Arlene's POV

It was nighttime. The party started at eight and went on all night. Jacob was picking me up at seven thirty and we were going to stay until two in the morning if we could even last that long. I kind of regretted lying to Bobby about getting fro yo and getting sort of rude at school, but I needed to lighten up and have some fun. Maybe even make some friends. I'd probably be invited to so many more parties after this. I was really going to try to fit in, and that's why I agreed to go to this party.

When I heard a car horn honk, I knew it was Jacob and I ran downstairs.

"Charlotte, I'm going to a party with Jacob, Bobby's friend. It's a birthday party." I fibbed again. What was wrong with me?

"Okay, Arlene. Don't stay out too late." Charlotte replied. I smiled that I got away with it and ran outside.

"Hey!" I said as I got into Jacob's car.

"Hey, gorgeous. You ready?" he said, making me blush.

"Yep!" I replied. I was definitely ready.

When we arrived at the party, Jacob introduced me to some people, then we got some drinks. I had never even tried beer before, and I was kind of nervous. Dumb, I know. When I took the first drink, it tasted awful, but it also tasted amazing. It's hard to describe. Before I knew it, I had drunk two bottles.

Bobby's POV

I was lying on my bed and couldn't sleep. I couldn't get the thought of the girl I liked with Jacob. At a party. Drinking beer. With Jacob. My best friend. It kept me awake until twelve in the morning. I heard someone knock softly at my door.

"Come in." I said. Mom walked in.

"Bobby, do you know where Arlene is? Has she texted you? She said she was going to a birthday party, but it's twelve, and she hasn't come home yet. She left at seven thirty." Mom asked.

"She didn't go to a birthday party. She went to a party with beer and drugs and loud secular music." I replied. I said it with no regrets.

"What? Why would she go to a party like that?" Mom asked with a look of concern on her face.

"Because she's not a Christian. She's an atheist, Mom. She doesn't love God." I said. Mom look shocked.

"Do you know where the party is?" Mom asked.

"Yes." I replied.

"Please, go there and get Arlene, but don't get hurt and please don't do something Jesus would not be pleased with." Mom said. I nodded and Mom left the room. I quickly got dressed, then before I knew it, I was off to Jason's house.

When I got there, I knocked on the door, but no one answered. I could hear the loud cuss words that they call music blasting out. I opened the door and it was unlocked. I walked through the big crowd, but didn't see Jacob or Arlene. I saw Molly.

"Hey, Molly, do you know where Jacob is?" I asked her.

"He left with some girl about an hour ago." Molly replied.

"K, thanks." he left drunk, just like I thought he would. I say Arlene was too scared to drink even one can. I hope they're okay.

It was one in the morning, and guess where I now was? The police station. Looking for Arlene and Jacob.

"Did you find anything yet?" I asked the annoyed police officer after waiting for fifteen minutes.

"I would probably find something if you'd stop tapping your foot like crazy!" he exclaimed. I didn't even realize I was tapping my foot. That's how nervous I was. Finally, he looked up at me with an expression that said he found them. "They're both at Landon Hospital."

"Okay, thanks." I replied and ran out the door. I got in my car and revved the engine and headed for Landon Hospital. Just like I thought, they were at the hospital, probably almost dead.

When I arrived at the hospital, I called the home phone. Mom picked up right away.

"Bobby? Is Arlene okay?" she asked.

"Jacob and Arlene had already left the party when I got there. No one knew where they were, so I went to the police station. They're both at Landon Hospital, and I just got here. I'm about to ask to see them." I replied.

"Oh, Lord have mercy. Call back when you find out anything." I heard Mom telling Dad and Candice everything.

"I will. Love you." I said and hung up. I walked over to the desk. "Are Jacob Holland and Arlene Allen here?"

"Um, yes. The doctor will have to take you to Jacob's room, and Arlene is in room 301." she replied with a smile. I smiled back and went to find Arlene's room. When I saw room 301, I knocked on the door.

"Come in." I heard a weak voice say. I opened the door slowly and soon saw Arlene lying on the hospital bed. "Bobby?" she looked tired and her eyes were swollen.

"Yeah. How you doin'?" I replied.

"How does it look like I'm doing?" she snapped. She was obviously tired and cranky.

"What happened? I need the truth." I asked.

"We wrecked." she replied. Before I could ask anything else, she dozed off.

I walked out of the room to find a doctor. When I saw a man dressed like a doctor, I walked up to him.

"Hey, Dr.," I paused and looked at his name tag. "Trent. Can you take me to Jacob Holland's room? The lady at the desk said I needed a doctor to bring me back there."

"I'm his doctor, and I was just about to go to his room. Are you family?" he replied.

"No, but I'm his best friend. I've known him since we were twelve. I'm seventeen." I told him, hoping that was enough to get me into his hospital room.

"Very well. Come with me." he led me to Jacob's room. When I saw Jacob, my mouth literally dropped. His legs were both in casts. He was kind of bloody and he was badly bruised. He had cuts all over his arms and face. His lip was puffy. He looked awful. He was wide awake though, and probably in a lot of pain. "How are you doing, Mr. Holland?" Doctor Trent asked.

"Not good." Jacob replied.

"Where is the pain at?"

"Everywhere, but mostly my belly." Jacob was acting kind of strange. The Doctor looked at his stomach and what I saw from where I was standing was not a pretty sight. He had a sharp piece of glass sticking in his stomach. "My belly is bleeding! It's bleeding! I see blood! HELP!" Jacob was going insane.

"Mr. Holland, please calm down. We are going to help you." Dr. Trent called a nurse in and they looked at the glass in his stomach. "Please leave. We have to perform surgery to take this glass out. It is deep into his stomach." he looked back at me and I left. Jacob was losing a lot of blood, and I was worried about him.

"Jesus, please, please, don't let him die. Help him, Lord." I whispered as I walked out of the room. I sat in the hall and listened to Jacob scream as they tried to persuade him to take the medicine. Finally I didn't hear any more screaming, but I heard a machine going off. The heart machine thingy was going off! I rushed back into the room and lost my breath at what I saw. All I could do was pray in my mind. That's the only thing Dad and Mom taught me to do in situations like this.