Chapter 39

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

DANIEL

Olive and I take the city bus back home. She talks the entire time, filling me in on all the plans she's made with Annie. Apparently, they're going to buddy-read a book and then watch the movie to decide which one is better.

I don't say much. My head hurts, and my eyes are heavy. I know better than to fall asleep on the bus, so I lean forward, forcing myself to stay awake.

When we get close to our stop, Olive pulls the yellow cord, and I follow her off the bus.

"Did something happen? You've been awfully quiet. I know you're usually quiet, but this is more than normal," Olive says as we walk down the sidewalk.

"I'm tired," I say.

"Are you sure that's it?" she asks.

I nod. "I haven't been sleeping well."

"Huh," she says. "I thought you started sleeping better since Margo."

I did for a while. If I fall asleep when I'm next to her, I sleep soundly, but when she's out of reach, my mind fills with darkness.

I don't reply, and we keep walking until we make it to the house. We go inside and slip our shoes off. The only light on in the house is coming from the office—my room—down the hall. There are voices coming from inside.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Olive whispers.

"I don't know."

"They've been acting weird again," she says before walking away.

I knock on the door, and the talking immediately stops. "Just a minute," Laura says. There are hushed words and a rustling of papers before Laura and Rob open the door.

"I didn't realize you were home already," Laura says.

I don't have the energy to wonder what they're doing. All I want to do is lie down. "We just got here."

"Okay," she says, stepping out of the room. "Did you guys have fun?"

"Yeah," I say.

Rob holds a stack of papers in his hands and stands up from the desk. "Don't worry. I'll get out of your way."

He said it in a lighthearted way, but I'm not in the mood to laugh. They're eager to get away and avoid any questions about what they're hiding. Once they leave the room, I lie on my bed and keep my eyes open for as long as possible. I want to avoid the inevitable nightmare.

We walk in the field of wildflowers, and I hold on to her hand, trying to keep her from disappearing. Maybe if I hold on to her tightly enough, the nightmare won't rip her away from me. But without fail, the sky turns black. I'm forced to stand still and watch her be consumed by a dark poison, almost like ink, and when it dissolves, Margo is gone.

I jerk away, tears streaming down my face, and hug my knees. My heart aches and my hands shake.

It's too early in the morning to call her, but I need her. I need to hear her voice. I need to see her face.

I stay awake for hours, staring at the walls until my alarm goes off. I jump out of bed, not caring what I look like. My hair is a mess and I don't bother dressing. I stay in my sweats. I catch the bus and as soon as it stops at the school, I'm running. I sprint inside the building and don't stop until I see a glimpse of Margo standing in the hall. I pause.

She smiles. She's wearing a purple pair of overalls and she has cherries hanging from her ears. There she is. My beautiful Margo Blakely. She's perfect.

My lip quivers and eyes water as I drop my messenger bag and rush into her arms. I hold on to her, the way I wanted to in my dream.

"What's wrong?" she asks.

The pain in my chest releases as I rest my head on her shoulder. "I missed you."

She rubs my back, squeezing me tight. "I missed you too."

"Don't go anywhere," I mumble.

"I won't," she says.