The next morning Ava wakes up to the smell of breakfast cooking; she pulls on her robe and walks down stairs. Bradin is sitting on the couch bruises have formed on his face and his eye is now black and blue. Nikki and Derrick are helping Johnny cook.

" Bradin how are you feeling?"

" Alright, I have one question though?"

" Yeah what would that be?"

" Do I have to go to school, I mean Callie last night I was suppose to…"

" Bradin, don't worry Jay called her last night after he found out you were ok," Johnny replies as he sets the plates of food on the table which is set, " Come on let's eat."

" Bradin, you can skip first period, to do all the homework you couldn't finish."

" Ava I don't think that would be a good idea, letting him skip school."

" Johnny, after what happened last night, I'm letting him."

" Aunt Ava, what did happen last night to Bradin; I asked him, but he wouldn't tell us."

" He was hurt by some people on his way home."

"Come on guys lets go and hurry up I have a meeting at eight."

Everyone gathers around the table except Bradin. Twenty minutes later Johnny leaves with Derrick and Nikki. Ava goes up to her sewing room where Colby and Susannah have already started on the days work. Suddenly the phone rings down stairs, Bradin yells from his spot on the couch, " Aunt Ava, the phone is for you." Ava rushes down the stairs and takes the phone from Bradin, who continues to do his homework.

" Hello; yes, this is she; Umm, no he is right here; you spoke to him first; Ok, we will; thank you officer." Ava hangs up the phone " Bradin, we're going to go down to the police station, looks like you'll get out of more school today than you thought." She grabs her purse and keys from the table, " Colby, Susannah, we're going to the station, they want to talk to Bradin."

" Ok, we'll see you when you get back." Replies Susannah

" Bradin, get your books, I'll bring you to school after wards."

Bradin picks up his books that are now scattered on the table and puts them into a bag.

At the station, Bradin and Ava enter main office and are greeted by the county Sheriff, " Mrs. Durant, Bradin, thank you for coming down here this morning, apparently the guys that mugged you yesterday, tried to use one of Bradin's cards, they all were arrested and brought down here."

" What; how?" confused Bradin asks

" That we don't know, but we need to know if you recognize any of them, so if you both could follow me."

They go back to a room where 9 guys are lined up along a wall, " they can't see you Bradin, so feel free to approach the glass and exam them carefully."

After several hours of examination Bradin leaves for school; at the school they enter the office.

" I'm Bradin Westerly's guardian, I'm sorry he is so late, he was at the police station for questioning following an incident last night."

" Oh, ok."

" I also have a doctor's form stating that he is relived from physical education for up to 3 months minimum."

" Ok, I'll need to make a copy of that for yourself, the school and his teachers."

Ava hands over the form to the secretary.

"Bradin here is your pass to your class and a copy of the doctor's form, stating you are allowed the prescription pain killers."

" Ok, thank you Ms. McCartney," Bradin turns to Ava, " I'll see you later this afternoon."

Bradin leaves and continues down the hall to class. Bradin enters the classroom of his 7th hour class, which is halfway over; the teacher, who is in his late twenty's early thirties, turns around to see who is entering.

" Mr. Westerly nice of you to join us today."

" Mr. James, I'm sorry for being late; something happened last night and I was suppose to go the police station this morning and it took longer than they thought."

" I see, do you have all the proper entrance forms?"

"Yes, sir." Bradin hands over the 5 papers that the secretary gave him; he looks through them carefully. " You may be seated." Bradin makes his way over to his seat by Callie. " Ok now to continue. You will divide into pairs and discuss the sections of the novel you read last night." Callie turns to Bradin and is about to speak when, Mr. James, calls Bradin to the Front. Picking up his crutches he goes outside with the teacher.

" Mr. Westerly, I understand the condition in which you are in and will extend all due dates if in which you are gone on similar circumstances."

" Thank you Mr. James."

" Ok thank you for your time." They both go back into the classroom and Bradin retakes his seat next to Callie.

" What did he want?"

"Nothing; I'm sorry I couldn't apologize in person last night."

"Bradin, it's ok, I was sort of freaking when you hadn't shown up by 9:30, but then Jay called and told me and well…" Suddenly the bell signally the end of the class period rings. Callie helps Bradin with his things and they make their way to the last class of the day together. Upon Entering the final class P.E. the teacher, mid-to late twenties, approaches him, " Westerly, what the hell happened to you."

" Long story, I have the doctor's form reliving me from P.E."

" Well I assumed that much; how long are you out?"

"3 months minimum doctor didn't give much info on the condition."

" Ok, well today we're going to the volley courts and since you definitely can't play I'm going to let you go down to the library and work on homework."

" Ok, Thanks Mr. Carlson."

"No problem."

Bradin waves goodbye to Callie and leaves heading for the school library at the other end of the school. Suddenly he hears someone yelling his name angrily from behind him; Bradin turns around to see someone he didn't recognize.

"Who are you and what do you want?"

" You don't know me; well then you must know some of my friends from last night."

Bradin begins to panic and hurriedly as he can rushes down the hallway; he trips over his feet and falls hard to the ground he looks up to see the window up ahead shatter. Teachers begin to come out into the hall wondering what is going on. Bradin rolls over to his back and tries sitting up but is denied when pain shoots through his knee and lower leg. He screams out in agony, a near by teacher rushes over to him. The teacher is Mr. James he removes the wrapped brace from Bradin's knee examining the condition of his knee.

" Miss Nicholson, please quickly go to the office and have the secretary call for an ambulance and Mr. Westerly's guardians."

The teenaged girl runs to the office quickly; Mr. James starts to question Bradin.

" Bradin, I need you to tell me where most of the pain is centered."

Bradin stutters out, " Mostly… in my…knee"

"OK, Bradin, just remain still the ambulance should be here shortly."