“Yeah, I don’t know that I’ll be able to make it, but I’ll try,” I lied.

No way in hell was I going to go to that asshole’s house.

“Why not?” He seemed somewhat disappointed.

“It’s still Tuesday. A lot can happen until Friday,” I said, giving out the worst excuse in history.

“Oh. But you are going to The Den tonight?”

“Haven’t decided yet.”

“Too short notice?”

“I just don’t know that many people yet.”

“You know me,” he said.

Fuck me, that smile.

“And whoever invited you in the first place. I’m sure they’re nice too.”

“Too?”

“Oh, I’m nice. I’m super nice,” he said, grinning.

“I believe you.” I couldn’t help but bite my lip.

He smiled again. “I need to go back to class. See you tonight? Maybe?”

“Maybe.”

He gazed at me for a second. “I’m Ethan, by the way.”

“I know,” I said. “I’m Thomas.”

“I know,” he said, smiling.

Then, I stared as he left, which was fitting because I seemed to have been developing all kinds of new habits lately, such as watching strangers walk away or doing and saying things that just popped into my head without really noticing them.

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

The Ghost

When I got back home, I was exhausted. I’d forgotten how tiring it was to socialize, how draining it could be engaging in conversation and smiling all the time. I went straight up to my room, falling onto the bed almost the very instant I closed the door. I didn’t want to think about anything, just wanted my mind to go blank for a few hours, allowing me some time to take in everything, to recover.

I needed it to slow down; I needed it to cooperate and shut the fuck up for a second, which, of course, wasn’t something I was able to control on the best of days, let alone then. So instead of hoping for quiet I knew I was never going to get, I tried guiding my thoughts toward subjects that were safe to think about. I allowed myself to go over what had happened in the library for a quick minute because it was the only part of my day I couldn’t quite wrap my head around.