"Are you sure about this?" Sean asked, after he got over the shock of what Emma had proposed and they talked about it.
"Absolutely." Emma nodded, as if to confirm all questions.
"And your mom?" Sean asked, still wary about the whole thing?
"My mom. Well. I should probably ask my mom." Emma took her phone out of her sweatshirt pocket.
Sean laughed as he watched her call home.
"Hey, Mom. Feeling better?" Emma asked and then paused for a few seconds. "Okay, well don't forget to drink lots of water. Room temperature and small sips at a time. Slowly!" She paused again. "Okay, well I was calling because Sean was, uh, kicked out of his house and, uh, I was kinda wondering if he could stay with us." She was quiet for a minute and then said, "Thanks Mom! And please call the doctor to see if he can find out what's wrong." Emma hung up.
"What'd she say?" Sean asked, already knowing the answer because of the smile on her face.
"She said yes." Emma's smile doubled in size.
"I thought you weren't supposed to have phones at detention." Sean said, curiously.
"We're not. But my mom's sick and if Raditch asks, that's what I'll say." Emma said confidently.
"Speaking of Raditch, is that why you came in here?" Sean asked, "To hide?"
"Kinda. And I should probably get back before he finds out I'm gone." Emma stood up and looked out the window. "Coast is clear. Hey, why don't you come back with me? I'll say I saw you outside and told you to come and join the party."
Sean nodded and they left the closet together.
"So…does Raditch know you're here?" Emma asked after they left the gym and made sure the coast was clear.
"No. And he won't if you don't tell him." He looked at Emma as if to say 'Tell him, you die.'
Emma nodded, understanding. In a matter of seconds that approached the doorway to the detention classroom and entered, side by side.
"Hey. Look who the cat dragged in." Jay said, standing up to greet Sean.
"Oh, so now I'm a cat?" Emma said bitterly, taking her seat.
"Hey, don't be offended." Jay said, following Emma to the back row, "I think cats are real hot. Sexy and fierce, ya know?"
"No, sorry. Don't have a sexual attraction towards cats." Emma said, not making eye contact.
Sean leaned down to Manny and whispered, "Did I miss something?"
Manny nodded and said, "Oh, yeah!"
"What's going on between them?" Sean asked.
"Long story." Ellie said.
Sean looked at the clock, "We got time."
Marco looked up at the clock, too, and said, "No way. We've only been here for an hour. It feels like ages."
"How long are you guys here for?" Sean asked.
"Eight hours." Emma sighed.
"Eight hours? That's kinda long, isn't it? My detention was never that long." Sean said.
"Maybe because we aren't screwing people during detention." Ellie glared at him, "You know what they say: 'Time flies when you're having fun.'"
"Thanks, Elle. Love the compassion." Sean said sarcastically, "Emma, I'm gonna go. Catch you later."
Emma nodded and Sean walked out the door. A few minutes later he re-entered, followed by Mr. Raditch.