Chapter 12: Earth

We can't afford more than a one-bedroom place. For a while Jesse and I shared the bedroom, but eventually we both wanted somewhere we could go to be alone for a few minutes. Jesse got stuck with the family room, and I got the bedroom. Sometimes I feel a little guilty, but Jesse doesn't seem to mind changing clothes in the bathroom, so I try not to feel too bad.

I look down at my phone. I hear Jesse talking in the other room. Guess I’d better hold up my end of our bargain. I dial Henry's number.

“Hello?”

“Henry, it's Alice.”

“You actually called. I didn't think you would.”

“Yep.” And this is why I hate talking on the phone. I have no idea what to say, so the awkward pause stretches, like a limo. Like taffy. And now it’s sagging like off-brand yoga pants. Blerg.

“Are you still there?” Henry asks.

Good idea. Let’s blame the cell phone reception. “Yeah, can you hear me now?”

“So I talked to Paul. I told him firing you for taking home a few things that no one was eating anyway was ridiculous.”

“You did?”

Henry grunts. “He insists you were stealing. Like you stole a steak, cooked it, popped it into a box, and were going to sneak that out.”

“That would break fewer health codes,” I say.

“Why did you take it?” Henry asks. “I mean, I’ve seen you eating things now and again. Not to my taste, but taking home other people’s leftovers? Really?”

Great. I’m a charity case. Any thoughts I had of turning Henry into a friend evacuate the building. “So can you bring me what they owe me? Or do I need to go steal it from Paul?”

“He tried to say you don’t get your pay, since you were fired.”

What? My eyes sting. I gulp in air to keep from crying on the phone. We need that money.

“I told him he’d better cut you a check, or pull it out of petty cash, or something, or I’d talk to his superior.” Henry’s a better guy than I thought, not that his threats will help much. It’ll probably just get him fired, too, if he keeps pushing.

“It’s okay—”

“It worked. He gave me your pay.” He pauses. “Alice Walker. I didn’t realize it, but I never knew your last name until he told me.”

Wait, what?

“I’ve got class and then soccer in the morning, but I can bring it by your place tonight or tomorrow. Just text me the address.”

Uh, that’s not going to happen. “Well, the thing is,” I say.

“Or I'm happy to meet you somewhere. I can even buy you dinner. Think of it as like, the farewell dinner you didn't get, but deserved.”

“I'd rather you not invite Paul and Ramon.”

Henry laughs. “Yeah, that would be awkward.”

I smile, but of course I'm on the phone so Henry can't see me. “Where did you want to meet?”

“Since I have no idea where you live, and it feels like you want to keep it that way, why don't you choose a place?”

“Can I just text you?” I ask.

“That's fine. I'm working lunch shift again tomorrow. Want to meet me around six?”

“Sounds good,” I say. “See you tomorrow.”

Jesse pokes his head into my room after I hang up. “And?”

“I'm meeting him for dinner tomorrow. I just have to pick a place.”

“Maybe pick something over in the Katy area,” he says, “because then you could come with me. You can apply for jobs. . . while I interview.”

I beam. “That’s great!” I jump off my bed, which is really just a mattress resting on plywood and concrete blocks, and run over to give him a hug. “I’m so proud of you, J.”

He shoves me. “A simple interview has nothing on you.”

Huh?

“You just called Alice Walker's future husband for the first time.”

I roll my eyes. “Please.”

We watch television for a while, but Jesse keeps checking his phone.

“Waiting for a text?” I ask.

He grins. “It’s more pathetic than that. I keep rereading the one where he sent me the address. I just can’t believe I’m interviewing for a real IT job.” He shakes his head. “It feels. . .unreal.”

I yawn.

“Whoa, are you tired?”

I shrug. “Always.”

“You’d better get your beauty sleep, then.” He shuts off the television. “You’ve got interviewing to look good for tomorrow.” He bites his lip. “And a date.”

“Shaddup.” I stand up. “I’m going to shower, then I’ll head to bed.”

“Didn’t you shower this morning?” Jesse laughs.

“You shower twice a day, too.”

“I work outside all day long.”

“I walk outside. . .in Houston.”

He bobs his head. “Good point.”

I grab my pajamas and try to forget how long and miserable today has been while the hot water pours down my back. I’m toweling off my hair as I step out of the tub into a puddle of water on the floor.

I slip and land on the heel of my right hand, which makes a loud crack. “Ow!”

Jesse bangs on the door. “What’s wrong?”

I groan. “Oh, man. Nothing, I guess. I fell and landed on my hand. My wrist is throbbing. I think I might have broken it.”

“Can you dress yourself?”

“Of course, dummy. I’m not three years old.”

“I’m trying to be considerate. Sheesh.”

The throbbing in my wrist increases as I fumble through dressing. I can barely bend it by the time I reach for the door handle with my left hand.

Jesse’s hovering when I emerge. “Let’s see.”

I yank my arm back. “Doesn’t matter.”

He sighs. “If you can go to sleep, it doesn’t.”

“I can, and I know it’ll be fine once I get to Terra. Martin will Heal it. Although I do feel a little bad dumping more stuff on my plate right now.”

Jesse tilts his head sideways. “You feel bad for dumping stuff. . .on yourself?”

“It’s just that I don't remember anything about Earth when I'm there, so I always feel guilty leaving myself inexplicable problems to resolve.”

“What do you think about all the injuries that randomly pop up?”

“The troupe thinks I sleep walk.”

Jesse snorts. “Are you serious?”

I shrug. “It’s not so different from the truth. I am walking around here the whole time I’m sleeping there.”

He crosses his arms. “It still bugs me that the times don’t add up. You’re awake here for like fifteen, sixteen hours, and the same there, right?”

“We’re talking two different dimensions,” I say. “And you’re worried their clocks don’t line up with ours?”

Jesse frowns. “I was thinking about something. You saw someone there, someone who got injured. You were worried he might die there. Then you saw him here. . .and he died. Your injuries from here cross over there, and. . .” He frowns. “If you die there. . .”

“You can’t worry about that.”

“Says the queen of worrying.”

He has me there.

Jesse steps closer and drops his voice. “For the first time that we know of, you’re in actual danger on Terra. You want me not to worry about it?”

I push past him to my bedroom. “Maybe that guy died here because he died there. Maybe these worlds are connected somehow, and as bad as I feel about causing his death, he did try to kill Martin, and if he died. . .he probably couldn’t tell anyone that I Lifted. Which means I’m safe over there. My secret isn’t out.”

“I know you have to go to sleep and find out. But. . .just don't die, okay?” He frowns. “I know we may not completely agree on our situation right now, but you’re the only person who matters to me. You know that.”

I do. “I love you, J.”

He hugs me. “Love you too.”

My throbbing wrist doesn’t make it easy to fall asleep. Every time I shift, I bump it and pain screams up my arm. But that’s not the only reason I struggle. When I close my eyes, I either see Robert, lying on the floor lifeless, or my parents flying through the windshield. The year we’ve spent in Houston has been pretty peaceful, boring almost. Until last night—when I kicked the hornet’s nest on Terra—and then today when I lost my job, and now that Jesse’s decided to try for a new one.

At the end of the day, I’m not afraid of dying, but what will happen to Jesse if I do?

It’s a hard truth to accept that he might actually be better off without me. He could go back to using his real name. He wouldn’t need to worry about a criminal record—he doesn’t have one—or being underage—because he’s not. All in all, I’m sort of a millstone around his neck, dragging him down, down, down. If I’m honest about it, I always have been.

That thought keeps me up far too long.