Her father put down his fork. “You know, Bara, I don’t think …”

Support came from an unlikely corner. Courtney interrupted. “She does look pale.”

Templeton was quiet as he thought. “Courtney went to a lot of trouble so we could have a nice dinner,” he finally said. “The least we can do is eat it together.”

“It’s okay,” Courtney urged. “We should let her rest.”

He looked at Bara and then Courtney and let out a surrendering sigh. “Alright, but we will see you for breakfast.”

Bara got up from the table. Not looking in Courtney’s direction, she wished her a good evening. She kissed her father on the cheek and left the dining room. She walked slowly until out of sight and then ran up the stairs, down the hall, and to her room.

The Pink Puketorium was waiting. She crossed to the dresser. Pink argyle socks were tossed aside. Where did Courtney find pink argyle? The diary was still there. Bara grabbed her bag from the chair, slipped it inside, and turned to leave. This time she heard the footsteps. The diary went back into the dresser. When Courtney entered the room, Bara was in the next drawer down. She pulled out pajamas at random. They were, of course, pink. Courtney took but one step inside.

“Your father asked me to check in on you. Can I get you anything?”

“I’ll just have a shower and go to bed.”

“Just the same, I’ll get you some tea with honey. It’s good for when you’re feeling down.”

Bara thanked her stepmother and thankfully she left. Figuring Courtney would be listening for the sound of running water, Bara took a shower and then redressed. The pajamas were roomy. She put them on over her school uniform. The diary she removed from its hiding place and put it back in her bag. All was ready to go.

She thought about reading more but stopped herself, remembering her promise to Colin. Her phone was in her coat downstairs. She dared not go downstairs to retrieve it and risk running into Courtney. With no TV or computer in the room, there was nothing to do but wait.

There was the smell of baking. The bedside table held the promised tea, along with a plate of cookies. Bara grew suspicious of the food. She dumped the tea down the toilet. The cookies she wrapped in tissue and placed in the trash. Then she lay down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. At times fatigue was stronger than fear. Heavy lids dropped several times. Each time, she willed them to re-open, but despite her will, eventually she slept … until someone called her name.

She re-opened her eyes, expecting to see the dark-haired boy. They’d been walking hand-in-hand through a dream meadow. He’d stopped, caressed her cheek, and leaned in like he meant to kiss her. Gently, he lifted a lock of hair and whispered into her ear. She felt his breath but heard nothing. Then she’d woken to her darkened room.

Had someone actually called her? She stilled her breath. Not a sound. The bedside table said it was just after eleven. Her father always went to bed early. Would Courtney be with him? There was no way of knowing for sure, but the house remained quiet. Bara got out the bed. She took off the pajamas and slipped on her rubber boots. From the closet, she grabbed a hooded pea coat. Her mother had bought it. It was red. She grabbed her bag with the diary inside and left the Pink Puketorium. She crept down the hall and stairs and out the front door, undiscovered.

With shoulders up and ears down, Bara hurried past the shadowy statues and slipped through the iron gates. Her hands were shoved deep into pockets. Her unbuttoned coat flapped in the wind. The air was angry. It increased its rage as she made her way through the darkened streets and past the lightless mansions. Blustering flurries grasped leaves, sticks, and other debris, whipping them through the air and at dark windows.

In its fit, the tempest wanted in. Hanging miles above, heavy cottony clouds held suspended torrents. The wind would soon wring out the wet. Bara gave a silent prayer the rain would hold off long enough for her to reach Colin and his dry dorm room and entered the parkland. She passed through a thick set of trees and into greater darkness.

***