never enjoyed Halloween. Somehow, dressing like a slutty police officer doesn’t scream fun to me. Instead, I take my time at the library, trying to find a book that will drag me into its world and not let me go.
My leather bag is useless right now. It’s filled with textbooks and notebooks for classes. I carry my new check-outs in my hands and walk toward my dorm. Walking up the stairs, I search for my ID card and swipe it against the door. It beeps and I shuffle my books to one side.
“Here, let me help.”
Thayer Sloan smiles next to me and grabs the door. I look at his blue jeans and simple gray, long-sleeve shirt before I give him a cautious smile. If Severine were here, she’d be getting ready to tackle me.
I have only seen Thayer a few times, and from those few times I know two things: He doesn’t know who I am and Severine hasn’ t mentioned a thing about why I’m here.
If Thayer did know my plan , he wouldn’t be walking next to me up the stairwell.
I’m sure he’s picking up Severine for a Halloween party. Before I left my room, Severine and Lily were getting ready. Our room looks like Severine’s closet threw up. That was an hour ago.
“Are you doing anything fun for Halloween?” he asks, friendly.
Moving my hand, I point to the books. “I have a crazy night filled with reading.”
Thayer shakes his head. “God, you’d like my brother.”
I stare at his profile, trying to see if there is any family resemblance between him and Macsen. I see nothing that can link them together … other than the height. Their personalities aren’t even similar. Thayer is friendly and seems outgoing, and Macsen is completely guarded.
I give Thayer a small smile. “I know Macsen.”
Thayer looks over at me. “And?”
“And he is ... interesting.” My answer is honest. Something I’m not doing a lot of lately. “And really smart,” I say as an afterthought.
Something crosses over his face. He stares straight ahead and gives me a tight nod. “I guess.”
Silence drifts between us. We’re almost to my room. I look over at Severine’s boyfriend, the guy that she so desperately wants to keep. “What are you and Severine doing tonight?”
“Going to a party.”
I pretend to be interested. “But you’re not dressed up.”
We turn the corner toward my room and he laughs. “I never dress up for Halloween. Ever.”
“I can’t say I blame you.” My footsteps slow down as I reach my door. Thayer opens it for me once again. Laughter fills the room. I’m not used to that. I thank him as I walk into the small room, and the minute I do, Severine stops laughing. She’s sitting on the floor, putting her makeup on by the mirror. The smile is erased from her face, and she flicks her gaze between Thayer and me.
Lily is quiet. She’s lying on Severine’s bed with a curious look on her face.
I walk over to my desk and call over my shoulder, “Hi, Lily.”
She looks confused by my kindness. “Hey ... Emilia.”
“Hey, baby.” Thayer says across the room. He wraps an arm around Severine and kisses the top of her head. “Will you be ready soon?”
Severine looks down at the makeup spread around her legs, and gives Thayer a brief nod. “Give me a few minutes.”
Our talk at the diner was a few weeks ago. Severine and I act like it happened yesterday. Tension hugs the two of us whenever we’re in the room together. I know that soon, one of us will snap. No one can stay this quiet without being internally tortured.
I feel like I’m sharing the room with my sister again. After a big fight, the two of us wouldn’t even acknowledge each other. Sometimes, it would last for a few minutes. Sometimes, it would get out of control and there would be tape drawn down the middle of the carpet, marking off our sides of the room.
If Severine had a roll of tape, I have no doubt there’d be taped boundaries within our tiny room.
The three of them talk around me. I sit in my chair and slowly turn it
My leather bag is useless right now. It’s filled with textbooks and notebooks for classes. I carry my new check-outs in my hands and walk toward my dorm. Walking up the stairs, I search for my ID card and swipe it against the door. It beeps and I shuffle my books to one side.
“Here, let me help.”
Thayer Sloan smiles next to me and grabs the door. I look at his blue jeans and simple gray, long-sleeve shirt before I give him a cautious smile. If Severine were here, she’d be getting ready to tackle me.
I have only seen Thayer a few times, and from those few times I know two things: He doesn’t know who I am and Severine hasn’ t mentioned a thing about why I’m here.
If Thayer did know my plan , he wouldn’t be walking next to me up the stairwell.
I’m sure he’s picking up Severine for a Halloween party. Before I left my room, Severine and Lily were getting ready. Our room looks like Severine’s closet threw up. That was an hour ago.
“Are you doing anything fun for Halloween?” he asks, friendly.
Moving my hand, I point to the books. “I have a crazy night filled with reading.”
Thayer shakes his head. “God, you’d like my brother.”
I stare at his profile, trying to see if there is any family resemblance between him and Macsen. I see nothing that can link them together … other than the height. Their personalities aren’t even similar. Thayer is friendly and seems outgoing, and Macsen is completely guarded.
I give Thayer a small smile. “I know Macsen.”
Thayer looks over at me. “And?”
“And he is ... interesting.” My answer is honest. Something I’m not doing a lot of lately. “And really smart,” I say as an afterthought.
Something crosses over his face. He stares straight ahead and gives me a tight nod. “I guess.”
Silence drifts between us. We’re almost to my room. I look over at Severine’s boyfriend, the guy that she so desperately wants to keep. “What are you and Severine doing tonight?”
“Going to a party.”
I pretend to be interested. “But you’re not dressed up.”
We turn the corner toward my room and he laughs. “I never dress up for Halloween. Ever.”
“I can’t say I blame you.” My footsteps slow down as I reach my door. Thayer opens it for me once again. Laughter fills the room. I’m not used to that. I thank him as I walk into the small room, and the minute I do, Severine stops laughing. She’s sitting on the floor, putting her makeup on by the mirror. The smile is erased from her face, and she flicks her gaze between Thayer and me.
Lily is quiet. She’s lying on Severine’s bed with a curious look on her face.
I walk over to my desk and call over my shoulder, “Hi, Lily.”
She looks confused by my kindness. “Hey ... Emilia.”
“Hey, baby.” Thayer says across the room. He wraps an arm around Severine and kisses the top of her head. “Will you be ready soon?”
Severine looks down at the makeup spread around her legs, and gives Thayer a brief nod. “Give me a few minutes.”
Our talk at the diner was a few weeks ago. Severine and I act like it happened yesterday. Tension hugs the two of us whenever we’re in the room together. I know that soon, one of us will snap. No one can stay this quiet without being internally tortured.
I feel like I’m sharing the room with my sister again. After a big fight, the two of us wouldn’t even acknowledge each other. Sometimes, it would last for a few minutes. Sometimes, it would get out of control and there would be tape drawn down the middle of the carpet, marking off our sides of the room.
If Severine had a roll of tape, I have no doubt there’d be taped boundaries within our tiny room.
The three of them talk around me. I sit in my chair and slowly turn it
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