arry？〃　I　shook　my　head；　trying　to　absorb　what　he　was　staying。　〃Oh；　no！　Does

Charlie　know？〃

〃Yeah。　He's　over　there；　too；　with　my　dad。〃

〃Is　Harry　going　to　be　okay？〃

Jacob's　eyes　tightened　again。　〃It　doesn't　look　so　great　right　now。〃

Abruptly；　I　felt　really　sick　with　guilt—felt　truly　horrible　about　the

brainless　cliff　dive。　Nobody　needed　to

be　worrying　about　me　right　now。　What　a　stupid　time　to　be　reckless。

〃What　can　I　do？〃　I　asked。

At　that　moment　the　rain　stopped。　I　hadn't　realized　we　were　already　back　to

Jacob's　house　until　he

walked　through　the　door。　The　storm　pounded　against　the　roof。

〃You　can　stay　here；〃　Jacob　said　as　he　dumped　me　on　the　short　couch。　〃I　mean　it

—right　here　I'll　get　you

some　dry　clothes。〃

I　let　my　eyes　adjust　to　the　dark　room　while　Jacob　banged　around　in　his

bedroom。　The　cramped　front

room　seemed　so　empty　without　Billy；　almost　desolate。　It　was　strangely　ominous

—probably　just　because

I　knew　where　he　was。

Jacob　was　back　in　seconds。　He　threw　a　pile　of　gray　cotton　at　me。　〃These　will

be　huge　on　you；　but　it's　the

best　I've　got。　I'll；　er；　step　outside　so　you　can　change。〃

〃Don't　go　anywhere。　I'm　too　tired　to　move　yet。　Just　stay　with　me。〃

Jacob　sat　on　the　floor　next　to　me；　his　back　against　the　couch。　I　wondered　when

he'd　slept　last。　He

looked　as　exhausted　as　I　felt。

He　leaned　his　head　on　the　cushion　next　to　mine　and　yawned。　〃Guess　I　could　rest

for　a　minute〃

His　eyes　closed。　I　let　mine　slide　shut；　too。

Poor　Harry。　Poor　Sue。　I　knew　Charlie　was　going　to　be　beside　himself。　Harry　was

one　of　his　best　friends。

Despite　Jake's　negative　take　on　things