Colin is methodical about the way he unwraps the present. It takes everything I have to sit there and let him peel free each piece of tape with careful precision, and by the time he’s done, the wrapping looks like it’s never been used.

He unfolds the paper inside, and his entire body goes rigid.

I drew his parents sitting on the porch swing with him and Liam, smiles on their faces. Max perches on Colin’s shoulders, and the Charger sits in the background with a setting sun.

“You said you didn’t even have a photo of them, so I thought you might want one,” I say.

When Colin doesn’t move, I nearly groan. This was a bad idea. He lost his parents and just had to say goodbye to them, and here I’ve gone and shoved a giant reminder of their deaths straight into his hands.

“This is amazing.” The words are more breath than sound. I relax, and he looks at me, his bright gray eyes as alive as I’ve ever seen them. “Thanks, Anna. Really.”

I smile, toying nervously with one curl of my hair. “You’re welcome,” I say. “Anything for a friend.”

And before I can say anything, he throws his arms around me in a hug.

I try not to let it feel like goodbye.

Chapter 33: Colin

Anna and I sit by the fire pit for a while, watching the leaves flutter to the ground and sipping our drinks. My first night at Ravenfall feels so far away now, though it’s only been a couple weeks.

Everything inside me feels still for the first time in days. My parents are dead, but they aren’t gone, not really. I can feel them with me, and I have Anna’s drawing to keep them close.

I’m not alone.

Footsteps rustle through the grass and I look up to see Liam coming toward us. He’s got my bag in his hand. “Are you ready to head out?” he asks. “I want to hit the road before it gets dark.”

My stomach turns. I knew this was coming, and it’s what I want: me and Liam together again. But I hadn’t realized he meant to leave so quickly.

I glance at Anna, but she only stares at a spot on her shoe that couldn’t be less interesting. But I know her well enough now to tell when she’s trying not to be upset. I know because I feel the same way.

“Yeah, okay,” I say, setting my half-empty root beer aside. Max’s green eyes narrow in displeasure as I slide him off my lap.

“Do you want to say goodbye to everyone?” Liam asks, already checking his watch.

Anna finally looks up at me, and I see my own thoughts reflected in hers: this isn’t goodbye. There’s no way after everything we’ve been through that this is the end.