"Well, your mind was wide open."

"Yeah. If you had come over here with that towel on..." I laughed and snuggled closer. "You're still warm, Maggie." He placed a hand on my forehead, then my cheek. "Where's the medicine cabinet?"

"In my bathroom." I yawned. "My dad's room is downstairs so he shouldn't be up here."

He nodded and peeked out the door before disappearing and reappearing a minute later.

"Here, take these." He handed me a couple pills with a gla.s.s of water. I took them and laid down on top of the covers. Wow, I hadn't realized how bad I felt until right then. "Need anything else?"

"Just you," I said groggily and beckoned him to me. He laid down beside me to face me and played with my fingers on the pillow. I put my hand on his cheek, letting my fingers smooth over his dimple. "So, there's this thing at the school tomorrow, a party for the graduated seniors. I hadn't planned on going but Beck begged me so...but..."

"But?"

"I don't want to go."

"So don't go."

"But I promised."

"So, go," he said grinning.

"Will you come with me?"

"Of course I'm coming with you," he said and scoffed.

"We don't have to go," I reasoned.

"Yeah, sure we do." His smile was wry as he rubbed his chin. "You, uh, gonna be ok with introducing me to your friends?"

"Hmm." That was debatable. "We'll find out."

"Ashamed of me already?" he joked.

"No, of course not. I just don't want to try to explain...how I just met you a few days ago and can't stop looking at you with googly eyes."

He chuckled softly.

"Googly eyes," he echoed and nodded. "Ok. Sure, we can go if you feel better." He cleared his throat. "You working tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Well, the tyrant is gonna sit in the back booth, ok?"

"For eight hours?" I asked incredulously.

"It doesn't matter." He sighed and sucked his lip in and out. "You're in my mind right now. Can't you see how it literally hurts me to even think about you in danger? Just letting you go to Beck's was hard but your work is..." He shook his head. "When we went to the Watson compound we found out who the echoling was and what they had planned. Marcus and his uncle plan to kidnap you and take you somewhere locked up where it would take me a very long time to find you. We'd both be in agony in just a day or two. They want to take you from me so neither of us will ascend. You see why I'm freaking? They know where you live. They know where you work. They knew I was going to be with my father that night. It's too risky and I'm sorry if you feel like I'm going overboard but I have to keep you safe. If you feel like you have to give notice before you quit, then that's fine but I gotta be there with you. I'm sorry."

I sighed, knowing what he was saying is true. Marcus had told me that himself.

"I know. Marcus told me once in a dream that's what he wanted to do."

"He did? You didn't tell me that."

"I forgot. It was always so stressful after I woke up. I understand, ok. I'll tell Big John something. That I'm in trouble or something, he won't care about you being there. But what are you gonna do sitting back there all day?"

"I have a couple papers due and a book list to read before school starts. I'll have plenty to do and I've been dreading it because none of it has to do with geometry," he said and smirked.

"Ok, if you're sure. Now I feel bad," I groaned. "I don't want you to sit there bored all day because of me."

"It's ok. Really. The only way I'm gonna get all this work done anyway is if you're busy. Otherwise, I'll just be distracted," he said gruffly, and leaned forward to kiss my chin.

"Oh, we wouldn't want that," I said with mock sincerity.

"No, definitely not."

I giggled as he kissed me and wrestled me under him. He tickled my sides and kissed under my chin at the same time. It was torture. But when I reached my hand under his shirt to tickle his ribs I learned that boys can be more ticklish than girls. He jerked so quickly and laughed trying to squirm away but I held on and he retaliated with gusto.

I'd forgotten about dad.

I heard his footsteps up the stairs and thought quick. Caleb looked at me with worry, his mind racing to whether he should bolt out the window or jump in the closet.

"Beck! Shut up! I can't believe you!" I yelled playfully, pretending to be on the phone.

Miraculously, I heard his footsteps stop and recede. We both sighed and chuckled softly in relief into each others shoulders. I was glad because my eyelids were fighting with me anyway.

We called a truce and Caleb reached down and pulled the blanket over us from the foot of the bed. He then rolled me over to put my back to him as he wrapped his arms around me. I sighed at the warmth and comfort, I nestled my back and bottom in closer. He pulled my hair behind me and to the side, then he placed a kiss on the back of my neck.

"Sleep, Maggie. Feel better tomorrow."

"K," I muttered as I did what I was told.

"Wake up." Someone shook me. "You gotta get up, baby. You're going to be late."

"What?"

I opened up my eyes to see Caleb looking concerned.

"It's after 10:00. You better get up. Or maybe you should stay home. You feel better?"

He touched my forehead.

"After 10:00? Jeez. I thought I set my alarm," I groaned.

"You did. I've been trying to get you up for fifteen minutes. You feeling ok?"

"Yeah. I do." And I did. Sleeping with him was the best medicine. "Did you sleep well?"

"I always sleep well with you," he said sweetly, pulled me closer and kissed the top of my head.

"You're right. I gotta get up." I pulled from his grasp and was rewarded with a groan from him that made me turn to hide my smile. "I can't believe your parents condone you sneaking into some girl's window."

"You're not some girl," he corrected.

"I know," I smiled. "It's just strange."

"Well, my mom doesn't condone it at all. She's conflicted about the whole thing. She understands why we have to do it but doesn't like it. She thinks it all very scandalous."

I laughed and sat beside him on the bed.

"Well, she's kinda right."

"You don't like me sneaking into your window all romantic like?" he asked and leaned close, his nose almost touching mine.

"I do like it. But it would be better if we didn't have to sneak, ya know?"

"Yeah, I know." He leaned back a little and pushed my hair behind my ear. "But it's necessary. You're not upset about it are you? I would never do something like this if it wasn't about your safety. I'm not one of those guys."

"I know that and I know it's only temporary. We'll figure it all out soon."

He nodded.

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine Caleb. I'm not upset. I promise." I leaned the few inches between us and rubbed his nose with mine. "It's very sweet, the things you do for me."

"Yeah, cause sleeping with you is torture," he said sarcastically and kissed the end of my nose. "Ok. Well, I'm gonna get out of here and then come pick you up at the door. I'll tell your dad I'm driving you to work today."

"Ok."

He got up and I saw he was in his clothes still. He'd laid down with me and didn't even put on his pajamas. He must have seen me looking at him because he looked down at himself too.

"Oh yeah, let me run to my uncle's and I'll be back to take you to work." He picked up his book bag, slinging it over his shoulder and turned to look at me. "Don't leave until I get here, ok? I'll be right back."

"Ok. I'll wait. Hurry."

"Ok." He kissed me on the cheek and then looked at me imploringly.

I laughed.

"I love it when it's you." I giggled at his expression. "Go to your uncle's and do what you need to do. Hurry back and I'll be waiting for you."

"Thank you, baby," he murmured sweetly.

He kissed my lips quickly before opening and sliding out the window.

I turned and got dressed as fast as I could. Running to the bathroom and fixing my hair and slicking on a little makeup, I thought about what to tell my boss when I gave him my notice today. They'd been so good to me and I hated having to leave them but if I was going to college, it would happen soon anyway.

It took me about twenty minutes to get ready and I only had fifteen minutes left until I was late for work. I was about to run downstairs when I heard dad yelling for me.

"Maggie. Caleb is here."

"Coming!"

I checked my hair once more in the mirror and then ran downstairs. I hadn't thought about Caleb not seeing me in my uniform. It was just a uniform after all, but by the way he was looking at me when I came down, he apparently thought differently.

Holy h.e.l.l.

I gasped inwardly at his thoughts and looked down at my outfit. It was a little short, as I said, but I had footless tights on underneath. It was white, as were the tights and it b.u.t.toned all the way up with a little open collar and a little belt around the waist and a black half ap.r.o.n. I looked back at him curiously and quirked a brow.

You apparently don't see what I see. You work in that thing and you don't get asked out every five minutes? That's a bold faced lie!

I giggled out loud and dad looked at me.

"Something...funny?" he asked all c.o.c.ked browed.

"Nothing. Um, Caleb and I are going to the Farewell party at the school tonight so I won't be here for dinner, ok?"

"Ok. You know the rules, before midnight."

"Yes, dad, I know," I hugged him and he seemed surprised by it, leaning back to look at me with a half smile.

"Um." He cleared his throat. "Ok, well have fun. And be careful. Caleb, you remember what I said about that bike?"

"Yes, sir, helmet, speed limit, careful; promise."

"Alright. See ya later."

"Bye, dad." I grabbed Caleb's hand to pull him with me. "Good luck on your first day with your promotion."

"Thanks, Mags," dad said softly and I looked over my shoulder to see him looking sad and conflicted.

I turned to Caleb and even though I knew I was going to be late, I had to see what put that look on my dad's face. But before I could ask Caleb he answered me.