He went silently up the stairs, watching anxiously.

Robbie gave her that smile that could make anyone nervous, a grin that stretched his entire face so that his eyes narrowed to green slits. "I've got a bottle of champagne I managed to swipe from the wine cabinet," he said in a low voice, waggling his eyebrows. "How 'bout I come by your place tomorrow?"

She goes into his room and calmly opens the closet.

She stared at him for a moment before nervously glancing away. " ...you can come. But forget the champagne. Also, you say that like i dont live with my sister, brother, mom and stepdad. Not to mention dog. "

Ethan peeked out from behind her legs

"See you then, princess."

Mom was late picking her up, again. Finally, her blue station wagon turned the corner and pulled to a stop in front of her. The front seat was filled with grocery bags and newspapers.

"Is it an invisible man?"

" bye. " She said as she walked up to her mother's car. She got on into the back seat, since the front was clearly occupied.

He shook his head. "No." There a strange gray hat in the corner. It was domed on top, with a circular rim and a red band around the base: a bowler hat.

Weird. Why would that be there?

She picks up the hat.

"You're sopping wet," cried her mother, watching her from the rearview mirror. "Don't sit on the upholstery--get a towel or something. Didn't you bring an umbrella?"

Something moved out of the corner of her eye. She could catch a glimpse of a figure hiding behind Ethans bedroom door, its pale eyes watching them through the crack.