[ Her eyes close the moment he wraps his arms around her. There's an odd feeling of comfort that springs in her. Odd, because it's been so long since she's felt anything like it. She can't even remember the last time it felt like a true genuine feeling of support. Foster parents tried, but, no one would ever really accept what she said. It created a barrier between her and the world. A barrier she finds she wants to let down around Alan, but, also one that she fears will need to come up once his rejection of her world truly comes out. He knows the pieces and fragments of Ordinary and her story... but not all of it.

« He doesn't know YOU. My supposedly imaginary friend. He knows about a friend, but, I can't tell him more than that. He would never look at me the same way. Just another person who sees crazy Jesse Faden, talking to the voice in her head. »

Arms curl around the manuscript pages further. ]

There's no getting off this train, Alan. [ A frown tugs on her face. « Dylan loved trains. » ] Not really. You can pretend, but you're always aware the train exists. Even if you put a poster to cover the hole on the wall? You always know the hole is there.