Okay, guys. Here's the next chapter!

Hiro's P.O.V.

After me and Erika had finished eating, we quickly put our bowls in the sink, and headed downstairs. When we were, though, Erika pulled out her phone again.

"I'm sorry. Again. I told Amity I would call her back when I got the answer. And time." Erika clicked the call button, then brought the phone to her ear.

"Hey, Amity? Yeah, my mom said yes . . ." Erika smiled, chuckling, "She said you could come over around 5 . . . Yeah. I've gotta text the others still . . . Oh, can you? Thanks so much. I have a wonderful surprise for you all when you get here. I'm sure Dante would be happy to drive all four of you over here . . . Okay. Bye."

Erika sighed. "This is so great . . ."

"What is?" I asked. "Didn't you just say that you could have a sleepover?"

Erika nodded. "Yeah, and it's awesome. My mom's never let me have this many people over at once before. Maybe we all could crash in a tent or something. It's supposed to be nice."

"Well," I said, "it is summer, is it not?"

Erika shrugged, but I knew she had her answer. "It's just . . . I hate cleaning."

I stared at her. She was about to have four of her friends come over, and she was sad about cleaning?

"I know," she said. "It's stupid. But it's still true."

"I can help. And when everyone else gets back, they can, too. We can wait to see how the contraption works until they get here." I suggested, earning another nod from her.

Erika went into the room, sitting down beside the contraption. I had a feeling she was just being paranoid over how it looked. I sometimes got that way when I had something really special to show someone. I wanted it to look as nice as it could possibly be. Maybe she was the same way.

We sat in silence for a while, then Erika stood. "I'd better get to work. Best to have some of it done before your friends even get back."

As she headed upstairs, I sighed. What exactly was I getting myself into?

Erika's P.O.V.

As I trudged up the stairs, my legs started to ache. Just great. The last thing I needed was to not be able to move my legs when my friends got here.

I stopped at the top, letting my tunnel vision dissipate. After, I walked into my room.

I began to pick up some things that had fallen over, such as tiny figurines I had collected over the years (don't judge), and my feet were slowly regaining their circulation. I didn't even notice Hiro leaning in the doorway.

I jumped, dropping the stack of books I was trying to take over to my unorganized bookshelf. They fell right on my foot, and I brought my foot up to cradle it. My unplanned reaction to this made me unsteady, and I slowly tipped backwards. The stack of books made it impossible for me to step anywhere. I tried to flail my arms to regain my balance; it has worked many times before. But I, stupidly, fell backwards, arms flailing, foot throbbing, onto the ground by the bed.

"Erika!" I heard Hiro say, kneeling beside me. He wanted to help me, I could tell. But the way he held his hands it seemed like he was afraid to.

I groaned, a book grinding its spine into my back. Laying on books isn't as comfortable as you'd think. But I couldn't move. I didn't have to energy.

"Come on, let's get you onto the bed. Maybe then we can put some ice on that injury." Hiro pointed to my foot.

I tried to speak, but only a small rasp came out.

"Can't . . . move . . ." I tried, but I was still scared. Why couldn't I speak?! "Help me . . . I . . . can't . . . do it . . . myself."

I swore under my breath, but I could also tell Hiro heard me.

He took a visibly deep breath, and wrapped an arm around my back, taking the book out from underneath me. Then, he put an arm around my legs, and with one giant heave, lifted me off the ground.

He set me on the bed, gasping for breath. I guess he wasn't used to having to carry that much weight. Or maybe it was the bandages? The wounds under them?

"Ow," he complained, resting his hand over a large bandage over his arm. I couldn't move my body enough to actually see his arm, but I had known that was the only bandage he could have hurt. My back must've been heavier than I thought.

I was slowly feeling the pain in my body fade away. I couldn't believe it. But then, instead of simply fading away completely, it all grouped together in my stomach. I have learned to bear it, so instead, I sat up.

"You okay?" I asked, my voice a little hoarse. Now that my little "episode" had gone, I was almost fine.

Hiro removed his hand from his arm, shocking me.

His arm was covered in blood.

Honey's P.O.V.

As we pulled back into the driveway, I could see that there were many lights on in the house. But I couldn't see anyone moving inside.

Then, as the garage door slowly closed, Fred was the first one to open the door.

"That was awesome!" He said, a little too loud for my liking. "Erika? Hiro?"

Fred tried calling for them, but all we heard were faint rustling sounds. Then, all of a sudden, Erika poked her head out of the bathroom door.

"Hey guys," she said, leaning back into the room. "I'm just grabbing some stuff for Hiro's arm. Gotta be quick."

"What happened?" I asked.

She stepped out of the doorway, holding an armful of bandages and a bottle of alcohol.

"Hiro's wound broke open again."

Then, without another word, she ran into her own room.