Devan

Seeing as he was soaked with formaldehyde, Brad gets busted for the worm jars and sent home early. I wonder what kind of story he'll tell his folks. Knowing his dad, he'll buy it. "Boys will be boys," he'll say and then tell Brad about all the trouble he used to get into in school.

I don't wait for Shane. I'm already at the bus stop when I see him come out of the school. I shuffle around in the snow trying to keep my feet warm, hoping the slush will wash off some of that formaldehyde stink.

Shane walks up and stands beside me. We don't say anything. What is there to say?

Finally he goes, "What's your problem, Dev?" Like I'm the one with a problem.

I don't answer. My feet are stinging from the cold. The bus is taking forever. I might as well just walk. "I'm outta here."

"Oh, what," he yells up the hill after me. "You think you're better than me, Dev?" He sounds almost desperate.

I keep walking.

"Well, you're not!" he shouts after me. "You're a loser, man. Nothing but a loser! Go ahead and walk away. You'll come crawling back. Some things never change!"

But he is wrong. Something has changed.

Me.

By the time I reach the top of the hill I know there's no way I'm walking home. Not in this weather. Not in these shoes. My feet are like ice. The only feeling left in my toes is a dull tingle. 1 cross the street and head for the hospital on the corner. My aunt works there. She is always telling me to stop by. Today seems as good a time as any to take her up on that offer of a ride.

"My shift is almost over," Aunt Maureen says with a big smile. She's so happy to see me I feel bad for waiting so long to drop by. "I'll be another fifteen minutes. Will that get you home in time for Em?"

I nod.

"Actually, Devan," she hands me a stack of library books. "I got these out for the patient in 242. Would you be a sweetie and bring them down?"

"Sure." I walk down the hall. "Visiting the library" probably isn't in her job description, but that's Aunt Maureen for you. She just has this way of giving you exactly what you need, sometimes even before you know you need it. I like that about her.

I find the room and knock.

"Come in," a voice calls from the other side. I open the door, surprised to see the room so bare. No cards, no flowers, no visitors. Poor kid, I think stepping in. No wonder Aunt Maureen took this guy under her wing.

"Just dropping off some stuff for—" my voice catches in my throat. It's him.

Will.

His leg is strung up. Tubes run in and out of his arms and nose. His broken body is covered in bandages and bruises. But it's his eyes that hit me hardest. He looks ... scared.

I take a step back.

"Uh ... here," I put the books on the table, "in case you want to read or something."

He doesn't move.

"So ... uh ... how are you doing?" I ask.

"Okay, I guess." He looks at me sideways. "Well, all things considered." He glances down at his leg.

"Looks like they got you pretty much cocooned there, don't they?"

"Yes. I'm a regular chrysalis, aren't I?" He relaxes a bit, settling back on his pillow. "Think I'll become a butterfly?"

"Who knows?" I say, staring hard at the floor. "Depends on if you think people can change."

He doesn't answer at first. But when I look up he is smiling at me.

"Yes," he says. "I think they can."

Aunt Maureen enters the room to fluff Will's pillow. She moves the book within reach.

"Thanks, Devan," Will says. "For the books, I mean. I really appreciate it."

"Oh, they're from—" I start to explain but Aunt Maureen squeezes my arm. Somehow, she knows it means more coming from me. "No problem." I start to leave and stop. "Next time I'll bring some on shedding cocoons."

"Yes," he laughs. "Yes. I'd like that very much."