Chapter One

Wrong Side of the Bed

Peter was rushing to the Dot.

His boss had warned him that if he was late again, it would be the end of him.

He doesn't get I'm going to college too, Peter thought. All last night, he had been working on this massive essay. Peter had no time to sleep.
He checked his watch, a few seconds to go and he was just a block away.

He raced there, panting like a dog.

But he made it.

Peter took off his jacket and placed it on one of the cabinets behind the counter. So drained by his running up here, he almost didn't notice there was a girl already in here. She was sitting, back towards him, in one of the tables, wearing a very huge purple Pokka. It was still Fall.

Peter went over to her, still staring at the back of her head.

"Umm, miss… The Dot hasn't opened yet."

The girl turned to him, and Peter almost staggered in surprise.

He knew this girl.

It was Darcy.

"How did you get here?" he said, stepping further and further away from her.

Darcy stood up. She also looked drained. Her eyes were red and wet.

"Peter... we really have to talk."

Peter had hit the wall, and couldn't move any more.

"Talk about what?" he said, "How did you even get in here!"

"I let her in." It was the Dot owner, approaching them. "She came very early in the morning, to talk to you. Alone."

His eyes pierced into Peter's. He was angry, but was trying hard to hide that fact.

"I will leave you two alone." The owner – still staring at Peter – walked out the store.

Peter turned back to Darcy.

"Peter I-"

"Don't start Darcy. I don't want to hear any apologizes!" He walked back to the counter, to continue on in his usual morning routines.

"Peter, you're not listening!" She was near tear. Darcy peeled of her huge Pokka, and in it, sleeping on a baby carrier, was a little Peter.