Portal (32 page)

Thankfully it was a late opening at school this morning. Last night had been magical, but I arose desperately tired when wakened by the alarm. I felt the weight of a long, difficult day ahead. The first game of the season, just a “friendly” but this was going to be monumental for me. I had to hold my own and perform at my very best. Then, there was the small matter of
the talk
, which was finally upon us. It was scheduled for this evening after the game, apparently. I suddenly felt queasy. I decided to head down and get some breakfast and then take Gertrude for a walk to clear my mind.

I needed to do more that just clear my mind though; I needed some kind of plan on how to deal with my mother. I had to be in control or she would take over and blind side me. Everyone else was already gone when I sauntered into the kitchen so I had the house to myself. Gertrude wagged her tail at me lazily from the corner where she’d made herself comfortable on her cushion. She looked like she was tired out from a long walk so I went over and cuddled her while my coffee brewed. Her eyes closed as I stroked the top of her soft little head. I quietly took my coffee upstairs to my bedroom and turned on the computer. I decided to sort out my “talk” issue first so I could then fully concentrate on kicking butt at the game. I needed to organize my thoughts, best done on paper. I found a pen.

First, what actual proof did I have that I’d been
abducted
from another life? Not much, unfortunately. I hadn’t found my birth certificate. I really should have looked harder. So what did I have?

1. Photographs

Lots from Ariele. She had given me a bunch to keep in case her mother took them away from her. The photographs were undeniable. There were dozens and dozens of me as Arizona Stevens; pictures of me with Dad, Dad being Dillard. There were photographs of me at Princeton playing hockey. In fact, there were numerous photographs of us all, together, taken in New Jersey. I really shouldn’t need any additional proof. They clearly showed that I was Arizona Stevens. There was no way my mother could explain those away.

2. My hockey ability

There was no way I could have conjured that up from nothing and make the varsity team.

3. ??

I couldn’t think of anything else. Not an impressive list. I should have done some more snooping but there was no time left.

So, moving on, what questions did I need answered? The most important ones should go at the top of my list in case the discussion disintegrated into complete mayhem and we didn’t get anywhere. There would be a high probability of that! So the list…

1. Where’s Dad?

He was clearly not in Princeton, so where was he? Had he left when I disappeared? How come there was no sign of him at all? No work number or cell number. His office was a hairdresser’s salon!

2. Why am I suddenly Arizona Darley, not Stevens?

Was I both? Everyone around
here
(and I still needed to define that) seemed to know me as Darley and I could feel the Darley
me
. How?

3. Why have we gone back in time?

I was clearly in June 2009 a few weeks ago and now suddenly I’m back in October 2008. I didn’t want to even contemplate this possibility, but
time travel
? Even that didn’t make sense. My dad was in New Jersey eight months ago; he would still have been there.

4. Where did Rupert and Harry come from?

5. Why did everyone think Gertrude was new?

6. How come Grandma was alive?

I could go on, there were so many questions. However, I decided that if I got answers to the first four key questions, it would be a good start.

Finally, what was I aiming for? What did I really
want
? This was much harder than throwing out the questions and would in small part perhaps depend on the answers. One thing was clear – I had to reconnect with my dad. Did I want to wake up tomorrow back in my old life, at Princeton High? Without Kellan? I really wasn’t sure…. I was sure I needed Kellan in my life.

I looked at the clock, it was clearly time to head to school. Showering and dressing quickly, I made my way to the Jeep. I looked at it wistfully, yet another thing I would lose if I left this set up. I threw my kit on top of Harry’s and set off. I wondered where Harry had disappeared off to so early this morning, and then remembered him mentioning an early meeting with Coach Stanislaw to get ready for this afternoon.

I spent the entire time at school psyching myself up for the game and rushed over to the small gym as soon as final bell sounded. We were taking the team bus. Harry and Kellan were already in the gym chatting with the coaches. They nodded at me as I entered closely followed by the rest of the team including David. He came over and stood next to me.

“Bagsy to sit next to you on the bus, Poppet,” he whispered.

I felt irritated; I didn’t need this right now. Kellan was going to be annoyed. We gathered around the coaches waiting for them to speak, but it was Harry who started.

“Excited, team?” he asked enthusiastically.

We nodded lamely.

Harry laughed and continued, “I guess you’re all wiped out from last night. Well, wake up! We’re taking the team bus as you know, and usual rules apply. This is a friendly but I want a win. I’ll announce the starting line up at the rink. Any questions?” he asked as he surveyed the room. No one made a sound so he led us through the doors to the bus. There was the usual scramble to get in after we threw our kits into the hold. I got on and looked for Kellan as a hand grasped mine from below and pulled me down on a seat… David. Oh, this was going to be awkward. I noticed Kellan getting on, waving at me as he walked over. His expression changed to irritation as he noticed David on the seat beside me.

“Come on, Shrimp, there are more seats at the back,” he said as he grabbed my hand to pull me up.

David laughed, “Oh be a good sport, Kellan. I bagsied her!”

Kellan looked at me rolling his eyes, “That right?”

I shrugged and nodded smiling at him as he bent over and kissed my forehead.

“She is officially ‘bagsied’ for the rest of the games, David. She’ll be sitting next to me,” he said before continuing down the aisle to sit with Harry.

“Kellan, eh,” said David thoughtfully, staring at me inquiringly.

“How, when? I had no idea! Why?”

I looked at him mischievously, “Just sort of hit me,” I winked. It wasn’t far from the truth. In fact, it was the truth. It had just hit me!

“Can’t say I’m not disappointed. I am. I guess I’ll have to hope that you’ll change your mind. I’m pretty awesome,” he winked.

“You are,” I said sincerely, “But I feel totally connected to Kellan. Can we still be friends?

“Always, poppet.” He looked at me and took my hand, “Poppet, what’s the hockey all about? You’re pretty good, but I never saw this coming either.”

“I’m full of surprises! So, what’s the team we are playing against like?” I asked quickly changing the subject. It worked. David spent the rest of the journey describing all the previous games against them and the players to watch out for. As soon as the bus stopped at the rink Kellan was by my side and remained there while we walked inside.

“So, what was David saying?” he asked.

“Oh, nothing much. He went through all the previous games against this team and the players I should watch out for.”

“Oh, good, that saves me from having to do it now. Locker room four has been assigned for you to use, the rest of us will be in five. Get changed and wait outside five until I come and get you for the team talk, ok?

“Ok!’ I said and saluted as I closed the door to room four.

I got changed and put the new black helmet Harry had got for me on my head and went to join the others for the team talk. I noticed Ella, Mom and Rupert as soon as I got on the ice. They were waving frantically at Harry and me trying to get our attention. I waved back to make them stop. It worked. They sat back down and I went to work sizing up my competition. I marked the players that David had pointed out.

It was game time. I was not starting so I skated over to the box and watched Harry win the first stab at the puck. I had not watched him play before, he was beyond incredible. I was astounded by his agility, focus and speed. I could barely take my eyes of him. He scored and the crowd erupted in cheers. I could see Maria proudly jumping up from her seat and shouting. Mom and Rupert were up shouting and cheering, too. It was sort of reassuring to see Ella sitting down, oblivious, playing her DS. Some things never changed.

It was my turn to go on. Kellan and David were on the ice with me and Harry came off. I took my position and waited. I loved playing defense, all I had to do was wait and block the other team. Our team was clearly better. David and Kellan had the puck up at their end with only one break away, which I easily stopped by jamming their player into the board. The game was one sided, we won easily and I only spent one session in the penalty box.

I sat by Kellan on the way back, satisfied with my performance. I had totally held my own and everyone, except Justin, had noticed and acknowledged it.

Harry found me before we got back on the bus and told me that Rupert had asked me to meet him at Ames when I was ready. So, it was finally going to happen. I thought about the points I had written down earlier this morning, glad that I had done so. My mind was whirling around on a high from the game and worry about what was to come. I was relieved to have something organized to look at. I absentmindedly took Kellan’s hand and lay my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes to help myself gather my thoughts.

“Are you worried about heading in to Ames?” he asked.

He knew? I guess Harry had told him. “A bit, well actually a lot,” I said opening my eyes and looking at him.

“Shrimp, I’m going to be there, too. So is Ariele. Your mom asked us.”

“That’s great, but why would she ask you to be there?” I said taken a back.

I could hear him taking a deep breath, and then sitting back and closing his eyes.

“Well?” I prodded him sharply with my elbow.

He opened his eyes again and looked at me thoughtfully. “Your mom and dad asked me what I knew. They’d figured something was up with you.”

I stiffened. I was dismayed and I closed my eyes, unable to say any more. Kellan put his arms around me and we sat still for the rest of the journey, not talking. I needed to know what had been discussed, but this was not the place, in a bus with a winning, excited team.

Once we arrived back at school, I walked right to my Jeep to drive home, Kellan followed me.

“Wait up, Shrimp, we should talk?”

I turned around and nodded. “Can you pick me up? We can talk before we head over. What does Harry know?”

“Nothing, as far as I know.”

I shook my head in despair, got in my car and drove off home. Ella was home playing with Jonas and Sally. Maria was watching them. Rupert and Mom had already left which was partly annoying, but I was sort of relieved. I changed quickly and ran down to meet Kellan who was waiting outside on his bike.

“We have a while, so let’s take Gertrude for a walk and talk,” I suggested.

He nodded and I ran back to fetch Gertrude while he waited. I heard Harry and Maria laughing in the family room as I ran back out and wondered how Harry would handle all this. He would have to know eventually. Kellan and I walked hand in hand toward the woods, pausing while Gertrude investigated all the smells on the way.

“Kellan, just tell me. We don’t have a lot of time. We need to head over to Ames soon.”

He pulled me down on the grass and faced me, “Your mom and dad had a talk with me last week. I was not sure how to tell you so I never mentioned it. We met at Ariele’s house, but she didn’t want to be involved which is why she’s not talking to me. She is angry because I went behind your back.”

I nodded, “Go on, I expect you felt you had to?”

He nodded, “My dad insisted and I sort of felt it would help you.”

“Your dad? He’s involved?”

“I think so but I don’t know how. Anyway, I did tell your mother everything I knew. Hopefully she’ll give you some answers tonight.”

“You told her about me knowing that I was not a Darley but Stevens… and about Dillard?”

“Yes.”

“About our trip to Princeton?”

“I did, Shrimp.”

So, Mom was forewarned, which could be good or bad. I had already told her that I knew that I was Arizona Stevens, so that was nothing new. I wonder what else she knew. I guessed we would find out soon enough. We walked back to the house and got on Kellan’s bike to head over to Ames.

As we approached the Ames complex, I felt a sense of familiarity. I recognized the building itself and the grounds. I had been here before, I just couldn’t place it. Every thing about the place was recognizable as I followed Kellan inside toward his father’s office. I instinctively knew it was Larry’s office even before we entered and I knew how to get to my mother’s office from here.