QUANTUM

by Imogen Rose

  “We have time, Ollie.”

  It felt so good to wake up in my own bed this morning. Not that I had any complaints about Potomal’s hospitality. His digs were awesome, but my room felt safe. I went straight to sleep after my journey back home. I was conveniently dropped off in my own bed, so I hit the pillow, without getting into my pajamas. I woke up this morning looking like something out of a zombie movie, my mascara smeared into raccoon eyes and my hair definitely reminiscent of Bozo. Thank goodness for Chanel Vendetta nail polish, I thought to myself, as I glanced down at my intact pedicure. At least something looked decent.

  Now, on the back of David’s bike, I felt back to normal. A shower had quickly refreshed me and a cup of coffee jolted me into a rush of activity, which concluded with the application of lip gloss. We were heading over to the lake, for some one-on-one time. David had woken me up with a call to let me know that he was going back to his dad’s tomorrow. So today was all we had and I wanted to catch up with him.

  Kellan was a bit put out naturally. We’d planned to spend the day together, and that would have included going to school. When I asked Rupert–Mom was not around–if I could cut school, he’d been surprisingly understanding, positive even. So I was having a day off from school!

  David and I hadn’t seen much of each other during the past year. When we did, it was rushed and we didn’t manage to catch up. Last Halloween there was a certain closeness between us that I really missed. I wondered whether it was gone forever, or if it was just missing for the moment because we’d been apart.

  Oops! I checked myself. I wondered if David could still read me. Last October, he revealed that when he made physical contact with me, he could hear my thoughts. There was no distance between us now. I was hugging him tightly as he rode the bike through the trees toward the lake. Can you hear my thoughts, David? He nodded. I could only imagine the grin behind the helmet.

  The grin was still firmly planted on his face as he removed his helmet and lifted me off the bike. He held up both hands in a surrender move. Very cute.

  “Can’t read you now! Ponder away!” he teased.

  I took his hand, dragging him along to the lake, making sure to blank my mind of any inappropriate thoughts. I concentrated on the image of a burger. It made me hungry.

  “Me, too,” David said, as he dropped down on the grass and started emptying out the contents of the picnic basket. “No burgers, but here’s a bacon sub. It’s really nice to get to share some downtime with you, Poppet. I’ve missed you.”

  “Why didn’t you come back? Your dad’s okay now isn’t he?”

  David nodded. “Yeah. He’s still scarred, both physically and emotionally, but he’s back at work. I think work has been really good for him.”

  “What about you? Been playing any hockey?”

  “Yeah, I’m captain of the varsity team,” he beamed. “I hear you’re the captain of the girls’ team. How’s that working out?”

  “I love it! I didn’t think I would, but the girls are awesome. We just started the season; we’re playing the first league game tonight. Will you come and watch?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  “Great! I’m still playing for the varsity team as well, just not as much. But it’s fun to hang out with the guys.”

  “How have you been coping with Simla and Justin?”

  “They’ve sort of kept to themselves this year. I did try to reach out a bit to Simla. I really felt for her after her mom died, but she seemed to want to be left alone. Strangely, though, when we were at Potomal’s, she was different somehow. She was more direct with me, treated me like a friend almost. It’ll be interesting to see where we go with our day-to-day relationship now.”

  “Did you hear about her dad?” David asked.

  “There’s more news?”

  David nodded. “He turned up just outside Mountain View yesterday.”

  “Get out!”

  “Really, he did. The FBI is all over it, as are the Wanderers.”

  “What does he want? He has the blueprints, right?”

  “Mom spoke to Constance this morning. He apparently wanted another copy. He must have left the last set behind in the other dimension.”

  “I’m assuming Mom called the FBI on him?”

  “Nope. He pulled the Dillard threat from last year.”

  “Figures. So she sent the prints?”

  “Yes, she is emailing them to him.”

  “Does Simla know about this?” I asked.

  “She knows about him being back, but not about the blueprint saga.”

  “I assume she wants to see him?”

  “Yeah. Her house is surrounded by the FBI, though. She can’t be seen trying to find him, even if he has managed to make contact with her somehow.”

  “How did the FBI get involved? Did Potomal dump him here as he threatened?” I listened carefully as David repeated the story back to me. Poor old ladies. “So, I guess Simla will lay low until the FBI loses interest again and then try to find him. He’ll be loaded soon. I bet he’ll get a fortune for those prints.”

  David nodded. “Yeah, I expect that’s what she’ll do. I don’t think the Elders will stop her. She’s old enough to make her own decisions.” He sighed. “What about you and Justin?”

  “The same, over the last year. We played hockey together, but apart from that we’ve kept our distance. We did seem to bond when we were held captive, but I don’t know if it’ll last or not. I hope so, sure makes life easier.”

  “What else, Poppet? Everything fine with you? You and Kellan still going strong?”

  I nodded, making sure not to emote too much. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Best to change the subject. “What about you, David? It must be surreal to go to the same school in a different dimension.”

  He suddenly looked uncomfortable, rubbing his leg and running his fingers through his hair.

  “David? You okay?”

  He nodded. “I’m not living in Mountain View with my dad. I never said I was.”

  “I guess you didn’t. I just assumed so when you went back. Where did you go? Another dimension? Or have you been living elsewhere in this dimension? I’m confusing myself. Where the heck have you been?”

  “I met a girl,” he said, hesitantly. “I moved to be closer to her.”

  “David’s in love! Awesome! What’s she like?”

  “She is very pretty, a lot like you really,” he smiled.

  “Oh, you goof! Well that explains everything. You seemed so distant, but it’s just that you’ve been concentrating on someone else. I hope she’s nice. You deserve the best,” I said, and clambered over the food and drink to give him a hug. Then I lay back enjoying the warm sun on my skin. I was happy. It was such a relief to have David back in my life again, even if it was only for a short while. I fell asleep briefly. I was still tired out from the previous couple of days. When I opened my eyes again, David was sitting up and watching me intently. It clicked. He must also be my security detail while he was with me. “Sorry, David,” I said, embarrassed.

  “Don’t apologize. I like watching you sleep–in a non-creepy way,” he hastily added.

  I punched his shoulder. “I know! So, what were you thinking about while I nodded off like an old lady?”

  He didn’t smile like I had expected him to. His mood was suddenly somber.

  “David?”

  “Poppet, how’s Gertrude been?”

  What a strange question. “Fine, I guess. I’ve been too busy to spend any time with her. She has a walker who comes over and takes her out her everyday. She seems happy enough. Why? Has she been complaining?” I laughed.

  “Actually, yes.”

  There’s not much one can say in response to that. I could feel an inane conversation about better dog care coming up. Gertrude was well looked after. She was loved, fed and walked. I just didn’t have much spare time, most of which I spent with Kellan.

  “Yesterday, Gertrude spent some time wi
th Mom….”

  “Oh, so that’s where she’s been! We’ve been so worried. We looked all over the house for her this morning, she’d just disappeared.”

  “Yes,” David continued. “Mom and Gertrude had a conversation.”

  “Doggie Wanderers can converse?”

  “Yes, by sharing their feelings.”

  I sighed. “So what did she tell your mom?”

  “She wants to go back home–to Princeton.”

  “Tough cookies. She’ll have to suck it up, silly dog.”

  David’s brows furrowed. “I’m really shocked to hear you say that. Don’t you care about her feelings?”

  “David, I wasn’t even aware that she had any feelings. She’s a dog.”

  “She’s a Wanderer.”

  “I know, but….”

  “No buts,” David said adamantly. “She is one of us. She is unhappy and wants to go home.”

  “David,” I protested. “Dad’s not going to want her!”

  “How do you know? Maybe he will. Or maybe Gertrude is ready for another assignment. Her work with you is done and to simply keep her as a pet is making her miserable. She needs to have a purpose. Her purpose is not here, it never was. She was forcibly taken from another dimension and brought here by your mother, causing all kinds of havoc.”

  “I can’t just let you transport her back….”

  “Arizona, Gertrude is a Wanderer. She doesn’t need me to transport her back. All she needs is Constance’s permission, and then she can wander back on her own.”

  “Well she’s not a Sigma-W, is she? So, she can’t magic herself to Princeton. You’d have to drive her,” I said, in the most smart-alecky way possible.

  “You have me there. Still, this is serious.”

  “David, what do you want me to say? Take my dog. I don’t think so. Besides, Mom would never let you do that. Sheesh, she went through all that trouble to bring her here in the first place. And what about Ella? She’ll be devastated.”

  David nodded. “It’s not going to be easy. Constance has assigned a Wanderer puppy to Ella. We are going to bring her over tomorrow.”

  “Seriously? You think giving her a new puppy is just going to make her forget Gertrude? I don’t think so. Look, I want to go home,” I snapped, standing up.

  He pulled me down and put his arms around me. I sobbed into his shirt. I knew Gertrude would go. I could feel it. I couldn’t stop her and I certainly didn’t want to keep her prisoner. But I would miss her so much.

  “She’ll come back to visit you whenever you want. Just let me know and I’ll make sure she comes.”

  I lay in his arms sobbing for a while. I was going to miss the lazy lump. Dad had better look after her. He probably needed her more than I did. I had so much love here and he was alone. Besides, I planned to go and visit him soon so I would get to see Gertrude, as well. “Ella isn’t going to be able to handle this.”

  “She will. The new puppy is a Wanderer, too. She will instantly connect with it, just like you did with me. Remember, Arizona Darley, I am your Wanderer, not Gertrude. Who do you think about when you’re sad? When you’re scared? Gertrude brought the Arizona Stevens to you because it lives so strongly within her. But it’s me you turn to.”

  I was dumbfounded. He was right. Not that it made my affection for Gertrude any less. I loved her like my pet and that can be the strongest connection ever. However, the connection I felt to David was way deeper.

  “Poppet, I know this is going to be painful, but I just wanted to warn you. You could try to talk Gertrude into staying. However, she seems ready to wander.”

  “Does Mom know?”

  “I think so. My mom is expecting us to come over to her place.”

  “You’re going to let Gertrude go today?”

  “No. We’ll make sure that Ella connects with her puppy first. We’ll then explain to her that Gertrude doesn’t belong here, we’ll do it in a way she can understand and accept. Mom wants us over so we can all sit down and figure this out together. Okay?”

  I nodded and walked over to the bike and got on, watching him gather the blanket and basket before getting on in front of me and riding back through the trees to the highway. I tried to blank my mind and concentrate on the wind. I would have to leave Gertrude behind next year when I moved to college anyway. It hadn’t occurred to me to dwell on that. So why was this so difficult? When I went to college, I would still see her during vacation times. Could I now? Would she be able or even want to visit with us?

  David veered off the road and brought the bike to a halt. He took his helmet off and looked at me. “Poppet, of course, she’ll want to come back! And it’s a good thing that you’re considering what would have happened next year anyway. Really, the main concern is Ella. Or that’s Gertrude’s main concern. She’s bonded with Ella over the last year, though she hasn’t enjoyed the numerous dress-up sessions. The new puppy will.” He put his helmet on again and restarted the bike.

  Mom and Rupert were already at Inez’s house when we got there. Mom came over and hugged me, she was visibly emotional at what was going on. My heart skipped a beat as Gertrude came bounding up the stairs from the back yard, jumped up on me and licked my face. I hugged her close and carried her over to the couch. I looked at her sadly and asked, “Seriously, Gertrude?”

  She looked at me miserably. I looked up at Mom.

  “Don’t worry, Arizona. I’m not going to let anyone take Gertrude.”

  “Mom, I don’t think anyone is taking her. I think she is leaving.”

  Mom shook her head. “Inez, what’s going on?”

  “As you know, I spent the day with Gertrude yesterday. I hadn’t spent any time with her, not even checked in with her, since she was brought through the portal. By all accounts, she was doing fine, so I didn’t interfere, although I should have. Her transport was unauthorized by the Elders so we should have sent her back immediately. With all that was going on with Arizona, we did feel that it was perhaps best to let her stay. We let her stay as your pet, Arizona. She is, however, not just a pet. It seems that she is unhappy not having a purpose.”

  “But she does have a purpose,” I protested. “We all love her. We do, Gertrude,” I said, kissing her forehead.

  “Arizona, I know. You love her as your pet. She needs more than that to feel fulfilled,” Inez explained.

  “I know. David explained it to me. I’m just having a hard time accepting it. I just want her to know how much she’s loved and how much we’re going to miss her. And I want her to promise to visit.”

  “Rupert said that you communicated with her and you would show us how,” Mom challenged.

  Inez nodded and walked over to me. She sat down beside me and asked me to place Gertrude between us. She gently patted her head and looked into her eyes and nodded. “The easiest way for me to do this would be to read her and answer your questions that way, but I’m sure you wouldn’t believe me. So, I’ve asked her to lift her right paw as an affirmative answer. No, this won’t work with complicated questions, or even simple ones that require more than a yes-or-no answer, so think before you ask the questions. We’ll stop when she lies down. That’ll mean she’s had enough. Arizona, you start.”

  “Gertrude, you know I love you, right?”

  She looked up at me, wagging her tail. Then suddenly, as if she just remembered, she raised her little paw. I was astounded. I looked up at Mom, who was shaking her head in disbelief.

  Inez spoke again. “Olivia, you go next and then the two of you can take turns until Gertrude has had enough.”

  “Gertrude, are you angry that I brought you through the portal?”

  We all looked at her intently for an answer. Gertrude looked around, then the paw came up.

  “Arizona, I know it’s your turn, but may I ask anther one, please?” Mom asked, clearly dismayed.

  I nodded.

  “Gertrude,” she said, “do you understand that my reasons for doing so was because we love you and I wanted you
to be with us?”

  The paw went up right away.

  “Do you want to go back?” I asked. That was the one thing I really needed to know.

  Gertrude didn’t hesitate. She raised her paw. She was obviously one hundred percent sure. Then, she lay down.

  “Gertrude, just one more, please,” I pleaded, as Inez glared at me sternly. She stood back up, cocking her head to the side, looking at me intently. “Gertrude, will you come and visit me often?” Her paw came up and then she climbed into my lap and fell asleep. Wow.