The confusion on Reid's drawn visage was that none had seen before. Slowly, the spoon dropped from his hands and he leaned back against his own wall. His eyes began to widen and his lip tremble. Hunter glanced to Reid, who was losing grip. Mellody quickly dried what tears she had to comfort Reid. Eufo was at the bottom of their concern. "Jazz?" Reid croaked. "My…Jazz did it?"
"He's obviously taking the rap for you, Reid," Hunter tried. "Jazz wouldn't do a thing like that." Eufo stood up, wiping his face. It was written across him plain as the stars. "Jazz wouldn't, would he?"
"I'm sorry, Reid," Eufo said. "Jazz should have told sooner! It was him who boarded up the well, I was there too. We…we were behind the whole stupid idea. I'm…I'm sorry…"
"Sorry?" Reid echoed, voice faint and disappearing. Soon it caught itself with a fury even the Saxophones cowered at. "You say you're sorry!? Do you realize what you've done!" Reid suddenly thrust the kettle aside, soup pouring out across the front steps. "One of my best friends is battling death in there!"
Inside, Liggy stood up at the clatter. "What is it?" Cornett asked. "What happened?" Liggy rushed outside to find Reid shouting with no remorse. Eufo looked as if he were to collapse.
"Reid, no!" Liggy thrust her arms onto Reid, holding him back. Fury still throbbed from his eyes. Eufo fell back, weeping.
"Please, no, we didn't mean to hurt you, Reid! We didn't mean for Cornett to die!"
"Eufo, go!" Liggy shouted, still struggling to contain Reid. "Just go!" Eufo scrambled to his feet and scurried into the night. Reid fought for a moment or two to chase him, but soon surrendered in her grasp. "Reid, Reid Senior! Stop it! This isn't you!" Reid softened even more, and pulling from her hold softly, he turned to her, head slumped. Hunter and Mellody slowly covered each of his sides.
"Come on, Reid," Mellody said quietly. "Inside. Cornett's wanting to know what you just did." Reid unsteadily swaggered back inside. He moved straight to his room by habit, and then to Cornett's bedside.
"Reid, what happened out there?" Cornett asked optimistically, looking more alive than ever. Reid smiled at his friend's progress, shaking his head slightly as the grin faded.
"Cornett…" he began, sitting on his own cot. "Cornett, Jazz was the one…" He stopped, his eyes had fallen again. Liggy, Hunter, and Mellody watched Cornett's face, still and unchanging. With sudden surprise, Cornett reached out to his friend's resting arm and cleared his broken throat.
"I know, Reid." Reid gave his deepest sigh and let his shoulders drop. "It's…it's OK."
"Cornett you won't be the first--" Hunter started, but Mellody stopped him.
"I know what he's done," Cornett repeated, stronger. "And I know what it can bring. But we forgive him." Reid looked up, vibrant eyes peering out over his folded wrists. "We forgive him."