Fade by Lisa McMann Page A

hesitates. “Not that I know of.”
    Janie fidgets. “Should I read it? Do you want me to? Is it horrible?”
    Miss Stubin is silent for a very long time. “I can"t answer those questions for you. In good conscience, I can neither encourage you to
    read it nor discourage you from reading it. You must decide without my
    words swaying you either way.”
    Janie sighs and reaches for the old woman"s hand, stroking the cool,
    paper-thin skin. “That"s what I thought you"d say.”
    Miss Stubin pats her gnarled hand on top of Janie"s soft one. She smiles
    wistfully and slowly disappears into the misty evening. 7:54 a.m.
    It"s Sunday morning. And it"s time. It"s been ten days since Janie found
    the green spiral notebook.
    She slips back into bed with Cabel for a few minutes. He"s just dozing
    now, not dreaming, and she holds him tightly, taking in whatever she
    can from him before she goes.
    “I love you, Cabe,” she whispers.
    And goes.
    Back to her room two streets away.
    8:15 a.m.
    With the notebook resting ominously on Janie"s bed, Janie procrastinates.
    Does her homework first.
    And pours herself a bowl of cereal. Breakfast—one of the five most
    important meals of the day. Not to be skipped.
    10:01 a.m.
    She can"t stall any longer.
    Janie stares at the green notebook.
    Opens it.
    Reads the first page again.
    Takes a deep breath.
    10:02 a.m.
    Takes another deep breath.
    10:06 a.m.
    Picks up her cell phone and hits memory #2.
    “Komisky,” she hears.
    Janie"s voice squeaks. She clears her throat. “Hi, Captain. I"m sorry to
    call on a—”
    “It"s okay. What"s up?”
    “Um, yeah. The dreams…Did Miss Stubin ever show you what was in
    the files?”
    “I"ve read the police reports she"s made, yes.”
    “What about her other notes on handling dreams and stuff?”
    “I glanced at the first few loose pages in the file, but I felt like I was
    invading her privacy, so I put everything away as she requested.”
    “Did you two ever…you know, talk about her ability?”
    There is silence.
    Plenty of it.
    “What do you mean?”
    Janie cringes silently. “I don"t know. Nothing.”
    Captain hesitates. “All right.”
    “Okay.”
    There is a nervous sigh.
    “Captain?”
    “Janie, is everything okay?”
    Janie pauses.
    “Yeah.”
    Captain is quiet.
    Janie waits. And Captain doesn"t press it.
    “Okay,” Janie says finally.
    “Janie?”
    “Yes, sir.” It"s a whisper.
    “Are you worried about Durbin? Do you want out of this?”
    “No, sir. Not at all.”
    “If something else is bothering you, you may say it, you know.”
    “I know. I"m…I"m fine. Thanks.”
    “May I give you some advice, Janie?”
    “Sure,” Janie says.
    “It"s your senior year. You"re too serious. Try to have some fun. Go
    bowling or to a movie or something once in a while, okay?”
    Janie grins shakily. “Yes, sir.”
    “Call me anytime, Janie,” Captain says.
    Janie"s throat is closed. “Bye,” she finally says. Hangs up.
    10:59 a.m.
    Janie takes a deep breath.
    Turns the page.
    It"s blank.
    11:01 a.m.
    Turns the blank page.
    Sees the familiar scrawl.
    Smoothes out the page.
    ı
    And then her stomach lurches, and she slams the notebook shut. Puts it back in the box.
    Into the closet.
    11:59 a.m.
    Janie calls Carrie. “Do you feel like going bowling?”
    She imagines Carrie shaking her head and laughing, telling Stu, coming
    back to the phone. “You are such a dork, Hannagan. Hell yeah, why not.
    Let"s go bowling.”
    NITTY GRITTY
    February 13, 2006
    The names and schedules of Chem. 2 students are burned in Janie"s
    brain. But the problem is, most science nerds don"t sleep in school. And
    even if they did, the issue remains of how Janie can be in the same room
    with them when—if—it happens. It appears impossible. And seeing how it"s winter, it"s futile to creep around outside their bedroom windows at night. She has high hopes for the chemistry fair.
    It"s all she has to bank on.
    Cabel tries making a connection with each student