3:59

SEVENTEEN

3:59 P.M.

JO WAS IN THE MIRROR AS THE IMAGE DISSOLVED from Josie’s jean shorts and tank top to Jo’s satin pajamas. This time, Josie didn’t waste a second. She took a deep breath and plunged into the portal.

“Oh my God,” Jo said as Josie’s feet landed on the soft carpet of her room. “You came through.”

“I know,” Josie said, somewhat breathlessly. “Cool, huh?”

“Um, yeah.” Jo sounded like cool wasn’t quite the adjective she’d use.

They stared blankly for a moment, each examining the other. Josie knew what Jo saw. Her dirty blond hair was a tangled mess and her face was devoid of makeup, typical Saturday fashion for someone with no place to go. Meanwhile Jo’s bright blond tresses fell on either side of her face in perfect spirals that cascaded over her shoulders, even though it was the middle of the night.

“So we’re the same person or something,” Jo blurted out. “Is that it?”

“Kind of,” Josie said. She wasn’t sure she wanted to get into a long discussion of theoretical quantum theory if she only had a minute until the portal closed.

“I don’t know why, but it scares me,” Jo said.

“Maybe because it makes absolutely no sense?”

“Yeah, I mean, look at us.” Jo spoke quickly. “Except for the hair, we could be—”

“Twins,” Josie said, finishing the thought. “Right?”

Jo didn’t answer. Instead, her eyes were fixed on the other side of the mirror. Josie turned around and followed Jo’s line of sight to a photo on her dresser. A photo of Josie and her mom.

“Is . . . is that your mom?” Jo asked.

“Yeah.” Jo seemed transfixed by the photo. “It was from a banquet at the lab where she works. Some kind of awards thing.”

Jo continued to stare. “When was it taken?”

“Last month.”

“Are you guys close?” Jo asked. “You and your mom?”

Josie shrugged. She wasn’t sure how much she wanted to reveal. “We used to be. But for the last six months or so, things have been a little . . . strained.”

Jo turned her head sharply. “Six months? That’s . . . a long time.”

“Yeah, I guess.” Jo reached her hand out toward the photo, pausing at the cusp of the mirror’s frame. She hesitated, then let her hand fall to her side.

Josie smiled. “It’s okay, you know. You can go through. Kinda feels like you’re swimming through a pool of Jell-O, but it only lasts a second.”

Josie’s heart raced as she watched Jo stare at the photo of her and her mom. She was secretly hoping that Jo would go through into her room and see that it wasn’t such a big deal. Maybe she’d kind of like it over there. Maybe she’d consider switching places with Josie, you know, just for a day. Maybe . . .

Her eyes involuntarily darted to Jo’s necklace. Two entwined hearts. Jo and Nick. Josie and Nick.

“That necklace,” Josie said. “Is it from your boyfriend?” Josie couldn’t help herself. She had to know if what she’d seen in the dreams was real.

Jo’s gaze slowly turned to Josie. “My boyfriend?”

“Yeah.” Josie pointed to the necklace. “Was that a gift from him?”

“Yes,” Jo said at last. “It’s from my boyfriend.”

Josie smiled. “It’s beautiful.”

Jo turned back to the mirror. “Do you want to switch places?” she blurted out.

Josie face lit up. “I was thinking the same thing.”

“Twinsies.” Jo laughed. “Tomorrow. Let’s do it tomorrow night.” She looked back into the mirror. “Well, night for me.”

“Sounds perfect.” Josie was having a hard time keeping the excitement out of her voice. “For twenty-four hours?”

Jo smiled. “Yeah, that’ll be enough.”

Yes, it would. Enough time to see Jo’s parents happy and together. And enough time to set things right with Nick.

“Deal.”

The image in the mirror began to ripple. “Shit!” Josie bolted for the portal. “Gotta go.”

“Wait.” Jo grabbed Josie’s arm as she started to duck through the mirror. “Your hair. Do you think you can dye it to match?”

Josie had never dyed her hair before, but this was one hell of a perfect opportunity to try. “Will do.”

Jo smiled. “See you tomorrow.”