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whatever time I have left to live.”

Eight

    er answer startled him. Distracted by his feelings, he'd almost forgotten how different she was, how unique her life's course. Dr. Packtor had told him that XP victims die young. “H-how long do you have to live?”
    “I don't know, but I've had two melanomas taken off in die past year. Sooner or later, no matter how careful I am, a melanoma will metastasize and spread. My best friend's dying. We used to go to Camp Sundown together— that's a special camp where kids with XP get together once a year and have fun.”
    “You aren't going this year?”
    She shook her head. “I can't face it knowing Kimberly won't be there. She's too sick.”
    “Where is she?”
    “Canada. We first met when we were both twelve. We burned up the Net with e-mail, met every year at camp. But now…” Shay la shrugged. “I can't even go see her.”
    His heart hurt for Shayla, for Kimberly, and for all the children who had this terrible disorder. “You've still got me,” he ventured.
    She pulled away and searched his face with her clear, pale eyes. “What happens when school starts? You won't have time for me then.”
    “No way. I'll work something out.”
    “I know you think that's true, but your life's in the daylight. You can't go to school all day, study, run around with your friends, and see me at night. You'll have to sleep sometime.”
    “I don't know how I'll do it either, but I will. Shayla, you've hidden yourself away too long. I've met some of the kids from this town, and they're pretty okay. Maybe it's time to get reacquainted with them.”
    “I can't.”
    “They're just kids like us.”
    “Not one bit like us. You've never had them call you names.”
    “That was years ago. Everybody grows up. A whole group of them meets at Bud's Pizza Palace. We shoot pool, have a good time. Come with me. You'll have fun, and they'll get to know you—the real you. They'll see how wonderful you are.”
    “Why are you asking me to do this?” She moved away from his side.
    “Because I want to date you. I want to take you to football games and dances. You said you could do things at night if you're careful, and I want you to be with me as much as possible.”
    “Once school starts, you'll feel differently.”
    “Stop trying to change my mind.” Brett was getting upset. “It's
you
, I want, Shayla. Why don't you believe me? “
    “Don't you think I've wanted this all my life? To be normal… to have what other girls have?” Her eyes filled with tears, and he felt terrible. The last thing he wanted was to make her cry. “It isn't possible, Brett.”
    “Not true,” he said, careful to not sound angry. “The only thing standing in your way is you. You're afraid. Believe me, I know allabout being afraid. And I'm not talking about being afraid of dying. Sometimes living's much harder than dying. When Mom dragged me up here, I was seared to death. I hated her for making us move. But I met you. And I've made a few friends. And I have a job. And you know what? I'm happy.”
    “You're not a moon child,” she said solemnly, and moved to the back of the boat. She started die motor and aimed the dinghy toward the shore.
    Brett was glad of the noise of the motor because they couldn't talk. He'd said too much, gone too far. He could kick himself for pushing her. The kids he knew and liked had taunted and ridiculed her when she was younger because she'd been different. She'd made new friends with others who suffered from XP and who accepted her. She wasn't ready to enter his world, and he'd been stupid to try to push her.
    She docked the boat in the boathouse. They crossed the road without speaking. At his car, she said, “It'll be better if we don't see each other for a while.”
    “Shayla, I'm sorry—”
    “Please … I need some time.”
    He watched her bolt up the road toward the great dark house that sat alone in the night.
    “Well, if it isn't Burger Boy,” Sandy said when Brett