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I'd been broken beyond repair。
But I needed Jacob now； needed him like a drug。 I'd used him as a crutch for
too long； and I was in
deeper than I'd planned to go with anyone again。 Now I couldn't bear for him
to be hurt； and I couldn't
keep from hurting him； either。 He thought time and patience would change me；
and； though I knew he
was dead wrong； I also knew that I would let him try。
He was my best friend。 I would always love him； and it would never； ever be
enough。
I went inside to sit by the phone and bite my nails。
〃Movie over already？〃 Charlie asked in surprise when I came in。 He was on the
floor； just a foot from the
TV。 Must be an exciting game。
〃Mike got sick；〃 I explained。 〃Some kind of stomach flu。〃
〃You okay？〃
〃I feel fine now；〃 I said doubtfully。 Clearly； I'd been exposed。
I leaned against the kitchen counter； my hand inches from the phone； and tried
to wait patiently。 I thought
of the strange look on Jacob's face before he drove away； 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。 Charlie found me there a half hour later； lying on the floor； my
cheek pressed against the
cold edge of the bathtub。
He looked at me for a long moment。
〃Stomach flu；〃 he finally said。
〃Yes；〃 I moaned。
〃You need something？〃 he asked。
〃Call the Newtons for me； please；〃 I instructed hoarsely。 〃Tell them I have
what Mike has； and that I
can't make it in today。 Tell them I'm sorry。〃
〃Sure； no problem；〃 Charlie assured me。
I spent the rest of the day on the bathroom floor； sleeping for a few hours
with my head on a crumpled
up towel。 Charlie claimed that he had to work； but I suspected that he just
wanted access to a bathroom。
He left a glass of water on the floor beside me to keep me hydrated。
It woke me up when he came back home。 I could see that it was dark in my room
—after nightfall。 He
clumped up the stairs to check on me。
〃Stillalive？〃
〃Sort of；〃 I said。
〃Do you want anything？〃
〃No； thanks。〃
He hesitated； clearly out of his element。 〃Okay； then；〃 he said； and then he
went back down to the
kitchen。
I heard the phone ring a few minutes later。 Charlie spoke to someone in a low
voice for a moment； and
then hung up。
〃Mike feels better；〃 he called up to me。
Well； that was encouraging。 He'd only gotten sick eight hours or so before me。
Eight more hours。 The
thought made my stomach turn； and I pulled myself up to lean over the toilet。
I fell asleep on the towel again； but when I woke up I was in my bed and it
was light outside my window。
I didn't remember moving； Charlie must have carried me to my room—he'd also
put the glass of water on
my bedside table。 I felt parched。 I chugged it down； though it tasted funny
from sitting stagnant all night。
I got up slowly； trying not to trigger the nausea again。 I was weak； and my
mouth tasted horrible； but my
stomach felt fine。 I looked at my clock。
My twenty…four hours were up。
I didn't push it； eating nothing but saltine crackers for breakfast。 Charlie
looked relieved to see me
recovered。
As soon as I was sure that I wasn't going to have to spend the day on the
bathroom floor again； I called
Jacob。
Jacob was the one who answered； but when I heard his greeting I knew he wasn't
over it。
〃Hello？〃 His voice was broken； cracking。
〃Oh； Jake；〃 I groaned sympathetically。 〃You sound horrible。〃
〃I feel horrible；〃 he whispered。
〃I'm so sorry I made you go out with me。 This sucks。〃
〃I'm glad I went。〃 His voice was still a whisper。 〃Don't blame yourself。 This
isn't your fault。〃
〃You'll get better soon；〃 I promised。 〃I woke up this morning； and I was
fine。〃
〃You were sick？〃 he asked dully。
〃Yes； I got it； too。 But I'm fine now。〃
〃That's good。〃 His voice was dead。
〃So you'll probably be better in a few hours；〃 I encouraged。
I could barely hear his answer。 〃I don't think I have the same thing you did。〃
〃Don't you have the stomach flu？〃 I asked； confused。
〃No。 This is something else。〃
〃What's wrong with you？〃
〃Everything；〃 he whispered。 〃Every part of me hurts。〃
The pain in his voice was nearly tangible。
〃What can I do； Jake？ What can I bring you？〃
〃Nothing。 You can't e here。〃 He was abrupt。 It reminded me of Billy the
other night。
〃I've already been exposed to whatever you have；〃 I pointed out。
He ignored me。 〃I'll call you when I can。 I'll let you know when you can e
down again。〃
〃Jacob—〃
〃I've got to go；〃 he said with sudden urgency。
〃Call me when you feel better。〃
〃Right；〃 he agreed； and his voice had a strange； bitter edge。
He was silent for a moment。 I was waiting for him to s