Disclaimer: Lyrics at beginning and end are from Long Black Coat by Joan Osborne.
He looked into her eyes when she stopped him to ask
If he wanted to dance
Ten days.
It's been ten days since she'd seen Peter.
Ten days since the man had grabbed her in her room.
Ten days since she'd learned the truth.
Her father wasn't who she thought he was.
Her mother and brother were merely robots, they knew what he wanted them to know.
And her best friend, her first real friend, thought she was still a spoiled self-centered bitch.
Her world had been turned inside out.
And now there was only one thing on her mind: tomorrow.
She was lying awake, her eyes closed. She breathed deeply, evenly, so that if her father came in there would be no sign that she was anything but his carefree little girl.
She'd tried to sleep, knew she should, she needed her rest.
But….every time she slept she saw it in her dreams.
She'd never been there before. She'd never been on that street.
But as she ran down it she knew exactly where she was and what she was doing.
She was in New York City. She was running towards Peter.
But then…then she was running away.
She ran away from him and then…..that was it, it ended there.
But she was sure whatever happened next wasn't good.
Claire, can you keep a secret?
Ye…Yes…I…I can.
When your father comes home you will smile and act like it's a year ago. Like you're just a normal, happy teenager. Don't talk to Zach, when you go to school stay with the other cheerleaders. Ten days from now you'll get up and go to school, on the way there a car will pick you up and take you to the airport. You'll be on the first flight out. Peter will meet you in New York.
Peter will meet you in New York.
Peter will meet you in New York.
Peter will meet you in New York.
Peter will meet you in New York.
Peter remembered her. He remembered who she was, what had happened and tomorrow she was going to see him again.
And she'd tell him about her dream and they would stop it, just like he'd saved her, just like she'd save him. They could do it again.
Or, if they couldn't, then she could change one thing…she wouldn't run. If something was going to be there to hurt Peter, she was going to be there with him.
She's gone with the man in the long black coat.