ONE WEEK LATER. SATURDAY

A week had passed since I saw Dawn—since I kissed her. I left the same way I had come in, through the window. I had to keep things on a low between us if I didn't want the others to find out. Leya's tip had paid off greatly; I came back before ten o'clock and the other returned just thirty minutes after me.

I was in my attic-room but I could hear them. Tia had come to check up on me and I had feigned sleep. Today was a rather cloudy day and ...