“Not being cool is a flaw,” he says, though his voice is heavy with jest. “But back to your problem. You going to spill? I think I’ve proven that I’m a pretty good listener.”

“That you have.”

I pull myself up to a sitting position, my back against the warped wall of his apartment. It’s not a great hovel, but it’s his own, and Michael’s proud of it. Gone is the house we both shared through time and space. Now, we’re in a place where the water is constantly cold, it’s drafty, and the stairs creak so badly that whenever we take them, I swear I’m going to fall through the five-floor walk-up.

“There’s a boy, back in my time.”

“Oh? Is he good-looking?”

I jab his arm hard but don’t answer. Because, yes, yes, he is hot. But Michael doesn’t need to know that.

“His brother is the one who gave me, you know.” I tap my liver gently—it still hurts from the jump.

“The dead boy? That must be awkward. Being friends with the brother of the guy who gave you his liver.”

I nod, and the words I’ve been thinking come out like a whisper. “But that’s not what I’m thinking about. Well, it is, but…”

I sigh, running my fingers through my hair in frustration. I feel Michael grip my shoulder and give me just one soft squeeze to remind me that he’s here.

“I broke his heart,” I mutter. “Or, at least, I hurt him. How doesn’t matter…” I don’t have the courage to tell Michael how anyway.

“I’m sure you didn’t mean to,” Michael reassures me, stroking my arm with two fingers. His light touches feel like electricity on my body, shocking me back to life. “You’re a good person, you know? I don’t say that about many people.”

“I wasn’t a good person. I was…selfish.” I sigh. “I’m not sure who I am anymore.”

Michael’s hand keeps moving, but he doesn’t speak. It’s an old psychology trick—giving the other person space and letting the silence become deafening until they feel like they have to speak.

It works.

“I’m lying to my parents about how I’m spending my time. I’m ignoring my best friend. And don’t even get me started on school. I used to be someone who cared about things. Someone who had goals and priorities and was more than just…”