"Don't worry, sweetheart. The doctors are wonderful here, and they're doing everything they possibly can."

  Jana nodded. She knew her mother was trying to make her feel better, but nothing could do that except news that Randy was finally awake and getting well.

  "Well, I'm certainly glad that you're okay. I have some news," her mother added brightly. "First, I ordered a telephone for your room so that I can call and check on you from work. How does that sound?"

  "Terrific," Jana said. And I can call the intensive care unit and check on Randy, she thought.

  "Also," her mother went on, "the phone rang off the wall last night. Everybody wanted to know how you were, including all of The Fabulous Five. They not only called to ask how you were, but they're all coming to see you today after school. They sent messages, too. I wrote them down, but it will take a minute to dig them out of my purse."

  Jana sighed. It did make her feel better to know that her friends were all concerned about her, and she was glad that they had sent messages. But just as Mrs. Pinkerton began looking through her purse, there was a sharp knock on the hospital room door.

  It's probably my roommate, thought Jana as her mother set her purse down beside her chair and called, "Who is it?"

  "The police, ma'am," came a husky voice. "I'd like to talk to Miss Morgan about the accident, if I may, please. It will only take a few minutes. I just need to get some information."

  "The police?" Jana cried, looking questioningly at her mother.

  "It's all right, honey," replied Mrs. Pinkerton as she opened the door and ushered the policeman into the room.

  "I'm sorry to disturb you," said the officer. He was a big man with graying hair, and his kind smile made Jana relax a little. "However, we're investigating the accident, and we need anything you can tell us about the car that struck Randy Kirwan. The driver still hasn't come forward, so we're hoping that witnesses can give us the clues we need to find him. I'd appreciate anything you can tell me."

  Jana lowered her eyes. "I didn't see the car," she admitted. "I didn't see anything. I just heard the tires squeal and felt a shove . . . I guess that was Randy pushing me out of the way." Her voice rose to a tiny squeak as she choked back tears. She had never felt so helpless in her life. "The next thing I knew, I was here."

  "It's okay, miss. Don't cry. You just lie there and get well. We're doing everything we can to locate the driver. And you can bet we'll find him, too. In fact, I'm going to interview all of the kids who were at Bumpers when the accident happened. Maybe one of them saw something."

  "Oh, my gosh, look at the time," said Mrs. Pinkerton as soon as the officer had gone. "I didn't realize it was getting so late. I'd better get to work." She paused, looking lovingly at Jana. "I really hate to leave you."

  "That's okay, Mom," Jana assured her. "I'm not on my deathbed or anything, and you do have a job."

  "Thanks for understanding, sweetheart. I didn't even get time to find the messages from your friends. I promise to find them and call you during my lunch break. How's that?"

  "Super," said Jana. Then with a smile she added, "I'll be right here in this bed. I promise."

  Jana stared at the door after her mother had gone. She couldn't stop thinking about Randy. She had known him for practically her whole life, and even before she had liked him as a boyfriend, she had liked him as a friend. He was kind and sincere and he would never hurt anybody on purpose. That was what made the accident so terrible. How could anyone hurt him?

  She smiled to herself, remembering that when she was in Mark Twain Elementary she had kept a small notebook hidden in the toe of an old bedroom slipper in the back of her closet. In that notebook she had written down every single thing she ever found out about Randy. Things such as: His full name is Randal Spencer Kirwan. His birthday is January 31. His father is an electrician, and his name is Robert. His mother sells real estate, and her name is Helen. He has an older sister, Kathy, who is in college, and a registered keeshond dog named Heidi. The license plate number on his father's car is RK 4097.

  There were a lot of other things she knew about him, too. Things she had found out after they started dating. Mainly, they were things the two of them had in common such as favorites. Deep-dish, pepperoni, green pepper, and mushroom pizza. Amusement parks and riding the roller coaster. Going to the beach and watching fireworks on the Fourth of July. But now maybe they would never get to do any of those things together again. Never eat pizza together or ride a roller coaster or watch fireworks.

  Wiping a tear from her eye, Jana suddenly felt very sad. She longed to be home in her own familiar bed instead of here in the hospital where nearly everyone who came into her room was a stranger. But more than that, she wanted things to be back the way they were before. She wanted to roll back the clock to yesterday afternoon before the accident. Maybe even to lunch period when she was alone in the yearbook room.

  If I could just be back there, I wouldn't even listen to people talking in the hall, she promised herself. And if I heard Laura talking about Randy, I would just ignore it. And I'd ignore it when I saw them together at Bumpers. And I would never, never, never run out into the street. If I could go back and do all that, then right now Randy wouldn't be lying in a hospital bed two floors below hurt so badly that he hasn't awakened since the accident. "It's all my fault," she murmured over and over again.

  Her head was beginning to throb again, and the dizzy feeling she had just before she fainted was back. Burying her face in Gorgeous's round body, she was crying softly when she heard the door to her room open and a child's voice shriek, "I won't stay in here! You can't make me! I want my mommy and daddy!"

  CHAPTER 6

  The first thing Jana saw when she looked up was a gurney being wheeled in by the same orderly who had taken out her breakfast tray an hour or so earlier. In the middle of the gurney lay a tiny little girl about five or six years old with an enormous cast on her leg. Her eyes were red from crying and she was propped up on one elbow, making a terrible face at Mrs. Foss, who was leading the gurney into the room.

  "I said I want my mommy and daddy!" the little girl screamed, shaking her long blond curls violently.

  "I know you did, sweetheart," said the nurse in a soothing voice. "Your mommy and daddy can't see you right now. They're in a room just like this one in another part of the hospital, and just as soon as the doctor says it's okay for them to have visitors, you'll get to go see them. I promise. I'll take you myself."

  Mrs. Foss tried to ease the child off the gurney and onto the bed while she talked, but the little girl pounded the nurse with both fists and made loud, snuffling sounds. Finally, after succeeding in getting her into bed and tucked under her covers, Mrs. Foss turned to Jana and said, "This is Lisa Pratt, Jana. She's going to be your roommate for a while. She's had a terrible experience, and she's very frightened right now. Maybe you can talk to her and make her feel a little more comfortable."

  Poor little girl, Jana thought, but before she could say anything, Lisa looked straight at her and stuck out her tongue. "I want my mommy and daddy!" she demanded. Then her eyes grew large. "Bear! Bear!" she cried excitedly. "Give him to me."

  Instinctively Jana drew Gorgeous closer to her. "I'm sorry, Lisa," she said gently. "You can't have him. He's my bear, and he's very special. Maybe the nurse can find you another bear in the toy box in the playroom."

  Lisa began to wail and point to Gorgeous. "Bear! Bear!" she shouted between sobs. "I want that bear."

  Mrs. Foss bent close to Jana and whispered, "Could you let her borrow it for a few minutes? Her parents were hurt badly, and the family is from another state. They were traveling across country when another car crossed the center line and hit them head-on a few miles outside of town. So you see, there isn't even anyone to visit Lisa until some of her relatives can make the trip here. Your bear might make her feel better."

  Jana looked at the nurse in horror. "But . . . I couldn't . . ." she sputtered. She didn't know how to explain that she absolutely could not let some strange little girl borrow Gorgeous. Not the bear that Randy had given her, and not while he was lying in the intensive care unit in critical condition. She needed Gorgeous more than Lisa ever could.

  She tried to look away from Lisa, but she couldn't. The little girl's red-rimmed eyes held her fast, pleading with her. Lisa had stopped crying now, but her chin quivered and every few seconds a hiccup shook her frail body. "Please," she said in a tiny voice. "Can't I just hold him?"

  Jana looked helplessly at Mrs. Foss, but the nurse's face remained expressionless. I know she wants me to give Gorgeous to Lisa, Jana thought, even if she won't say it.

  Gorgeous was looking up at her. His black eyes glistened brightly and his heart-shaped mouth smiled softly. He would make anyone feel better, Jana thought. Sighing deeply, she released her grip on Gorgeous and held him out to the nurse. "I guess she can hold him for a little while," she said reluctantly. A lump swelled in her throat as Mrs. Foss took Gorgeous out of her hands and gently placed him beside Lisa.

  "His name is Gorgeous," Jana said in a voice crackling with tears. "Be very, very careful with him. Okay?"

  Lisa nodded and drew Gorgeous nearer, hugging him tightly. Then she put her cheek down next to his and closed her eyes as a fluttery sigh escaped her lips. A moment later she was snoring softly.

  Jana watched her sleep, thinking how sorry she felt for the little girl. It must be awful to be separated from your parents in a hospital in a strange city, and I'm glad Gorgeous made her feel better. But why can't anyone understand how much I need him myself? she thought miserably.

  To Jana's amazement, Lisa slept through the rest of the morning with her arms wrapped tightly around Gorgeous. She did not open her eyes when the nurses and aides made rounds checking charts and refilling water bottles. And Lisa barely stirred when the table between the two beds was moved aside so that the telephone could be plugged into the wall. Jana glanced at the sleeping child as she picked up the phone.

  "Main desk. May I help you?" asked a woman on the other end of the line.

  "Yes, thank you," said Jana. "I would like to check on the condition of Randy Kirwan. He's in intensive care."

  "One moment, please." The woman was gone from the line for only a few seconds. "Yes, ma'am. His condition is unchanged. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

  "By 'unchanged,' do you mean he hasn't awakened yet?" Jana asked anxiously.

  "I'm afraid you'll have to check with his doctor on that," said the woman. "The only information that I have is what I gave you."

  "Thank you," Jana murmured. Hanging up the phone, she looked helplessly at the ceiling. "What am I going to do?" she whispered. "What on earth am I going to do?"

  Lisa clung tenaciously to Gorgeous, refusing to give him back no matter how Jana brought up the subject, and she was still hugging him tightly when Mrs. Foss came bustling into the room after lunch and announced to Jana that she had visitors.

  "Now?" asked Jana. It was too early in the day for her friends to be here. School wasn't out yet. And she had just gotten off the phone with her mother, who had called to give her the get-well messages from The Fabulous Five. "Who is it?" she asked.

  Before Mrs. Foss could answer, a man and a woman appeared in the doorway. The man was tall with dark, wavy hair, and the woman was very petite with soft brown hair and big blue eyes. Jana recognized them immediately, and she drew in her breath in surprise. It was Mr. and Mrs. Kirwan, Randy's parents.

  "Hi," Jana said shyly. Then she put her hand over the left side of her face, trying to hide her ugly bruises.

  "Hello, Jana," said Mrs. Kirwan as the two of them came toward her. "How are you feeling?"

  "That's a nasty bump," said Randy's father. "I'll bet it hurt a lot."

  "It feels better now," she assured them. She tried to smile, but a question was burning in her mind. "How's Randy? Is he awake yet?"

  The Kirwans exchanged guarded looks, and Mr. Kirwan put an arm around his wife's shoulder.

  "No, dear," said Mrs. Kirwan. "But the doctors are very hopeful. They're convinced that he'll regain consciousness soon."

  "The reason we came up to see you was to tell you that no matter what happens, we are very proud of Randy for what he did yesterday," said Mr. Kirwan. "He cares about you very much."

  "That's right," said Randy's mother. She leaned forward and tenderly brushed Jana's bruised cheek with her hand. "You mustn't blame yourself. It was just one of those terrible things that happen now and then. An accident. It was no one's fault."

  "But it was my fault," Jana insisted. "I shouldn't have lost my temper and run away from him. And I should never have run into the street without looking. It was dumb! And stupid! And I'd give anything if I could make things like they were before it happened." She blinked hard to keep tears from rushing into her eyes.

  "Of course you would, dear," said Randy's mother. "We all would. But it's important that you realize that everyone loses their temper now and then and says or does things they're sorry for. That still doesn't make you responsible for Randy's condition."

  Jana looked away for a moment. She was puzzled. Why were Randy's parents insisting that she wasn't to blame? And how could they know how she felt? She hadn't told anyone that she believed the accident was her fault. The idea was just too awful to say out loud.

  "It was sweet of you to send the card, just the same," Mr. Kirwan assured her. "Did your mother mail it for you on her way to work this morning? It came up on the afternoon mail cart."

  "What card?" Jana asked in amazement.

  "This one," said Randy's mother. She opened her purse and pulled out a greeting card, which she handed to Jana. "It is from you, isn't it?"

  Jana took the card and stared at it. On the front was a bouquet of roses with a bright yellow butterfly perched on one flower and the words "Get Well" printed across the top.

  "I've never seen this . . ." she said as she opened it, but she stopped in midsentence when she looked inside. There was no verse, only a picture of a single red rose, and no signature. But underneath the rose and written in a delicate handwriting it said, "I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

  She looked at Randy's mother in astonishment and slowly shook her head.

  "Then who could have sent it?" whispered Mrs. Kirwan.

  Looking flustered, Mr. Kirwan took the card from Jana's hand. "I apologize," he said. "We thought it must be from you since you were with him when the accident happened. It seemed likely that you might blame yourself." Squinting at the card again, he added, "and it certainly looks more like a girl's handwriting than a boy's."

  "Oh, Jana. I'm so sorry," said Randy's mother. "I hope we didn't upset you too much. I just can't imagine who sent it, but whoever it was must feel responsible for the accident. There wasn't anyone else around when it happened, was there?"

  For the hundredth time, Jana tried to bring back the memory, but she couldn't. Shaking her head she answered, "No. At least I don't think so."

  "We'd better go and let her rest," said Mr. Kirwan.

  His wife nodded and squeezed Jana's hand. "I know Randy will want you to visit him as soon as he's feeling better," she said. "And we'll tell him that you're going to be fine just as soon as we can talk to him."

  They said good-bye and left the room. Jana watched them go with thoughts spinning wildly in her head. Whoever had sent the card to Randy believed that she had caused the accident instead of Jana. There was only one person who that could be. One person who was trying to come between Randy and Jana. A person named Laura McCall.

  CHAPTER 7

  A little while later Lisa was wheeled off to the X-ray room. Jana would have been glad to have the room to herself for a while except for the fact that the little girl insisted on taking Gorgeous with her. When was she going to get her bear back? she wondered. Mrs. Foss was being absolutely no help in the matter, and she had been the one who had persuaded Jana to loan Lisa the bear in the first place. For a few minutes, she had said. "Some few minutes," Jana grumbled.

  Just then she heard giggling in the hall, and she looked up hopefully. Maybe it was her friends. The sound was moving closer, but it stopped outside her door and there was only silence for a moment. Finally The Fabulous Five gathered stiffly in the doorway and peered in at her with big eyes.

  "Come on in, you guys," she called out. "Haven't you ever been in a hospital before?"

  The four girls grinned self-consciously and tiptoed in, standing in a cluster at the foot of the bed.

  "Hi, Jana. How are you feeling?" whispered Melanie.

  "Okay," said Jana, chuckling. "But you don't have to whisper."

  "Doesn't your head hurt?" asked Beth. "It looks awful. Well, what I mean is . . ." Beth blushed and looked to the others for help.

  "I know what you mean, silly," said Jana. "It does look awful, and it did hurt a lot for a while, but it's better now. Honest. The doctor just wants me to stay one more night for observation."

  There was another awkward silence as the four girls at the foot of the bed exchanged glances. Finally Christie spoke.

  "How's Randy?" she asked in a hushed voice. "We heard that he's still unconscious. Is that true?"

  Jana bit her lip to stop it from quivering. She'd known they would ask about Randy, but still, she felt a stab of pain when Christie actually said the words.

  "Yes," she said. "He's in the intensive care unit, and I tried to get in to see him this morning, but the nurse wouldn't let me go in."

  "You're kidding," said Katie. "That's awful."

  "That's not all," Jana added. "His parents stopped by to see me a little while ago, and something really strange happened. Someone sent Randy a get-well card. The handwriting looked like a girl's, and whoever sent it didn't sign their name, but they apologized for causing the accident. Mr. and Mrs. Kirwan thought I was the one who sent it."

  "What!" screeched Beth.

  Jana told them about her visit from the Kirwans and how they had thought she blamed herself for the accident. "They came in here to tell me that it wasn't my fault and thank me for sending the card," said Jana. "The funny thing is, I do feel responsible for the accident. If I hadn't run out in front of the car, Randy wouldn't have had to save me. But I didn't send the card. I think I know who did, though. Laura McCall."

 

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