“Brendan.”
“Hmm?”
“Say to me what you first said to me after the club meeting.”
“The club meeting?”
“The first one.” With his free hand, he reached for the moon. “When you told me to choose where the club would go to take pictures.”
“Anywhere you want to go.” Aiden heard Brendan move beside him. “I didn’t say this, but I also meant whatever you want to do.”
Whatever I want to do.He continued staring at the sky, only vaguely aware of Brendan’s hand slipping away.I want this life. I want to find out what happened to my brother.
He was going to confront his stepmother and let her know he wouldn’t stand for the way she treated and used him anymore.
Something clicked beside him, and the strange noise combined with his decision reminded him of the Infinite meeting with cutting-edge clarity. Alarmed, Aiden looked down at his phone.Already?He stood up and looked at the watchtower behind them. “I’ve got to go!” he exclaimed and took off running.
“Why? Aiden—wait, I have to ask you something!”
“I’ve really got to go—I can’t explain. It’s almost midnight. I’ll text you!”
“Aiden, I took a—”
His thumping heart overtook Brendan’s words. His fingers flew in calling an uber, but Aiden turned around briefly to jump and wave. “I’ll see you again!” he promised. “In fact, I’ll see you very soon!”
The campus blurred. He dashed away from the buildings and onto the sidewalk of the campus’s main street. He sighed with relief at the car turning around the corner, and he politely greeted the driver while settling into the back seat.
His breaths came up short, and his heart pounded against his chest, but the smile remained pinned to his face.
It felt like no time had passed at all.
Whether in a crowded room of strangers with music drumming against their ears or in the peaceful field of a beautiful night with starlight floating down to their faces, time slowed with Brendan. He relaxed against the seat, still smiling.
His brother was right. He found his place.
Beyond the windows of the car, he heard the watchtower ring. He counted the twelve calls from the clock.
If the stepfamily left after midnight, they would take longer to get back than him.I made it.He watched the world pass, suddenly brighter under the guidance of the brilliant full moon.
He asked the driver to drop him off a block away, in case his stepfamily somehow ended up driving back at the same time. Humming, Aiden danced in the moonlight, closing his eyes to the gentle kisses from the night, and skipped toward the house.
He stopped.
The porch light was on, and shadowed figures moved.
Aiden’s heart sank. His body weighing a thousand pounds, he dragged his feet forward, climbing up the porch. Zhu Zhu looked as if they sat outside for some time with her hair pulled down, her eyes engrossed in the iPad, and her shoes kicked off. He Bao watched him warily.
His stepmother gasped upon seeing him.
“You!” she screeched, charging at him only to stumble backward as if a bullet had shot her in the chest. “So it was you.”
“Me?” Aiden stared. “Me what?”
“You’re the traitor. I had hoped you wouldn’t be.” Gasping, she threw her jewelry off to Zhu Zhu, who made minimal effort to avoid the flying objects. “To think you would betray your own family!”
Aiden stared harder. “Whatare you talking about?”
“Why would you go out dressed like that? You were clearly meeting with other families. Any clothing with the Hui sigil signifies a place of formal importance.”
