well and turns the pages. He finds another quote.

"A day without laughter is a day wasted. Charles Chaplin." He looks at her. "Oh, I like that one. It really speaks to me."

"I bet." Hailee smirks. "You're a real goofball."

Y/N laughs. He looks back at the book and reads another passage.

"Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous."

Hailee shuts her eyes. Y/N continues.

"Love is never boastful or conceited."

The girl begins reciting with him since she knew the passage by heart. The two speak in unison.

"It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and it is not resentful."

Y/N sighs as Hailee opens her eyes. He shuts the book.

"You know what I figured out today?" Hailee asks him.

"What?"

She sighs and looks to the side.

"Maybe God...has a bigger plan for me than I had for myself. Like, this journey never ends. Like, you were sent to me because I'm sick...to help me through all this."

Y/N begins running his fingers over her cheek. She shuts her eyes and responds to his gentle caress. She then looks up at him.

"You're my angel." She adds with a smile.

He stares down at her lovingly, about to cry. Immediately, the two kiss. When they part, they gaze affectionately at each other.

• • •

THE NEXT DAY, Y/N pulls into an empty space in the hospital parking lot. He gets out of the Camry and jogs inside, eager for his usual visit.

Y/N goes to Hailee's room but immediately sees her in a wheelchair being wheeled out of the room by a male nurse. He's confused.

"Hey. What's going on?"

"Y/N, I get to go home," Hailee replies happily. "Please, thank your father for me."

Reverend Henry is exiting her hospital room as the nurse wheels Hailee away. Y/N, still bewildered, turns to the older man.

"What does she mean?" He asks.

"Your father's been trying to reach you." Reverend Henry answers. "He's gonna pay for private home care."

The reverend walks off. Y/N stands for a moment alone...deep in thought.

That evening, Y/N is outside his father's Thousand Oaks home. He knocks gently on the door before circling the porch, his hands in his jeans pockets.

The door opens. David L/N looks at him.

Y/N exhales a shaky breath, his eyes already starting to tear up.

"Thank you." Y/N says rather lowly.

Y/N isn't sure how to express what he is feeling. What his father did meant a lot to the Steinfelds and to him. Y/N thought his uncomplicated thanks wouldn't be enough.

But to David, those two simple words were all he needed. Y/N honestly didn't have to say them...or anything for that matter.

David nods and puts his hand on Y/N's shoulder firmly. Y/N immediately pulls him closer and embraces him tightly, beginning to sob.

"Sorry." The young man finally apologizes.

Y/N is sorry for all the years he tried to push him away. For the entire time he spent trying to hate him. For throwing away all the chances before when David tried to mend their bond. The boy forgave him, and now he hopes his father can do the same.

But for David, there was no wrongdoing of Y/N's to forgive. He has always loved his son and understood his plights. All that matters now...is the moment they are currently sharing.

"That's all right, Y/N," David whispers, holding him tightly. "It's all right."