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mellow. Holly was tempted to read some more, but decided to keep Mad company instead. That was why she’d come along, after all.
    Traffic had thickened, and stayed that way. They didn’t talk as much, because Madison needed to concentrate on driving. This was what she meant when she talked about all the people, Holly guessed. Too many people.
    Madison had to drive through this every time she came home to visit. No wonder she had only come for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
    Holly was grateful she wouldn’t have to make this trip back home. Mad would drop her at the Denver airport and she’d be in Albuquerque in a couple of hours, where Mom would pick her up. She wished it was going to be today instead of Wednesday.
    Finally they got through Denver and left the Interstate. Traffic was still busy but less hectic. Holly admired the blue-white mass of the Rockies Front Range to the west, and the several small lakes they passed. The sun was dropping toward the mountains as signs for the University started showing up. Madison turned off into a residential area and pulled into a parking space in front of a row of townhouses.
    â€œHere we are. Home sweet home.”
    The building was blocky and modern looking. Uninviting. Holly wasn’t impressed, but she kept her mouth shut as she slung her gym bag over her shoulder and followed Madison into the townhouse.
    Apartment carpet smell greeted her. The carefully neutral colors of the furniture implied that it came with the place. To compensate, the walls were covered with bright posters—a mix of rock and roll, skiing, and theatrical—and some houseplants livened up the living room a bit.
    â€œAnybody home?” Madison yelled. When no one answered, she turned to Holly with a shrug. “All out to dinner, probably. Usually we go out on weekends.”
    With dates? Holly didn’t ask. She didn’t want to be too nosy.
    â€œYou can have your choice of the sofa or an air mattress in my room. Sofa’s probably more comfortable, if you don’t mind people coming through on the way to the kitchen.”
    Holly stepped over to the sofa and pushed a hand against the seat. Madison joined her, pointing out a lever on the side.
    â€œIt opens into a bed.”
    â€œOK,” Holly said, and set her bag down on an end table. She had the feeling Mad wanted her privacy.
    Mad went into the kitchen and started banging around. Holly sat on the couch, tired even though she’d just sat in a car all day. She pulled a magazine from under her gym bag and flipped through the pages.
    â€œNot much here for dinner,” called Mad from the kitchen. “There’s some cheesy macs, or we can go out or go for groceries.”
    â€œCheesy macs are fine.”
    â€œGood. I’ll shop tomorrow.”
    Holly put aside the magazine and went to the kitchen, where Mad was filling a saucepan with water. “Want me to fix it?”
    Mad, who hated to cook, cast a grateful glance at her. “If you don’t mind, that would be great. I need a shower.”
    Holly picked up the pasta box. “Go ahead. This’ll take about fifteen minutes.”
    â€œThanks, kiddo!”
    Mad gave her a quick hug and left. Holly put the pan of water on the stove, then poked around in the refrigerator, looking for something to throw together as a salad. That was a failure; all that was in there was milk, beer, sodas, butter, the end of a loaf of bread, and a bunch of dried out scallions.
    While she waited for the water to boil she hunted out the downstairs bathroom, then opened the blinds at the back of the living room to reveal a sliding glass door that gave onto an enclosed patio. Mountains loomed to the west, blue and beautiful. Holly stepped out to admire the dozen large pots that crowded the patio, all rioting with pansies and petunias. One of Mad’s roommates must have a green thumb.
    This was her favorite spot in thecompansate apartment so far. She sat in