Wednesday night, at the dinner table, Raven and Corey kept his 'incident' a secret. Their mom and dad would blow their stacks if they'd known that Corey almost died in a car accident.

They were trying out Mr. Baxter's new invention of a supper: Chicken covered in some sorta sauce with little seasonings sprinkled all over it, orange mashed potatoes, with peas and carrots in a different kind of sauce. Raven loved it. It was delicious.

As she chowed down on her chicken, the phone rang.

Corey and Raven both jumped from their seats and screamed, "I'LL GET IT!"

They raced for the phone, shoving each other everywhere so that they might get a better chance of picking it up. Unfortunately for Raven, Corey was the 'lucky' one and he picked it up. Well, actually snatched it.

"Ha!" Corey mouthed at his sister as he listened to the person on the other end.

"Yeah, sure. Hold on a minute, Eddie." Corey said with a frown. He probably wished the call were for him.

He handed the phone to Raven.

"It's Eddie." Corey exclaimed.

Raven's heart thumped. He actually called back! She grabbed the phone away from her brother and walked the cordless into the living room. As soon as she sat down on the big recliner chair, she answered.

"Hi, Eddie!" Raven said with much happiness.

"Hey, Ray! I told ya I'd call you back."

"Thanks."

"No problem. Anyway, we're leaving tomorrow morning!"

"What!" Raven's heart beat even faster than before. Tomorrow? That was way, way too soon.

"You cannot be serious! Oh no!"

"Yeah, I'm serious alright." Eddie's voice sounded low.

"What about Chelsea? She wanted to see you so bad before you left! I wanted to see you so bad before you left!"

"I saw Chelsea today. In the hospital. Her mom called me and asked if I could come down to see her. Man, though, she didn't look so good. She's all bit up and eaten from that stupid dog."

"I know she is. It's horrible. Well, I'm glad you saw her, but what about me? I have to say a real goodbye. Not just over the phone, though. I gotta see you in person! Before you move…"

"I know, I know. Hey, maybe you could come over tonight! Just for a little while, though. I don't wanna be tired for my 'big day'."

"You think? Please? Oh, I'd love that!"

"Sure, like my parents care right now. They're just eating and sleeping. Come on over."

Raven felt good and bad at the same time. She had to go, but then it would be so depressing the whole time because it would be the last she'd see of him for two years!

"I'll be right over!" She hung up the phone and put her hand to her forehead. Oh, gosh. Oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh. He was leaving tomorrow. For what would seem like forever.

She rushed to the kitchen, finished her chicken with one gulp and grabbed her light jacket.

"Bye Mom! Bye Dad! Going to Eddie's!" Raven squeezed out the kitchen door before her mother could deny it and make Raven stay home.

She jumped on her bike and rushed down to her friend's house.

In five minutes, she was knocking on Eddie's door.

"Hey!" Eddie said with a smile as he opened the door to find Raven standing there in the light. It was dark out, and the light outside the house was all that allowed Raven to see.

Something came over Raven, and she just wanted a hug from her friend.

"Hi Eddie!" She stepped into the living room as he gestured her in.

"Wow, this place is so empty! It doesn't even look like your house anymore!" Raven glanced around the room. Everything was in boxes. It was empty. Completely empty.

"Tell me about it. It doesn't even feel like home!"

"It's sorta scary…" Raven shuddered at the dim room. All the family pictures weren't on the walls, the comfortable couch was replaced with boxes labeled all different names, and the television was by the door now.

Eddie laughed at this and they went into his bedroom, just like they always did when she came over.

His room was even worse. Only his bed was there.

"This is my room. Different, huh?" Eddie asked, looking at Raven's surprised, but yet sad, face.

"Different? It isn't even your room! It sure doesn't look like it, at least."

His room only held his bed. His closet was empty, his nightstand was gone, and even his curtains had disappeared. It was dark in there, too. It was only lit up by the hallway's light.

"Oh, Eddie! I don't want you to leave." Raven bit her lip trying to contain herself.

"I don't wanna leave, either."

Tears welled up in her eyes. This was too much to handle.

"Ray? Are you crying?" Eddie asked. It was too hard to tell in this light.

"I'm fine." She mumbled. It was so obvious she was weeping. Her voice quivered and her breathing was getting louder.

"No, you're not fine. I know you, Raven."

He walked slowly closer to her.

Eddie took her in his arms and just hugged her. Raven felt much better having him there. She hugged him back. She let her tears flow. Raven didn't care anymore. She just cried. Just hugged and cried.