24. Distance

David did not answer my calls yesterday, and a gnawing fear grew in me, stronger than the frustration of him keeping secrets from me. What if he went out and looked for Uncle Fern himself again? If he couldn't trust me to go with him, I hope he had the sense to leave it to the police. Not like last time. I shudder at the thought of him getting hurt.

"Dina Matthews!" a voice calls out to me as I bend down to get a few books that I left in my chemistry lab drawer. I frown. It's a Saturday so I wasn't expecting anyone to be at school. I wasn't expecting myself to go to school, either. But my previous excursions left me with a lot of catching up to do when it comes to schoolwork.

"Yes?" I politely answer at the voice, straightening up from my crouching position. I freeze. Three girls block the exit from the lab with a menacing look my way. One of them was the girl who called me a bitch in class days ago. They're dressed like they're headed to the mall or just came from t