Fusion (26 page)

“
Why
are you there?” She sighed heavily.

“Ariele wanted to check out some stuff. She needs to see the place for herself, you know, to make sure this is for real.”

“That’s really dangerous. What if she’s recognized? It would really turn everything into a circus before her parents have decided how to handle this.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll be really careful.”

“Glenda is on the phone with Ariele right now. I am hoping she’ll talk her out of it. Did Kellan call his dad?”

“Yep, they’re talking now,” I confirmed, looking over at Kellan, who was deep in convo.

“Look, I know I can’t physically drag you home from there, but I will get on a flight and come and get you if I have to.”

“Mom, please! By the time you do that, we’ll be on our way back, anyway. Trust me for once. Can you do that?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Trust you, after you pull this stunt?”

It was my turn to sigh heavily.

“I want you on a flight tomorrow. Get it?”

“Yes,” I grumbled. “Could you at least book us on an evening flight? Please?”

I waited while she quietly mulled it over. “Wait a minute.” I heard muffled chatter on the other end. She was probably speaking to Ariele’s mom. She was back in moments. “No. You have to take the next flight back.”

“Look, Mom, we’re not going to do that. We just got here. Tomorrow evening is the earliest. Remember the time difference.”

“That’s not relevant, Arizona, but I can tell it’s no use arguing with you right now. I’ll deal with you when you get back. I’ll book you for tomorrow evening, last flight. I’ll text you the details and will pick you up at the airport. You must be careful. Don’t do anything stupid. Even more stupid. You don’t want to blow Ariele’s chances of moving back there. Do you?”

“Of course not, Mom.”

“Good. Do you need a cab to Newark?”

“We’re good. Bye, Mom.” I cut the call. I was exhausted from keeping stuff from her and by the sheer length of the day. Dawn was already breaking, and we had a full day ahead if we were going to make that flight. And we’d better.

I waited for Ariele and Kell to get off their cell phones. They both looked the way I felt as they slumped back into the couch. I walked over and cozied into Kellan, putting my arms around him and laying my head down on his chest. There was no time to go to bed, but I needed to rest my eyes for just a little bit before I could think of talking again. I guess the other two felt the same. Neither of them spoke. My eyes closed and I snuggled closer to Kellan to get warm.

What felt like only moments later, David’s voice invaded the silence. “Poppet, wake up,” he whispered into my ear.

I forced open my dry eyes and peered at David.

He had his finger over his lips, hushing me. Then he waved at me to follow him. Kellan was still fast asleep. His arms gripped me to him. I squiggled, loosening them, and then slipped out. He moved but didn’t stir from his sleep.

David and I made our way into the kitchen, where he handed me a mug of coffee after closing the door behind us.

“What’s the time?”

“It’s just eight, but I have to be on my way, and I didn’t want to leave without talking to you first.”

I nodded and took a sip of the hot coffee tipped with caramel, just the way I liked it. I was going to need all the caffeine I could get.

“I heard you guys on the phone last night. How did it go with your parents?”

“We’ve got to take a flight back to California this evening. Thanks for waking me. We don’t have much time.”

“Much time for what?” He looked at me thoughtfully.

“Well, I really want to see my doppelganger—your girlfriend. What’s she like?”

He smiled. “She’s different from you—to me, she’s another person entirely. I don’t think of her as your
doppelganger
, but I guess she is. The two of you are alike in many ways. She is more... raw than you, but I guess that’s because of the way she was brought up. She is fun, happy, spontaneous, and tough. All adjectives I’d use to describe you as well, but just slightly different.”

I wanted to know how that
slightly different
made her better than me in his eyes, but I figured we didn’t have time for a full-blown analysis session at the moment. Plus, I could figure that out for myself when I saw her.

“David, I want to see her for myself.”

“Just see?”

I nodded. “I don’t know why, but I need proof that she really exists and not just any proof. Like a picture won’t do.” I wondered if Ella had shown those pictures to Mom yet. Did David know about the other Ella?

“I’ll take you to see her after school today.
A
will be at hockey practice, so we can go watch her from the bleachers. Just you and me. The other two will have to stay here. Will that take care of your
need
?”

I was about to explode with excitement but kept my cool. “Yes, that’s fine.” I decided not to mention the Ella thing, in case that threw a wrench in David’s offer.

“Good. I have to go now.” He handed me a set of keys. “Keys to the apartment and the blue Jeep parked outside. Take this credit card as well, in case you need it. I’ll meet you here at four this afternoon.”

“Awesome, and thanks, David.”

“No problem. Just stay out of trouble, okay?”

“I’ll try.” I couldn’t help grinning.

He laughed and bent down to kiss my head. “Later, Poppet.”

I woke the others once David was on his way, handing each a steaming cup of coffee.

Kellan stretched, yawning loudly. “G’morning. What’s the time?”

“About eight thirty. David’s gone, but he left me his car keys and credit card, so we’re all set. What do you guys want to do first?”

“What time do we have to leave for the airport?” Ariele asked.

“Mom hasn’t texted me yet, but I guess early this evening.”

Ariele looked at her watch. “Well, everyone should be at school by now. Boy, I’d love to just pop in, even sit in and listen to a class. Sick, right? I actually miss school, all of it. Even the lessons.”

“Strike that. We can’t be seen at the high school,” Kellan said. “But, we could sit outside at dismissal time to stalk whoever.”

“Okay, well, we have until the afternoon to do other things. What’s on the agenda?” she asked. “I’d like to swing past my house.”

“Why not? We have a ride, so we can pretty much do whatever,” I said. “What about you, Kell?”

“I’m just here to keep you from getting into too much trouble. Does
A
go to this high school?”

“She does—I talked to David before he left. He’s going to take me to see her after school. Just me, though. Hope that’s okay with you.”

Ariele looked put out, but Kellan just nodded.

“I kind of wanted to see her as well,” Ariele said. “You know, to make sure she really exists. I kinda find it hard to believe.”

“I totally get that,” I said. “But you’ll get to see her, actually even hang out with her soon enough, when you move back here.”

“
If
we move back here.” She looked glum.

“Let’s head out for a drive,” Kellan suggested. “We’ll go past your house first, Ariele.”

After quick showers, we threw our clothes back on and headed out to David’s car.

“I’ll drive,” Ariele said. “I know where to go.”

We jumped into the Jeep, enjoying the beautiful bright day. Both Ariele and I had disguised ourselves the best we could, stuffing our hair under the hats we’d put on and hiding our faces behind oversized sunglasses. As Ariele drove, I kept a lookout, though the streets were quiet. Most people were likely either at work or school, but we did see the odd person out with a stroller or walking a dog. Ariele didn’t drive for long before parking opposite a stucco-finished house. “This is it—my house.” She paused. “Except it isn’t anymore. I wonder who lives here now. I might have a little peek in the mailbox to check if it’s someone I know.”

Before I could stop her, she’d climbed out of the car and was crossing the road.

“What the—” Kellan shouted. He turned to me. “Let’s stay here. No one’s around. I hope. So stupid of her.”

We watched Ariele open the red mailbox and pull out a bunch of mail, flicking through the mess of letters and bills. Then she put it all back in, closing the lid. She looked at us, holding up a finger, and then turned back to the house. She began walking toward it, and for a horrible moment, I thought she was going to ring the doorbell.

“OMG, make her stop!” I hissed at Kellan, who was ready to jump out and go after her. “Wait!”

She skirted the porch and continued along to the back of the house and out of sight.

“I’ll go get her,” Kellan said.

I held him back, my eyes transfixed by a shadow emerging from the house next to Ariele’s. The shadow formed into a girl as she stepped out into the sun wearing a pink bathrobe over blue pajamas. Her long dark hair swung behind her as she hurried over to Ariele’s house.

“What are we going to do?” I whispered.

“Nothing. Crouch down. We can’t have her seeing us as well. Hopefully, it’s just a nosy neighbor, and Ariele will be able to come up with some excuse and get back here.”

We hid in the Jeep, peeking out every so often to see what was happening—nothing for ages.

“I think I should go check it out,” Kellan said.

“Give it another minute. It’s not like the girl looked dangerous or anything. Ariele will totally deal with her if she needs to. Just another minute.” Which stretched into another five minutes. Kellan threw me a glare but then stiffened.

“Look!” he whispered.

Ariele and the girl emerged from behind a tree, hand-in-hand, and walked toward the girl’s house. They went inside. Ariele didn’t as much as look our way.

“Sheesh! Now what?” I asked.

“We wait. Maybe she knows her?”

“Looks like it, but isn’t that a total disaster?”

“Guess we’ll find out when she comes back,” Kellan said. “But we have to keep
you
hidden at all costs. You getting discovered would be a disaster on a whole different scale. Stay down, and let’s hope that Ariele comes back on her own.”

She did. An hour later. She grinned as she approached the car. Me—not so much. I was grumpy, tired, achy, and hungry.

“Sorry, guys.” She got into the car. “Let me make it up to you by getting us some sandwiches from Hoagie Haven.” She started the car and pulled out into the street.

“Spill, Ariele! Who the heck was that?”

“That was my friend Monica. She’s off from school with a tummy bug and was looking out the window and saw me walk into my back yard. I had taken off my hat and was twirling around when she thought she recognized me and came running over to make sure it was me.”

“Crap. Is she going to tell anyone?” Kellan asked.

“Of course not! She’s my… vault, as is
A
. They would never betray me, ever. She was just thrilled to death to see me. And wants us to go hang with
A
later, but I told her I couldn’t.”

“Good,” I said. “What did you tell her about your disappearance?”

“I told her that I didn’t want to lie to her, but I couldn’t tell her anything at the moment. She obviously tried to pick me for more info but backed off when I said that I really couldn’t. I did tell her that I was hoping to move back, and that got her really excited. For now, we promised to keep in touch daily by phone.”

“Is she going to tell
A,
seeing as you guys tell each other everything?” I asked.

“Probably. But that doesn’t make any difference to you, so don’t worry about it. It won’t go any further than the two of them.”

I wondered if
A
would tell her boyfriend.
No further
usually included boyfriends.

We pulled up to the sub shop, and Kellan ran in and got us food and drinks, which we took to the lawn in front of Princeton University. I sprawled out on the grass once I was finished eating, letting the sun’s rays warm me up as I admired the gorgeous stone buildings and the turret in the distance.

“I’ve seen my house—which some total strangers live in, by the way—and Monica. I’d love to see
A
, but I guess that’s out for now. We’ve got a bit of time before you head to the rink. What do you want to do?”

I felt a pang of guilt even considering it. My dad, Rupert, was the best dad ever, even though he drove me nuts at times. But that crazy came with the territory. Ella and I were champions of naughty, and he did his best to keep that somewhat under control—always using his own cunning, rather than his power, to do so. Mom was the power-crazy one, the one who handed out the
you’re-grounded
orders. I could go to my dad with anything, knowing that he’d listen first and not judge. He always tried to see things from my point of view. He was always there for me—he had my back. So, why was I even thinking of Dillard? Something inside me wanted to see my biological father. Maybe just to see what he looked like, to see if I saw any of myself in him. I assumed he’d be at work, and we’d be gone before he got back. Yet, there could be no harm in just voicing it to Ariele. “Do you know where
A
’s dad works?”

“Yes, up in New Brunswick. We could probably make it there and back before four. Do you want to go?”

“You know, I think I do, but he’ll be in an office or something. How will I get to him? I don’t even remember what he looks like.”

“Let’s drive up there and think of a plan on the way. We don’t have much time to do this, but if you decide you don’t want to go through with it when we get there, that’s okay. Come on.”

“You sure, Shrimp?” Kellan’s face had clouded over with worry.

I nodded as we walked back to the car and were on our way again, thankful that David had lent us his Jeep. It was great to see Ariele in such a chipper mood. I couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so upbeat. She even sang along with the radio. Amazing how seeing Monica had made her feel optimistic again.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Kellan whispered into my ear.

“He’s my father, and this could be my one and only chance to see him.”

“How are you going to do that?”

“By pretending that I’m
A
.” I couldn’t think of any other way.