"I don't know. He won't tell me."
She leans against his locker. "When I saw him earlier he looked like someone died."
I turn to her. "Maybe that's what happened. But I don't know who it'd be. He never talks about having family other than his parents, who took off."
"Maybe he found out something happened to them. Maybe one of them is sick, like with something really serious."
"I hope not. But if that's true, why would that be a secret?"
"Everything's a secret to him."
"We talk all the time. He's been opening up to me. It doesn't make sense he'd just stop."
"I don't know what to tell you. Hey, you want to go do something? Evan's going home with a friend so I've got the car to myself."
I close my locker. "I can't. I have to figure out what's going on with Dean."
"You're ditching me for Dean? You're not even dating the guy."
"I'm sorry. I'd totally go with you if I wasn't so worried about Dean. I just have this feeling something really bad happened."
"He's at football practice. You can't even talk to him until he gets home."
"What time is practice?"
"How would I know?" She waves at someone behind me. "Hey, what time do you guys practice?"
I turn around and see Danny behind me.
"It starts in a few minutes," he says. "I'm heading there right now. Why?"
"Brook wanted to talk to Dean," Eve says. "What time are you guys done?"
"Usually four-thirty. Depends on the day." He looks at me. "Dean's skipping practice today. He wasn't feeling well so he left early."
"He did? What time?"
"Right after lunch. I need to go. If I'm late, Coach will make me do extra sprints."
"Go ahead," I tell him.
"Now you know," Eve says. "Dean's sick. That's why he was acting like that."
"He didn't look sick. He look worried, almost scared."
"Dean Sanders scared?" She laughs. "Dean doesn't get scared."
I hold her arm. "Would you do me a favor?"
"What?"
"Would you give me a ride to his house?"
"You want to go watch him barf?" Her brows rise. "Instead of going out with me?"
"He's not sick. There's something else going on. Please take me there. It'll be faster than the bus. I'll pay you."
"You're not paying me," she says with a sigh. She walks past me. "Let's go."
