“I knew you missed me, too,” he said, fidgeting with the button of my jeans.
“Hurry up in there.” Someone banged loudly, slamming their knuckles against the flimsy door. “Some of us need to take a piss.”
“Dylan.” I looked up, and my heart dropped. A woman with short, black hair stood behind him. She was frail, her bones jutting beneath porcelain skin, and her vision clouded by milky eyes.
“Leave me alone!” I screamed, twisting free of Dylan’s hold as my hand flew to the doorknob. But it wouldn’t budge.
“Lyra.” Dylan’s eyes went wide. “What’s wrong?”
My back collided with the wall as a wrinkly hand gripped my shoulder, stealing the breath from my lungs and sending my legs buckling beneath me.
A loud crack sounded, and the door flew open. My shoulders sagged in relief as Grey barreled through the door.
“What the fuck did you do to her?” Grey asked, shoving Dylan against the wall with a thud.
“I didn’t do shit! She freaked out for no reason.”
“Grey. Please—” The words died on my lips. I wasn’t sure if I was asking him to leave or asking for his help. “It was here,” I whispered, hating how my bottom lip quivered and my hands shook. “It was here,” I repeated again.
“Lyra, look at me.” Grey’s fingers rested under my chin and tilted it upward until our eyes met. “Tell me what happened.”
“A spirit…” Tears clung to my lashes as I tried to blink them away.
“Dude, get your girl and get the fuck out,” a guy yelled from the doorway.
“I’ve got this,” Dylan said, trying to force himself between us.
“Back the fuck up,” Grey warned, baring his teeth. They were more canine than human. Pointed and sharp, ready to rip Dylan to shreds.
“Lyra?” Dylan tried again. “Are you okay?” Genuine concern laced his tone.
“I’m fine.” I gave a fake smile, trying to pretend like I hadn’t just lost my mind in front of everyone.
“Dylan!” A girl forced her way into the bathroom and grabbed his arm, clearly marking her territory. “I was wondering where you ran off to?”
Great, more witnesses to my mental breakdown. I needed to get out of here. Now.
Grey seemed to sense my growing dread and helped me stand on shaky legs.
“Oh my god. I told you she was a freak.” The girl laughed and the others joined in.
Freak.I flinched. The insult found its mark, slicing all the way to the bone.
“Move.” Grey elbowed his way through the growing crowd. Their snickers followed us down the hallway. All eyes were on us.
This was my worst nightmare. The spirits were driving me insane.
“Okay, just fucking breathe,” Grey insisted, like I hadn’t been trying to do that this entire time. When I didn’t respond to his sage advice, he decided to go a different route. “Want to tell me what happened back there?”
“Didn’t you hear? I’m a fucking freak.” My voice cracked. I hated how much the girl’s words hurt. I wasn’t delusional. I knew they weren’t my friends, and I shouldn’t care about whatthey said, but I did. I’d spent my entire life trying to be normal. Not the girl who could communicate with the dead.
“I’ll rip out their tongues if you want. It’d make talking shit a lot harder.” He turned to go back inside.
“No!” I shouted, tugging on his sweatshirt.
“I’m only kidding. Ripping out their throats would be much more effective.”
“Shut up,” I said, a smile tugging at my lips despite everything that’d happened tonight.
