Chapter 18:
"Cody, you've gotta eat something." Raine shoves her tray across the table towards him.
Rebecca nods, "Yeah Cody."
Cody accepts part of the tray and eats a couple bites of Raine's applesauce, but then just stirs it around with his spoon. Raine takes back her tray with a frustrated sigh.
"Is this about Zack" She asks, already knowing that it is. Cody shrugs and looks down at the table.
"I don't wanna talk about it." He mumbles, already feeling the hot tears at the back of his eyes. Raine looks to Rebecca who bites her lip.
"Cody…" She begins, "Zack's fine. This happened before, remember?" Cody looks up at her with moist eyes.
"If he's so 'fine' then how come he's home? And not here with us?" His voice quavers as he snaps at her, "How come he's sick…again? How come he won't talk to me, or Mom, or you, or you? How come this has happened three times in two weeks? How come…how come he's not Zack anymore?" He shouts and stands, slamming his chair into the table. He runs from the cafeteria in tears. Raine jumps up, intending to follow him, but Rebecca pulls her down into her chair.
"Let him go," She tells her, "Let him go."