“Devon, how was school today?” Ronald asked, with a worried glance in my direction. I’d wondered when that question would come up. I knew Major expected me to gather as much local information as possible, but dinner had been too wonderful to ruin with practical questions.
Devon straightened, the lightness slipping off his features. “It was okay. But everyone’s talking.”
Ronald nodded as if he’d expected nothing else.
“It’s the gossip of town.”
“My recovery?” I asked, my hands curling around my knees beneath the table.
“Yeah, they’re all talking about your miraculous recovery. You know how they are. They need their gossip. The entire school knows you’ll be back tomorrow.” Great, so I’d be the focus of everyone’s attention. Just what I needed.
“Honey, you know you don’t have to go if you don’t want to. I think it’s still too early anyway,” Linda said, returning to the table.
Part of me wanted to give in and spend more time at home, in the presence of Linda’s kind smiles. But Major would rip my head off if I didn’t get my ass into gear soon. He wanted results, and judging by the nothing I’d found so far, I obviously wouldn’t get them by sitting in Madison’s room.
“No, I’m ready to go back,” I said. “I really want to see Ana again.”
“She called every day to ask about you. She even wanted to visit you today but I told her you needed time to settle in,” Ronald said.
I smiled. “Thanks, Dad.” The word still sounded strange coming from my mouth. I’d never called anyone “Dad” before.
Devon leaned forward. “Ryan asked about you today.”
Ronald’s forehead furrowed and Linda froze in place.
“What—what did he want?” I asked.
Devon’s face was like stone. “Just wanted to know if it was true, if you were coming back, if you could remember everything and all that shit. I told him to stay the fu—”
Linda interrupted Devon with a cough.
“—to stay away from you,” Devon finished.
“Why did you say that?” I asked.
They exchanged glances.
“You didn’t want anything to do with him after the breakup,” Devon said.
Alarm bells went off in my head.
“Are you sure it won’t all be too much? All the attention?” Linda asked.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll keep an eye on her.” Devon flashed me that grin I’d been on the receiving end of so many times in the last few days. His eyes reminded me of a cloudless summer sky and I loved the deep dimples that appeared each and every time he smiled. Was it pretense or could he really switch his moods so quickly?
“You’re not going to follow me around like a lost puppy, now are you?” I watched their faces for reactions, unsure if Madison had teased her brother like that. Acting out of character would be a dangerous thing, even with pretend amnesia. But they smiled.
“If it annoys you, definitely,” Devon shot back.
Maybe this was how it always used to be when Madison was still with them. She must’ve been so happy.
Linda became serious. She pushed a cell phone over to me. “We bought you a new phone. Your old one was damaged . . .” She trailed off.
“When you had your accident,” Ronald said. “But we were able to save your SIM-card so your messages and your contacts are still there.”
“Thanks.” That would be useful. I’d have to take a closer look at it when I was back in my room, but the police had probably already checked the data, as was usual procedure.
After dinner, I trudged up the stairs, exhausted. I felt as if I’d endured several workout sessions with Alec. Could being in a foreign body cause this kind of muscle ache? I’d never experienced anything like this before but I’d also never been someone else for so long. We hadn’t tested how many weeks or months I could hold the shape of another person’s body. My Variation had never wavered, had always been in my control from day one. To everyone at the FEA, my Variation was perfect. But I knew it wasn’t.
I turned on the phone the moment I was alone. There were dozens of text messages and just as many missed calls from the last few days. I recognized most of the names from the FEA’s files as school mates or family members. But two names stood out: Ana and Ryan. While Ana’s texts could be summarized as well wishes and words of comfort, Ryan’s messages were of a different nature. He, too, said he hoped Madison would get well but he was also desperately trying to get her back. I miss you . . . I can’t stop thinking of you . . . You’re the most important person in my life . . . Give us another chance . . . I love you. Eventually, the tiny letters on the screen started blurring in front of my eyes. Getting this glimpse into Madison’s personal life was interesting, but it still left me without any real leads.