I smiled. Ryan! Ryan is that you? Its Riley! I tell him. He looks at me funny.What? Whos Ryan? You feeling alright Heather? You sound like you ate too muchkrizzleberries. He says with a laugh. I deflated. Wait what? But he should’vebeen Ryan. Maybe i am going crazy. I think. I fake a laugh and smile. Justmessing with you Kyle! I tell him and he looks confused but took the answer.Luke runs in out of breath and looks at me. Riley… why… did you… run so… fast?He asks between breathes. Kyle looked at him. Ok… you guys are definitelytrying to play a prank on me. Well, the jokes up. Let’s finish making lunch thenget back on the trail. Did yall find the falls? He asks. Jake almost sayssomething but I cut him off. Yes! We did. Its due south west of here. I tell him.Great! Then lets get started! He says and starts to cook something on the fire.Will you excuse us a minute? I ask Kyle. Sure, but the rabbit will be done soonso hurry! He says and I drag a protesting Jake/Luke into the woods. What’sgoing on Riley? Why were you acting so weird? He asks me. Because I had athought that if we were here and in our character’s persona, maybe Ryan wastrapped here too. I say and feel all the sadness of the thought and desperation
fill me. Oh. He says. I was wrong though. I say and tears threaten to fall. Heyhey its ok. We’ll find a way out of here. He says and wraps me in a hug. Iprobably would’ve gone nuts had I not been crying but I buried my head into hisshoulder. When I finally calmed down I pulled away. Thanks Luke… Jake. Ughhhh.I say. He laughs. Hey its ok. This is so confusing. One part of me sees you asHeather and the other sees you as Riley. He says. It’s like we’re ourselves butHeather and Luke at the same time. I say and start thinking. Yeah. He says. Allthe information swirling in my head made me dizzy and frustrated. I groanedout loud in frustration. He put his hand on my shoulder. It’ll be ok. He says. Ijust wish we were back home. I say and the familiar tingle goes through me.Jake… its happening again! I say and the world goes dark again. The guttwisting feeling tears through me and I groan. Next thing I know Im back onthe bench by the dock. Except, it was dark already. I shook my head as I triedto get back in control. I felt short and normal again. I checked my hair andfound it to be its normal brown color and length. Jake groaned next to me. Ilooked around and realized it was dark. I looked at the moon which was close toits peak overhead. Oh no no no no no. In everything I forgot I was supposed tobe back by 9. Jake, Ive got to go and so do you. Its close to midnight! I tell him. Ok, but we have to figure this out. Call me if your not caught and if you getcaught, meet me at lunch in school so we can talk about it. He says and I nodand we run. I grab my bike and check my phone. Three missed calls from momand dad. I cursed softly under my breath. I pedaled as fast as I could. I parkedmy bike and ran up the stairs. Adrenaline made me faster but I still had trouble.I finally made it and saw there was no light on in the room and, as quiet as Icould, opened and closed the door. I walked to the kitchen and was about tohead to my room when the light flicked on. I stopped and froze. Where have youbeen?! My parents demand. They were sitting at the parlor and looked veryunhappy. Um I… I stuttered. Youve been gone for 6 hours! And not a word to ussince then! Where. Have. You. Been?! My dad demands. I couldnt think ofanything. mom, Dad, you wouldnt believe me if I told you. I tell them. Try me.My dad says in an icy voice. I gulped. I was dead meat. You see I showed mybook to Jake and we got sent into it and we only just got free. I swear we didn’tdo anything bad. I tell them. My mom shook her head in shame. Riley. Tell us thetruth. But it is the truth! I swear it! I tell them. My dad walks over to me. Fineif you wont tell us then no phone. For a week. He says and holds out his hand.And no after school things either. Just school and counseling then straight home.Wait scratch that. Ill take you to and from school for the next week. My dadsays. Deep trouble. I quietly handed over my phone and trudged to my room. Iclosed my door and heard them whisper arguing. I fell on my bed and looked atmy clock. 11:47. How did I stay there for 6 hours?! It felt like ten minutes. I gotready for bed and laid down on my bed and looked at my ceiling. How could thishappen? And why did it happen to me? I would have to wait another day beforegetting to talk with Jake. I thought back to the forest and the feel of beingsafe in his arms…. Stop Riley! I tell myself and turn over and fall asleep.
