Bender sat at his desk, early for home room for once in his life, thinking about his weekend. Angie had called the Bender household back the next morning, even bringing it on herself to apologize for speaking the way she had to his father, though John knew she was only doing it for his sake, so his father wouldn't yell at him too much.

In the same conversation, more kindly this time, she persuaded the man that she desperately needed his son's help to chop up some firewood and repair a hole in the fence surrounding the little backyard. She told an unwilling Chuck Bender that she would be paying his son for the work, and that she'd take care of his meals and he was welcome to stay the night again if he finished later in the evening. That it was no trouble, and they loved having him.

Angie made sure she gave him something to do until the sun went down, and at the idea of his son earning a little beer money, Mr. Bender was more willing to leave him be for the moment.

Bender had worked hard that Sunday, and Mrs. Simms had indeed payed him, which he tried to decline. She, of course, would have none of that. He found himself grinning when he recalled the light slap on the arm she'd given him, saying that after she'd treated him like a pack mule he deserved to be payed for it.

Laura had been there the whole time, of course, teasing him for this or that, or bringing him little cut up sandwiches at lunch and making hot chocolate. She'd even got to work herself, stacking up the wood as he split it. He'd long taken off Claire's earring by now, and slipped it into her hand the same way she'd slipped him his note.

Laura slid down into the seat next to him with a grin. She'd not changed her seat, but he had made sure to sit next to where he knew she would be. Today would be a pretty okay day, he decided, he'd slept better during the last two nights than he had in a long time.

Laura seemed like she was about to start chatting when she glanced up and gave whoever was approaching a cheery smile, reaching out her hand to give them what looked like a secret handshake.

Bender looked too, realizing that he'd taken his seat and giving the blonde boy a small grin, "Johnson."

Brian nodded sheepishly at the boy, "Hey Bender. Hi Laura. Did you two have detention Saturday?"

Laura nodded, patting the empty desk in front of her where Bender would have normally sat, explaining why he'd not seen her there, "Yeah, and I earned myself three more."

Brian laughed, "You say that like it's a badge of honor." He cut his eyes over to Bender, "She bother you too much?"

He smirked, finding himself pleased to be talking to him again, image or no image, "Oh it was hell."

Laura flicked him on the elbow, the three of them laughing and chatting about whatever came to mind until the teacher called for silence and the day began.

The trio did indeed eat lunch together, and Brian dragged Alison over to the table as well. Laura didn't know her well, but found that she liked her very much. Laura's mother had packed both she and Bender sandwiches to take, and after a few quiet moments to eat the four of them were consumed with laughter and pure enjoyment at being around one another.

Claire and Andrew both glanced back at them every now and then, missing the friends they had made the Saturday previously, but held in place by the friends they surrounded themselves with presently.

Laura helped John in trig class, and the day ended, and they said goodbye with John insisting that he had to go home sooner or later, and that he would be fine, and that he would see her tomorrow. She made sure to let him know that if he ever wanted to come visit, the door was open, and she'd have hot chocolate waiting for him.

John did not show up on Tuesday, or Wednesday, or Thursday, or the Friday after that. Laura was worried, as was her mother, who made a couple of calls to the Bender household before Saturday came back around and got no answer.

Vernon simply said that his father had called and excused him for the week, as they would be out of town. Also making sure to tell Laura that she didn't need to be concerned with the likes of him.

She had to bite her tongue to stop herself from shouting at her uncle right there in the middle of the hallway.

Laura showed up to an empty library at 7am that Saturday and sat back down in her place, her bag filled with two sets of lunches for the boy she prayed would appear.

The doors opened, and John Bender did walk in very slowly with one arm resting across his torso. Laura breathed a sigh of relief and watched him as he went to his seat, not saying a word to her. He didn't even look at her.

He wore a pair of dark sunglasses which he didn't take off even when he sat down and was she seeing it right? Was he limping?

Laura was about to open her mouth to say something to her friend when the doors opened again to reveal Richard Vernon.

"Just you two again today," he said tiredly, "you know what to do."

Without waiting for a word from either of them he turned around and walked back out, leaving the pair alone.

She turned to look at him. He stared ahead, silent. She got a sickening feeling in her stomach.

Something was very wrong.