Last night, Charlotte and I nearly got caught. She was sitting on the bed with me again. We only kissed and cuddled, but I knew neither Daniel nor her Dad would see it that way.

Just as she was about to go to her own room, Daniel knocked and said, "Harry, are you awake?"

Charlotte quickly rolled off the bed and hid down beside it on the floor. I dropped a blanket over her. "Yes." I said.

Daniel came in and said, "I'm worried about you. You look tired all the time."

"I'm fine." I said.

"Is there something on your mind?" he said.

There was. There was the thought that if Charlotte so much as moved or if I so much as glanced in her direction, Daniel would find out about our nightly meetings. "I'm fine." I said again.

"At your age, you need your sleep." he said, "Are you staying up to read or something?"

"No, I just had a few sleepless nights." I said.

He nodded and said, "Well, try to sleep now."

"I will." I said.

When he'd gone, Charlotte got back onto the bed and kissed me. "I think it's sweet, the way he worries about you."

"I'm just glad he didn't catch me with you." I said.

"Do you love me, Harry?" she said.

"Do you love me?" I said.

"Yes." she said.

I kissed her. "Then I love you."

We waited a while until we knew Daniel had gone, then she went back to her room. I slept badly again, thinking about Charlotte.