When he turned into the lot, he let out a shaky breath: the few cars belonged to his neighbors, and his door was intact. He gave Jessica a curt nod, and they got out of the car. Jessica followed close behind and stood beside him, facing the parking lot, as he unlocked the door. Jessica jabbed him in the side hard with her elbow just as he was about to turn the key, and he jerked it back from the lock. “OW! What the … ?” He whirled around angrily to Jessica, then immediately straightened his posture and threw on a big smile.

“Charlie!” he blurted. The elegant woman approached them, and John reflexively took a step back. “Where did you come from? I mean, we didn’t see your car. What a nice surprise,” he added hastily. The woman who was not Charlie smiled easily.

“I’ve been out walking, I wanted to clear my head. I realized I was near you and thought I’d stop by. Is that okay?”

John nodded, stalling for time. “Of course! It’s great to see you!” John blurted, painfully aware that he was overselling. “My place is a mess, though. Bachelor pad, you know?” He forced a grin. “Do you and Jessica mind waiting out here while I clean up a little?”

Charlie laughed. “John, you saw my dorm room last year—I can handle a little mess!”

“Well, unlike you last year, I’m not working on a crazy brilliant science project, so I have no excuse,” he said.

Jessica jumped in. “How about that project, Charlie? Did you keep working on it? How’s it looking?”

Charlie turned to Jessica as if seeing her for the first time. “I lost interest,” she said. John seized his chance: he unlocked the door, slipped inside, and locked it behind him before the imposter could follow. In his bedroom, Charlie, his Charlie was still curled up on his bed, her back pressed against the wall; she didn’t look like she’d moved since he left.