by Imogen Rose
“So what did you see when you got to the lake?”
“Just the kids, they had been dropped off by the side of the road. There was no one with them. Whoever had dropped them off had driven off again, I assume.”
“Okay, so here’s the thing,” Claire said. “Raj Sen and his accomplices are still free. You and the kids are not safe until we have them in custody. Do you have any idea what they plan to do with the blueprints? Where they may go?”
“I expect he has a buyer that he’s going to sell the prints to, make a lot of money and disappear. That’s my hope anyway,” Larry said, hoping that his answer would explain Raj Sen never being seen again, in this dimension anyway.
“I’m going to need you to come in and brief our tech team about the blueprints, so we can try to figure out who the potential buyers may be. Do you foresee any harmful outcomes from the blueprints being sold?” she asked, wondering what made these blueprints so valuable.
“No. I’ll come in and talk to your tech team tomorrow. I’m wiped. I’m going to head over to the Darleys’ for the night.”
Claire nodded. “We have all of you under surveillance and will continue to watch you until we are satisfied that you’re safe. The kids can go to school tomorrow and continue living their lives as normally as possible. They’ll be watched, too. We’ll have agents outside the school. Please make sure they’re aware that they shouldn’t head over to the lake and other isolated places without letting one of the agents know, so we can keep an eye on them. We’ll continue searching the lake area tomorrow, and will let you know if we find anything.”
“Could you take all surveillance devices out of our homes now?” Larry requested.
Claire hesitated at the request, but nodded. “I’ll get that done, although we’ll still monitor Raj Sen’s email account. We’ll stop monitoring your phones and computers, though. Please do be careful and keep us informed. I’m only trying to keep you, your family and friends safe,” Claire appealed.
Claire was left with an uncomfortable feeling as she dropped Larry off outside the Darley house. Something was definitely off. However, her work here was done. The children were back. Now, she had to pass this case over to the local FBI. She called Harriet.
I woke up feeling euphoric. This was going to be a good day, a great day! Granted, I did have some issues to sort out, but then, who doesn’t? I was going to take a day off though, have an issueless day. I sat up in my bed and looked around. I was home. Home. This really did feel like it in a way that my room in Princeton just didn’t, not now. Could it be because this room was just not as messy? I looked around. No, that wasn’t it. Why then? I closed my eyes, listening. It was because of the sounds coming from outside the room. Ella’s music was blaring through the wall, and busy noises were coming from down below. This was a busy house, with a real family. That’s what made this a home, not just a house I lived in. Then, I heard one of my favorite sounds, scratching noises from outside my door, a couple of whimpers and a small thud. The door inched open and a tiny paw pushed at the door, just enough to be able to scamper through, and Gertrude launched herself onto my bed. Totally soaked from her licky kisses, I laughed and gently hugged her until she was calm. I was happy.
I lay back on my pillow, with Gertrude lying in the crook of my arm. I was at peace, breathing in the calm. But not for long.
“Come on, Arizona! It’s time for breakfast, sleepy head,” Ella shouted, as she came bounding into my room.
I looked over at her. She certainly didn’t look like she’d been through anything major. She looked like her usual, cute self.
“How are you doing, Ella?” I asked, knowing that her outward bubbliness could be just a mask.
“I’m fine. I’m trying not to think about the last two days,” she whispered. “I’m just going to have fun at school today. And then Mom’s taking me shopping, she said I could buy whatever I want!” she added with a grin.
Shopping to Ella was like hockey to me. I nodded, fully understanding where she was coming from. She needed to unwind as much as I did. I was done talking for now.
Gertrude’s nose suddenly twitched, and she jumped off the bed and scampered out of my room. The smell of bacon hit me moments later and I got up and shooed Ella out of my room. “I’ll be down in five minutes! Go, I need some privacy to get dressed.”
“Make yourself pretty, Arizona!”
Make yourself pretty. Hmm, I had not felt pretty during the last few days–grubby, really. So, I did make an effort–dabbed on copious amounts of lip gloss–before I went down the stairs into the homey-smelling kitchen.
I had never seen it so busy! Everyone, and I mean everyone was there–Ella, Mom, Grandma, Rupert, Harry, David, Inez, Ariele, Ali, Maria, Larry and Glenda. I looked around.
“Looking for me?” Kellan whispered from behind me, planting a kiss on my neck.
I smiled, took his hand and happily plopped myself down at the kitchen table. Harry slid over a couple of plates. Breakfast was a surprisingly quiet affair. Even Ella ate silently. I guess everyone had so much to talk about, so many questions, but no one wanted to ruin the calm. So we ate without a sound, Kellan’s hand never releasing mine once, during the entire time. Perfect.
When we all finished eating, Rupert broke the silence. “Kids, we have so much to talk about. However, I know you guys are all wiped. So, go to school and try to have a normal day. We’ll talk later, tomorrow. For our safety, FBI agents will be watching us. This shouldn’t interfere with our activities. Arizona, Harry, Kellan, you’ve got hockey after school, right?”
We nodded.
“Go about life as usual. Just be a bit more vigilant and take care to not go anywhere on your own. Keep one of us abreast of what you are up to at all times. Simply text us, okay?” Rupert looked around for affirmation.
We nodded once again.
I stood up and grabbed my bag to head off. I walked outside with Kellan, Harry, David, Maria, Ali and Ariele.
“So,” Harry said. “Who’s going with whom?”
“Well, I’m driving!” I said firmly. “I’ve missed my yellow Jeep. I’ve missed driving. Who’s coming with me?”
Kellan squeezed my hand. “I will, although I can’t tell you how much I want to get on my bike!”
“Take your bike, Kellan. I can survive without you for a bit, you know,” I teased.
“Besides, I don’t have a ride,” Ariele added. “I’ll come with you, Arizona.”
“I guess you’re riding with Harry?” Ali asked Maria.
“If you don’t mind,” she grinned, obviously pleased to get some alone-time with him.
“No probs,” Ali laughed. “I’ll get cozy with Arizona and Ariele.”
“Great, that’s settled.”
Kellan, Harry, Maria and David took off on their bikes and I followed in my Jeep.
“Are you okay?” Ariele asked.
“I guess. I haven’t really had time to think about it. Well, I guess that’s not entirely true, but I’ve purposefully not thought about it. You know, it’s just such a jumble of stuff to think about, I don’t know where to start.”
Ariele nodded. I hoped that she wouldn’t ask any more questions in front of Ali, who knew nothing about my Stevens life, not yet anyway. I did need to tell both Maria and her about it. Sheesh–and Harry! But, how and when, I’d no idea. Not now, though, that was for sure. I was more than desperate to talk to Ariele. I had so much to tell her! I would need to get her alone.
“I’m guessing you need time to unwind, so I won’t bug you with questions. Just talk to us when you’re ready,” Ariele reassured.
“So, what should we talk about to help take your mind off things?” Ali grinned. “How about Halloween? Got your costumes yet?”
I had totally forgotten about Halloween. I didn’t usually get dressed up. But, I take it that this year was going to be different. Ariele looked at me blankly. I laughed. In years past, Ariele, Monica and I had just gone from house to house in Princeton, weari
ng our regular clothes–our sports gear–asking for candy. Dressing-up was for kids–for Ella. The main aim of the game was to get as much candy as possible. I guess that wasn’t going to wash this year.
“Costumes?” Ariele asked, much to my relief.
“Duh, yeah! It is Halloween,” Ali replied. “You don’t really have a lot of time to get organized, you know. It’s only two days away. Do you have a date for the dance?”
“A date for what dance?” Ariele sighed. “Didn’t we just have a Ball?”
“Yes, but this is different, much more informal. Just a dance,” Ali replied.
“So what are you going as?” a slightly put exasperated Ariele asked Ali.
“Robert and I are going…as–,” she paused. “I can’t tell you! It’s a surprise.”
“But you asked us,” Ariele pointed out.
“No, I didn’t! I just asked if you got your costumes yet, that’s all,” she replied.
“Well, not yet,” I said. “I’m guessing you don’t either, Ariele?”
She nodded.
“You better think of something, and fast,” Ali muttered.
“Not to worry, Ali. I’ve never let you down, have I?” I smiled.
“I guess not, but you really are disorganized at the moment,” she admonished.
I drove into the school parking lot and found a space. Mountain View High, Home of the Spartans. I couldn’t help but smile. Kellan, Harry, David and Maria were waiting for us. I felt blissfully happy as we walked into school together. I caught David’s eye a couple of times. I almost felt guilty holding Kellan’s hand. Why was I so conflicted about David? I did feel something for him? It wasn’t the same as what I felt for Kellan, that’s for sure.
Ariele interrupted my thoughts by walking up close to me and whispering, “You and me after school, alone.”
I looked at her puzzled, and she rolled her eyes and gave me the look. She must have heard about my visit back to Princeton and Dad–from Kellan, no doubt. Good. I did want to talk to her about it.
A shiver went down my spine as I spotted Simla walking up the hallway ahead of us. I tensed up.
Kellan must have noticed. He rubbed my back, trying to sooth me. “Shrimp, it’s okay. This place is being watched by the feds, remember?”
I had forgotten. I certainly didn’t see any signs of the FBI.
“Come on, you two! We’re gonna to be late,” said Maria, and started hurrying up the hallway.
Kellan, Ariele and I followed her into physics and I sat down next to her. There were no signs of Justin yet. He normally sat right behind me. I wasn’t feeling overjoyed at the thought of him sitting and staring a hole into my back right through physics. So, I was pleased when he was a no-show as Dr. Lee appeared. Dr. Lee nodded at Kellan and me as he got behind his desk.
“Miss Darley, Mr. Fox, happy to see you two in class this morning. Are you both okay?”
I was a bit embarrassed, but nodded and smiled around at the class.
He then turned to the class and said, “There’s been a lot of speculation at school about what’s happened in the last few days. The teachers were briefed this morning. We’ve been asked to update our classes.”
He took a breath and looked around. “Has anyone seen Justin?”
We all looked at each other and shook our heads.
“All right, I have to get started, so I’ll go though it with him later when he shows up,” Dr. Lee said. “This is what I’ve been asked to pass on to you. All the children who were missing are now back. They are with us at school this morning. Ella Darley is back at her school. The children returned unharmed, but are exhausted from their experience. The perpetrators were not apprehended, and the case is still under investigation by the FBI and our local police. The school is under surveillance. You must wear your identification tags at all times. You may not leave the school premises during school hours without permission. We have lifted the cell phone restrictions, so please keep your phones on and use them to report any suspicious activity to the school office. Please do not question the children who went missing–Arizona Darley, Harry Darley, Kellan Fox–about the incident. We are to have a normal school day and after-school activities will take place as usual. Is that all clear?”
Everyone nodded.
“Okay, get your books out and turn to Chapter Five.”
It was easy to get back into school mode. Physics was so much more interesting now that I had developed a not-so-strange hunger to learn more about the dynamics of quantum mechanics and time travel. Not that Chapter Five covered any of that. I gave it my all though, trying to absorb all the information. Physics was over in a flash and we all moved through the next morning classes. Justin didn’t show, which was curious, but such a relief!
Much as I wanted to have lunch with Kellan, I knew that the cheer table deserved my undivided attention.
“I’ll see you guys later,” Ariele said, as we walked into lunch.
“You’re not sitting with us?” I asked surprised.
“I promised Ingrid I’d sit with her today,” Ariele replied through a wide grin.
“Oh, she can join us as well,” Maria offered.
“We’ve got some stuff to talk about. See you later,” she winked.
“What’s that all about?” Maria asked confused.
“I think Ariele may have a new girlfriend,” I laughed, as we walked toward our table.
“Ah,” Maria replied. “Anyhow, you know that little speech that Dr. Lee gave, the one about not bugging you for answers, forget it. Prepare to be interrogated,” she laughed.
She wasn’t kidding. I’d barely sat down before the onslaught started.
“Well?” demanded Julia, the cheer captain. “Spill!”
And spill I did. Quite substantially, really. But not about what had happened to me in the last few days. No, I mean spill in the real sense of the word. Somehow, I tipped my diet Coke while trying to reach over for my burger, and the Coke spilled all over. I’m guessing it hit at least six of the girls. There could only have been more shrieking had a mouse run over the table. In the confusion of blotting stray cola marks off their spiffy cheer uniforms, I was pretty much forgotten, for now, anyway. I did my best to rub the stains off Julia’s shirt. It was a fairly hopeless task, it was ruined.
The afternoon classes were uneventful, and I spent most of my time daydreaming about hockey. I couldn’t wait for the game tonight. I was pumped. Whoever was brave enough to try to get past me this evening, had better watch out. I was so ready to do some serious checking.
I walked out to my Jeep with a smile on my face. Kellan and Ariele were waiting for me.
“Ready for tonight?” Kellan asked. “You don’t have to play if you’re not feeling up to it, you know.”
I guffawed. “I’m so ready! Consider yourself lucky to be on the same team as me,” I laughed.
Ariele interrupted. “A, we do need to talk. Kellan, no offense, but could you allow us some girl time?”
“Yeah, no worries,” he smiled. See you guys later,” he said, and walked off with a wave.
“Let’s go over to your house, Arizona. My mom’s being way too nosey at the moment,” Ariele said, rolling her eyes. “So did you see your Dad?”
I started the Jeep and nodded. “It was the weirdest thing. You know, waking back up in Princeton, at home.”
“Tell me everything, Arizona! How did your Dad react? Did you tell him about this whole time-travel stuff?”
“To tell you the truth, Ariele, I barely saw him. I caught a glimpse of him when I first woke up. He was on his way out. Then, I didn’t see him again. He went to AC.”
“Typical,” Ariele said, shaking her head. “Did you call him?”
“I tried, but he wasn’t picking up. Too busy, I guess.”
“So, he doesn’t know anything?” she asked astounded.
“Nope.”
“Didn’t he notice your new hair do?”
“No. In his defense, I was in bed. It’s
not like we had breakfast or anything together. We do our own thing. You know that,” I sighed.
“So, what did you do?” she persisted.
“Nothing. I went to school.”
“To school! You’ve got to be kidding me!”
I shook my head. It wasn’t that strange, was it?
“You went to school, as if nothing had happened? In your new Barbie do? Really, Arizona, really?”
“I guess when you put it like that, it’s a bit strange,” I conceded.
“A bit strange? It’s totally ludicrous!” she exclaimed.
“I guess…” I mumbled. “But what was I supposed to do? I woke up at home, in my own bed, on a school day. Monica came to pick me up as usual. I didn’t go to school that first morning…I did the next day though,” I justified.
“You saw M?” she asked.
“Of course, I did! And Christian, Nick and the rest of them. I mean, they’re all there, getting on with their lives.”
“Didn’t they notice that you’d been gone?” Ariele wondered.
“I really wasn’t gone. Well, apart from that Sunday. I was thinking about going away to that girl’s hockey camp at the weekend, remember? I guess everyone assumed I had. And I didn’t miss any school apart from that one Monday, and Monica called in sick for me. So, I wasn’t really gone.”
“What about your blond hair? How did you explain that away?”
“I didn’t. That’s the good thing about being Arizona Stevens. No one ever asks me to explain anything.”
Ariele laughed, “So true. Still, you must have had some weird looks and some snide comments.”
“Yup, but I just ignored them,” I shrugged.
“What about Monica? I’m sure she didn’t just let your new look slide!” Ariele frowned.
“Stop that, you’ll get wrinkles,” I teased. “No she didn’t let it slide. What I haven’t told you is that I gave in to total misery when I found myself alone. Almost pulled a Bella Swan, sheesh! Once Dad left and I was by myself, I felt painfully alone. I don’t know why. I mean I’m, or was, always by myself. I liked it! Now, after a short stint as a Darley, I seemed to have gotten used to always being around others–and hugs.” I rolled my eyes. “Anyway, I felt so alone... abandoned.”
