y； and my fingers
started drumming against the
counter。 I should have insisted on driving him home。
I watched the clock as the minutes ticked by Ten。 Fifteen。 Even when I was
driving； it took only fifteen
minutes； and Jacob drove faster than I did。 Eighteen minutes。 I picked up the
phone and dialed。
It rang and rang。 Maybe Billy was asleep。 Maybe I'd dialed wrong。 I tried
again。
On the eighth ring； just as I was about to hang up； Billy answered。
〃Hello？〃 he asked。 His voice was wary； like he was expecting bad news。
〃Billy； it's me； Bella—did Jake make it home yet？ He left here about twenty
minutes ago。〃
〃He's here；〃 Billy said tonelessly。
〃He was supposed to call me。〃 I was a little irritated。 〃He was getting sick
when he left； and I was
worried。〃
〃He was too sick to call。 He's not feeling well right now。〃 Billy sounded
distant。 I realized he must want
to be with Jacob。
〃Let me know if you need any help；〃 I offered。 〃I could e down。〃 I thought
of Billy； stuck in his chair；
and Jake fending for himself
〃No； no；〃 Billy said quickly。 〃We're fine。 Stay at your place。〃
The way he said it was almost rude。
〃Okay；〃 I agreed。
〃Bye； Bella。〃
The line disconnected。
〃Bye；〃 I muttered。
Well； at least he'd made it home。 Oddly； I didn't feel less worried。 I trudged
up the stairs； fretting。 Maybe
I would go down before work tomorrow to check on him。 I could take soup—we
had to have a can of
Campbell's around here somewhere。
I realized all such plans were canceled when I woke up early—my clock said
four thirty—and sprinted to
the bathroom。