Chrissa saw Miley that morning at school. "Hey! How's life treating you?"

Diane was thrilled. "I am looking forward to this so much," she said to Amanda. "Everyone will have a great time seeing all their friends and being together again."

(Everybody, we are not at school. I edited my post. Check it out. We are on the way to church. It's sunday. they only school we're going to is sunday school)

Peter took a deep breath, and showed Lyn the paper. He showed her everything Mr. Pole said.

Lyneya gaped at the page. "He can't be serious! You aren't a murderer! Besides, you love Jen. Why would you want to do something harmful to her or her family?" She shook her head in disbelief. "I think something's seriously wrong with Mr. Pole..." A thought came to her. "What if he really is mentally insane?"

Peter felt sick to his stomach. He lurched forward, over the counter. "Maybe he is." He shuddered at the picture of the man, who had a tough, mean looking face and big mostache. "If anything, he tried to kill me." Peter felt beads of sweat all over his body. "Why did he go for my hair of all places and not do much else?"

"I don't know," Lyneya replied truthfully. "Maybe we should go talk to Mrs. Pole. She promised not to do anything to you," she suggested. "It might be best if we did."

Peter nodded, clearly upset and confused. When they got to the church early, they found Mrs. Pole. Privately, Peter said, "You know I would never try to harm Jen or any of you, right?"

Mrs. Pole got to see what her husband did to Peter's hair. "Oh no. I am so sorry." She gasped. "I don't know what's wrong with Oliver. He-he was not this crazy when I married him." She saw tears in the young boy's eyes and did not know if it was because of what happened to his hair, the article or both. She assured him. "I will visit him in jail and see what his problem was. I thought it was him overreacting to you almost kissing Jen. Now, I truly think he is crazy. Sorry."

In a sad voice, Peter said, "It's okay."

When Mrs. Pole walked away, Peter asked to be alone for a while.

Ryan saw the news article about Mr. Pole. He felt as though he had been hit in the stomach. What? This had happened to Peter? Why hadn't anyone told him? Ryan clutched the page. His mind whirled.

Peter sat outside of the steps at the church, letting the rain cover his tears. Covering his cell phone, he texted Ryan: ru comin 2 church. we need to talk.

His mind flashed back to that angry face Mr. Pole had, him reaching for his hair and ripping it out while hurling insults.

Ryan was just heading out of the house. He realized he was probably going to be late for church. Chrissa had already left. He had his phone with him, and he saw a text from Peter. He texted back: i just left the house. y? ru ok?

Peter texted him back: Nothing like finding out the person who ripped your hair out is a sociopath. Has anyone told u what happened?

Ryan texted back: im sry. i just found out 2day. saw the news artcle.

Ryan was still shocked about Peter. He felt awful about it. This would be a long day.

Peter shivered in the rain. The drops on his bald spot and how easily the rain went through his hair was another reminder that he no longer at a full head of hair. He was a freak, fourteen year old boy with not much hair. He didn't feel any better when RYan pulled up either. And yet, he still wanted to be with Jen.

"Peter!" Ryan jammed his phone into his pocket and dashed over to his friend as raindrops pattered on his nose and on his head. He gave Peter a hug. "Hey, I'm really sorry about everything. Are you okay? Do you want to head inside now? The service is probably starting soon."

Peter hugged his friend back, wiped his eyes and regained his composure. "Yea. It is kind of cold out here."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amanda told Chrissa and Chloe about the get together.

"Hey," said Meghan, looking over Jen and nodding at the girl in front of her. "How's it going?" She smiled and moved out of Jen's way, inviting her into the barn, which she always seemed to be in.

"What was going on last night?" she finally decided to ask. "What happened?"

----
"Wouldn't be if you came inside," said Johny, opening the doors.