Parallelogram Omnibus Edition

by Brande, Robin

  Well, so do I.

  “I’ll give you a full hour,” I tell Bryan. “Maybe even up to two. I’ll share with you how my life has been this past year without Ginny. I’ll tell you some of my favorite childhood memories of her. Would you like that?”

  Bryan smiles. I’ve got him. And he thinks he’s got me. “Monologue, or can I ask you questions?”

  “Um …” That’s a little tricky, since I don’t exactly know every part of Halli’s history. But do I know enough to fake it? “Tell you what,” I say, “you can ask, and I reserve the right not to answer. You’ll edit out any questions I don’t feel comfortable answering. Deal?”

  “Deal.” Bryan shakes my hand.

  One down.

  “Jake,” I say.

  Red growls again, just at the mere word. Jake takes another step back.

  “What should I tell your parents?” he asks.

  Okay, well, that’s a relief. I thought he’d put up more of a fight about me not wanting him around. Last time he was pretty possessive—especially whenever Daniel was in the picture, like right now.

  But Jake is right: I’m going to have to come up with a story for Halli’s parents. They might not care about their daughter, but they do care about the image she projects. I found that out a few days ago when Halli’s mother chewed me out for all my “attention-seeking” behavior like being rushed to the hospital. She was probably furious when I died—think of the publicity.

  “Tell them whatever you want,” I say, sounding like Halli, but meaning it myself. “It’s none of their business what I do. I’ve been on my own a long time. I don’t have to clear things with them.”

  Besides, I’m well aware that Halli’s parents can check up on me anytime they want just by looking at the tracking information sent out by the microchip beneath Halli’s collarbone. So telling them where I am or where I’m going is pointless. It’s why I’m doing what I’m doing that is entirely my secret.

  “Of course, Miss Markham,” Jake says, way too formally for a guy I know I was making out with just a little while ago, every time Mr. Chilton left the room. But it’s good Jake is keeping everything looking professional. Last time, Sarah guessed right away that Jake and I had something going on. And since I made the mistake of telling Daniel last time that it was really me in here, he wasn’t happy at all to find out I’d been kissing another guy—even if I was kissing him with Halli’s lips, not mine. And then Bryan the reporter put the pieces together himself and forced Jake and me to confess, and then everything kept going haywire after that.

  So if Jake wants to pretend he just works for Halli’s parents and has no personal relationship with me, I’m all for it.

  “I’ll need my clothes delivered to Sarah’s house,” I remember to tell him. Last time I had to go back to the hotel first, which led to more kissing, and then that whole confrontation with Bryan … “The driver can get the address when he drops me off.”

  “Of course, Miss Markham,” Jake says again. “I’ll go speak to the driver now, if you’re ready to go. He can take you and your friends.”

  Good. So far changing things up this time is a lot easier than I thought it would be.

  “And me,” Jake adds.

  3

  “No, you don’t say that,” I want to tell Jake. That wasn’t how it was last time.

  Last time I stayed at Sarah and Daniel’s house by myself. Daniel and I talked through the night while I caught him up on everything that had happened to me in the past few days: waking up in Halli’s body, having to pretend to be her during that whole bizarre weekend at her parents’ island, and yes, even as much explanation as I felt comfortable giving him for why he’d seen me, the girl he thought was his girlfriend, kissing Jake. Not the best part of the evening.

  What was the best part was finally having someone I could talk to about all of it. Someone I could be honest with. And also someone with enough science background to try to help me puzzle through the physics of how it all happened. It’s not like we came to some great conclusion—if we had, I wouldn’t be back here right now, playing out this whole scene again—but it was just … nice. Nice having him there for me. Nice being with him again.

  Which is why I realized it was him I really wanted, not Jake. No matter how charming Jake can be. Which is very charming when he wants.

  But right now? Trying to horn in on my private time with Daniel and Sarah? Not so charming. Especially since it’s their parents that I need to talk to most.

  “You can’t come,” I tell Jake. “I just want to be with my friends by myself.”

  “I’m afraid I have to come,” he says. “You know the rules.”

  “The rules?” I can’t believe he just said that to me. To Halli Markham. Halli Markham doesn’t abide by anyone’s rules.

  “Miss Markham, please,” he says, taking half a step forward. Red immediately growls him back to his place.

  Jake casts a glance over at Bryan, who is now off chatting with Sarah and Daniel.

  “Halli,” Jake says, keeping his voice low. “You know that won’t work. I have to stay with you. They’re checking on me.”

  I can guess who they are. And I know how they’re checking: Jake has a microchip, too. Everyone here does. Halli’s parents must have the password to Jake’s tracking information. Great.

  But why should I care about that? I’m here for one thing, and that’s to save my own life. I won’t let Halli’s parents or Jake or anyone else interfere with that.

  “I’m going to my friends’ house by myself,” I tell him. “You’re not invited. I don’t care what my parents’ rules are. They’re not in charge of me and neither are you.”

  I almost feel like backing that up with a growl of my own.

  “Of course, Miss Markham,” Jake answers. Then he smiles, more to himself than me. “I told them you wouldn’t like it.”

  “I don’t. You were right.”

  I’m starting to get the hang of this, being Halli. She says what she wants. She does what she wants. There’s nothing like seeing her take over my life and discard the people and things she didn’t like to teach me how to do it myself.

  Truth is, it feels good. It feels strong.

  “I understand,” Jake says. “Listen, I appreciate you letting me stick around as long as I did. Thank you. It was an honor to finally meet you. I wouldn’t trade that for anything. I’ll go give the driver your instructions. Thank you, Miss Markham. It’s been a pleasure.” He tries to take a step forward again and offer me his hand, but Red puts a stop to that. Instead Jake just gives me a solemn nod, then turns and walks away.

  It’s all too … easy.

  And something doesn’t feel quite right. What he said sounded so final. I suspect in a way it is.

  “What will they do?” I call after him.

  “Don’t worry about it,” he says back.

  “No, Jake, wait.”

  He pauses, and so do I. Because right now I have a decision to make. If I don’t ask, I won’t know. And that’s probably for the best.

  But then I won’t know.

  “Are we ready?” Sarah asks, seeing that my conversation with Jake is over. “I’m famished. We’re taking you to the loveliest café, where they serve the most mammoth cinnamon buns, and they have scones so sublime they will make you weep—”

  “Just a second,” I tell her. “Red, stay.” The dog looks at me, seems to accept the command, but I can see that he’s still tense. He doesn’t want me going off on my own—not to go talk to him.

  I catch up to Jake. “Just tell me.”

  He shrugs. “You can guess.”

  “They’ll fire you.”

  “It’s all right,” he says. “I can find work someplace else.”

  “But where will you live?” Jake and his whole family work for Halli’s parents and live on their private island. If he’s out of a job, he’s probably out of a home, too.

  Am I really going to do that to him?

  “Halli, I meant what
I said,” Jake tells me. “It was worth it. Why do you think I took the apprenticeship with your father in the first place? I could have looked for work someplace else.”

  “But you wanted to meet me.” He already confessed that to me last time, so I assume he did it this time, too.

  Jake nods. “And I did. And it was great.” He smiles and offers me his hand again. Without my guard dog here, I can shake it.

  “I’ll be fine,” Jake says. “Thanks for everything. I’m going to go talk to the driver now.”

  He heads toward the door outside.

  Aaaarrrrgggg …

  “Hold on,” I tell him.

  I jog back to the others. Sarah is laughing at something Bryan the reporter just said.

  She threads her arm through his. “Do you know he’s just been telling me the most fascinating stories of all the people he’s interviewed? Of course you and your grandmother are top of the top, but do you know he actually met Spirelli?”

  “Yeah, that’s great. Hey, Daniel, can I talk to you for a second?”

  “Certainly.”

  I lead him over to where Red is still obediently sitting in a stay.

  “I have a situation.”

  “Right,” Daniel answers, immediately serious. That’s what I like about him—so entirely reliable.

  “There are things I need to talk to you about,” I say. “Audie things.” Now he’s really paying attention. “I don’t want Jake to hear any of it, for obvious reasons.”

  “Understood,” Daniel says. He’s well aware that he is the only person in this universe—at this stage, at least—who knows about Halli and me. Eventually, last time, I told his parents and a few other people, and that didn’t end up so well.

  “So I don’t want him coming with us,” I continue, “but my parents will fire him if he doesn’t. Is there someplace close to your house where he can stay, but not too close?”

  “There’s an inn. Not far.”

  “Will that work?” What I really want to know is whether the tracking will show that Jake is with me, but I can’t come right out and ask it. Halli would probably already know the answer. I need Daniel to believe I’m her.

  “I think so,” he says.

  “Okay.”

  I have no idea if I’m doing the right thing. Maybe I’m doing exactly the wrong thing. I could be rid of Jake Demetrios right now. Let him go fend for himself while I do the same.

  That’s what the real Halli would do.

  Jake pushes through the glass doors and calls that the car is ready.

  I’m on my own here. Every decision is mine.

  “Okay,” I answer. “Let’s go.”

  4

  “No, but you must come!” Sarah says, holding tightly to Bryan’s arm. “What could possibly be more enchanting than sitting in a café with me and thrilling me with more of your stories while I gaze adoringly into your eyes?”

  Sarah is just teasing him, the way I’ve seen her flirt with guys before, but there clearly is a lot of adoration there—it’s just coming from the other direction. Bryan looks miserable about having to leave us. Good. He caused me a lot of pain. And if he’s only just realizing he made a bad deal with me by agreeing to disappear for a few days, that’s his problem, not mine. I have no pity for him.

  “Off we go,” I tell Sarah and the others. Jake doesn’t even try to sit in the back with us—Red has made it clear he’s not welcome. So he sits up front next to the driver while Sarah and Daniel and the dog and I load into the back.

  And there I am, in the reflection of the car window: Halli Markham, in the flesh, no question about it. That’s her long, thick hair. Her broad shoulders and muscular frame. Her.

  I may never look like myself again. Maybe it’s time to accept that.

  My old, original body doesn’t want me anymore. It threw me out, like a body rejecting an organ transplant. I could feel myself being squeezed. Pushed. I wasn’t welcome anymore.

  Or maybe it wasn’t entirely my body’s choice. Halli had a part to play. She wanted one thing, I wanted another, and ultimately the stronger of us won.

  I was too weak for my own body to want me anymore. It preferred a better owner. How’s that for a bitter truth?

  Sarah reaches across the seat to clutch my hand. “Halli Markham, how lovely to have you back with us. Although I do wish you’d brought your cousin along! Poor Dan here is utterly forlorn. Aren’t you, Daniel?”

  “Forlorn,” he agrees, humoring her.

  “Don’t pretend you’re unaffected,” his sister says. “I could tell many a tale of how you’ve been moping about the house this past week, pining for a certain someone.”

  Daniel ignores her. “Any chance she’ll come?” he asks me.

  I hesitate, then shake my head. It won’t do either of us any good for me to pretend otherwise.

  “Shame,” he says.

  “Yeah,” I agree. I glance down before I can fall into the trap of gazing too intently into his eyes. Look, it’s me in here! Can’t you see? This isn’t a game. Knowing who I am only leads to trouble.

  I clear my throat and give Red a solid scratch behind the ear. “Okay, so change of plans: we’re not going to a café right now—” I hold up my hand before Sarah can object. “—because I’d rather go straight to your house. I’ve been listening to that man Mr. Chilton drone on all day, and I have a headache like you wouldn’t believe. I’m hoping your very tiny house has at least one decent-sized bathtub,” which I know it does, “so I can soak for a little while. I’m afraid I won’t be very good company until I do.”

  Now it’s Sarah who looks forlorn. “Oh. All right, then … only … I may have invited a few friends …”

  I remember. Two very nice girls from Sarah’s school. But those hours I spent at the café that afternoon ended up being a huge waste of time. Plus the whole thing wasn’t exactly relaxing. Daniel was still in shock from me telling him who I really was, and he and Jake were already brewing up the rivalry that would eventually end in my death. If Jake hadn’t been so jealous, he never would have tried to follow Daniel and me the next day. Then Sarah led him and Bryan right to us, and everything went wrong from there.

  So I can think of a lot better things to do with my time right now than to go back to that café. I’d rather find someplace where I can be alone and finally have the chance to think.

  “I promise I’ll meet your friends some other time,” I tell Sarah, even though I have no intention of doing that. This isn’t a vacation. I’m not here to socialize and play.

  While Sarah gives the driver the address to her house, then makes a quick comm call to her friends telling them we won’t be there, I hold a quiet conversation with Daniel.

  “Audie really wanted to come.”

  “I understand,” he says. “We knew … it might be difficult.”

  Back when he first met me, the only impediments were time zone and whether Halli and I could sync up so I could travel over to this universe. Those were the easy days.

  “How is she?” he asks.

  “She’s fine. She … misses you.” It’s a risk, but I have to say it. He’s right here and I need to say it. I just make sure I’m not actually looking at him right now.

  “You said you had other things to talk to me about.”

  “I do,” I say. “We will.”

  Then Sarah is done, and so are we.

  Their neighborhood is nice, very English, and I’ve been here before. What I didn’t notice before was the inn. No surprise, since there are no signs out front or any other indication that’s what it is.

  “Should we invite him for supper?” Sarah asks as the driver pulls up in front.

  “No,” I answer. “He’ll be fine.”

  I lower the window just enough to hear what Jake has to say. Red growls so loudly I can barely make it out.

  “Tomorrow!” Jake finally shouts.

  “Maybe,” I shout back, then I raise the window again. I don’t mind saving his job and keeping him from bei
ng homeless, but that’s as far as my charity goes. And I especially don’t plan on having him tag along on the excursion I intend to take tomorrow.

  “Wait here,” Sarah tells me when the car pulls up in front of her house. “My parents don’t know you’re staying over yet—you’re meant to be a surprise. They think they’re not meeting you until the party.”

  The party. Right. Sarah and Daniel’s father’s birthday. Last time I missed it because I was in the hospital. And there was a bit of extra cleanup ahead of the party thanks to poor Red flipping out and tearing their house apart because I wasn’t with him.

  I’ll have to make it up to all of them this time.

  “Come on, Dan,” Sarah says. “You and I go in first. I’ll wave to you when it’s time,” she tells me. Then the two of them exit the car and head up the walkway into their narrow, two-story house.

  I’m suddenly exhausted. I’ve been thinking so hard and performing so hard for the past hour or so, it’s finally all catching up with me. I’m glad I came up with the excuse of a hot bath. I need a good long stretch of quality time with myself to try to get a grip on all of this.

  Sarah is waving to me from the doorway. Inside that house are the two people who hold the key to what I need to know. I need to decide what to say—how much to say. And how much of it I want to Daniel to know ahead of time. I’m going to need his help. But he has to think he’s helping Halli, not me.

  My head is pounding. That part of my excuse to Sarah wasn’t a lie.

  Now she’s standing on her porch, jumping up and down and waving wildly because she thinks I don’t see her. It’s sweet how enthusiastic she is about Halli. And how nice she’s always been to me. I obviously have my own problems to deal with here, but there’s no reason I can’t be a good sport with her while I’m at it.