Chapter 20

Jake and Josh collided in the hallway outside Jake's apartment.
"Watch out man" Josh shouted, rubbing his nose.
"You watch out. You ran into me". Jake turned to Stacie "I knew you should have never let him in".
"Now boys stop arguing or I'm going to have to throw you outside." Stacie retorted.
"Of my place!" Josh protested.
"I'm not gonna be the one to explain to the cops why two dead men are lying on the floor".
"Who said anything about killing anyone?"
"If you don't shut up I'm going to have to shoot you".
"Who's she?"Starr asked, referring to Bet.
"ello, the name's Bet".
"And I'm Starr. But who are you?"
"Ay said the name's Bet," she was practically screaming now.
Stacie cut in, "You mean she's not the friend you were looking for?"
"No".
"Darn. I guess we're going to have to go and look again".
They went inside and Josh tried to explain what happened when they went to look for Jenn and how they met Bet.
"We didn't find Jenn, and we think we just missed her. But Bet was outside and offered to help us find her. So we offered her a place to stay".
"Again, in my place!" Josh was annoyed.
Bet began telling her story. "Well, Ay just moved 'ere from Glass City. Me family 'ad to leave after ta revelution and Ay lost 'em. Me best mate wuz wif me but Ay lost er. Ay ended up 'ere, but Ay 'ave no mates and no family so Ay 'ave no credits".
"Doesn't your government have a way to take care of you?" Josh asked.
"Where have you been?" Jake was puzzled.
"Bet's one of the people who fell through the cracks because of the revolution.
Josh scanned the apartment. "Where are we supposed to sleep?"
"I hadn't thought about that. I usually sleep on the couch, but all I can offer you is the floor". Jake thought for a moment. "I have some sleeping bags".
"It'll be fun. Like a sleep over", Starr said excitedly.
"Ay don't mind. After ta revolution me family and Ay spent many nights asleep on sidewalks. ay 'ould 'ave bin 'appy for a roof over me 'ead".
"Me too", Stacie chimed in. "I didn't have to leave my home like you did, but I've spent a lot of time traveling. There have been many nights when a warm sleeping bag, let alone a roof and a warm floor would have made me feel like a princess".
Josh went to the closet. When he opened it to get the sleeping bags, a pile of stuff fell on him. "Help! I think I've broken something".
"Yeah, you broke my skate board".
"No, I think I broke my ankle".
"Well, let's take a look at it".
Stacie and Jake carried Josh over to the couch.
"Careful, that hurts".
"I can leave you on the ground if you like," grumbled Stacie.
"No, I'm fine,"Josh winced.
Stacie knelt down beside Josh. "Let's take a look at that foot of yours".
"Don't you think we need to take him to the hospital for x-rays" Starr asked?
"After curfew?" Josh laughed.
"They don't have an emergency room?"
"No, besides, my cousin Stacie is as good as any hospital or nurse in this town".
"She's that good?" Josh smiled, "why didn't you tell me you were a doctor too?"
"No, they're that bad". Jake laughed, "but all B.S. aside she's taken enough First Aid classes that I'de trust her to take care of a broken ankle".
Stacie started feeling around Josh's ankle. "Tell me if it hurts".
"The whole thing hurts".
"Well, tell me if it hurts worse".
"Okay. Ow!"
"Okay now, try to move your ankle back and forth".
"Ouch!"
"It's not broken, but it's probably sprained. Jake, do you have an ice pack?"
"Here", he threw it to her.
"Keep this on it".
"I guess we don't have to worry about sleeping arrangements since we already know who has the couch", Starr said.
"I get to sleep on the floor in my own place", Jake complained.
"You'll get over it", Stacie teased.