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"Sure," I agreed. "No problem." I sounded like a chain-smoker. I tried to clear my throat and then
winced; the throat-clearing felt like stabbing a knife down there. "What happened today? Did you& find
her ?" It was my turn to shudder, though I wasn't so cold here, right next to his ridiculous body heat.
Jacob shook his head. He was still more running than walking as he headed up the road to his house.
"No. She took off into the water the bloodsuckers have the advantage there. That's why I raced
home I was afraid she was going to double back swimming. You spend so much time on the beach& "
He trailed off, a catch in his throat.
"Sam came back with you& is everyone else home, too?" I hoped they weren't still out searching for
her.
"Yeah. Sort of."
I tried to read his expression, squinting into the hammering rain. His eyes were tight with worry or pain.
The words that hadn't made sense before suddenly did. "You said& hospital. Before, to Sam. Is
someone hurt? Did she fight you?" My voice jumped up an octave, sounding strange with the hoarseness.
"No, no. When we got back, Em was waiting with the news. It's Harry Clearwater. Harry had a heart
attack this morning."
"Harry?" I shook my head, trying to absorb what he was staying. "Oh, no! Does Charlie know?"
"Yeah. He's over there, too, with my dad."
"Is Harry going to be okay?"
Jacob's eyes tightened again. "It doesn't look so great right now."
Abruptly, I felt really sick with guilt felt truly horrible about the brainless cliff dive. Nobody needed to
be worrying about me right now. What a stupid time to be reckless.
"What can I do?" I asked.
At that moment the rain stopped. I hadn't realized we were already back to Jacob's house until he
walked through the door. The storm pounded against the roof.
"You can stayhere ," Jacob said as he dumped me on the short couch. "I mean it right here I'll get you
some dry clothes."
I let my eyes adjust to the dark room while Jacob banged around in his bedroom. The cramped front
room seemed so empty without Billy, almost desolate. It was strangely ominous probably just because
I knew where he was.
Jacob was back in seconds. He threw a pile of gray cotton at me. "These will be huge on you, but it's
the best I've got. I'll, er, step outside so you can change."
"Don't go anywhere. I'm too tired to move yet. Just stay with me."
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Jacob sat on the floor next to me, his back against the couch. I wondered when he'd slept last. He
looked as exhausted as I felt.
He leaned his head on the cushion next to mine and yawned. "Guess I could rest for a minute& "
His eyes closed. I let mine slide shut, too.
Poor Harry. Poor Sue. I knew Charlie was going to be beside himself. Harry was one of his best
friends. Despite Jake's negative take on things, I hoped fervently that Harry would pull through. For
Charlie's sake. For Sue's and Leah's and Seth's&
Billy's sofa was right next to the radiator, and I was warm now, despite my soaked clothes. My lungs
ached in a way that pushed me toward unconsciousness rather than keeping me awake. I wondered
vaguely if it was wrong to sleep& or was I getting drowning mixed up with concussions& ? Jacob
began softly snoring, and the sound of it soothed like a lullaby. I fell asleep quickly.
For the first time in a very long time, my dream was just a normal dream. Just a blurred wandering
through old memories blinding bright visions of thePhoenix sun, my mother's face, a ramshackle tree
house, a faded quilt, a wall of mirrors, a flame on the black water& I forgot each of them as soon as the
picture changed.
The last picture was the only one that stuck in my head. It was meaningless just a set on a stage. A
balcony at night, a painted moon hanging in the sky. I watched the girl in her nightdress lean on the railing
and talk to herself.
Meaningless& but when I slowly struggled back to consciousness, Juliet was on my mind.
Jacob was still asleep; he'd slumped down to the floor and his breathing was deep and even. The house
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