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The Sun had long since set before a timid knock came at Jamie's bedroom door. It opened, and Mum entered. In the darkness, she was only a silhouette. "Jamie? Are you awake?"

He lay supine on his bed. "Yeah."

She sat on the edge of the bed. "Honey, I'm so sorry about what happened tonight."

"It's okay, Mum. I'm sorry, too. For what I said."

"Your father and I just don't want you to miss out on any opportunities. Your friend Russell... "

"I've been thinking, Mum. I'd like to try the new blood."

"You would?" She put a hand on his arm. "Oh, Jamie, are you sure?"

"I'm sure. Can we still get the free transfusion kit?"

"Well, actually... we hoped you would change your mind. We ordered the blood for you. The kit's downstairs."

"Oh. Good. Is it very much different from Scott's?"

"Looks the same, I think. You should be able to assemble it yourself. You'll probably be able to do your own transfusions, even." She leaned over and kissed his forehead. "You're growing up. Your father and I are very proud of you."

Jamie was grateful for the darkness, so that his mother could not see his face twist with pain.

"You get some sleep now," Mum said. She stood and looked down at him for a moment. Jamie imagined that she was probably smiling. Then she left, quietly shutting the door behind her.

Tears threatened, but Jamie fought them down. He had much too much to think about.

After his first transfusion, he would have a whole body's worth of blood left over. Normal blood. Usually, it was sent to the Nike people for recycling. But if Jamie could somehow hide it instead – store it in the basement freezer, maybe – then...

Regionals were only two weeks away. Scott would do a fresh transfusion the night before; he always did. Jamie would help him with it, as usual. And he and Scott had the same blood type.

In the darkness, Jamie smiled. The Nike man had called it Fuel. Well, knowledge was a kind of fuel, too. Mum and Dad and Scott didn't understand that. Not yet, anyway.

He would get in serious trouble, of course. But it would be worth the punishment if, only for a moment, they would understand him at last. It would ease the loneliness.

Still smiling, Jamie drifted off to sleep.