"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!"

I fell onto the floor, instantly waking up.

"What are you doing in here?!"

"I'm sorry. I-"

"Get out!"

"Yes, ma'am." I scrambled to my feet, leaving the room.

Mrs. Wu followed. "Why were you in here?!"

"I'm so sorry, ma'am." I began backing down the stairs, almost tripping several times.

"And to my surprise when I wake up and find you sleeping next to me!"

"I'm sorry."

"You should be!"

I hung my head, now at the bottom of the stairs. "I'm sorry."

"You pervert!" She smacked the side of my head.

"Glenda! Don't do that!" It was Mr. Wu.

"Do you know what this boy did?!"

"What?"

"I'm sorry," I said, holding my cheek.

"When you left the room, he snuck into the bed with me! I found him snuggling up against me when I woke up!"

"What?!" It was Melissa.

"I'm sorry," I repeated helplessly.

"No, he didn't. I let him in last night because he had a nightmare," Mr. Wu said.

Mrs. Wu scoffed, then stormed up the stairs.

Her husband went after her.

I lifted my head, revealing my tear-filled eyes. "I'm sorry."

Melissa wiped my eyes. "It's okay. She didn't mean it." She grabbed my hand, leading me into the kitchen. "C'mon."

Everyone sat at the table, their eyes on me. They'd obviously heard the argument.

I took a seat, then rested my head in my hands, stopping the tears.


"Will you guys run down to the store for me while I go pay the bills?"

"Sure," Melissa said.

"Thanks," said Mr. Wu.

"If you don't mind, I'm just gonna watch some TV," Eric said, pressing the power button on the remote.

"Doesn't surprise me," Daley said.

She, Melissa, Nathan, Lex, Taylor, and Mr. Wu headed out the door.

I sat next to Eric. My cheek showed a red handprint--the one Mrs. Wu had left after she'd smacked me.

"Hey, Jackson? You know? You never finished that shoulder rub."

"Sorry, sir." I stood and went behind the couch, placing my hands on Eric's shoulders.

"A little harder."

"Yes, sir."

"To the left a bit."

"Yes, sir."

"That's perfect."

"Yes, sir."

All of a sudden, a hand came up and slapped the back of my head. "What did you do to that dog?!"

I let go of Eric. "I'm sorry, ma'am."

Mrs. Wu was furious. "You killed him!"

Tears quickly formed in my eyes. "I'm sorry."

"That's what you wanted, wasn't it?!"

"No, ma'am."

"Oh, it isn't?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"So it is?"

"What?" I was confused. "No, ma'am. That's not what I wanted, ma'am."

"Right," she said sarcastically.

"Ma'am-"

"Shut up!"

"Yes, ma'am."

"You just had to let him outside! I bet you did it on purpose!" When I opened my mouth to protest, she slapped my face. "It's all your fault he got out. And it's all your fault he's dead!"

"Hey! Leave him alone!" Eric stood. "He said he was sorry."

"Yeah. Well, 'sorry' doesn't bring Dakota back, does it, Cody?!" She slapped me when I began to speak.

Tears streamed down my cheeks. "I'm sorry. I'm so-" I fell to the floor when Mrs. Wu smacked me with the back of her hand.

"Stop it!" Eric stepped between the two of us, staring into the woman's eyes. "Don't touch him!"

After a moment, Mrs. Wu stalked off.

Eric turned to me, bending down. "You okay?"

I nodded, shaking. "Yes, sir."

He grabbed my arms, helping me to my feet. He wiped my tears away, then pulled me into a hug. "It's okay now. It's okay."

"Thank you, sir."


"We're back." Melissa stepped inside, a bag of groceries in her hands.

I took it from her, setting it onto the kitchen counter.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome, ma'am."

Mr. Wu came into the kitchen, followed by everyone else, carrying a grocery bag. "Cody, what happened?!" He came toward me swiftly, gripping my chin, observing my cheeks, which had four red handprints on them. When I didn't answer, he furiously called, "Eric?!"

After a moment, Eric came into the kitchen, TV remote controller in hand. "Yeah?"

"What did you do?!"

"I didn't do nothing. That was your lunatic wife."

Mr. Wu looked at me, surprised. "Cody, did Mrs. Wu do this to you?"

I clenched my eyes shut, but the tears fell anyway. I nodded. "Yes, sir."

He unknowingly squeezed my chin tight with his anger, then violently pulled his hand away.

I touched my chin.

Mr. Wu stormed out of the kitchen and up the stairs. He pushed his bedroom door open and started yelling. "What did you do to him?!"

"Who?" It was Mrs. Wu.

"Cody!"

"He deserved it!"

I was crying.

Everyone's eyes were on me.

"No, he didn't!" Mr. Wu said.

"He's messed everything up! My daughter was kidnapped! Nathan was shot! He could've been killed! And Dakota is dead!"

I slid my back down the wall, coming to a sitting position, my knees against my chest. I rested my head in them, covering my eyes as the tears fell. I was shaking.

Mrs. Wu continued. "He doesn't deserve to stay here! He doesn't even deserve to live!"

I was sobbing even more.

Melissa sat next to me, putting her hand on my shoulder.

I quickly pulled her into a hug, crying into her hair. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

She rubbed my back. "It's okay, Jackson. Everything will be okay."