Chapter 14Ashley
A RINGING PHONE. The last thing I expected first thing on Monday morning. Not the quiet buzz of my cell, but the abrupt, heart-stopping blast of a wall phone in the kitchen. I ran to pick it up.
“Hello?”
“When did you start answering your phone?”
“Natalie?”
“Who else? I expected to leave a message, but since I have you, have you looked outside?”
“No. Why?”
“It's raining. The weather report is afternoon thunderstorms. Are you going to try your portal?”
“I don't know. I won't know until I get to school.”
“If you can open it, call me. I want to go with you.” I told her I would call only if the portal might open. Otherwise, she wouldn't hear from me. “Call me,” she said, and hung up.
With two weeks remaining before Christmas vacation, pleasing Natalie took a minor po
