It was very strange, Simon decided. Strange to be at this pool, watching all these girls in bathing suits. It hadn't occurred to his parents that being on the swim team meant being around girls who weren't completely dressed. And he didn't feel any need to tell them. After all, there was only there was only one pair of swimmers who were dating. And even that had apparently only happened this year. They were still in a group that included the other two male distance swimmers. Actually, most of the guys on the team seemed to like that girl, or at least be nice to her.

'Hmmm,' he'd never thought about that before. 'Actually, she does look a little lost down there right now. All of the people she talks too are up here and can't go down there.' He watched the blonde for a little bit longer. There was something familiar about her that he couldn't quite place. Right now she was getting ready for her race, curled into a ball listening to her music. 'Do I remember her from elementary school? No, I don't think I would have forgotten her. She's certainly unusual. And I think Eliora is a name I would remember.'

The issue became to nag at him. He hadn't given her much thought before, because first he had had other girls to think about, and then the bombshell had been dropped on his universe. She was blonde, but it was California, there were a lot of blondes. She moved up for her race, and as they read her name over the intercom, to the two guys standing next to him started yelling. 'Hmmm. I never spent any time around athletes before this, so that can't be it either.' She finished her race, and the two guys next to him left to meet her outside.

As they left, Simon realized what had been driving him crazy throughout the meet. 'She's Lucy!' after his brain finished reeling, Simon thought again, 'Except not, because she's obviously a different person. But she's like Lucy, somehow, in strange ways. She looks like her, she's pretty smart, and she does things to make the world a better place.' And then Simon realized what had really been bugging him, 'Eliora is like Lucy except in the ways that are bad.' Simon had heard Eliora threaten to break heads, and to beat people up. He had no doubt but that she could do it. And those two guys she hung out with were the nicest people he had ever met. 'Which must mean Eliora is Lucy without being the Lucy that Kevin could beat up. I wonder-if I talk to her, will I learn something about Lucy and why things happened the way they did?'

Ray and William came back, talking. "She's not happy with how she swam," William said.

"I can't say I blame her," Ray said, "she is a perfectionist."

"Oh, you guys," Ray's mother cut in. "I think she looked great. Did you tell her how much you were cheering?"

"What do you think?" William asked, a little guiltily.

"Guys!" Ray's mom rolled her eyes.

And then Simon wondered, 'Lucy was a perfectionist too. So does Eliora have better judgment? Or was she just luckier? And how's that fair? In fact, of all the girls in the entire world, why did it have to happen to Lucy?' Simon shook himself then, realizing what he had thought. 'No, I don't wish that on anyone else. But it just isn't fair!'

"Hey, Simon," Ray asked. "Are you okay? You look a little out of it."

"Nah, I'm fine, I was just thinking."

"About what? The end of the world? You certainly look depressed."

Ray's mom cut in, "Simon, you know everyone from both teams is going to Pete's Pizza after the meet, right?"

"No, I didn't."

"Well, we are. Do you need a ride?"

"Sure. Let me call my parents," Simon stood up.

"All right."

It was fine, surprisingly. But then, his father had been different lately. So maybe he was less worried about outside influences now. Heck, maybe if Lucy had had some outside influences none of this would have happened. Simon tried to clear his head of the what-ifs that had been floating in it since Lucy had gone, but he failed.

The girls won the meet by about 60 points, more than anyone expected them too. And as Simon gathered his stuff together and watched his team-mates follow tradition by ripping off their shirts; he tried to plan his strategy. He knew he had to talk to Eliora, but what would he say? 'Hi, you're a lot like my sister, but different, and I need to talk to you to find out how your different so I can help my sister recover after her boyfriend started abusing her.' On second thought, maybe, 'Hi, I'm Simon Camden,' would be better. But he had to admit, together with whatever plan he finally came up with and his meeting at the shelter in two days, Simon had more of a start than he'd ever dreamed possible.