Fusion by Imogen Rose Page A

pulling out the top drawer. After digging for a while, he pulled out what looked like a folded newspaper and handed it to me.
    It was an old issue—from over a year ago—of the San Francisco
Examiner
. David pointed to a story at the top of the page. Before reading the headline, I studied the picture of Ariele and her parents.
Princeton Family Missing
. I skimmed the article. It seemed that Ariele’s uncle had reported them missing a few weeks after they’d allegedly moved to Mountain View. An investigation had been launched, but no conclusions were ever reached. It was suspected that they had boarded a private plane, but it had never been found. It seemed like Ariele and her parents had simply dropped off the radar. No foul play was suspected, but the investigation continued.
    I looked up at David. “Any updates?”
    “They were never found. Extensive searches were undertaken, but neither the plane nor the bodies have ever been found.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “For
A,
it means that her friend is probably dead, but we know that’s not the case. She’s here. What I don’t know is what happened at the other end. Did she just disappear? I don’t know.”
    “Wow.” I sat down on top of the desk and read the article again. “Do you have anything more recent? Anything about them trying to find her?”
    He nodded and pulled out another dozen newspaper clippings from the filing cabinet. I started going through them, taking notes as I read. Plenty of conspiracy theories, even suggestions that they were abducted by aliens. David sat down and watched me.
    I finally climbed down from the desk and sat back in my seat, feeling defeated. “They didn’t find anything concrete? Not even a piece of metal from the plane? Maybe she did just disappear from that dimension, and there is only one of her. I think it’s safe to assume so anyway, and it’s not like Ariele is likely to bump into another one of herself in New Jersey anyway.”
    “No, but can you imagine the ruckus if she suddenly showed up there? This was huge news. The media had a field day dreaming up explanations, as did the conspiracy theorists. If anyone spots her there, they’ll be all over her. Another reason for you guys to drop the madness and just leave that dimension be. Some things are better not to mess with.”
    I didn’t say anything.
    “Are you going to tell Ariele?”
    “Yes, she has to know.”
    “Look, I know you don’t agree with me, but think this through before you do anything. And will you keep me in the loop?”
    “I’ll try,” I said noncommittally. “We’re late for school. Better go.”
    As we drove toward school, tight knots of worry formed in my stomach. I had missed a whole year. Well, not missed exactly, but I hadn’t
been
there. I didn’t even know what classes I was supposed to have. Mom told me to go to the office and that the principal would help me figure it out.
    However, once in the school hallways, instead of passing the art studio on the way to the office, I lingered and then stepped inside. Everyone looked up at me.
    “Arizona! Good of you to join us,” Mrs. Kelly said. “Please take your seat.”
    I had no problem finding it, walking right to it, and sitting down next to Maria.
    “Hey!” she whispered. “I was wondering where you were. Did you get held up in the office?”
    “No, haven’t even been there yet,” I picked up my brush and dipped it into the gray paint. I started working on the painting without really giving it any thought. My mind was miles away. In another dimension. That was all I could think about at the moment.
    “Nice!” Maria said when the bell sounded.
    I looked at it: a pretty awful self portrait. I burst out laughing. Well, art had never been my strong point, but that was bad even for me.
    “What the heck is that supposed to be?” She laughed.
    “Me, I guess.”
    “You were supposed to paint an animal. You’ve been working for weeks on a portrait of Gertrude.”
    I