Jimmy was silent for a moment as the phone suddenly disconnected in his ear. Frozen for a spit second as the car sped down the dark streets in shocked silence. In those that second he couldn’t hear Bo’s hoon-loon talk, nor could he hear Brook signing off key in the back seat. He could only hear his sister; over and over that horrible, inhuman growl.

Slowly, the boy looked down to stare at the phone, as if the pink, shiny receiver would somehow explain why this was happening again.

“I’m never gonna end with you, cuz I’ve gone to deep we know it’s true. And we’re heading off into the blue. I’m in love with you; I’m in love with you.” Brook was singing at the top of her lungs. She was totally digging this song at the moment and the young woman had started squealing when the first cord had been played through the tinny speakers of the car. But she’d cut herself off when in leaning over to crank up the volume even more she’d spotted Jimmy and more importantly; she’d seen how intently he was staring at the mobile.

“Hey,” she called out over the booming volume. “You sure you’re ok?”

Jimmy turned and faced the young love of his life with a haunted expression. “I have to go home.” He said in a low tone that Brook had to strain to hear over the booming music.

“Why?” she asked, interested, but not entirely concerned. “What’s wrong?”

“My sister….” But Jimmy couldn’t thing of anything else to say after that.

“She sick?” asked Bo. Once again taking his eyes from the road and giving his passenger another look over. Jimmy wasn’t looking too healthy; he seemed to have gone through three shades of pale since they’d left his house less than twenty minutes earlier.

“Yeah.” replied Jimmy, seizing the excuse and making it his own, “real sick”
he added as an unwanted memory of Elle staring in horror as her hand as bones shifted less than hour before.

“We were born only to fly, and if I’m not with you I know I’m gonna die. And in the end I’m in love with you, I’m in love with…” the song was abruptly cut off when Bo muted the sound. “You really want to go home?” he asked looking more than disappointed. “I’m sure your sis’s been sick by herself before.” Bo suddenly sneered “you finally get to hang with the big kids and you’re running home whipped?”

Jimmy snarled, a low and unnecessary growl emitted from the boy’s throat. “Listen fudge boy,” he growled, he’d never said anything so homophobic in his life and some small part of Jimmy’s mind was disgusted at himself. “But you and your little chemoflarge here” at this he jestured at Brook who wore an expression of confused hurt, “have no fricking idea what my sister is going through.” He snarled, “But if you don’t turn this hunk of junk around I’m going to rip out your spleen.”

Well that caused an interesting silence. The two other members of the vechile stared at Jimmy.

“Get out.” Bo said flatly.

Jimmy blinked, suddenly realizing exactly what he’d said and how far from home he was. “No, wait, I’m…” the boy tried to self explain but Bo was having nothing of it.

“Just get out.” He said again, louder this time. Brook was just staring at Jimmy open mouthed as if he’d just grown a tail or something. And in Jimmy’s case that was quite a likely story. Without even realizing it he checked for one.

“I’m sorry…” It was the only thing Jimmy could think of saying. And he didn’t have to see the expression on the driver’s face to know that it was nowhere near enough. “Brook…” Jimmy turned to face the girl in the back pleadingly. But she just shook her head disbelievingly. Jimmy looked down at his hands mortified and ashamed. He was still holding the mobile. It was still pink. He let out a low sigh, put the mobile in the drink holder and left the car. Bo sped off without so much as looking back at him. Cranking up the volume just spite the boy stationed at the side of the road. It was then that Jimmy realized he probably should have called a cab before hopping out of the car. Because it was a long walk home. And by the sounds of how Elle was doing, it was unlikely that he was going to make it back unchanged.