As I'm putting my phone away, it starts ringing and I see my mom's number on the screen.
"Shit."
"What?" Danny asks, opening his door.
"It's my mom."
"Go ahead and answer it. I'll go inside."
"I can't. She doesn't know what's going on."
"So tell her."
"If I do, she'll freak out. She already doesn't like Dean, and if she finds out all this stuff about his dad, she'll try to keep me away from him."
The phone continues to ring.
"Does she know you're dating him?"
"She thinks we're just friends."
The phone stops ringing for just a moment, then starts up again.
"She's going to keep calling," I say. "I bet the school called her and told her I'm not there."
"Just tell her what's going on. You don't want her freaking out because she can't find you. I'll be inside." He takes off.
I answer the phone. "Hi, Mom."
"Honey, where are you? I was worried sick! The school said you didn't show up for your afternoon classes."
I'm surprised the school even noticed. Someone must've reported me. Eve wouldn't do it. It must've been one of my teachers. They're always calling on me in class. One of them must've noticed I was gone and told the office.
"Mom, I need to tell you something but I don't want you to freak out."
"Honey, what's wrong? Did something happen? Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine. I'm not hurt. But Iamat the hospital."
"The hospital? Why?"
"Someone attacked Dean at his house this morning. He was hurt really bad." My voice cracks. "He's in intensive care."
"Oh, honey, I'm sorry. Is he going to be okay?"
"I don't know." I wipe the tears from my eyes. "The nurse won't tell me anything. All I know is he had surgery and he hasn't woken up since they brought him here."
"How did he get there?"
"A neighbor heard some noise and called the police. When they got there, they found the back door broken open and Dean unconscious on the floor."
"Do they know what happened? Was it a burglary?"
"They aren't sure," I say, not ready to tell her about Dean's dad. "But that's why I left school. When Dean didn't show up this morning, I got worried so I went to his house at lunch. His friend, Danny, came with me. The police were there and that's how we found out Dean was in the hospital."
"Which hospital? I'll come meet you there."
"Mom, you don't have to do that. I'm just going to wait here until I can see him."
