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She hesitated, then said, "Nothing. Just getting a drink."

She grabbed an energy drink and hurried from the room, because she did not want to talk about fainting anymore.

***

Kai was singing into the phone. "Lena said knock you out ... I'm gonna knock you out..."

Lena laughed. Even though Kai looked like the quintessential California surfer boy—whose life would revolve around "brews and bros," and who would only listen to speed metal—he was actually a drama geek who loved all music, from power ballads to punk. Lena had heard Ani accuse him once of having "ludicrously undiscriminating taste in music," to which he had replied, "Love Ludacris!" Lately he'd taken to inserting Lena's name into whatever song was on his brain radio. "I did not say to knock anyone out," she said. "And I think you've reached your limit on oldies for the day, haven't you?"

"Oh, Leen," he said. "There is no limit. Hey ... that sounds like it should be a slogan, doesn't it? And you might as well prepare yourself. Drama Club is voting on which musical to put on. It's down to three: Brigadoon, Grease, and Guys and Dolls."

"Whoa," said Lena. "Those are all really old!"

"Don't be ageist," said Kai. "They prefer the term 'classic.'"

"Why not something like Wicked?"

"I dunno. Hey, how was your trip to the city?"

Lena reluctantly told him about the fainting, and he begged to come over immediately to confirm in person that she was all right.

"Nooo," she said. "I'm fine, I'm fine! No one seems to believe me. I probably just have swimmer's ear, or something." Although I haven't been swimming in over a week, she thought.

"Okay, I believe you," he said. "Let me come over anyway. Just to ... you know."

Lena giggled. "You know?"

"Right. You know."

"Um, I don't know. And I'm almost afraid to find out."

"I want to be alone with you. There. How's that for blunt?"

"That might be kind of tough," she said. "Seeing as both my parents are here, and they're all worried about me now, so they probably won't let me out of their sight."

Exhaling heavily, Kai said, "Man. They're such, like, good parents. Why can't they be all wrapped up in their own problems?"

"I know, right?" Lena laughed. "I'm practically grown. They should just leave me to my own devices."

"I got your devices right here, baby," said Kai in his sexy voice, which made her crack up some more.

"I'll just see you tomorrow," she said.

"Really?" Now he sounded hurt. "I was serious. I want to see you."

Lena paused. She was still adjusting to the concept of Kai being her boyfriend. Friend Kai would have said, "Yeah, catch you later." Boyfriend Kai wanted to see her all the time, it seemed like. "Oh," she said. "Okay. Um, why don't you come over after dinner?"

"Perfect."

"But don't blame me if you're bored once you get here."

"Unpossible," he said. "I'll see you later."

CHAPTER 4

Lena dreamed she was falling, the helpless dizzy sensation jolting her out of sleep.

She lay frozen, her heart thudding in her chest, as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. Practically in the clouds.

She rolled over and sat up. No more sleeping today. She wasn't going to risk going back to that dream. Without turning on the light, Lena got out of bed and went to the window, moving aside the curtain so she could peer outside. A light fog blanketed the empty street, casting a misty halo around each streetlight. Sliding open the window, Lena felt the rush of cold air on her face. Perfect autumn beach weather.

She pulled on sweats over her pajamas, shivering a little. Stepping into the hallway, she listened for early-morning family sounds, but the house was quiet. They must still be asleep. She padded down the stairs and into the kitchen, where she turned on the light, dimming it immediately so the glare wouldn't hurt her eyes. She grabbed a marker and scrawled on the dry-erase board:

6:15 a.m.—went for walk on the beach—L.

Pulling on her jacket, she stepped outside, where the cold air smelled of the sea. Lena took a deep breath, as if inhaling perfume. Why couldn't