"Dinner was great Mrs. Tunney," Pogue smiled and looked toward the right of the table. Kate and Noa nodded in agreement.
"Oh, don't thank me, thank Megalynn -- our wonderful housekeeper," Mrs. Tunney motioned to the east, toward the kitchen as Megalynn pushed through the doors, "but if you'll excuse me, I have to go pack so that I can join Mr. Tunney tomorrow in Tunisia."
"I and Pogue will be excused, too." Kate and Pogue, sitting side by side, stood and headed toward to the staircase just outside of the dining room.
"Well, I guess I'll help you Megalynn…I have to go to the kitchen anyway." Noa smiled.
Noa and Megalynn gathered dishes and went into the kitchen. The Tunney dining room was empty.
Megalynn and Noa set the dishes in the sink.
"Hey, Mega…where's the chicken around here…?"
"Oh, you can check in the freezer…it should be on the left side or something."
"Ah, here it is!" Noa exclaimed. "Now all I need is a pot."
"They're in the cabinet next to the fridge – on the bottom shelf."
"Thanks again."
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"So, what's the deal with Reid?" Kate ran a hand over Pogue's back as he sat in her father's office chair.
"I don't know…he's always in a mood" Pogue drew Kate close causing her to fall into his lap.
"No, seriously…she and I both heard him call her a bitch," Kate sat up and stared in his eyes.
"No, seriously…how can I get you to kiss me one more time?" Pogue grinned; Kate grinned back and moved in even closer.
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"Hey!" Noa poked her head in the door and startled Kate and Pogue as they lay partially clothed on the floor in Mr. Tunney's study.
"Oh! Um…we…I…" Kate stammered.
"I'm not tattle-tell…but I was just letting everyone know I was going to go to sleep now."
"Oh, goodnight then," Kate seemed surprised.
Noa disappeared.
"Yeah, I should be heading back to the dorms…do you want to ride?"
"Yeah, sure," Kate shrugged.
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Reid sat up in bed gasping, his golden locks matted to his head with sweat; he felt weak. He got out of bed, shaking, and walked to the bathroom he shared with his roommate. He closed the door behind him and turned on the faucet. He let the cold water run over his hands and splashed it on his face and chest. He pushed his hair pack and looked closer in the mirror at his face; his eyes were heavy with sleep. He closed them for a moment and slumped over the sink. He straightened and opened his eyes to see Kate's face in the mirror. He turned behind him, but she wasn't in the bathroom. He looked closer to the mirror and watched as Kate's face slowly became Noa's face. He clenched his jaw.
He crept quietly out of his room and down the hall to Kate and Sara's room. Maybe Kate or someone was trying to tell me something. He knocked softly on their door and there was no response. He continued to know on their door, progressively knocking louder and louder – nothing. He shook the door handle, but it was locked, so, he focused on the lock in his mind. His eyes grew dark as he envisioned the lock unfolding. The door flew open; Kate and Sara were not in their beds. The floor was covered in strange markings in the midst of which sat a naked woman, her back to the door. Reid knew exactly who it was. Noa turned her torso to face him – her eyes were as black as his. Her lips began to move in the shapes of words he couldn't hear; his eyes fell heavy. When he opened them, he was in his bed.
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