With Amber and Derek gone, the Prom Queen's mango-scented bedroom looked more like North Falls High's infirmary; Miles shivering on the bed, Spencer convulsing in an armchair and Norman pacing up and down like a concerned parent.
The Linebacker paused for a moment, running a hard through his hair before leaning against the wall next to his one conscious friend.
"Um, Spence...?"
"Heh... *cough* Spence... You haven't called me that *wheeze* since third grade..."
"I-- I didn't mean to yell at you earlier, and I just... In case we don't make it, I-- I just wanted to say I'm sorry about..." he pointed at Spencer's head. "You know..."
The Nerd's hand instinctively rose to the back of his head; his fingers feeling the scar running all the way down to his neck.
"Don't *cough* worry about it, Norm. I mean, it was only *wheeze* thirty-seven stitches. And hey, it was elementary school. How *hack* where you supposed to know that violently shoving my *wheeze* head down a toilet bowl was my one true *cough* weakness...?"
"Spence, dude, I'm trying here..."
"I'm just screwing with you *wheeze* you big dope. Apology *cough* accepted."
*KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!*
"Can you dorks, like, kiss later and junk?!" Amber yelled from the other side of the door.
"Cool your jets, Hooters! That freak is still out there." Norman removed the barricade, unlocked the door and let her back inside, before putting everything back in place again.
Amber made a bee-line to Miles and plunged the tetanus shot in his thigh. "Derek....?" she tossed a couple packs of painkillers and antibiotics on her nightstand.
"He's not back yet..."
"Crap..." she sighed. "Can you, like, prop him up?" she motioned toward Miles.
Norman nodded, lifting Miles like a ragdoll and placing him in a sitting position.
Amber slapped the boy awake.
"Wuh... Where am I...?"
"Like, never mind that-- Just shut up swallow these." she stuffed a bunch of pills in his mouth and pulled out a small bottle of water.
"Mmmf *gulp* Evian...?"
"Don't flatter yourself, Smiles. I don't drink, like, tap water. Eugh, grody!" Amber snatched the bottle away from him and poured a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in it, shaking it well before proceeding to disinfect his stump.
"How you feelin', buddy?" Norman placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm-- Ow! I--" Miles paused and stared at his friends for a second; his gaze resting on their bloodstained clothes. "Hey, what's going on here...? Where's Steph?"
The room fell silent as Amber and the boys awkwardly looked at each other; Spencer's wheezing and the occasional lightning punctuating the moment.
"Guys, what's wrong...?"
-----
Stephanie bit down on her flashlight, elbowed the window open and grabbed the tiny bottle, before swiftly jumping off the chair and back onto solid ground. She took off the cap and gave the it a whiff.
"Yep, that's it..." she scrunched her face; it was e very elegant perfume, but all it reminded her of was death and abuse.
