That night, Kayleen was outside the apartment, looking at the stars. Their beauty absorbed her, helping her to almost forget her problems entirely…for the moment.

Kayleen sighed as her thoughts began to turn to the very problems she wanted to forget. However, her mind wouldn't let her off that easily. Her mind shifted from thing to thing, until, suddenly, she remembered what had happened earlier that day, in the alley. She began again to wonder: "Was that Jeanna I saw? She murmured.

"Kayleen!" She heard a voice say. "Over here!" She was sure that it was coming from behind the fence. The voice seemed so familiar…

Kayleen snapped from her reverie instantly and stood up. She quickly made her way to the fence, although she didn't run. She looked through, and gasped. "Jeanna?"

Jeanna nodded. "Hey Kay. How've you been?"

Kayleen looked down. "Not so good."

Jeanna looked at her compassionately. "Oh…I see. Money problems?"

Kayleen nodded. "Among other things."

"I see." Jeanna said, sighing. After a few moments of silence, Jeanna said, "Kayleen, you seem depressed."

"I am." Kayleen sighed. "I mean, my mom…is having issues finding someone to replace Dad, if you know what I mean. I've got no friends, now way to help Mom, a run-down apartment to live in." Suddenly, she realized what that sounded like. "Oh, I'm sorry, Jaye. I didn't mean---"

"No, it's perfectly okay." Jeanna said, reassuringly. Kayleen noticed that Jeanna started to pull her arm away from the fence, and reach into her pocket. She cleared her throat, and said, "Kayleen…do you want to get away from all that?"

Kayleen stared at Jeanna, dazed. Jeanna never talked like that. "You…you mean, run away?"

Jeanna looked a little uneasy. "Well...sort of. I mean, yes and no. I mean…well…" She cleared her throat again. "Would you believe me…if I told you…that I knew of a little haven where you…you could leave all your problems behind, and just…well, live?"

Kayleen shook her head. "I'm sorry Jeanna." She replied softly. "I mean, I don't mean to insult you, but that's a little far-fetched, don't you think? I mean, where on Earth would that be?"

Jeanna looked down. "It may seem like that…but Kay, I've been there. It's a great place." She was almost pleading now. "And…well, it's not really on Earth."

"What do you mean?" Kayleen said, confused.

"What I mean," Jeanna said, "Is that it's on a different world." Kayleen's eyes were quite wide by then. "I can take you there; really, I can!"

This was when Kayleen began to question Jeanna's sanity. She wasn't acting at all normal, and there was a look in her eyes that reminded Kayleen of awild animal. She stared at her friend in confusion for a few agonizing minutes, then she looked down and away. "No, Jaye." She murmured. "I can't do it. I...I don't know what it'll do to my mom. I mean, first loosing Dad, then me..." Jeanna nodded, looking a little sad. Kayleen wondered if Jeanna knew that that wasn't the only reason why Kayleen said no.

"I see." She said. Then, she turned and faced Kayleen with a strange look in her eyes. "Well, in that case…" She pulled something out of her pocket, "At least keep this." She handed the object to Kayleen.

"What is it?" Kayleen asked.

"A…token of our friendship, I guess you could say." Jeanna said. "But, whatever happens, don't sell it, and don't tell anyone about it; not even your mom, okay?" Kayleen nodded. "Okay. I've got to go."

"When will I see you again?" Kayleen asked as her friend turned away.

Without even turning around, Jeanna said, "Sometime soon." With that, she darted off without even saying goodbye.

Kayleen puzzled over her friend's actions. They had been closer than sisters before the move, but now, it was like she was a total stranger. She wasn't acting at all normal.

Kayleen sighed and looked at the object in her hand. She couldn't see it very well in the light, but she could tell that it was about the size of her hand. It was warm, and felt smooth, like glass. Kayleen held it up to a light. She was surprised at what she saw.

It was a red crystal, with a slender crack along the side. Kayleen couldn't tell if it was because the light was behind the crystal or what, but it almost seemed to glow.

Kayleen smiled a little. It was beautiful. 'That was thoughtful of Jeanna.' She thought as she made her way to her room. Once she was there, she found a little jewelry box she had gotten from her grandmother which was empty, due to the fact that she had little jewelry, and most of that came in boxes. It was the perfect hiding spot for her little keepsake.