CH.2

Malcolm went straight to his room that afternoon. Tomorrow was Friday at least and then maybe then he could look foreword to the weekend. After doing homework and basically laying around in his room Reese broke in. "Lets go Pansy."

Reese was going to do this to him now with so much to do and Stevie in the hospital how very Reese.

"Malcolm," Reese ranted, "last year when Stevie had his operation it took you three days to get to the hospital, but you knew he was okay, THREE DAYS Malcolm and now, now you don't know because he hasn't called you and Kitty called Mom and…"

"Okay," Malcolm scorned, "I get it."

Dewey who had entered during Reese's rant spoke up "Why don't you like Stevie anymore?"

Malcolm looked surprised "Its not that I don't like Stevie, he just probably doesn't want me to see him like that hooked up to machines and stuff we don't talk about him being sick and lame and stuff." Malcolm knew Dewey knew he 'liked' Stevie still but he also knew they didn't know it was Malcolm's own phobia of hospitals and the awkwardness they created between Malcolm and Stevie.

Why would Stevie want to see me he's sick he probably needs rest his moms probably there all day with him and what do we even do in the hospital

The brothers dropped the subject Reese through a ball at Malcolm's head and left the room. Dewey stomped his foot and stated very bluntly, "You're a bad friend."

A bad friend, a bad friend, ha, I'm the kind of man who considers my friend and what HE might want Stevie probably not even conscious.

Malcolm opened a textbook, not that he was in a mood to study, he just wanted a distraction.

When he woke up it was Friday. The boys dressed and fought their way to the breakfast table like every other morning. At school, it was finally lunch. Lloyd was the first to speak to Malcolm, "Stevie wanted to know why you didn't come by yet."

Excitedly looking up Malcolm replied, "Oh uh, uh, so he's awake then."

"Yes, and when mother and I went by yesterday he wanted to know what happened to you."

"Well how is he? He can talk and everything right?" Malcolm tried to play it cool but he knew he was coming off as excitable.

Unless he wrote it down or signed or used a typewriter he's only got the one lung anyway and Stevie not exactly a good speaker.

"I was going to yesterday, but stuff came up." Malcolm stated plainly trying to save face.

Wow I'm worried about looking sissy in front of other Krellborns.

"I'm a busy man." He ended the conversation and the bell rang.