The next day at the bus stop, Simi was quick to take Curtis' psychic temperature as she entered the bus. She remembered how the day before he had sat next to her on the way home and hoped this would become a habit for them. Yet, knowing of his distressful evening through her dream, and trusting her powers, Simi was not surprised when he did not even look at her that morning. Being the bold soul she was, and not wishing to let such developments go without investigation, she walked back to his seat and waited for him to move over and make room.

"Good morning," she announced, cheerily. "You ready for our second day in hell?"

Curtis uncomfortably looked up at her. "Hey Simi. Yeah, good morning."

"So, you going to let me sit here?"

"Sure." He lifted his backpack and slid over for her.

"Well, at least they didn't give the freshmen homework . . . yet."

"Yeah . . . enjoy that," he replied distantly. "You'll be loaded up today."

"Thought so."

She looked into his eyes, trying to not make contact with hers.

"So . . . you had a pretty stressful night, huh?"

"What?" He turned to her. "What do you mean?"

"When are you going to understand . . . that I have this thing, Curtis."

"Come on Simi. Don't start that."

"I'm not talking about your silly fantasies with girls. That gets boring."

Curtis turned his head to look out the window.

"This was different last night. Serious stuff. I saw how upset you were. There in your house."

He was silent.

The bus pulled out from the designated stop at the town square and headed out for the highway. Most of the students had their headphones on and a few were trying to catch some much-needed sleep during the thirty-minute ride into Santa Fe.

Simi put her hand lightly on his shoulder to turn his head back to her.

"I know it was about your father . . . and . . ."

"And What?"

"The meeting he had . . . at your home last night."

"Jesus Simi! You're creeping me out!"

"Sorry, Curtis. But . . . I know you took it pretty hard, that's all."

"Yeah, well it was just strange! And I don't like what's going on with my dad. And those idiot people he associates with."

Simi nodded.

"You're in serious danger from them, Simi. You need to know that. OK?"

"I already do know that, Curtis."

"But how could you . . .?"

"You told me . . ."

"What? When?

"In a dream . . . last night. You were in it. We were in a forest. I was being chased by these . . . really creepy men."

Curtis looked at her and rolled his eyes.

"They were like from . . . a different time. On horses. All very strange."

"Come on now, Simi . . ."

"You were there too Curtis. Really. Looking for me. And when you found me . . . a fire was seriously burning down the forest around us."

"Simi?"

"But you came to warn me. Told me about those men. About their meeting with your father. What they want. You said to never let the fire reach me . . . Those were your very words, Curtis."

Simi . . . I don't know where you get this stuff, but. . ."

"But what?"

"I don't know. It's . . . probably pretty true. What they're talking about. . ."

"Meaning . . .?"

"That maybe you . . . really do have these . . ."

"Powers?"

"Yeah. But it's not normal. Simi, these people are afraid. They fear those powers. And they want you out of Madrid. Period!"

"Curtis I know. You also told me in the dream they were willing to . . ."

"To what?"

"Kidnap me . . . eliminate me. Right?"

"Simi . . . it made me really sick . . . to see and hear my father talk like that. I never knew he could be so . . ."

"Evil?"

"Yeah. But that's exactly what they think you are, Simi . . . evil."

"Well I just want you to know. . . that I'm not evil, Curtis. I can't help the way I am, OK?"

"I know that."

"And . . . I'll never forget that you came to warn me. That you would actually help me. It means a lot. Really."

Curtis turned to her. He was looking seriously into her eyes now.

"Just be careful, OK? I don't know where this is all going. But I'll do whatever I can."

Simi felt her hand resting on the seat slowly and slightly being touched by his. It was a light and brave touch, but it spoke volumes of how Curtis was. What he felt for her.

She responded in turn by squeezing his fingers momentarily. Curtis slyly withdrew his hand and looked back out the window.

The two of them then rode silently all the way to school.

No matter what her new path would be in defense of these enemies, the men whom she had already experienced, Simi now knew she would have someone to give her support. That assistance did not have to be grand, she thought, or obvious. It could be as light and barely perceptible as the clandestine and caring touch of Curtis' hand.

* * *