SIX

VERA'S POV

"Are you there?" Rachel's voice came over the phone, cutting through my dismay.

"Yeah, yeah," I said, flustered.

There was a suspicious "uh huh," at the other end of the line, followed by a pause and a giggle.

"Wait…Vee, are you just coming back from your crush's party?" Rachel asked.

"Um…yeah…"

There was a squeal at the other end. "Hurray! It was all night?" she asked breathlessly.

"Yeah…," I wanted to tell her I didn't even know when the party was over, seeing as I was knocked out, but she speared on.

"Wow!" she squealed again. "You're a big girl now, Vee. You're leaving me behind," she giggled madly. "How was it? Wait, you haven't told me who it is, have you? Which boy wasn't at school today too?"

I held my breath. Rachel groaned in frustration.

"Gosh. They're too many that didn't come to school today. You will tell me who it was and all about it when you come to school, won't you?" she asked breathlessly.

I groaned mentally. I