The day ended, and the couple retired to their different rooms. Though they both longed for each other as they slept in their cold rooms, none attempted to go to the other so as not to look desperate. And so Dylan slept that night, hugging a pillow and imagining it to be Ariel in his arms.

The next day, Ariel dropped Paul off at his school and returned home.

Dylan sat on the porch, drinking orange juice and reading a book.

"Which book are you reading?" she asked.

"Oh, it's one of the Harry Potter series books."

"Which one?"

"I don't know. It's an old book from a friend, and...