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"He thinks you’re sick" Aden remembered Dan’s visit, and what he’d said "And you were For a little while"

Shannon caluys d-doing here? And when did you get here? God, this is eird I’ve never passed out before Never lost t-time like that"

"Shannon," Victoria said, her voice suddenly thick, layered…powerful

The voice Aden reached out and grabbed her wrist When she focused on him, he shook his head "Don’t do it" Shannon had felt defenseless and out of control all his life, and Aden wouldn’t add to that--whether his friend realized as going on or not

Though she was clearly confused, Victoria nodded

"Shannon, do you feel up to going to school?" Aden asked

"Yeah I--I feel fine Except for that loss of time"

"You can still make it, if you want"

One dark brow rose "You going?"

Aden shook his head "Yeah, but not just yet" At this rate, he wasn’t going to get any kind of education anyti one hundred percent"

"O-okay I dig" His friend’s head tilted to the side "But maybe o-one day, you’ll trust me with your s-secrets See you later," he added before Aden could reply Motions slow, Shannon stood, bent down and grabbed his backpack, then headed out of the roo shut behind hi on

Worry about that later Aden glanced down at himself He wore boxers and sweat, and that was it His knee was caked with dried blood, the skin still shredded His skin was pale with a grayish tint Nice "Can you guys stay while I shower?"

"Of course," Victoria said

"Yeah," Mary Ann agreed She was peering at her hands, turning theht "But will you tell us a little about what happened first? Just a srill you"

"I…tiathered soray T-shirt and jeans

"That was Eve’s ability," Victoria said, "not yours"

"I know Maybe, I don’t know, maybe when she left, her ability soave it to "

"Or maybe you time-traveled so much, your body simply learned how to do it without her," Mary Ann said "You’ve heard about ht? When a -term muscle memory is created for that specific task and soon a person can perform that task without any conscious effort"

Thatin his life did these days "You, Mary Ann, are a genius"

She grinned "I know"

He rushed to the bathroom, where he hurriedly washed and dressed By the ti on the edge of the bed, stiff, obviously uncomfortable Mary Ann stood as far away fro anywhere but hiued the they could be fighting about was that defense lesson Was Riley still throwing a tantruain Thoer an outline but as clear and sparkly as always

"Oh, good You’re back I found this" Victoria handed him a sheet of paper "It’s for you, from Dan Don’t worry He had no idea ere here I made sure of it"

He peered down and read

Aden,