Chapter 7

I sat there for a few minutes, not knowing what else to say. Our common goals aside, we didn't really know that much about each other, and it made the silence awkward. I glanced outside. It had gotten dark while we were talking.

"I better get home before my dad gets worried," I said. I started to stand up then stopped. "That is, unless you want to hold me for three days and make sure I'm not a Yeerk."

A few worried looks went between them. Apparently they had stopped worrying about that midway through my speech. Marco seemed to suddenly have realized that being a Controller would be an easy way for me to have known of other Controllers in the school.

"I don't think that will be necessary," said Jake calmly. He pushed open the barn door.

I walked out the door, knowing they were going to stay a little longer to talk without me. It was a lot to take in.

"See you at school tomorrow," called Cassie. I turned around and she offered me a small smile.

I smiled back and then started toward home. Cassie's farm actually isn't far from my house. I kind of like on the outskirts of town.

About halfway home I stopped suddenly, alarmed by the eyes that I saw glinting in the bushes across the street. I tried to keep walking and figure out what it was, and caught a lucky glimpse of it under a street light.

It was a dog, a golden retriever. It noticed me and started to come toward me.

"Nice puppy." It wasn't a puppy, but I call all dogs "puppy" for some reason.

Then I noticed the funny sensation that I was having. It wasn't something I was familiar with, but there was a certain "deja vu" quality to it nonetheless. I stooped to pet the dog, desperately racking my brain for some recognition of the feeling. I had learned early on that most of the things I felt meant something.

That's when it occurred to me. Tobias. It was how I had known that he was the hawk. I could sense morphs!

I concentrated on the dog as it stood there, playfully nudging me with its nose. The feeling became clearer. Yes!

Jake. Not only could I sense the morph, but I could tell who it was! I was getting nearly as excited as when I had discovered I could sense Yeerks.

They weren't going to lock me up for three days, they were going to watch me. I felt bad that they would have to stay up till all hours, but it was nice to know they were still thinking straight after everything I had thrown at them.

I straightened up and continued home, deciding against letting Jake know that I could tell it was him. He followed me all the home, but I couldn't see him any longer, only feel him. But I forgot completely about Jake when I got home and found my dad none too happy that I hadn't called.

"Where have you been?" He wasn't quite yelling, but there was a definite edge on his voice. "I started to get worried you were lost. Maybe it would have been better if I had picked you up instead of making you walk."

You see, that had been the subject of an argument that morning. I didn't want to have to walk or take the bus, but dad had insisted that he couldn't leave the office to pick me up.

"No, it's OK," I said calmly. "I'm sorry I didn't call. It's just that some people I met met invited me to hang out with them after school." It was close to the truth, at least.

Dad's face brightened a little too fast.

"You made some friends already? That's great!"

His enthusiasm made me feel a bit self-conscious. I hadn't realized that he had noticed that I didn't have any friends in the place we lived before. I cringed at the thought that, depending on how Jake and the others judged me, I might end up the same way here.

"Yeah," I said after a pause that was a little too long. "The time just kind of got away from me."

He kissed me on the forehead and made a gesture toward the kitchen.

"I managed to unpack enough dishes to make some dinner. It should be ready in about ten minutes."

"OK," I said, smiling. I headed up the stairs to put my backpack in my room.

Once up in my new room I closed my eyes. It didn't take much concentration to tell that Jake was still outside. I resisted the temptation to look out the window, but I made sure to keep my curtains open so they would be able to see me inside.

Whew! I thought. What an interesting first day! I could hardly wait till my next conversation with my mother. I had a lot to tell her.