Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

in California with his girlfriend.”
    We held the hug. Not with lazy arms, but strong arms. We squeezed all our sorries out in that hug. When we let go, Alexia hugged Danielle and Anna just the same. Tears filled all our eyes now, even my mom’s and Terri’s.
    We sat in chairs next to Mr. Terupt’s bed. We sat on both sides and said nothing. I placed my book on the stand next to his bed. Anna put her plant by the window, and Danielle tacked her sketch to a wall. We thought our own thoughts and stared at our teacher, who lay motionless with his eyes closed. Yet somehow I felt better. The power of Mr. Terupt, even in his coma, made something huge transpire. I felt light,like I could float. The past had been buried and we were ready to move forward.
    When it came time to leave, I touched Mr. Terupt’s hand and whispered, “Thank you.” Then I walked out with my three friends.

Alexia
    T here was no way I could like, stay away forever—especially after hearing Luke say he’d been to the hospital.
    I didn’t have a dad to take me, and my mom was waiting tables from noon to closing time every day of the week now. That made it easy for me ’cause there wasn’t anyone at home to say “Where do you think you’re going?” or “You aren’t going anywhere,” but I was still scared.
    I made my mind up and like, rode my bike there one day after school. I knew what room he was in ’cause I heard Luke say it. When I got there, I went straight to the elevator and up to his floor.
    “Can I help you, honey?” one of the nurses asked as I hurried down the hall.
    I didn’t look at her. I just shook my head and kept going until I found the room. I walked in.
    My hands flew to my mouth. I knew Teach couldn’t move, but like, I hadn’t expected him to be hooked up to so many tubes. I stood frozen for a long time. Slowly I found the courage to tiptoe closer to his bed.
    “Hi, Teach,” I said. “It’s Lexie.” Already I fought back tears. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have been mean to you. I wanted to hate you for saying those things to me, but you were right, Teach.”
    I knelt next to his bed and pulled his blanket in my fists. Then the big tears came. Raindrop tears. They poured from me. I couldn’t help it. I cried like I used to when Mom and Dad would fight. I sobbed for a few minutes before I wiped my face on his covers. Teach just looked like he was sleeping. Was he really going to die?
    “Like, I’m doing better now, Teach. I’m not being mean. You’d be happy.”
    I squeezed his blanket in my fists again and clenched my jaw to fight back more raindrop tears.
    “Teach, like, there’s something else I need to tell ya. I’m not sure but I think I saw Peter leaving here. Like, he’s the one who threw the snowball, Teach. I know he didn’t mean it. He didn’t want this to happen. He loves you. All of us do.” I dabbed my eyes with his blanket. I cried more now, but I kept talking to him. “Peter hasn’t, like, said anything in school. He hasn’t talked to anyone. Not a word. But no one’s trying to talk to him, either. He did throw the snowball, even if he didn’t mean for it to hit you. So it’s still his fault.” I feltbad for Peter. Everything was such a mess, and I had so many mixed-up feelings.
    I had my face in his blankets when I felt the tap on my shoulder. I looked up and Jessica was there, and so were Danielle and Anna. I hugged them. I told them I was sorry. And then it was over. All of a sudden I had three friends. Like, Teach helped me, even in his coma. I missed him so much. He had to wake up. I had never felt so happy and sad at the same time before.

anna
    C harlie is Danielle’s twenty-seven-year-old single brother. He’s the one who dropped Danielle off at my house, and he’s the one who arrived to pick her up after our hospital trip. He didn’t get out of his red truck and come to our door because he didn’t need to—Danielle was ready. Next time I’ll keep