I call his phone.
"Hey, Brook, what's going on?"
"What do you mean Dean was acting weird? Weirdhow?"
"He was getting all mushy with me. Saying he loves me and shit. And he made me promise to come right home after school. He wouldn't even let me leave until I promised."
"Did he say why?"
"Something about robberies in the neighborhood."
The bell rings. "Jake, I have to get to class but would you let me know if you hear from him?"
"Yeah, okay."
I end the call and race down the hall to Spanish class. I walk in late and take my seat near the back. The teacher starts talking about something but I'm not listening, my mind still on Dean.
When I talked to Dean last night, he was panicking about his dad being let out on work release. That's why he made Jake promise to come right home after school. It's also why he told Jake he loved him. Dean thinks his dad will show up at the house, but why would his dad do that, knowing it could get him more prison time? Maybe Dean went to see his dad at work to tell him to stay away. But why wouldn't he tell me that?
"Brook, why don't you translate it for us?" the teacher says.
I have no idea what she's talking about.
Sitting up straighter, I smile at her. "Sorry, I didn't hear you."
"Today's reading. Please translate the first paragraph for us."
This is third year Spanish, but more like first year Spanish at my old school. I was almost fluent in Spanish when I left my prep school so translating today's reading will be easy. I open my book to the right page and quickly translate the first paragraph.
"Excellent job," the teacher says when I'm done.
"Suck up," the girl next to me mutters.
As the teacher continues her lesson, I get out my phone, hiding it under my desk as I text.
Dean, I'm worried. Please respond. Let me know you're okay.
Next, I text Danny.Anything?
No,he texts back.
At lunch, I go to the cafeteria and find Eve. "I still haven't heard from him. I'm starting to freak out."
Eve's at our usual table, eating a container of pink yogurt that matches the pink in her hair. She got bored with the orange and switched it out with streaks of pink.
"You could go check his house."
"I could, but I'll miss my next class. It takes forever to get there on the bus."
"Hey." Danny comes up beside me. "Did you hear from him?"
"No." I turn to Danny. "I'm getting really worried. Has he ever done this before? Not shown up to school and not told anyone?"
"Not that I can remember. Did you check with the office?"
"Yeah, just now. The lady said he hasn't called in."
"I checked with Coach and he hasn't heard from him either. Dean wouldn't miss practice without telling Coach."
