Chapter 12

But it islate. Now Jamie’s starting to feel tired, and he isn’t so lonely anymore. He watches another five minutes of the infomercial, finishes off the pizza, then turns off the television. He tosses the empty pizza box onto the floor and leans back against the pillow. All he can see of his friend beside him is the back of Thad’s head and one shoulder hunched over, from the light.

If Thad falls asleep, Jamie will be on his own again. He doesn’t want that. Hoping to keep his friend awake, he asks, “Can I call my mom?”

Thad sighs and rolls over far enough to glance at his friend. His eyes are as light as his hair in the faint glow from the lamp, so translucent Jamie thinks he can see through them to the pillow beneath his head. “Why can’t you use your own phone?”

Jamie picks at the edges of the bed cover where the hem is beginning to fray. “I don’t know. If you want me to leave…”