He examined her closely. After being asked several questions from the principal, he'd finally been allowed to see Jocelyn. She'd been sent to the infirmary to get doctored up, and was told to stay there for the rest of the day. Her lip was busted, she had a black eye, and her face was clawed. He had a feeling that underneath the turtle-neck sweater she wore, there were even more tell-tale bruises. For the life of him, he couldn't figure out what Mirium had been thinking.
"So, do you think you're okay?"
"Yeah, yeah," she muttered. "I still don't know what she was talking about, do you?"
"I don't think so," he said, shaking his head. "Ugh, I can't believe she did that."
"Me neither," Jocelyn said, flopping back into the white pillow that was in the infirmary. Her eyes rolled up to him. "She didn't hurt you, did she?"
Zac raised his eyebrows, but shook his head no. "She was just mad at you, thank God. I don't think I would've held up as well as you did."
She tried to smile, but couldn't because it hurt too much. The nurse peeked her head in the door. "Zachary, it's time for you to get back to class."
"Okay," he said to the nurse. He gave Jocelyn a reassuring pat on the hand. "Want a ride home today?"
She shrugged. "Josh has more basketball try-outs. Why not?"
"Good," he said, standing up. "Maybe we can talk your mom into letting you come over and play play station."
Jocelyn sighed. "We'll see."
Then, Zac stood up, and went to the door. "Later, Joce."
"Bye, Zac."
