For the rest of the week, KC stayed home. She told us she had a stomach bug, so Maya took Aaron to daycare on those days.

She came back on Monday (Oct. 23rd). After theater, while waiting for Lucas, I saw KC go into the bathroom. After almost thirty minutes, she walked out of the bathroom. She had a mix of emotions on her face. She walked out of school in a speed-walk. I stared at the door.

"You ready to go?" I heard Lucas ask me. I looked at him.

"Yeah," I told him.

On the 31st, I noticed KC's gait was off.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked her.

"Yeah…" she answered me, sounding confused.

After school, all of us went to Topanga's. Derrick walked in and put his hands on KC's shoulders. She flinched.

"You okay, KC?" Lucas asked her, since he noticed it too.

"His hands are just cold," she replied.

"Can we talk?" Her boyfriend requested.

"Whatever you want to talk about, you can say in front of my friends," she responded to his question.

The way she worded it was off. That's how you would word it if you're in an argument or…don't want to talk to the person alone…

"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out tonight," he offered.

"Sorry, I have plans," she told him. Her eyes shifted to the side. She was lying.

"Okay," he said. He squeezed her shoulders and left.

Aaron ran over to us with chocolate syrup on his face. KC started laughing and hugged him. Aaron kissed his mom on the cheek. She smiled. I smiled too, until I noticed her eyes…they weren't smiling. There was pain in her eyes…not like from an injury… but from sorrow. Why is that type of pain there while she's looking at her son?

On KC's birthday, I gave her a copy of the letter I got declaring that the Foundation my mom, Lucas, and I started setting up a month ago was going into effect in January. After the party we went to watch a movie. KC picked the movie. We all took a picture together in front of the poster for the movie, with the aid of an usher. KC was in the middle and she had and arm around Marley's shoulder, and the other around mine. Maya posted the pic right afterwards. We were watching it when both of us realized we were out of popcorn. We went and got more popcorn.

"Hey, so, does he get as heated as much as he did at the party?" I asked her, while walking back to the room our movie was showing.

"Who?"

"Derrick," I stated.

"Sometimes," she admitted, "but it's not a big deal."

"Does he get that way with you?" I asked her.

"What's with the twenty questions, Farkle?"

"Sorry," I apologized.

We went back to the movie.

Around midnight, Maya texted me.

Uhhh! Derrick won't stop texting KC!

Why doesn't she just put it on "Do Not Disturb"?

Somehow it got disabled.

Did you tell her to turn off her phone?

She said that she needs her alarm. I mean it's not that loud, but it's so IRRITATING!

Maybe try putting in your earbuds and listen to music

After a bit, she texted back.

You really are a genius! It's at least blocking it out. Hopefully, you're right about being able to fall asleep. How did you know about that, btw?

I'd use it when my parents were fighting all kinds when I was little…

I wish I had that idea when I was little.

Sorry…

It's fine. That's something we've always related on. Night.

Goodnight.

KC treated me bad the rest of the week, until she apologized on Thursday. I told her to go on her date with Derrick. She left the classroom door open. I watched her walk down the hall. She stopped and looked back at me. She walked down the hall and left the school, taking out her phone.

Today (Nov. 14th), Maya told me KC went to the doctor yesterday. I saw her with a small smile while looking at a paper in between classes. She saw me and put the paper in her backpack.

I watched as she left with Derrick after our theater class. She looked uncomfortable. I wondered what could have been on that paper.

At about two-thirty in the morning, Maya texted me. I groggily grabbed my phone.

There's something really wrong with KC!

I shot up when I read the text.

What do you mean?! What's going on?!

She immediately replied.

I woke up and didn't see her in her bed. Then I heard the shower running. I heard KC crying. I knocked on the door and asked if she was okay. She immediately went silent and didn't say a word.

Then what happened?

I told my mom and she knocked on the door, asked her herself. KC just said that she was just taking a shower because she felt like it. I asked if she wanted to talk when she got out, and she told me "no".

She's still not out.

What if Derrick did something?!

I'm wondering the same thing.

She told me last week that he thought she was cheating on him with me.

I'm really worried about her, Farkle.

So am I.

I set down my phone and laid my head back on my pillow. I just stared at my ceiling.