Disclaimer: I do not own the Wake Trilogy. It belongs to Lisa McMann.

Walking on Air

I sit in silence and wait on the bell. I look across the room at Cabel. He nods and I nod. This has been the same study hall for two weeks. I look at him, he nods and I nod in return. I fall asleep, and he's ready when I wake up and takes me home. I spend time with him, he spends time with me and so on.

The bell rings and I stand and look at Cabel in shock. I didn't fall asleep. I wasn't pulled into any dreams. I felt good. He smiles at me and I smile back. It feels nice. We walk out of the library and outside. The sun's shining and it feels good. It's the best day I've had for a while.

"Want to go to my place?" Cabel asks. I shrug.

"Can't we stay outside for a bit?" I ask. I want to soak up as much sun as possible before my good day is ruined. "Please?" He sighs and I know that answer. No.

"Jan-" I cut him off.

"You just don't want me to have fun," I say, putting my hands on my hips. He sighs.

"It's not that."

"Then what is it?" I challenge. He looks at me.

"I...never mind. Can you walk home?" he asks. I feel hurt. He doesn't want to spend time with me?

"Yeah, I'm not two," I say.

"I never said that."

"It's what was implied, not what was said."

"Hannagan."

"Don't Hannagan me."

"Janie," he says. That one word, just one, made me regret. I sigh and don't reply. "Come to the cave with me." I don't reply. "Please?"

"Why?"

"Please?" he begs me with his eyes and I sigh, giving in. I follow him to his car and get in. I wish I could drive.

We ride in silence. I roll down the window and stare out it, the humid air feeling good. Neither of us need to say a word. We just know how each other feels. I don't want to talk and he doesn't want to pressure me into it. But I wish he would. Oh how I wish he would.

He pulls up at the beach and we get out. I take off my shoes and walk in the sand towards the cave. Our cave. I sit down on the floor and watch him come in and sit down across from me. Again with the silence. Maybe he doesn't want to talk.

I stand and start pacing. I feel his eyes on me, but I inspect the drawings. I looked outside and then sat at the mouth of the cave, the sunshine streaming down on me. I lay back on my arms and close my eyes, soaking it up. I hear him come and sit next to me.

"So, what's on your mind?" he asks. I shrug. He sighs and lays down next to me. I rest my head on his shoulder and that's how we lie. Not talking, just soaking up the sun.

He drops me off at my house and kisses me goodbye. I walk up the walk and inside. I watch him pull away and leave and then I see Carrie look out the window and then at my house. She suspects something, but I smile. I'm floating on air.

I don't even realize my mother passed out on the couch. Somehow, the not talking made me...happy? Is that the right word? Maybe we shouldn't talk much anymore. Maybe it's best.