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"Son of a--"

A horrendous thud followed Dakota cussing and had Mary running toward her friend

Dakota sat crumpled at the botto

"What the heck?"

"Oh, damn Oh" Dakota started to rock back and forth, her eyes closed and her face squished in pain

Mary ed to put her cup on the floor as she knelt down beside her "What hurts? Did you fall?" Stupid question, but Dakota didn’t call her on it

"Slipped," she said, gritting her teeth

Mary glanced at the stairs, noticed liquid on the surface of the polished wood

"Did you spill so?"

Dakota finally opened her eyes and pulled up the edge of her pants on her right leg It was already turning red

"Damnjust, son of a bitch!"

"Are you okay?"

"No I think I broke it"

Mary’s heart leapt in her chest "Really?" She peered closer

"Oh, damn"

Mary swept back her hair and tried to catch Dakota’s eyes "Should I call an ambulance?"

Dakota shook her head

"I’ll call Walt"

"No"

"What?"

"Yes Oh, God it hurts!"

"Your leg?" Mary glanced down again

"No"

"Your leg doesn’t hurt?"

"It All Hurts!"

Mary stood quick enough to feel a little dizzy "I’ an ambulance"

"No, MaryWalt will freak"

Mary didn’t listen and found the cordless receiver sitting on the counter in the kitchen She dialed 911 and hurried back to her friend

"Mary, I’m okaaay" Dakota winced as she said it and closed her eyes

"Nine one one, what’s your eency?" The operator sounded bored

"Yeah, my friend fell down the stairs"

"Is your friend awake?"

Dakota started to pound her fist on the floor beside her At first Mary thought maybe it was a tactic to end the phone call, then she noticed the grimace on her face

"She’s awake"

"Any visible injuries?"