After supper, I took a shower, and got into my fuzzy pajamas, reclaiming my spot on the couch to do more homework.

Adam, who was settling in for the evening to relax, with newspaper and coffee in hand, seemed surprised at the intense way I was

working, with it being only Friday night and all. Guthrie, meanwhile, had gone off to play pool with Trent in town. Without, I might add,

talking to me about what he'd said he'd talk to me about earlier. Kristen.

Still-I made a resolution to catch him early the next morning before breakfast and make him talk to me, then.

"Workin' hard tonight, huh?" Adam remarked, sinking down on the couch opposite the one I was sitting on.

"Yeah. I want to get everything finished tonight," I said. I looked up at him, and said, "If I get everything done, then on Sunday

when I get home from Lori's house, Crane said that Kenny could come over."

Adam nodded in understanding. "Mmm," he said. "Okay."

I had begun working again, trying to do an unscramble word page for Anatomy, when Adam spoke up next.

"How's Kristen?"

I stopped writing and twirled my pencil between my middle and index fingers.

"Acting crazy," I said, without thinking about it first.

Adam's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Yeah?" he asked, sounding concerned.

"Well-not crazy," I amended. I didn't want Adam to think so badly of Kristen, or tell me that he had concerns about me being

around her. "Just-she's upset all of the time now, it seems like. Edgy. And she doesn't seem to care about much of anything."

"That's too bad," Adam said, sounding regretful.

"Yeah," I said, in agreement. "I mean-she's always had moments where her life at home got to her, but at least she still

seemed happy sometimes, and she wanted to have good grades and all that."

"Not now though, huh?" he asked.

I shook my head. "She's dating someone else now."

"Is she?" he asked, looking mildly surprised.

"The new boy at school. Dean. He's got a really nice car. I mean, I guess they're dating. She was riding with him after school."

"That the one Guthrie was talkin' about?" he asked.

I nodded, and he said, "So, she's past Guthrie then, too? Not takin' the breakup hard?"

I hesitated. "That's the thing of it," I said. "She is taking it hard. I know she is, by things that she's said."

"Maybe tryin' to make Guthrie jealous, then, you think?"

I thought about that for a moment. "I don't think so," I said. "I mean-she might be, but it seems like there's something more

going on, too."

"Like what?" Adam asked.

I hesitated. "I'm not sure," I admitted.

"Well, I hope she gets straightened out, and doesn't go off the rails," Adam said.

I considered that, thinking that Kristen didn't really have anybody in her life that would help guide her, and keep her from

going off those rails.

I said something along those lines. "She seems sort of lost, though."

"Yeah. She does," Adam said, in agreement.

Hannah came into the living room then, along with Clare, and so Adam talked to Hannah and began reading his

newspaper, and we didn't talk anymore right then about Kristen.

I finished my homework, feeling accomplished. I got myself a snack, and did my shot, and called to talk to Lori for

a bit. When I was done with that, it was going on ten o'clock. Isaac had long been put to bed, and Crane had gone out

somewhere. I rejoined Adam and Hannah and Clare and Brian in the living room, curling up in one of the recliners and tucking

my legs up underneath my butt.

Clare was yawning, her tiredness apparent in her face. "I think I'll go up to bed," she announced, and gave Brian a rub on his

shoulder.

"I'll be up soon," Brian told her.

"Okay. Night, everyone," Clare said.

We all said goodnight to her, and she headed up the stairs.

"Are you going to wait up for Daniel?" I asked, in a general way. I was fairly certain that Adam would, for sure. Besides the fact

that he wouldn't go to sleep until Guthrie was safely in by curfew.

"I'd like to," Hannah said. "But, I don't know if I can stay awake."

"No reason for you to stay up," Adam told her. "It could be hours yet."

I made up my mind to stay up, as well, with Adam and Brian, too, if they waited for Daniel. A few minutes later, Hannah

stood, and said she was going to bed. She ran her hand over my hair, and headed up the stairs.

That left the three of us. The two of them talked about ranch stuff, while I read the latest novel I'd taken out from the school

library. After a while longer, Adam spoke, "You ought to be gettin' up to bed," he told me.

"I want to wait up with you for Daniel," I told him.

"You'll be up late tomorrow night at Lori's, most likely," he said. "Two late nights isn't good for you."

He knew his stuff. Adam had read and researched all about diabetes. Specifically, diabetes in teenagers. He was right. Going to bed

late can increase glucose levels. It increases insulin resistance, which then can increase blood sugar levels. Blah, blah, blah.

Still-sometimes my stubborn side rears its head. A normal girl my age would be able to stay up for several nights late, and not

have to think twice about it. Well, normal, that wasn't the right word for it. A girl without diabetes. That's it.

"I'll be okay," is all I said in answer, though. Hoping he would drop it, and not oppose me staying up.

"Harlie."

I met his gaze. That was all he said. Just, 'Harlie'.

I sighed, and in frustration slapped my book shut. "I get so tired of this crap!" I said. As in diabetes.

They were both looking at me. Neither one of them immediately said anything about my flash of temper, though their disapproval was

evident by the expressions on their faces.

I untucked my legs and scooted to the edge of my chair, though I kept sitting.

"It's so annoying!" I groused, and in further frustration, I flung the library book towards the end of the opposite unoccupied couch,

where it missed its mark and came instead, to a stop on the floor, bumping into the coffee table and jarring Brian's glass of

iced tea. It didn't spill, or anything, but it for sure seemed as though it would for a moment or so. Just a few drops splashed out.

Hmm. I hadn't realized that I'd put quite that much force behind that fling of mine...

Brian had reached out to steady his glass, and he uttered an irritated, "Harlie!"

"Sorry," I said, automatically. I mean-I was frustrated, and all, but I wasn't crazy or looking to raise their ire in such a degree.

"Get a grip, young lady," Brian ordered, giving me a look that suggested I was 'off the rails'.

"I said sorry," I reiterated, contritely. "I'll get a towel-" I added, and started to get up.

Brian was swiping up the few drops of tea on our scarred coffee table with his sleeve. "We don't need a towel," he said.

Truth be told, I would have rather escaped to get a towel, even if it was only for a couple of minutes.

I moved to stand up, and Adam held out a hand, palm out, in a halting gesture.

"Just sit down there," he said.

"Come on, guys," I protested. "I'm just frustrated-I said I was sorry for tossing the book-"

Dogs barking outside signaled the arrival of somebody. The sound of a vehicle pulling up, close to the house, and the engine

shutting off. I breathed a sigh of relief at the reprieve. Daniel was home. That would take Adam and Brian's attention off of me...

But, before anybody could go look out the window, Guthrie came in, closing the door behind him, and

saying, "Hey, everybody."

"Leave the porch light on, Guth," Adam said. "Daniel's on the road here."

"Okay," Guthrie said.

Guthrie came over to sit on the arm of the unoccupied couch. The couch I'd been aiming at with my failed book toss.

"Home before eleven," Guthrie announced, as if he'd invented a cure for the common cold. "And as sober as a judge," he added, with a grin.

"Great job," Adam said, dryly.

"So-any of that chocolate cake left over?" Guthrie asked, then.

"I think maybe so," Adam said.

"What time's Daniel gettin' in?" Guthrie asked.

"Not sure. He had a flat earlier," Adam said.

"We all gonna be at the building tomorrow, helpin' out?" Guthrie asked, then.

"After chores are done, yeah, he can use all the hands he can get in there," Brian said.

I thought it would be a good time to make my move.

"May I go to bed?" I asked, quietly. Very respectfully.

"No," Adam said, at the same time as Brian said, "Not until you're set straight."

I sighed, and edged back onto my chair. Guthrie gave me a look, as in 'what'd I walk in to?'

"What's up?" he asked.

"Go on and get your cake," Adam told him. "And then get up to bed."

Guthrie gave me a look of sympathy, and ambled out towards the kitchen.

I sat, perched on the edge of the chair, and began to try to invoke sympathy. And understanding.

"I shouldn't have gotten frustrated," I said. "It's just hard sometimes-to always have to consider how my time or anything that

I do is gonna be effected by my diabetes. But-I still shouldn't have gotten frustrated. I'm sorry."

"It's not about you being frustrated, Harlie," Adam said. "It's only natural that you're going to feel that way. Frustration is

one thing. Understandable. Temper is somethin' else."

"Throwin' things around, that's just you actin' out," Brian added.

"I understand," I said, still contrite.

"Anger and temper are two different things," Adam said.

I stayed quiet after that comment. I did feel badly about throwing the book that way. It was embarrassing, sitting there

in front of both of them, while they got onto me like this. I stopped trying to defend myself, or assure them that I got it. I just

got quiet.

"Pick that book up," Adam told me. I stood up and walked the few feet, retrieving the book from the floor, and waited, holding

it in both my hands.

"Go on to bed," he said, then.

"You do your shot?" Brian said, in reminder.

I nodded. "I did."

"Go on, then," Brian said.

I sort of avoided both of their faces, and said, 'okay', and headed towards the staircase.

"Night," I said, quietly.

Brian echoed my 'Night', and Adam said, "Goodnight."

I went upstairs, where I left the book on my bed, and went to brush my teeth and wash my face. Guthrie must have gone up the

back stairs, because I could hear music coming from his bedroom. I thought about going to talk to him, but now it didn't seem as

though it couldn't wait until morning. I was tired now.

It was while I was brushing my teeth, that I paused, looking at myself in the bathroom mirror.

Just like always, or usually, anyway, after I'm talked to, or corrected, or whatever you want to call it, and they just

talk, even if it's in a stern way, I feel badly. Ashamed of myself. At least if I believe that they were right. And, in this case,

they were. I spit out the toothpaste, and took a drink from one of the Dixie cups. I padded back downstairs, pausing

midway down to peer over the banister.

They were both sitting just where they'd been a few minutes before. I came on down, silent in bare feet. Since they were on

that couch, their back was to the stairs. I came up behind the couch, just as Adam turned to see me standing there. Before he

could say anything, I leaned down and hugged Brian around the neck from behind. After a moment, I released my arms and

stood up, moving the couple steps to do the same to Adam. Then I paused sort of beside the couch, and this time I met

their eyes.

"Goodnight," I said.

I was fairly sure there was a small smile lurking behind both of their expressions.

"Goodnight, ornery," Brian said.

"Goodnight, baby," Adam said.

7