Chapter 10

           Itwasveryhard,inthemorning,toarguewiththepartofmethatwassurelastnightwasadream.Logicwasn’tonmyside,orcommonsense.IclungtothepartsIcouldn’thaveimagined-likehissmell.IwassureIcouldneverhavedreamedthatuponmyown.

           Itwasfoggyanddarkoutsidemywindow,absolutelyperfect.Hehadnoreasonnottobeinschooltoday.Idressedinmyheavyclothes,rememberingIdidn’thaveajacket.Furtherproofthatmymemorywasreal.

           WhenIgotdownstairs,Charliewasgoneagain-IwasrunninglaterthanI’drealized.Iswallowedagranolabarinthreebites,chaseditdownwithmilkstraightfromthecarton,andthenhurriedoutthedoor.HopefullytherainwouldholdoffuntilIcouldfindJessica.

           Itwasunusuallyfoggy;theairwasalmostsmokywithit.Themistwasicecoldwhereitclungtotheexposedskinonmyfaceandneck.Icouldn’twaittogettheheatgoinginmytruck.ItwassuchathickfogthatIwasafewfeetdownthedrivewaybeforeIrealizedtherewasacarinit:asilvercar.Myheartthudded,stuttered,andthenpickedupagainindoubletime.

           Ididn’tseewherehecamefrom,butsuddenlyhewasthere,pullingthedooropenforme.

           "Doyouwanttoridewithmetoday?"heasked,amusedbymyexpressionashecaughtmebysurpriseyetagain.Therewasuncertaintyinhisvoice.Hewasreallygivingmeachoice-Iwasfreetorefuse,andpartofhimhopedforthat.Itwasavainhope.

           "Yes,thankyou,"Isaid,tryingtokeepmyvoicecalm.