The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum

wrong—and I felt frustrated that Jason couldn’t see that, couldn’t feel that.
    Jason leaned closer. He closed his eyes.
    Our lips met.
    There were no fireworks.
    At least not for me.
    Jason pulled away and I saw the firework lights in his eyes, in the flush on his skin, in the tremulous curve of his smile. “You’re my best girl, Abby. Thanks for the best birthday yet.”
    I felt so much older than seventeen. Cold and old and hollow.
    I felt like crying.
     

     
    Chapter
    5

 
    Abby.” Hannah’s voice sounded loud right next to my ear.
    I started awake, rolling over and blinking at my sister who stood next to my bed, a smirk—there was no other word for it—on her face. Morning sun streamed through my curtains, turning my room a soft shade of white-yellow.
    “There’s someone here to see you.”
    I checked the time on my new watch: 8:12. Way too early on a Saturday morning for visitors.
    “Whoizzit?” I mumbled, flopping my pillow over my face. “Jason? Tell him I’ll call him later.”
    “It’s not Jason,” Hannah said. “It’s some guy—Dan something?—from your drama class?”
    My eyes flew open and I sat up in bed. “Dante? What’s he doing here?” How does he even know where I live? I wondered.
    Hannah shrugged. “I don’t know, Abby. Why don’t you go downstairs and ask him yourself?”
    “You let him in the house?”
    “Why wouldn’t I?” Hannah asked. “It’s the polite thing to do . ”
    “It’s the insane thing to do, Hannah,” I growled. “Do you know what time it is?”
    “I’ll tell him you’re coming right down.” She smiled sweetly at me as she flounced out the door.
    Grumbling at having to bear the burden of a younger sister, I crawled out of bed and shoved my feet into a pair of slippers. As I descended the stairs, I wrapped my robe around me and tried to smooth down my hair.
    Dante was waiting for me in the front room. When I saw him, I stopped on the last step, feeling extremely frumpy and frazzled.
    He had unbuttoned his navy blue pea coat, and I could see the long lines of his body underneath. He had brushed back his hair, though it still threatened to fall over his clear gray eyes at any time.
    I caught my breath at the sight of those eyes. I had forgotten how beautiful they were. I felt like I could spend hours studying them.
    “Abby?” That now-familiar small smile crossed his lips.
    “What?” I startled back to the present moment. “Oh—” I hurried into the front room.
    “Please accept my apologies, Abby. I didn’t mean to wake you. I guess I didn’t realize it was so early.” Dante tugged at the gloves on his hands.
    “No, no, it’s okay,” I said, trying furtively to pull my hair into a ponytail and out of my eyes. “What’s up?”
    Dante watched me curl up on the love seat and swallowed hard. He shoved his hands deep into his coat pockets. “I had hoped to speak with you about the play. But I could come back if now is not a good time . . .” He gestured to the front door and took a step away.
    “No, it’s fine.” I didn’t want to see him go. I was curious to find out why he’d come by. It couldn’t just be to talk about the play, could it? I felt my breath quicken as I realized I hoped I was wrong. “It’s a little early, but, knowing Dave, he’ll want you ready to go by Monday’s rehearsal. You may not have noticed, but he’s a little intense about his work.”
    “I’d noticed,” Dante said dryly.
    I pulled a pillow to my chest and grinned.
    Hannah appeared in the entryway, her attention immediately fixing on Dante. “Abby, Mom wants to know if your friend wants to stay for breakfast.”
    I looked at Dante. “Would you like to? It’s okay to say no,” I said in a stage whisper.
    Dante’s eyes flickered to the front door again and he looked so uncomfortable that an impromptu idea flashed through me. I turned to Hannah. “Tell Mom thanks, but no, we’re going out for breakfast this morning.”
    I couldn’t tell