The

article　made　it　sound　like　the

sore　stuff　showed　up　first。

I　glared　at　the　puter　screen　and　wondered　why；　exactly；　I　was　doing　this。

Why　did　I　feel　so　so

suspicious；　like　I　didn't　believe　Billy's　story？　Why　would　Billy　lie　to　Harry？

I　was　being　silly；　probably。　I　was　just　worried；　and；　to　be　honest；　I　was

afraid　of　not　being　allowed　to　see

Jacob—that　made　me　nervous。

I　skimmed　through　the　rest　of　the　article；　looking　for　more　information。　I

stopped　when　I　got　to　the　part

about　how　mono　could　last　more　than　a　month。

A　month？　My　mouth　fell　open。

But　Billy　couldn't　enforce　the　no…visitors　thing　that　long。　Of　course　not。

Jake　would　go　crazy　stuck　in　bed

that　long　without　anyone　to　talk　to。

What　was　Billy　afraid　of；　anyway？　The　article　said　that　a　person　with　mono

needed　to　avoid　physical

activity；　but　there　was　nothing　about　visitors。　The　disease　wasn't　very

infectious。

I'd　give　Billy　a　week；　I　decided；　before　I　got　pushy。　A　week　was　generous。

A　week　was　long。　By　Wednesday；　I　was　sure　I　wasn't　going　to　live　till

Saturday。

When　I'd　decided　to　leave　Billy　and　Jacob　alone　for　a　week；　I　hadn't　really

believed　that　Jacob　would　go

along　with　Billy's　rule。　Every　day　when　I　got　home　from　school；　I　ran　to　the

phone　to　check　for

messages。　There　never　were　any。

I　cheated　three　times　by　trying　to　call　him；　but　the　phone　lines　still　weren't

working。

I　was　in　the　house　much　too　much；　and　much　too　alone。　Without　Jacob；　and　my

adrenaline　and　my

distractions；　everything　I'd　been　repressing　started　creeping　up　on　me。　The

dreams　got　hard　again。　I

could　n