CHAPTER 45

I blew my hair dry after the shower, so it wouldn't look suspicious when Simon's mom came home. I'd just gotten off of her bad side, and I didn't want to give her any new reason to dislike me. We were sitting on Simon's bed watching TV when she opened the door.

"Hey guys," she said. "Sorry to interrupt. Simon, do you know what's wrong with your brother?"

"He's just going through one of his little mood-swings, I'm sure. Why?"

"His bedroom door is locked, and he won't let me in. I can smell cigarette smoke, and your father's last two beers are gone. Which is not going to make him happy, by the way."

"That's unlikely him," Simon said. "He's an ass to me all of the time, but he's never an ass to you."

"I'm worried," she murmured. "He's been so unstable. Maybe he needs to go back to the doctor. Have you noticed his moods, S