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Chapter 16

(Edited)

As the hours pass, Dan and I sit silently on the floor in my room. The pain in my ribs continues to increase as I attempt to conceal it from Dan and my father. As the sun begins to rise, my dad comes back into my room.

"The police just left, Chad and Derek have been taken to the station to be processed, but unfortunately, they will likely be released on a promise to appear or something ridiculous. I'm definitely going to be going down to the station to speak with the Chief." He pauses his rant and kneels down in front of me, placing a hand on my knee. "You doing ok, baby girl?" He whispers. I nod slowly, taking a deep breath and stopping suddenly as pain blossoms across my side. I quickly glance up at my dad to see if he noticed my grimace of pain, but he doesn't seem to.

"Where did the other boy disappear to? I'd been meaning to ask."

"Becca let him climb out the window," Dan mutters sorely.

"And Dan is still annoyed." I reply, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Why did you do that Becca? He was as involved as the other two!" My dad shouts.

"Dad, you weren't there, I was. I let him go because I don't consider him to be responsible because of the other stuff that went into the situation. Please believe me, if he hadn't helped and acted the way he did, I would've dragged his butt down to you myself." My father opens his mouth to rebut my statement, but out of the corner of my eye, I watch Dan shake his head and my dad closes his mouth again. Sighing, my dad rubs his other knee as it clicks dully.

"Dan, why don't you and Becca come down for breakfast? I'll make lots of food, maybe filling our stomachs will help us relax about everything that happened overnight." My dad says, getting to his feet and walking back out the door to give Dan and me time to get ready for the meal.

"So you swear to me that the cuts are the only physical injury you got during that whole...thing." Dan asks, his nose crinkling at the idea of what happened earlier tonight. Putting on the brightest smile I can manage, I nod at him.

"Yep. Absolutely." For a moment, he continues to watch me, trying to decide whether or not to believe me. Dan's posture relaxes as he glances at me.

"Alright, I believe you." His stomach growls, eager for nourishment.

"Ready to go Becca?" Dan asks, slowly standing up and holding his hand out for me. My teeth dig into my cheek and I shake my head.

"You know, I would, but I don't have to go to school, so technically I can just go back to bed and get some more sleep, it's not as if I don't need it. Besides, I'm not hungry anyways." At this moment, my stomach betrays me by letting out a very loud whale call. Dan gives me a disapproving glance.

"Come on Becca, let's go get food. I'm starving."

"Dan, I really am not-"

"Bec, don't give me that. You are hungry and you need to eat, now come on." Dan repeats, holding his hand out towards me. I bite the inside of my lip.

"Dan."

"Rebecca." A sigh escapes my lips and I glance down at the floor and slowly lift my hand up to intertwine it with my boyfriend's.

As he begins to pull me to my feet, I close my eyes, trying to contain the pain that continues to well up in my side. Just before I am standing fully upright, the pain engulfs my body and I shriek, crumpling to my knees. My hands clutch my ribs as I tumble to my side. I moan in agony with my eyes clenched shut.

"Becca?" Dan's hand brushes against my shoulder. I moan again and flinch away. "Andrew!" Dan's hand leaves my arm and his footsteps thunder down the hallway. "Andrew! Something's wrong with Becca!" Dan's voice cracks as it echoes down the hallways.