The next day, Friday, Roger was in the middle of his morning classes when the intercom buzzed.

"Mr. Davis?"

Roger waved at his students to be quiet and pushed the intercom button. "Yes?"

"You have a phone call."

"Can you take a message?"

"She said it's an emergency."

"I'll be there in two seconds."

Roger looked at the class, trying not to panic. "Uh…Janie, you're in charge. Guys, just…behave."

He darted out of the classroom and down the stairs.

In the office, the secretary was waiting for him. She nodded to the phone and Roger picked up.

"Hello?"

"Roger, it's Maureen."

"What's going on? They said it was an emergency. Is Maria okay?"

"Well, um…yes…she started complaining that she wasn't feeling good. I took her down to the nurse and she's got a fever."

"How high?"

"101."

"Shit," he muttered.

"I know you've got class too but she really wants to just go home."

"Yeah, yeah, of course. I just have to find someone to cover my classes. Is she there with you?"

"Yeah, you wanna talk to her?"

"Yeah."

A minute later, a little voice came on the phone. "Daddy?"

"Hey, baby. Mrs. Cohen says you're not feelin' so hot."

"I wanna go home, Daddy."

"I know, baby. Daddy's just got to find someone to teach his class and then I'll be right there, okay?"

"Okay."

"You just hang on, okay? I love you."

"Love you too, Daddy."

Roger hung up when he heard the dial tone. The secretary had gone back to her typing, but Roger knew she'd heard his end of the conversation.

"Grace, anyone got a free period now?"

She nodded. "Yes, I believe Ms. Shepard has a free period."

"Great. Thanks."

Roger sprinted back up the stairs to the math teacher's room. "Jules?"

"Roger, hi. Don't you have class?"

"Yeah, Maria's teacher just called and she's sick. Any chance you could—"

"I'll cover you."

"Thanks. I'm just going to grab my keys and tell the kids you're coming."

"No problem. Tell them I'll be there in five."

--LINE BREAK--LINE BREAK--

Roger slammed on the brakes as he reached the parking lot. Why the hell am I panicking? She's probably just got the flu, he told himself. Roger paused to catch his breath and went to the main office.

"Roger Davis. My daughter's a kindergartner in—"

"Rog? We're in here," Maureen said, poking her head out one door.

Roger went to the room and saw Maria curled up on the plastic cot. He sat beside her and rubbed her back with one hand, touching her forehead with the other. She definitely had a fever.

"Maria, honey? You awake?"

"Daddy?"

"Yeah, I'm here, kiddo. Let's go."

The nurse came in and handed Maureen a clipboard.

"Roger, you just gotta sign this so they know you took her home."

Roger grabbed the pen from her and scribbled his signature at the bottom of the page. Maria sat up, eyes half-closed.

"You okay, baby?"

She nodded. Roger looked to Maureen.

"She throwing up?"

"No, just says her head hurts and her throat."

"Flu?"

"Sounds like it to me," the nurse said.

Roger nodded. "Thanks. Both of you."

He scooped Maria up in his arms and carried her to the car. She smiled as he buckled her in.

"I'm glad you comed to get me," she said.

Roger smiled and kissed her hot forehead. "Me too."

Maria was sound asleep by the time they got home. Roger picked her up and carried her into her room.

"Maria, honey, we're home."

She shifted slightly in his arms. "Wan' take a nap," she said.

"Okay. You want me to put on your jammies first?"

She nodded. Roger went to the dresser and found her purple sweats. He changed her into them and helped her under the covers.

"Better?"

Maria nodded and Roger stood to leave.

"Daddy?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you sing me?"

Roger smiled and sat at the end of her bed. Stroking her hair gently, he sang to her until she fell asleep.

--LINE BREAK--LINE BREAK--

Joanne picked up the phone. "Joanne Jefferson."

"Joanne, it's Roger."

"Hey. I was just getting ready to head out."

"Yeah, um, about tonight…Maria's sick. She kind of needs me at home tonight."

"Oh. Okay. Do you need anything? I mean, I could bring some soup or something." She paused. "That didn't sound quite as junior high-ish in my head," she laughed.

Roger chuckled. "Actually, it sounded sweet. I've got soup here but if, um, if you wanted to, you know, stop by or whatever, that'd be okay."

"I may have to do that," she said, ideas already forming.

--LINE BREAK--LINE BREAK--

Benny sat in the restaurant, waiting for the girl from the camera shop. Her name, he'd learned, was Mimi. She had to work in the afternoon and so suggested they meet at the little Italian restaurant Benny had picked for their first date. He shifted in his seat, hoping he wasn't too dressed up, that the flower he'd got for her wasn't too much.

"Ben?"

He turned and saw Mimi smiling. Her drab work clothes had been changed for a knee-length purple skirt and a simple white sweater. Her dark curly hair spiraled down to her shoulders.

"Thought that was you," she said.

"Mimi, hi. You look…you look amazing," he said, holding her chair out.

She blushed. "Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself."

--LINE BREAK--LINE BREAK--

Angel stared at the television screen, trying to focus on the random sitcom she'd flipped on. Collins had only been gone for a day but already Angel was bored out of her mind.

"May as well do something productive," she mumbled, pulling out her sketchbook.

As she watched the people flicker across the screen, Angel let herself be inspired, drawing and sketching new outfits for each character. She'd take them to the studio in the morning and do some finalizations before adding them to the new line.

A knock at the door jolted Angel from the creative trance. She glanced at the clock and realized she'd been sketching for over an hour. Putting an eye to the peephole, she smiled to see Mimi.

"Mimi-chica!"

"Hey, girl! Figured with Collins out of town, you might want some company."

"Always, come in."

Mimi grinned and stepped into the living room. Angel eyed her suspiciously. "What?"

"Spill it," Angel said.

"Spill what?"

"I know that grin. That's the grin I got when I met my Collins. Now what's his name?"

Mimi laughed. "Benny."

"It's not Roger?"

"Who?"

"The guy from the diner the other night? Really cute?"

"Oh, no. Well, he hasn't called me anyway. But get this, remember the hot guy from the camera shop?"

"The one developing his friend's pictures?"

"Yeah."

"Didn't you forget to get his name?"

"He came back. Just to see me."

Angel's lips pouted. "Aw! That's so cute!"

"I know!" she giggled

"Okay, let me get some popcorn. This calls for a girl night. I want all the details."

Mimi couldn't stop smiling as she settled down on the couch and began to recount the whole evening to Angel.