My friend has something to tell me? Since when has he not told me anything? He loves chatting with me. I can tell. And it is important. Perhaps that he will finally tell me his disability.

I shifted my body so it was facing him and brushed my hair back. "You do?" I asked him. "You have something important to tell me?"

"That I do." He played with his fingers. "I did not want to tell you when we first met because...I was afraid that you would not believe me."

"Why would you think that I would not believe you?"

He ran a hand through his hair. "Well...even with your prosthetic limbs...I was scared that you were like those bullies at school. Anthony and Arlene and Darlene and Gus."

I raised an eyebrow. "I thought that you did not believe that disabled people can be bullies."

"I changed my mind, Allison. You were right. So right."

We heard a loud knock at the door. I almost leaped out of my shoes and tugged on the fabric of my shirt. I held my breath and stood.

"Who in the world could be here at this time of night?" Gabriel demanded.

"I do not know," I stated. "My folks were not expecting company tonight." I started walking to the door.

Gabriel grabbed my wrist. "You do not have to answer. I will answer it. For all that we know, it is the killer."

I looked down at him. "But then you will be a target."

He kissed the top of my hand. "I would rather be killed than see you dead."

"But I do not want you to be killed."

He pulled me onto the couch and scrambled to his feet. He strolled to the front door and opened it. I leaned to the side to get a better view - and I could not believe it. Standing on my porch was Gus. The boy who was close friends with Anthony and Arlene and Darlene.

What did he want now?

"Gus," Gabriel said.

"Gabriel," Gus said. He was wearing the same outfit. "I was not expecting to run into you. Huh." He massaged the back of his neck. "Guess that I ought to be glad so I can do this." He held out an open hand. "I am sorry for what my friends and I did to you this morning. I regret not doing anything to stop them."

My bottom jaw dropped. I pushed myself off the couch and walked towards Gabriel and Gus, making sure that Gus did not spot me. Now I knew that I needed to hear him. If a bully was apologizing - and was serious - then I had to eavesdrop. After all, it is rare for any bullies to apologize.

By the look on his face, I could tell that Gabriel was not buying it. He glared at Gus like that he was sucking out his soul and crossed his arms. He knew that I was next to him, but pretended that I was not there for my sake.

"Why do you have your hand out?" Gabriel asked Gus.

"So we can shake on it."

"Shake on what?"

"I am hoping that we can make amends. I honestly feel horrible for what my friends and I put you through not just this morning, but all the days that we embarrassed you. The moments that we put you down like a dog."

Gabriel tilted his head to the side. "I am surprised that you feel horrible...but you should be. How can you just stand there while your friends pick on me and a pretty girl who was in a horrific accident? She had no control over losing her arm and her leg. You are old enough to know that."

Did he just call me pretty?

"What about Adalee?" Gus reminded him. "You realize that she was bullied too, right?"

"Yes, yes. But Adalee is not the girl with the prosthetic limbs."

Gus must have lowered his hand because he said, "It is a shame that you do not want to shake my hand."

Gabriel grabbed ahold of the doorknob. "What sensible person would want to shake hands with a bully?"

"What if I told you that I will change?"

"Saying and doing are two different things."

"I promise to change for the better, Gabriel. I will leave my bullying ways behind me and be a new me."

"Will you stand up to Anthony, Arlene, and Darlene?"

"In a heartbeat. I cross my heart and hope to not die in the next chapter."

Gabriel squinted at him. "We will see."

Gus coughed. "So...are Allison and Adalee here?"

"Who wants to know?"

"I do. That is why I am asking."

Gabriel clicked his tongue. "Sorry. You missed them."

"Then where are they?"

"I would check the ice rink."

"I did not know that Allison and Adalee skated."

"You would have probably known if you were not busy bullying them."

"Then I will check the ice rink. Thank you, Gabriel."

Before I could utter a word, Gabriel slammed the door shut and locked it. He grabbed my hand and pulled me in the other room and to the couch. He shook his head slowly.

"Why did you do that?" he asked.

"Why did I do what?"

"Why did you not stay on the flippin' couch? I told you that I would take care of it."

"I was going to, but then Gus apologized to you and me and to my sister."

He plopped back on the couch. "How could that moron apologize to Adalee when she did not hear him?"

I sat next to him and tested my prosthetic hand. "I will tell Adalee later."

"You cannot tell her."

"Why not?"

"It is obvious that Gus is lying. He and his friends have bullied me for over a year."

"I am sorry to hear that. But you ought to have an open mind."

"I do for you."