“I’m gonna readForces and Phantasms.” Opal was already digging into the pile. “I want to know why some figments last hours while others vanish sooner.”
“I have a theory about that,” Nico offered quietly.
Opal paused. “Oh?”
Nico swiped at his nose, suddenly self-conscious. “It’s nothing. I just think maybe the big ones might take more …energy, you know? Like, they’re stronger, but can’t last as long because of it. So the smaller figments hold together more easily, but the large ones burn out.”
Opal chewed the inside of her cheek. “But some little ones have disappeared fast, too.”
Nico looked away. “It was only an idea. I’m probably wrong.”
“No, no.” Opal nodded encouragingly. “I think you’re onto something. It’s obvious the first figments were weaker than more recent ones. Maybe size plays into it, too.” Wrinkling her nose, she slapped the book in her lap. “I hope this tells me. I want to knoweverythingabout the Darkdeep.”
“Me too,” Nico said. They smiled at each other. To Nico, it felt like the first relaxed moment they’d shared since grade school. It was nice being back on good terms with Opal. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed being friends with her.
A second later, the curtain parted.
Logan Nantes walked into the showroom.
18
OPAL
“This is even creepier than your house, Holland.”
Logan sauntered down the aisle like he owned the place. But Opal saw his eyes widen as he took it all in.
Emma was the first to find her voice. “What are you doing here?” she sputtered.
Tyler and Nico looked like they’d been struck by lightning. Their eyes darted to Opal, and her stomach sank. They were going to blame her for this.
“This isn’tyourboat, is it?” Logan picked up a turquoise glass elephant and bounced it in one hand. Opal hoped he’d cut himself. “I didn’t see a NO TRESPASSING sign.”
Opal took a deep breath. “How’d you get here, Logan?”
“Followed you.” He met her eye briefly before looking away. Did she see hurt there, behind the anger? “It’s obvious you’ve been hiding something, ever since Holland lost his crappy drone.”
“You—” Tyler began, but Logan spoke over him.
“I knew you were out here somewhere.” He glanced at Opal again, and whatever she’d seen a moment ago was gone, replaced by a mean smirk. “I didn’t think you’d actually climb down into Still Cove, though.Wow. I almost gave up on the cliffs, but then I saw footprints in the mud and found that ridiculous suicide path. When I got to the bottom I heard your voices, found the cave, the tunnel, andboom.” He dropped the elephant on the carpet. “Here I am.”
“Get out.” Nico took a step toward Logan and pointed at the curtain. “Now.”
“No. I don’t want to, and you can’t make me.” Logan lifted a book from the ‘Maybe’ stack and flipped the pages roughly. “Whatisthis place, anyway? What’s with all the junk?”
“Give me that, Logan.” Opal stepped in front of him and held out her hand.
He snorted and walked past her.
Nico hurried to Opal’s side. “Did you tell him?” he hissed.
She felt Tyler and Emma watching. “No!” Opal folded her arms. “Logan.Put the book down.”
“Dear Diary,” Logan whined, pretending to read. “My name is Nico. All my friends are dorks. Also, I’m inloooovewith Opal Walsh. How can I get her to like me? Maybe if I take her to a secret trash barge, she’ll—”
“Shut up,” Opal spat. Any sympathy she’d felt for Logan vaporized.
Logan closed the book. Opal nearly sighed in relief as he set it back where he’d found it. But his words had been a slap to all of them. The tension in the room was choking.
