Page 135 of Lilly

"He won't help me!" she snaps. "He hates me!"

I peek around the wall again. Reed's mom is on the ground, searching for something in her giant purse. The gun is on the floor by her leg.

"Reed," I whisper.

His head whips around. "Call the police." He mouths the words, then whispers, "Hide. Lock the door."

I nod.

He turns back to his mom. "Mom, what are you looking for?" He sounds completely calm, but he's not. I saw his hands shaking.

I quietly retreat back to his room, locking the door behind me. Then I call the police, telling them someone's been shot. After that, I call my dad. My heart was already pounding but now it's going even faster, fearing how my dad's going to react.

He takes forever to pick up and when he finally does, I just spit it out, keeping my voice down. "Dad, I'm in L.A.. At Reed's house."

"Lilly, I told you, you are NOT to go down there alone!" He's mad. Really mad.

"I know, but I had to talk to Reed. I couldn't do it over the phone. Dad, I can't talk about that right now. I have to tell you something."

"Go ahead."

"Reed and I were in his room and we heard a noise. A door slamming. It was Dean. He came home and Reed's mom was with him. They were fighting and I don't know what happened but I heard a gun go off and—"

"Are you okay?" he asks.

"Yes. I called the police. I'm hiding in Reed's room."

"Where's Reed?"

"In the living room with his mom. He's trying to calm her down. She shot Dean. More than once." I hear my voice trembling.

"Just stay there. I'm coming to get you. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes. I'm just scared. Dad, what do I do?"

"Just stay where you're at. Lock the door."

"But what should I do when the police get here? Do I tell them anything?"

"No. Just stay out of it. You didn't see anything, right?"

"No."

"I'm in the car. I'm on my way. I'll be there soon."

"Will you talk to me until they get here?" I'm shaking, afraid more for Reed than for myself. What if his mom shoots him? She seemed drunk, fumbling around on the floor, or maybe she's high on drugs.

"I'm right here," my dad says. "I've got the phone on speaker. Go ahead and talk."

"I don't really have anything to say. I just don't want to be alone."

I hear the front door bang open, then men talking really loud. Reed's mom yells something at them.

"Dad, I think the police are here."

"Just remain where you are."

He stays on the phone and the loud noises in the other room eventually quiet down.

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