Back Online (3 page)

: Yah


: R u still the smartest girl in class LOL???


: y is that funny?


: so whats the deal


: deal


: u didn't answer my emails


: what emails


: huh???


: I didn't get ur emails


: I sent u like a bazillion last month you've like


: dripped off the planet


: dripped off??


: YKWIM :)


: did u send them 2 my new email


Madison got this twisted feeling in her belly.
New email?
Hart changed his email in August? Of course! Well, that explained everything.

Wait. It didn't explain why
he
hadn't written to her from the new account.

She could almost hear Aimee and Fiona shouting, “Maddie! That is the lamest excuse EVER! Forget him!”

: y didn't u write & tell me it was weeeks


: IDK sorry


: weird I thought


: we went away and end of summer was busy and then school strted


: u said u'd write me


: IDK sorry Finnster I said I was :(


Madison felt the anger and disappointment that she'd been pushing down come bubbling right up to the surface.

Words were lava, and she was the volcano.

: u couldn't send ONE email??????


: u couldn't send ONE email??????


: u couldn't send ONE email??????


Oh, no! By mistake Madison hit the SEND button two times too many!

Hart didn't write anything else after that.

Madison knew she had to write something else quickly, but she couldn't think of the right thing to say.

At her feet, Phin stretched out, scratching the carpet in front of her, and started to moan. He was trying to scratch an itch on his own back on the floor. It also looked a little like he was choking.

“Phinnie?” Madison abandoned her orange laptop and crouched down on the floor. His body was warm, but his little doggy chest was lifting up and down rapidly.

“Phinnie, are you okay?”

Phin looked up at Madison with his big brown eyes. They were wet, almost like he was crying. He was clearly in pain. His breathing was getting slower.

“MOOOOOOOM!” Madison wailed. “Mom, come quick! Something is really wrong with Phin!”

Chapter Two

The Far Hills Animal Clinic was busy for a Sunday afternoon. Madison and Mom raced inside with Phin, past two cats, a parakeet, and some kind of animal in a cage with a towel over it. Poor Phinnie's little pug body had gone entirely limp.

Dr. Wing came right out of the back office when he saw them come in. “Madison!” he cried, leaning in to take Phin out of her arms quickly. “Was he injured?”

“I don't know what, but he's having trouble. …”

Madison's waved her arms in the air dramatically as she explained how he was dreaming and then his breathing changed. Mom rested a hand on Madison's back to calm her down.

“It may have been the dog food. I got a new brand. Here's a can.” Mom produced a can of Tuff-E-Tenders.

“Let's go,” Dr. Wing said, taking Phin out of Madison's arms. “We'll check the food after we get Phinnie stabilized.”

It wasn't much of a surprise that Phin was led into the back before the other pets in the waiting room. Whenever they came to the clinic, Phin got special treatment. Maybe it was because Dr. Wing's wife just happened to be Madison's technology teacher (and
favorite
teacher). Or perhaps it was because Madison volunteered at the clinic with her pal Dan.

Dan's mom, Eileen, worked the front desk, but today she wasn't in. However, Dan
was
,
and he ran out from the back as soon as he heard.

“Maddie? What happened?” asked Dan.

Madison was sweaty and shaking. “Dan, Phinnie's sick. He's not breathing. He's itchy all over, and his skin is all red. I'm so worried.”

Dan reached out for Madison's shoulder, and the two of them sort of half-hugged. Of course, Madison's sunburn was still raging, so she let out a little “ouch” as he leaned in.

Awkward.

Once upon a time, Dan like-liked Maddie. Only she didn't like-like him back. Dan was cool, but Madison occasionally felt strange around him. She didn't know why.

Everyone crowded into the corner of Room 3. Dr. Wing placed Phinnie onto a large table and checked the puppy's vital signs, nose to tail.

By now, Phin's breathing had slowed to a near stop. His eyes looked like they were rolling back in his head.

“Madison, Mrs. Finn,” Dr. Wing said, guiding them toward the door and calling his assistant, Eloise, into the room. “I need you to wait in the waiting room, please. I will come out when we figure out what's going on here. Okay?”

Mom's arms crossed tightly at her waist.

Dr. Wing knew she was worried, so he reassured Mom. “Francine, I will take care of this,” he said.

Madison and Mom went back out to the waiting room. Eloise shut the door and pulled down the little shade on the glass.

“If anything happens to that dog …” Mom's voice trailed off.

“Mom, are you
crying
?” Madison said.

Mom reached out and squeezed Madison's hand. “No, I'm fine. I told you it's been a long week. It's been a long year.”

“Okay,” Madison said weakly. She knew Mom was holding back. When it came to emotions, Mom was all camouflage. Madison, on the other hand, was bright, neon, in-your-face orange. She could never hold back her feelings no matter where she was. Sometimes that got her into trouble.

“Go see if Dan needs any help,” Mom said. “Keep yourself busy. Phin will be fine.”

Madison disappeared into the back area. While Madison watched, Dan loaded up the reptile and rodent tanks with mealworms and other neat treats. He was good at his job.

“Want to give me hand?” Dan asked.

“How could I refuse?” Madison replied. “Mealworms are irresistible.”

“Hey, did you fall asleep in a lawn chair or something?” Dan cracked. “Newsflash: That is not a tan.”

Madison grimaced. “Funny, Dan.”

“Looks painful,” Dan said, reaching out to almost touch the burn but then recoiling in fake pain. “Help! My finger's burned!”

“Gee, thanks,” Madison said, crossing her arms. “You're always so nice.”

“I am nice,” Dan said, grinning. “Most of the time. Hey, check
this
out. Cool, huh?”

Dan pointed to a new floor-to-ceiling unit with creature cages.

“We're going to take in more strays if we can and try to get people to adopt them,” Dan said.

“Wow,” Madison said. She noticed a lot of other changes that must have happened over the summer while she'd been away. She missed being in the middle of all this. The back area was renovated to include a new X-ray room as well as a larger room that Dr. Wing added for operating on oversize animals. They needed to be able to help the occasional large animal. Onetime, a family brought in a deer that they'd hit with their car. Dr. Wing saved it, of course.

“This back room is also for that other thing
,
” Dan added, clearing his throat.

“What thing?” Maddie asked.

“Well, you know, to put animals down. Sometimes. Euthanasia.”

Madison gulped. She hated that big word. She learned all about euthanasia when she worked in the clinic. Sometimes animals that were very, very sick needed to be put to sleep. It only happened in extreme circumstances, and Dr. Wing didn't suggest it unless there was absolutely no other option.

Of course Dan knew what Madison was thinking now.

“Don't worry about Phin, Maddie,” he said. “He'll be fine. Phinnie probably just had an allergic reaction. Dr. Wing's got this! Hey, did I tell you there's a new doctor, too? Dr. West.”

“Seriously?” Madison couldn't help but giggle. “Dr. Wing and Dr. West?”

“Right!” Dan joked. “My mom is already dreaming up like fifty T-shirt ideas, like
W-squared
and
Wing and West, Better Than the Rest
. You know the way her mind works.”

Dan's mom had a collection of the coolest T-shirts with clever slogans. She was the Queen of Clever herself. And she had a T-shirt that said so!

Madison began to laugh. What a relief. It had been a tense hour or so between Phin's emergency and the terrible, horrible, no-good instant message chat with
HIM
.

“Hey, Dan,” Madison blurted out, “do you keep in touch with Hart?”

“Hart? Jones?” Dan chuckled. “Nah, not really. Don't you talk to him like every day?”

Madison made a face. “Actually, well … I mean … It's not a big deal … but … sometimes—”

“Wait, I thought you guys were together,” Dan said, looking seriously confused. “As in
a couple
.”

“What? Wrong. No!”

“But,” Dan said, and then made kissy fish lips.

“Quit it!” Madison said, knuckle-punching Dan's shoulder. “What's
that
about?”

“I'm just saying.” Dan chuckled. “Okay, sorry.”

Madison rolled her eyes. “You better be sorry,” she said, poking at him again with one finger.

Then Dan let out a cry in a funny voice. “But Maddie! If you don't want him then I want him! Hart is a dreeeeeeamboat!”

Madison cracked a wide smile. In that moment, Dan was actually not making fun of
Madison
. He was mocking something her enemy Poison Ivy had said last year in seventh grade. Ivy had an equally huge crush on Hart, but he admitted to Madison on several occasions that he did not crush back. One time, Ivy proclaimed her love in the lunchroom.
Out loud
. It was all pretty desperate. And embarrassing.

“Dan, have I ever told you that you're totally crazy?” Madison chuckled. “But whatever. I mean, Hart moved. I can't even remember why we started talking about that doofus.”

“Doofus? You are like the biggest liar on the planet, Madison Francesca Finn.” Dan scoffed.

Madison reached into a bin with a plastic scoop. Gently, she dropped some of the dried mealworms into a chameleon's cage.

Dan nudged Madison again. “
L-I-A-R
. You know what I said.”

“Dan, if I tell you something, will you promise to never ever tell?” Madison asked, pausing carefully as she spoke.

Was she really about to trust Dan with some of those secrets she only ever reserved for her online files?

“Swear that you will never tell a single soul.”

“I will never tell a single soul,” Dan swore.

“Because if I find out you told
anyone
, I will make your life totally miserable, and you know I mean it.”

Dan held his hands up like he was being robbed. “I double-­dog swear. Sheesh, Maddie.”

Madison leaned in.

“Hart hasn't written to me in more than two whole months, not in August or September either, Dan. And now I heard he's coming back to Far Hills to visit in time for the big Harvest Fest. And he wants to see me!”

“So what's the prob?” Dan grumbled.

“Well, he didn't tell me himself. I found out from Fiona. She knew before me. What's
that
about? I just don't understand. We were totally … well …”

“Together,” Dan said.

“Yeah! I mean it wasn't a secret. So why didn't he email me or call me or something? Why did he just drop off Planet Earth?”

Dan scratched his head. “Uhh … I don't know what to say.”

“I mean it's not like he's …Why wouldn't he tell me first?”

Dan shrugged. “I don't know, Maddie. I would have told you if it were me who left and came back,” Dan said.

“You would?”

“I would have emailed you every day. Are you kidding? You're my friend.”

Before Maddie could respond, Dan raised his finger like he had another thing to say.

“You know, not to take his side or anything, Maddie, but maybe Hart just forgot? Wait. I don't mean he forgot
you
—”

“Guys forget everything that matters. He never remembered that my favorite color is orange.”

“Yeah, boys are like that. Sometimes my mom says I'm thick, and I don't think she means it in a good way.” Dan chuckled.

Madison grinned. “Thanks, Dan.”

From the other side of the room, Dr. Wing threw open the examining-room door and stepped into the hallway. He rubbed his hands together.

“Go on in and see Phin, Madison. Eloise has him sedated. Get your mom, too,” Dr. Wing said. “He's okay now. I will be right with you.”

Inside the room, Phin was laying on the steel table, his little body resting on its side. He had a bandage wrapped around one leg.

“What happened?” Mom asked as she came in. “Is he okay? Does he need surgery? Medicine? Is he very sick?”

Eloise said that Dr. Wing would fill them in more when he came back inside. Phinnie
had
had a mysterious attack, but he would fully recover. The bandage was over the spot where they'd injected him with a strong allergy medicine, which was supposed to help him sleep, although he still looked uncomfortable.

Just as Madison was about to ask Eloise another question, a loud screech came from the lobby. Eloise raced off to help whichever animal needed attention. Madison wondered if she recognized that cat screech. Last spring, a cat had been diagnosed with leukemia, and Madison recalled how its owner, a retired librarian named Mrs. Peabody, burst into tears right there in the waiting room.

Sometimes it was like that with pets.

Well, not sometimes. It was
always
like that with pets. Pets are part of the family. If they hurt,
you
hurt. Phinnie was Madison's furry little brother.

A few moments later, Dr. Wing snapped off his latex gloves and stepped inside in the examination room.

“So we want to keep Phin here overnight,” Dr. Wing said gently. “Just to observe him and keep him comfortable. I don't see any need for surgery.”

Madison felt her pulse race a little again at the mention of the
S
-word.

“No worrying allowed, Madison,” Dr. Wing said. “He's fine and dandy, and he'll be snuffling that pug nose at you in no time. It was just a perfect storm of symptoms. He'll be back home in his dog bed ASAP.”

According to the doctor, Phin had contracted some kind of skin infection that made him itchy. He had an allergy attack on top of that, and the combination made him miserable. Poor pug! Madison and Mom would have to be careful with him from now on—and make sure to give him his doggy antibiotics.

“Thank you for seeing us so quickly,” Mom said, shaking Dr. Wing's hand on the way out. Madison said the same. She waved good-bye to Phin, too.

“I'm glad he's gonna be okay,” Dan said, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

Madison crossed her arms. “Yeah, me too,” she said. “Your mom sent me an email and said I could volunteer on Thursdays now. I guess that means we'll be hanging out more? I am starting later in October.”

“Cool,” Dan said.

“And what we were talking about before … Well, you won't say anything right? To the other guys?”