I didn't say anything. The very idea seemed so remote a possibility to me, it was like talking about a trip to the moon.
"Aren't your parents upset about what happened?"
"Yeah, but they get over things quickly," he said. "My father gave me one of his fast-food lectures, abbreviated into five minutes with his usual lead-off, 'I was young once too, so I know what you're going through.' Why is it they always think we're carbon copies or just walking along a trail they've carved?" he wondered aloud. "Your parents like that?"
I almost said I couldn't remember, but caught the truth before it had a chance to find its way to my tongue and sent it reeling back.
"Yes," I said.
"I heard you took a lot of ribbing at school. Waverly's being Waverly.
"
"It didn't bother me."
"Good. Because I'm coming to school tomorrow. Of course, I can't take any notes or take any tests for a while, but I have you to take notes for me." He was silent because I was silent, and then he asked, "Are you mad at me?"
"I'm mad at myself," I said.
"Good, because I couldn't stand you being mad at me. You're the first one I want to sign my cast, so think of something great to write, like, 'No pain, no gain.' He laughed. "Okay?"
"I don't know," I said. "I have to hang up. I have to get to my homework."
"Okay, sleep tight in that great bed of yours, and don't think this cast will keep me from chasing after you," he vowed, and laughed again.
"I'll see you tomorrow," I offered. "Bye."
"Hey?"
"What?"
"We'll get over this. Don't worry about it."
"I'm not," I said.
I didn't mean to sound so casual about it, but how could I explain that I had been through far more traumatic events in my life, and when I was far younger and less equipped to handle them, too?
"Well, at least worry a little," he urged. "It makes me feel more important to you. I am important to you, aren't I?" he pursued.
"Yes, Trevor, but all this happened so quickly after I moved in here. You have to understand what I'm going through, too."
"Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry. I'll go easy. Whatever it takes," he said. "I mean it."
"Thanks," I said. "See you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow," he replied, and we hung up.
Never had tomorrow felt so ominous to me. Would it bring on more trouble or less if Trevor and I were together all the time at school? Ami would know for sure. What was I to do? Talk about migraines-- my head was spinning. I made the mistake of lying down and closing my eyes. Minutes later, I fell asleep and didn't wake up until I felt myself being nudged.
Ami stood looking down at me. Her face was filled with concern. She was in her robe.
"What's wrong with you? Why are you sleeping? Wade called up to me to tell me you hadn't come down to dinner, and you didn't answer your phone when he called."
"The phone rang?" I asked, sitting up and looking at it. "I didn't hear it." I ground the sleep out of my eyes and took a deep breath.
"Did something happen in the car with Basil?"
"Happen? No. What could happen? He was actually very nice," I said.