CHASING LIFE 2/2 'Cancer Friends With Benefits': Leo and April's First Date!

Based on the title of the episode, I'm guessing CHASING LIFE will focus on the relationship (or lack thereof) between post-surgery Leo and in-remission April. The two of them have endure a lot of trauma in the last few months and I am excited to see how their friendship blossoms.

Of course, their road to friendship-with-benefits won't be a smooth one. Leo is still recovering from surgery with physical therapy. April is assigned to cover a cancer benefit concert for work...with her still heartbroken (and not ready to bury the hatchet just yet) ex-boyfriend Dominic. Meanwhile, April's half-sister and bone marrow donor Natalie is sticking around Boston for what I hope is a chance at connecting to the siblings she never was able to grow up with. Brenna's still not over the way her latest relationship ended, but seems to have found a distraction in Natalie. On top of all of this, George and Sara might finally let the rest of the family know what they're doing.

April and Natalie celebrate Natalie's last night in town, and Natalie flirts with the bartender. April goes home early, just in time for her uncle's news about moving to California for a new job. Sara confronts him about it immediate and George tells her that if she wants to take their relationship seriously, she needs to tell him soon. Beth and April talk about April's non-relationship with Leo. Beth's roommate is moving in with her boyfriend and she needs to find a new one fast. At the newspaper, April and Dominic are assigned to work an event together and they try to not make it awkward. Natalie decides to stay in Boston (I'm calling it right now-Natalie is going to be Beth's new roommate.)

Okay, I was wrong (at least for now.)Natalie is planning on staying with Teeg, the bartender she met the previous night-that's a logical decision-and will be working part-time at the bar. Sara tries to get advice from her other about George, but nothing sticks. April goes to visit Leo at his new place where they discuss their backwards relationship. He asks her out on a first date, and she can't do that night because of the concert she has to cover with her ex-boyfriend (but o course, she left that part out). So they decide on the next night after George's farewell dinner. So much for not keeping it not awkward: Dominic and April met up at the benefit concert and ran into someone they knew as a couple. Dominic then decided they should split up. They meet back up to interview the event coordinator. Dominic had trouble keeping it professional by taking jabs at April's relationship with Leo throughout the interview.

April goes to pick up an order and runs i to Natalie at the bar, where she reveals that living with Tee isn't all that great. Beth's on her way to work when a potential new roommate jogs up to her and starts bombarding her with questions. My Natalie theory still could be a possibility, because this woman is annoying and way too hyper for Beth's liking. Brenna and her mother discuss dinner options for that night Sara wants it to be a special farewell. She asks Brenna how things are going with Greer, and they haven't spoken since the break-in incident. Sara tries to get a feel from Brenna about whether or not to tell her about George, but she's distracted by a catering option. April and Dominic are working on their article when she gets a call from Leo about his new caretaker, Pete. Dominic gets upset again and tells April that it is hard to be around her. Before she can respond, their boss calls them into his office.

Monica, the event coordinator, called the office to point out the tension between the two of them at the benefit concert, and Aaron wanted to et to the bottom of it. April was the one to say that their relationship was over, and Dominic look crushed. Beth and April talk about new roommate options, and April says she has someone she wants Beth to meet (I wonder who...). At George's farewell dinner, the caterer flirts with Sara making George (and Emma, no doubt) uncomfortable and he makes a speech about how much he is going to miss his family. I was watching this scene screaming "Just tell them so he'll stay, Sara!" because I love his character so much and I do not want him leaving. Needless to say, she did not listen to me.

Brenna and George share a sweet moment and it made me wish they had more scenes together. Natalie moves in with Beth (YES!). April and George talk about how much they'll miss each other. When he leaves, she confides in her mother about her feelings for Dominic. Sara and George say goodbye and it nearly broke my heart. I cannot express how badly I want him to stay.

April and Leo spend their firsts date in the heated pool at Leo's. She tells him about working with Dominic and he doesn't seem upset. The two of them have such a wonderful friendship and I am waiting for the announcement that Scott Michael Foster is a series regular. After sending the article to April, Dominic is done being heartbroken and goes to the bar with Graham. There, the bartender isn't at the bar, but the new troublemaking trainee Natalie is. She asks Dominic to pretend to be her boyfriend to get the bartender off her case, and they kiss. Beth walks in and sees it AND THAT IS HOW THE EPISODE ENDED. The only reason I'm not more upset about this cliffhanger, is because of the "Is Leo going to survive surgery?" cliffhanger ABC Family put us through late last year. But I AM going to be waiting very impatiently for next week's episode.

What do you all think about this new development? Will Dominic find out why he thinks Natalie looks so familiar?Don't miss CHASING LIFE, Tuesdays at 9/8c on ABC Family!

Photo Credit: ABC Family

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