“I know,” I said.

I felt like I was walking through a fun-house tunnel instead of a hallway.

Karly was on her way back with a Popsicle. “No better?” she asked.

“No, I need to go,” I said.

“Okay, come with me,” she said, adding over her shoulder, “Izzy, you can go back to the room now. Tell everyone I’ll be back in ten minutes.”

He waved, told me he’d text me later, and left.

Karly and I went outside so I could eat the Popsicle while we waited for Aunt Maureen, since there was no food allowed in the library. Moving through the stacks, seasick, I tried to concentrate on watching where I was going. I mostly stared at my sandals; it hurt to look up. But I did once, just to check.

William was gone.

chapter 18

It’d only been a migraine, but it’d felt like dying. Thankfully, Saturday, I was better. Aunt Maureen and Uncle Bran said I could go to the lake with the others—after Aunt Maureen insisted on talking on the phone with Izzy’s mom, and only if Kennedy went along. Unlike how Izzy had described his brother, I would have described Kennedy as someone who did not act like an adult, so I wasn’t sure why they felt I’d be safer with her there. But she’d been nicer lately, so it was okay.

“Did you say your name is Sep?” Kennedy asked as she shook Izzy’s brother’s hand, flirt face in full effect. We were on the shifting dock, a three-story lodge behind us, the lake in blues and greens stretched out in front.

“Seb,” Izzy’s brother corrected Kennedy. “Short for Sebastian.”

“Wicked,” Kennedy said, “like the crab in The Little Mermaid. That crab’s so fricken funny.” She saw me watching her. “What? I can’t like Disney movies?”

I smiled but didn’t answer.

Kennedy and I were both in shorts and tank tops over our swimsuits, but her outfit was ripped and edgy and mine was basic. At least I had my hair pulled back in a messy bun, front pieces hanging down like Colette used to say looked good on me.

Cute hair doesn’t cover up crazy.

Am I? Or is Colette really trying to talk to me through William?

You just answered your own question, Mean Me said. Crazytown!

“How’s it going?” Izzy asked. He had on black swimming trunks and an olive-green T-shirt with a bear in a park ranger hat on it.

“Good,” I said, forcing myself to get it together. “Happy fourteenth birthday! You are turning fourteen, right?”

“Thanks, yeah,” he said, laughing. “I’m officially old enough to get a job.” He cocked his head to the side. “How about you?”

“I’m still thirteen, but my birthday’s later this mo—” The dock shifted, and I gasped, putting my hands out to my sides to steady myself.