The doctors didn't have much to say to Callas before she left to go back to an empty home on Saturday. Despite how desperate she was to at least know something. She hated that the world had shoved her into a dark corner with nothing to go on. But maybe it was for the best. Embry had called his mum and told her that he was staying over at Jacobs, when he was really just staying over at Callas's to make sure that she didn't have a breakdown in the middle of the night. Apparently, the boys had already come up with the plan on the Saturday—which was probably the phone call Embry took while she tried to get a hold of Reed. Jacob had brought Embry some spare clothes for him to change into for school on the Sunday for Monday. It was odd, not having anyone, besides Embry, in the house like usual. It didn't feel like home, but rather an empty house. Callas didn't like it.

     Embry had driven the Jeep to school, Callas stayed quiet, mulling things over in her head while Embry hummed the tune of the song that was playing over the radio. It had been raining nonstop over the weekend and it didn't stop on Monday either. All Callas had to do was get through five days of school, and possibly the dance, before she was able to rest for a week in the comfort of her quiet room, reading silently to herself for hours. Maybe Reed would come home. Maybe he wouldn't. All Callas knew was that she was beginning to get sick of leaving voicemails on his phone every hour over the past couple of days. Soon, there wouldn't be any space left on his phone for her voicemails, she expected it to happen sooner, but maybe he was listening to them after all, but Sam Uley wasn't allowing him to respond. Wherever he was, she was sure that he could pick up a phone and text her something, to let her know that he was okay, after all, she now knew he was alive thanks to Embry letting it slip. Embry pulled into an empty space next to Jacobs bike, he cut the engine and blew out a puff of air, leaning back on the chair.

     "I'll see you at lunch?"

     Callas hummed. "Yeah."

     "Or will you be in the library?"

     Callas hummed again. "Yeah."

     Embry nodded his head stiffly, just before he got out of the Jeep. Callas breathed through her nose, getting out as well. At a largo pace, she made her way around the Jeep. Embry put the keys in his bag before he made his way towards the school doors. The rain was pouring down lightly, Callas began to walk a bit faster, making her way to Embry's side, hesitantly grabbing hold of his hand, keeping her gaze on the ground as they walked. He squeezed her hand, holding on tightly as he used his Biology textbook to shield himself from the rain. They walked up the stairs silently, making their way to the shelter by the doors. Embry put his wet textbook in his bag. Callas pushed forward, wrapping her arms around his waist tightly, placing her head on his chest. She could feel him tense up before his arms wrapped around her tightly and his body relaxed.

     "Thank you, for staying with me."

     "I'll stay for as long as you need me."

     "I can't ask you to do that."

     "Why not?"

     "It's unfair for you to drop everything for me."

     Embry shook his head. "You're important to me, more than I thought you would be. So, I think it's more than fair for me to want to help you out and make sure that you're okay."

     Callas moved her head to look at him, resting her chin on his chest. "Thanks, Em."

     "Of course." He nodded, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead before the school doors opened with a confused looking Jacob.

     "So," he started as Callas pulled away from Embry, much to her own dismay. "What, uh, what exactly happened on the weekend between you two?" He raised an eyebrow.

     Callas couldn't help it, she was angry with the boys. They seemed to know a lot more than what they were telling her. On the surface, they seemed just as innocent and clueless as she was, but since Embry had told her about Sam Uley being a part of it all, and how they all seemed to be friends with him, she couldn't help but wonder what other things they were keeping from her. They were meant to be her friends. But friends don't keep other friends' family away from them or tell them about as much as a drop of rain. She wasn't as angry with Embry, considering as he was with her the entire weekend, only occasionally talking on the phone to the others, and had told her that Reed was still alive—that much was clear—but the others were still secretive. Callas just hoped it wasn't a cult. She really hoped it wasn't a cult.

     "How's Reed?" Callas shifted the weight of her bag with the strap over her shoulder. "You hang out with Uley, surely you know something."

     "Why do I feel like you hate me all of a sudden?" Jacob tilted his head, not liking the tone of her voice that was directed towards him. He shifted his weight from one leg to the other while his right hand was pressed against the doorframe while his other hand was holding the door open.

     "I don't, but for the time being, while your buddy keeps my brother away from me, I'm not going to be the Callas you knew two weeks ago."

     Jacob gulped, looking to Embry. "I'll see what I can find out." He nodded, clearing his throat.

     "What will you do when you find out?" Callas pressed.

     "Tell you?" He hesitated.

     "Good. The same goes for the other boys."

     "What about Embry?" Jacob pointed to him.

     Callas looked back at Embry. "He told me enough for me not to be pissed at him."

     Embry faintly smiled, glancing to Jacob. Callas turned back as well when Jacob lightly cleared his throat. "How much has he said?"

     "Enough," Callas replied. She moved passed him, ducking under his arm. "I'm going to see Margaret, I'll talk to you guys later," she told them, walking backward as she did.

     "See ya, live wire," Jacob joked with a grin. Callas mock saluted him before she turned around on her heels, making her way towards the reception area. One way or another, she was going to get her answers. Whether they liked it or not. Maybe she'd pay a visit to Sam.

     Since her date with Embry, she had noticed a few more dance posters around the school, but she was still cautious of where she looked, she didn't want to risk seeing another detailed poster diagram of the human digestive track, especially after lunch. She pushed the clear doors open to the reception area, her gaze automatically went to Margaret who was typing away of the computer. Callas walked over, placing her arms on the counter, knocking her knuckles against the counter in a quiet rhythm. Margaret looked up with a shocked expression before it melted into a warm smile—clearly taken back by Callas's appearance after not seeing her for a while since Henry had been away. Callas smiled back.

     "Hey, Marge."

     "Hello, Callas. I got the call from the—"

     Callas held her hand up. "I've been thinking about it too much, I don't want to think about it any longer."

     "Of course." Margaret nodded. "But you still have an adult in the house looking after you, right?" Callas didn't look her in the eyes.

     Her eyes glued to the sticker on the back of the computer that was peeling off. "Yeah, my brother, Reed. He's taking time off work to stay at home."

     "Oh, well, that's nice." Margaret smiled warmly. "You two get along?"

     "Like a house on fire," Callas forced her words out with a smile. One that didn't quite make it to her eyes.

     "Well, I have a surprise for you."

     "Milo has fully recovered?" Callas pointed to one of the many framed cat pictures on the desk.

     "Yes," Margaret stressed. "But that's not what I'm talking about." She shook her head, her eyes darting behind Callas a few times.

     "You got new chairs?" She questioned unsurely, but hopefully, slowly turning around. Callas froze, her bag dropped from her shoulder and onto the ground with a loud thud. Henry sat on the arm of the chair with his hands open, a warm smile on his face. "Henry!" Callas yelled loudly, quickly making her way over to him, almost tripping over as she pulled him into a tight hug. He let out a small and low 'oomph' as she collided with his body.

     "Hey, Cally." He chuckled, wincing in pain as he wrapped his arms around her.

     Callas was about to pull back as she mumbled a quick apology, "Sorry, I forgot about your ribs."

     Henry shook his head, keeping her body locked to his. "Don't, you're worth the pain." He rubbed her back before pulling away slowly, a smile etched on his face.

     "Why didn't you text me?"

     "I wanted it to be a surprise."

     "You have no idea how badly I needed this," she told him quietly, hugging him again, clutching the back of his jacket tightly.

     Henry laughed softly, rubbing her back soothingly. "You know, I hate to ask, but did you bring the History Project?"

     She pulled away from him, rolling her eyes, digging her hand into the flight jacket pocket, pulling out a small green USB stick, holding it up to him. Henry smiled and nodded his head. He motioned his head to outside and Callas hummed in response, smiling back. She walked back over to the desk, picking up her bag, placing it back on her shoulders before Henry waved goodbye to Margaret. Callas said goodbye before following him outside of the reception area, towards the History room. She spotted the boys, huddled around Jared's locker. Embry smiled at her, raising his eyebrows before he noticed Henry. He lifted his head up with a small nod towards him before the others turned around to face them. Henry had awkwardly nodded back, unsure of why Embry had thrown him the gesture in the first place.

     "So," Callas started, wanting to ignore the boys. "When did you get out?"

     "You sound like I just got released from prison." He snorted a laugh.

     "The hospital is a form of prison."

     "Oh, I don't disagree with you there." He pointed at her. "I got back home on Friday and I've just been sleeping the entire time, so I'm really hoping I didn't have any homework to give in today."

     "Don't you have like two lessons today?"

     "Yes, but I have Chemistry, and he sets like five pieces of homework per lesson, I'm going to be swamped with work."

     "You've been in the hospital. That's your excuse."

     "I know the doctor told me to take it easy for the next few weeks for my ribs to heal, but that doesn't mean that Mr Bronski is going to care at all."

     Callas shook her head. "I'm so glad he's not my Chem teacher," she spoke quietly.

     "You're lucky." He huffed as they walked into History.

     "So, I take it you're not going to the dance on Friday?" Callas asked as they sat down in their seats at the back.

     "There's a dance?"

     "My reaction exactly. Yeah, Embry told me about it."

     He scoffed lightly, holding his hands out in front of him. "I'm so not going." His head shook. "That's just an accident waiting to happen with my lack of co-ordination and dancing skills, my friend. That is dangerous to all, not just myself. Besides, I got all my dance moves from Just Dance and my drunk dad at my cousin's wedding, who, by the way, was traumatised and stopped sending us Christmas cards after that. I miss seeing their fat chinchilla in a handmade Christmas hat." Callas wasn't going to question him on anything he had just said, assuming he was still on strong pain medication.

     "Are you going to sit at home watching TV while you put ice-cream on pizza, just to see how it tastes?"

     "No," he stressed. "I've already done that, my taste buds were confused, to say the least, and separated both of the flavours so at one point I have the flavour of peanut butter goodness then the next minute I had peppers, mushrooms, and a chorizo in my mouth."

     "I don't know whether to be disgusted or intrigued to try that myself." She pulled a face as she took out a pen and her notepad.

     "I still don't know how to feel about it. But I'll definitely be watching TV."

     "What will it be this time? iZombie or Animal Kingdom?"

     "You know I love watching the Cody's family drama and my Liv Moore in all her zombie glory, but I'm thinking about watching the other zombie one, I can't remember what it's called."

     "Santa Clarita diet?"

     "Yeah."

     Callas laughed quietly, nodding her head. "I love Joel."

     "Hopefully I will too."

     Mr Hanson walked in and soon the whole class became silent, he was holding a bow tie patterned thermos and a banana. He set them down on his desk, moving to look over the class. "Ah, Mr Blanchard! It's so good to see you again, did you watch the documentaries? I'm sure you did, you had plenty of time recovering to see them," Mr Hanson rambled before he turned to the whiteboard, scribbling down 'presentations' in the worst handwriting Callas had ever seen. The rest of the class groaned as he turned around, sitting down on his chair. "Yes, everyone's favourite time of the school year when you have to show how much effort you put into getting a grade." He grinned with sarcasm dripping from his words.

     "Seems like Coach is actually rubbing off on him." Callas turned her head to Henry with her eyebrows raised, he laughed quietly, sinking down in his chair.

     "This should be fun," he mumbled as the first group went up to the front.

     "Tell me about it," she replied, looking directly at the slow ticking clock above the interactive whiteboard.