Between the Lives - By Jessica Shirvington Page 0,51

breath. ‘So, are you home now?’

‘No, I, um … I’m … I’m staying at a clinic,’ I said, my voice still hoarse.

‘Oh my god! Why?’

‘It’s just … some bug or something. They don’t know, so they’re testing me for a bunch of stuff,’ I fumbled, realising I hadn’t fully prepared for this conversation.

‘Oh, you poor thing. Angus and I will come visit you in the morning before school. Davis too, he’s been really worried, Sab.’ I knew where this was leading.

‘Capri, would you please drop this Davis stuff. I don’t like him like that. I never will.’ I don’t know why, but at that moment my eyes darted to Ethan’s motionless frame, his back still turned to me. I’m not sure what I expected. Nothing, I suppose.

‘But –’

‘Capri!’

‘Okay, okay, got it. No Davis. So when can I come see you?’

‘Oh. They, um … don’t want me to have visitors at the moment. You know,’ I tried to keep my voice light-hearted, ‘in case I’m contagious.’

‘I don’t mind. If I get it they can just give me the bed next to yours. Ooh, we can both blow off the last week of school!’

My heart clenched. ‘You’re a great friend, you know.’

‘Save the pick-up lines.’ She snorted.

‘Ha ha. I just wanted to let you know where I was. Mom and Dad are really foul at the moment. I’ll let you know what’s going on in a couple of days. I just … I need to ask a favour.’

‘Name it,’ Capri said without hesitation.

‘Can you check in on Maddie? She’ll be worried. Don’t tell her where I am. Mom and Dad have probably told her I’m in Disneyland for all I know.’ I couldn’t hide the sting in my voice, but Capri let it slide. Her mom was no picnic either and she hadn’t seen her dad in three years. ‘Can you just make sure she’s okay? That she … she knows I’m thinking of her and that … I love her?’

‘Jeez, Sab, this is heavy. Are you sure you’re okay?’

‘Yeah, it’s just important that she knows. And that I’m going to be fine. Tell her that, please.’

‘Okay,’ she said hesitantly. ‘I’ll be babysitter.’

I blew out a grateful breath. ‘Thanks, Capri. I, um … I better go. Take care, okay.’

‘Sure thing. Call me soon,’ she said before hanging up.

I put the phone down. Ethan was still standing by the window. He didn’t turn around.

‘I’m … I’m finished,’ I said.

‘So I hear,’ he said, his voice low.

His hand went to his face, and for a brief moment I wondered if he was wiping away a tear. Before I could say anything he suddenly spun around, his dark eyes fixing on me, causing my breath to lodge in my throat. I braced for him to say something, but after a second he just snatched the phone off the edge of the bed and left the room while I stared open-mouthed after him.

Ethan didn’t come back until 11.40 p.m. I know this because he brought a clock with him. Battery powered – no cable I could hang myself with. I held back the sardonic laugh; I didn’t want to risk being without a watch or clock again.

‘Thank you,’ I said shakily.

Ethan shrugged. ‘Here,’ he said, holding out a piece of paper.

‘What is it?’ I asked, puzzled by the list of questions.

‘Do you know the answers to any of these?’

I studied the questions briefly before turning to him in confusion. Maybe he was the one who was insane.

He sat down in the chair, watching me.

‘You said your memory goes with you, and that there were some things that are the same in both worlds. General constants.’ He pointed to the piece of paper in my hand. ‘That’s a list of things I want you to tell me straight after midnight.’

I glanced down at the list again.

• Two numbers whose sum is 26 and product is 165

• Cardiovascular benefits of chocolate

• Translate: Thesaurum omnis vitae

‘Look, this isn’t some game. I can’t … I can’t take this list with me, it won’t travel.’

Ethan crossed his arms and swung his feet up on the edge of the bed. ‘Well, start memorising.’ He gestured to the clock, looking irritatingly smug. ‘You only have fifteen minutes left.’

I started to scoff, but he was looking right at me, into my eyes like no one had before. I tried to ignore the unwelcome tingle it set off in my body. Was … was he daring me? Challenging me? Or even … willing me to