WAKE ME UP

CHAPTER 14

We're sitting at the table in the backyard. There's one cigarette left in the pack, so I light it. I've never smoked before or ever really wanted to, and now I know why. It's disgusting.

"I'm ready when you are," Ben tells me. "That is if you still want to come with me."

I do.

Neither one of us knows in what direction we should head. Like Ben said, he just wants to drive, and I'm okay with that. But we should have some sort of plan.

"You've never seen snow," I finally say.

"You're right, I remember that," Ben answers, relieved to have the memory.

Ben talked about snow a lot. They never had any in Florida. And it hasn't snowed in New Jersey since he moved here. It hasn't snowed in the state in more than four years, and some people think it never will again.

"We should head to Canada," I say. "If we head far enough north and high enough in the mountains, maybe we'll get lucky, and we'll find snow."

Ben is kinda giddy about this. It's nice to see him this way again. He chews his tongue and rubs his head.

It might take us a few days, but I'm pretty sure I can stay awake that long, especially with the help of my mom's Ritalin.

I don't want to go back into her bedroom, but I don't have a choice. Fortunately, her dresser is near the door, so I slip in. I push back her underwear and start collecting the bottles, but something isn't right. They feel too light. The bottles are empty. Or at least, most of them are. There's only a handful of pills scattered between several bottles. I count them out. There are eleven. More than a dozen bottles but only eleven pills. Where did the rest go?

The truth is, I don't know how many I'll need or want. Maybe it's enough to get me to Canada and snow. Maybe it's more than enough. I pocket them.

I know we're in a hurry, but there's something I think we should do first. If Ben still wants to. We should dye his hair blue. It won't take that long – I'm a pro at it by now – and Ben agrees without a second thought.

"Let's do it!"