As I was leaving art class, I saw Delilah standing with a police officer and a worn-out looking blonde woman. They were going through Jade’s locker. I walked closer, my embarrassment over what I had said to Alex forgotten.

The woman had Jade’s eyes and nose, though a narrower, more pinched version in both cases. “Thank you again for calling, Delilah,” she said. “I thought Jade was at your house last night, so I didn’t worry when I didn’t see her at breakfast this morning.”

The policeman paused in his search, a copy of Othello in one hand. “Is it normal for your daughter to be out all night on a school night?”

“When the mood takes her or the boy calls,” I whispered to myself, my chin tucked into my body. They didn’t hear me, but I backed up a few steps anyway and stepped into something solid. Alex. He steadied my shoulders, but he wasn’t even looking at me. He was staring at the three of them in front of Jade’s locker.

Jade’s mother bristled. “No, Officer, it isn’t. But she told me she was going to Delilah’s to work on a project that was due, and I trust my daughter.”

“I’m not insinuating anything, Mrs. Price,” he said patiently. “We have to ask every question in missing person cases. I hope you understand.”

Alex’s fingers clenched, and he released my shoulders. I stepped away, unsure what I should do. He didn’t seem to even know I was there. Questions, the officer had said. I was curious but not that foolhardy. I put my earphones in and lost myself in The Fray. I hurried off to my car, leaving Alex standing and watching. Other students were beginning to congregate as well, circling like vultures.

I ARRIVED AT HOME that afternoon right after Granddad.

“Woo-hoo!” he sang out from the front porch when he saw me. I couldn’t help but laugh as he kicked his skinny legs up and clicked his heels together like a grizzled but spritely leprechaun. He grabbed me around the waist as soon as I got out of my car and spun me around until we were both dizzy. “You did it, Aria! Our dog came in first. We won a thousand dollars!”

That was something to celebrate. We hadn’t had that much extra cash in a long time. Gran and Granddad both got social security, but most of it went to regular bills and various medications. Granddad had a heart condition, though he ignored it (and his doctor’s advice) most of the time. A scare a few months ago had hospitalized him for two days and cleaned out our cash reserves. I had even been thinking about writing Mom or Dad for money, but I hadn’t been able to stoop that low.

Gran came out of the front door, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She must have heard him through the kitchen window. “Porter!” she barked at him. “You know how I feel about gambling! Aria should be using her gift for better things than that!” Her voice was tough, but I could see a slight smile working its way out. It was always the same. She’d give him a sound scolding and then put the money to good use. She was far more practical than puritanical, no matter what she said.

Granddad smiled, ran up the steps to grab her, and danced her around the porch. I hung back as they dipped and bobbed. Cutting the rug, that’s what they called it. They had met years and years ago on a dance floor while Granddad was on leave. I never saw them happier than when they were dancing together.

“We are going out to celebrate this weekend,” said Granddad firmly as they wound down. “No arguing either, Ellie. We haven’t had a good night out in ages.”

Gran opened her mouth to argue anyway, but Granddad swooped in to give her a kiss. They both wound up laughing and had to hold on to each other to keep from falling over. I slipped into the house to give them some privacy. I loved seeing them that way, but it made me jealous at the same time.

“IS SOMETHING BOTHERING YOU, Aria?” asked Gran that night at dinner. By the look on her face I knew she had asked it as a question on purpose, rather than rephrasing it as a statement. She was tricky that way. It was a good thing I had never tried to sneak around behind her back since I’d never get away with it. All you had to do was ask me what was going on, and I had to tell. A teen’s worst nightmare and a parent’s dream—or so you’d think. She’d been there once herself.

“Regret,” I said, “that I did not do enough, that I did not do what I could, that I did not do anything but leave when I could have stayed.” I groaned. If only I were a normal teenager. I could have just said “no” and been done with it. I wasn’t even sure if I meant when I had seen Jade in the bathroom or when I had run into Delilah, Jade’s mom, and the policeman after school. I may have answers, but I still didn’t know what my subconscious meant. But the regret was there. I could feel it.

Gran leaned forward, waiting for me to explain. Granddad leaned back, staying out of it.

“A girl at school is missing,” I finally said. “A policeman was going through her locker today.” I poked at the stringy pot roast. Why Gran made winter food in the heat of almost-summer in Florida was a mystery to me. Maybe that’s all that was weighing on me after all. It’s not like I could have done anything in either situation. It wasn’t my fault Jade was missing.

“Ah,” said Gran. “And you feel guilty that you didn’t try to help.”

“No,” I said, my own words this time. “I mean, not exactly.”

“Well, maybe you should.”

“Don’t push, Ellie,” said Granddad. “She’ll do things in her own time, you know.”

I shoved my plate away. The meat and potatoes sat heavy in my stomach. “I don’t want to talk to the police,” I said.

“Don’t,” said Gran. “Talk to me.” She reached out a hand and curled her papery fingers around mine. “Did the girl run away?”

“Running from, running to … it’s all the same.” I pulled my hand away.

Gran leaned forward even more. “Where is the girl, Aria?”

“Nowhere,” I said. I shook my head. This was useless. Why did she insist on doing this?

“Is she hurt?”

“Not now.” We were playing at questions. “Gran, this is stupid.”

“Aria, don’t you think you’ll feel better if you know?”

“Yes and no,” I said. Well, that was clear as mud.

“Ellie,” said Granddad. “That’s enough. Let her be.”

“Porter,” retorted Gran, “she won’t learn to control her gift if she never uses it.”

“Control it?” I stared at Gran, my turn to lean forward. What was she talking about?

“Yes, control it. Aria, you’re always trying to hide or bury it. You need to open up to it instead. Learn to channel it so that the answers don’t surprise you or …”

“Or what?”

“Overpower you.”

“Is that even possible?” Every time I had ever tried to control an answer it had always managed to come out anyway.

Gran seemed to know what I was thinking. “Controlling it isn’t about repressing it, Aria. It’s about letting it go and guiding it. I can show you how, if you’ll let me. I still remember.”

I shook my head. Letting it go was the last thing I wanted. It already controlled my life enough as it was.

Gran sighed. “You’ll get it someday. I know you will. Why don’t I get out the—”

“No.” I stood up before Gran could finish her question. “I’ve got homework.” Gran’s eyes were disappointed, but she nodded as I left the room. Granddad gave me a pat on the back as I went by him. Sometimes, even though Gran was the one who’d shared this curse of a “gift,” I felt like Granddad understood how I felt about it better.