on　the　cheek。

Then　she　was　gone。

I　took　a　deep　breath。　Alice　would　be　back。　I　suddenly　felt　so　much　better。

I　had　plenty　to　do　to　keep　myself　busy　while　I　waited。　A　shower　was　definitely

first　on　the　agenda。　I

sniffed　my　shoulders　as　I　undressed；　but　I　couldn't　smell　anything　but　the

brine　and　seaweed　scent　of　the

ocean。　I　wondered　what　Alice　had　meant　about　me　smelling　bad。

When　I　was　cleaned　up；　I　went　back　to　the　kitchen。　I　couldn't　see　any　signs

that　Charlie　'lad　eaten

recently；　and　he　would　probably　be　hungry　when　he　got　back。　I　hummed

tunelessly　to　myself　as　I　moved

around　the　kitchen。

While　Thursday's　casserole　rotated　in　the　microwave；　I　made　up　the　couch　with

sheets　and　an　old　pillow。

Alice　wouldn't　need　it；　but　Charlie　would　need　to　see　it。　I　was　careful　not　to

watch　the　clock。　There　was

no　reason　to　start　myself　panicking；　Alice　had　promised。

I　hurried　through　my　dinner；　not　tasting　it—just　feeling　the　ache　as　it　slid

down　my　raw　throat。　Mostly　I

was　thirsty；　I　must　have　drunk　a　half　gallon　of　water　by　the　time　I　was

finished。　All　the　salt　in　my　system

had　dehydrated　me。

I　went　to　go　try　to　watch　TV　while　I　waited。

Alice　was　already　there；　sitting　on　her　improvised　bed。　Her　eyes　were　a　liquid

butterscotch。　She　smiled

and　patted　the　pillow。　〃Thanks。〃

〃You're　early；〃　I　said；　elated。

I　sat　down　next　to　her　and　leaned　my　head　on　her　shoulder。　She　put　her　cold

arms　around　me　and

sighed。

〃Bella。　What　are　we　going　to　do　with　you？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　I　admitted。　〃I　really　have　been　trying　my　hardest。〃

〃I　believe　you。〃

It　was　silent。