Chapter 21

Jenn woke up with the book still in her hand. "I guess I fell asleep reading". She looked around. Her breakfast wasn't here yet. 'It must be too early she thought, as she notice Matt was already gone. "I wonder where he goes every morning?"
Just then Matt walked in, "Well, hello Jenn. I see you're up early this morning".
"What time is it?"
"It's 6:00".
"That's too early".
Matt laughed, "I brought you breakfast".
"That was nice of you".
He laughed again. "I don't know about that. It's my job. I work in the kitchen".
"Is that why you get up so early?"
"Uh huh. 4:45 every morning".
Matt left and she ate her breakfast. It was the same slop every morning. At least this time it was warm. When she finished she went back to sleep until the guard came in. She and Matt both asked to go to the Arboretum.
"Hey Jenn, ready for another game of waggle?"
"I've been waiting all day". As they set up the pieces Jenn steered the conversation. "Matt loaned me a book about Darien Mallory".
"He's an interesting
guy, isn't he?"
"Who, Matt? He's kind of quiet though. I really don't know".
"Well, yeah, but I meant Mallory".
"Oh, sure. He sounds a lot like some guys from my world".
"Your world?" Paul was shocked.
"I thought you knew about other worlds? Your move".
"Come on 6. Darn." He moved a blue piece 3 spaces. "Sure I've heard of other worlds. I've never been to one but yeah. It's just that I never thought I'd meet someone from his planet".
"I didn't say he was from my planet. I've never even heard of him. Move my orange piece 8 spaces forward".
"You're almost home".
"I wish".
"No, I was talking about the game".
"Yeah. I guess I am".
" I always suspected Mallory got his ideas from other people".
"Really?"
"Yeah. I went to see him speak one time before he left. I liked what he had to say, but he seemed to be borrowing ideas from other people. It was like he copied a speech from them and didn't even bother to put it in his own words. But I think he did at least understand what he was talking about".
"Yeah, I thought so too. But I wouldn't worry too much about it".
"Why not?"
"The guys he stole his ideas from are real famious and real dead".
"How famous? How dead?"
"Let's just say that when people want to say that something is real old, it was before he was born and when a famous rock band said they were more famous than Jesus, their album went from 1 to 1000".
"Damn". Paul rolled the die. "Looks like we're both about to win. Your move".
"So you said you knew a way I could get out of here?" She moved her last piece home.
"I think so. You're not from this world, right?"
"Right".
"So if I said that I knew a way to get you out of here, but you could never come back to Rome, it wouldn't be a problem?"
"As long as I can go home".
"I don't know if I can get you home but, yeah, I can get you out of here".
"Mark told me you could help me get home".
"I don't know about that, but I can do something".
"Like what?"
"I can get you out of here."
"Mark was already doing that."
"Mark was going to get you out sometime this lifetime I can get you out tomorrow at the latest".
"How?"
"It's simple." He started writing down instructions. "Memorize this and then flush it. Don't let anyone know and don't let anyone think anything is different".
"What makes you think Mallory got his ideas from other people?"
"I saw him speak one time. He knew what he was talking about, but he wasn't that smart. Come on, let's finish the game".
"I got a four. Yeah!" Jenn move her piece closer to home. "Are you sure you can get me out?"
"No problem".

Chapter 20

Jake and Josh collided in the hallway outside Jake's apartment.
"Watch out man" Josh shouted, rubbing his nose.
"You watch out. You ran into me". Jake turned to Stacie "I knew you should have never let him in".
"Now boys stop arguing or I'm going to have to throw you outside." Stacie retorted.
"Of my place!" Josh protested.
"I'm not gonna be the one to explain to the cops why two dead men are lying on the floor".
"Who said anything about killing anyone?"
"If you don't shut up I'm going to have to shoot you".
"Who's she?"Starr asked, referring to Bet.
"ello, the name's Bet".
"And I'm Starr. But who are you?"
"Ay said the name's Bet," she was practically screaming now.
Stacie cut in, "You mean she's not the friend you were looking for?"
"No".
"Darn. I guess we're going to have to go and look again".
They went inside and Josh tried to explain what happened when they went to look for Jenn and how they met Bet.
"We didn't find Jenn, and we think we just missed her. But Bet was outside and offered to help us find her. So we offered her a place to stay".
"Again, in my place!" Josh was annoyed.
Bet began telling her story. "Well, Ay just moved 'ere from Glass City. Me family 'ad to leave after ta revelution and Ay lost 'em. Me best mate wuz wif me but Ay lost er. Ay ended up 'ere, but Ay 'ave no mates and no family so Ay 'ave no credits".
"Doesn't your government have a way to take care of you?" Josh asked.
"Where have you been?" Jake was puzzled.
"Bet's one of the people who fell through the cracks because of the revolution.
Josh scanned the apartment. "Where are we supposed to sleep?"
"I hadn't thought about that. I usually sleep on the couch, but all I can offer you is the floor". Jake thought for a moment. "I have some sleeping bags".
"It'll be fun. Like a sleep over", Starr said excitedly.
"Ay don't mind. After ta revolution me family and Ay spent many nights asleep on sidewalks. ay 'ould 'ave bin 'appy for a roof over me 'ead".
"Me too", Stacie chimed in. "I didn't have to leave my home like you did, but I've spent a lot of time traveling. There have been many nights when a warm sleeping bag, let alone a roof and a warm floor would have made me feel like a princess".
Josh went to the closet. When he opened it to get the sleeping bags, a pile of stuff fell on him. "Help! I think I've broken something".
"Yeah, you broke my skate board".
"No, I think I broke my ankle".
"Well, let's take a look at it".
Stacie and Jake carried Josh over to the couch.
"Careful, that hurts".
"I can leave you on the ground if you like," grumbled Stacie.
"No, I'm fine,"Josh winced.
Stacie knelt down beside Josh. "Let's take a look at that foot of yours".
"Don't you think we need to take him to the hospital for x-rays" Starr asked?
"After curfew?" Josh laughed.
"They don't have an emergency room?"
"No, besides, my cousin Stacie is as good as any hospital or nurse in this town".
"She's that good?" Josh smiled, "why didn't you tell me you were a doctor too?"
"No, they're that bad". Jake laughed, "but all B.S. aside she's taken enough First Aid classes that I'de trust her to take care of a broken ankle".
Stacie started feeling around Josh's ankle. "Tell me if it hurts".
"The whole thing hurts".
"Well, tell me if it hurts worse".
"Okay. Ow!"
"Okay now, try to move your ankle back and forth".
"Ouch!"
"It's not broken, but it's probably sprained. Jake, do you have an ice pack?"
"Here", he threw it to her.
"Keep this on it".
"I guess we don't have to worry about sleeping arrangements since we already know who has the couch", Starr said.
"I get to sleep on the floor in my own place", Jake complained.
"You'll get over it", Stacie teased.