Jay picked up a bowl and handed it to Griffin. Griffin took it and filled it with red soup.

"It smells delicious," Griffin said. 

"It does. Thank you for helping me make dinner for everyone these past few days. Noah usually helps me, but he's been occupied lately," Jay said with a soft smile. 

"No problem. I like cooking with you. It's fun. If you don't mind, can I help you make meals more often? Even when Noah starts helping you again?" Griffin said, turning to face Jay. 

"Of course!" Jay said. 

"Awesome. What are we making for breakfast tomorrow?" Griffin said. 

"Probably scrambled eggs. We have a lot in the fridge," Jay said. 

Suddenly the kitchen door opened and Isabella walked in. 

"Hi, Isabella," Griffin greeted Isabella. He picked up another bowl and filled it with soup. 

"Hey. I have some important news about your brother," Isabella said  seriously. 

"Oo…kay," Griffin said, slowly. 

"Well, there were these guys outside the gate with guns. They were going to shoot me when Jack ran in front of me and got shot," Isabella explained. 

Jay's and Griffin's eyes got wide in shock and concern. 

"He's in the nurse's office. I already took out the bullet and Natalie has already patched him up. He's doing good. He just can't go outside or do supply runs for the next few days," Isabella finished explaining. "I figured you would want to know."

"Thanks for letting me know. I will definitely visit him after filling these bowls with soup," Griffin said. 

"No, you're not," Jay said, grabbing a bowl out of Griffin's hand. She then grabbed the soup spoon from his other hand. 

Griffin looked at Jay shocked.

"I can finish filling these bowls by myself. You go see your brother," Jay said. 

"Are you sure?" Griffin asked, feeling slightly guilty. 

"I'm positive. Now, go see your brother who just got shot," Jay said, shooing Griffin away. 

Griffin opened his mouth to argue, but decided against it and quickly shut it. 

"I'll be right back," Griffin promised. 

"I'll be fine," Jay said, reassuringly. "I'm just filling soup bowls."

Isabella and Griffin then returned to the nurse's office and stepped inside. Griffin ran over to Jackson.

"Are you ok? How are you feeling?" Griffin asked, sounding worried.

"Whoa! Whoa! No, hello Jackson?" Jackson said, jokingly. He looked at Griffin to see him standing next to him. 

Griffin was shaking, but he was trying to hide it. 

"I'm fine. Isabella took the bullet out before I became anymore injured," Jackson said, seriously. 

Griffin turned to Isabella and said, "Thank you."

"No problem. I owe him. He saved me and took care of me and now it's my turn to do the same," Isabella replied. 

Griffin stopped shaking and gave her a warm smile.

A little while later, Jay came to visit Jackson and found Griffin asleep in the chair with his head resting at Jackson’s side.

“He was really worried about you,” Jay said.

“I didn’t want to worry him,” Jackson said.

“I know. I’m glad Isabella told him,” Jay said. “You know he wouldn’t even leave me to pour soup bowls by myself,” Jay said.

“Sounds like Griffin,” Jackson said with a smile.

“How are you feeling?” Jay asked.

“Much better,” Jackson said.

“I’m glad. I bet Griffin is too,” Jay said, looking over at Griffin sleeping at Jackson’s side. She moved her hand and gently brushed a loose strand of hair out of Griffin’s face.

“You really do care about him alot,” Jackson said.

“I do,” Jay said.

“Do you…by any chance…like him?” Jackson said, remembering the conversation he had with Isabella earlier.

Jay blushed, “I mean…I do, but I know that he thinks of me as just a friend.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Jackson said.

Jay stared at him looking confused.

“You should tell him,” Jackson said.

“I don’t know,” Jay said.

“When the time is right of course,” Jackson added.

“I’ll think about it,” Jay said.

She then turned to leave.

“Jay,” Jackson said.

Jay turned her head around to face Jackson.

“Yeah,” Jay said.

“When you decide to tell him, I’ll be cheering for the both of you,” Jackson said.

Jay smiled and turned back around. She headed towards the door and walked outside.

Outside, Noah and Cora stood in front of Jay, holding hands.

“Hey, Jay. We were about to go check on Oliver and Jackson,” Noah said.

“How are they doing?” Cora asked.

“Jackson’s doing better, but Oliver’s not getting any better,” Jay said.

“Ok. Thanks for letting us know. Are they still accepting visitors?” Noah said.

“I think so. Griffin is still in there. He fell asleep at Jackson’s side,” Jay said.

“Awesome. Well, see you later,” Noah said.

Noah and Cora walked inside the nurse’s office and walked over to Oliver.

“Hey, Oliver,” Cora and Noah said in unison.

“Hey, guys,” Oliver said, weakly.

“Anything new going on?” Noah asked.

“Natalie is working on a cure,” Oliver said. “I think it’s going well so far.”

“That’s good,” Noah said. “Then, you can get back and help Eli, Griffin, and me with the loads.”

“Even if Oliver gets better, I think it would be best if he didn’t push it for a little while,” Cora said.

“You’re right,” Noah said.

“I’m not trying to sound depressing or anything, but Noah you’re going to turn eighteen in about seven months,” Oliver said.

“I know,” Noah said.

“I’m going to go check on Jackson. I’ll be right back,” Cora said, giving Noah a kiss on the cheek.

“I love you,” Noah said.

“I love you too,” Cora said. She then turned and walked away towards Jackson.

As soon as Cora walked away, Oliver said, “Why don’t you propose to Cora? I know you’ve been wanting to for a while. That way, after you both are engaged, you can start planning your wedding. Then you can have your wedding before you turn eighteen.”

Noah’s face turned a slight pink.

“You’re right. I just need to find a good time and place to do it,” Noah said. “We need to get married fast because…I want you to be my best man.”

Oliver stared at Noah with a smile on his face.

“You’re the best friend I could ever have. I would love for you to be my best man at my wedding,” Noah said with a smile. “Will you be my best man?”

“I thought you would never ask,” Oliver said with a huge smile.

“Now that that is settled. Where should I propose to her?” Noah said.

“How about the flowers close to the gate that she loves? The two of you confessed your love for each other there. It would bring up good memories,” Oliver said.

“That’s perfect. Thanks,” Noah said with a smile. “I’ll give her my mother’s old wedding ring.”

“You should do it tonight. I don’t think I’m going to last much longer and the atmosphere will be perfect at night,” Oliver said.

“First, I will do it tonight and second, don’t you dare talk like that,” Noah said, defensively.

“Ok,” Oliver said.

“I don’t care if it’s true. You aren’t dead yet,” Noah said. “And you need to tell Nat how you feel before it’s too late.”

“I will,” Oliver said.

“Good,” Noah said. “I’ll come visit you tomorrow to tell you about how the proposal went.”

“Sounds good,” Oliver said with a smile.