“Yeah.”
“You don’t have to come if you don’t want to. I know that’s not really your thing.”
I cock my head. How did he know that? There was the onetime I went with Alissa, and he and their parents were there, but I never talked about it otherwise. I think he notices my confusion, because he says quickly, “Liss told me.”
“Oh. Okay. Well, my mom’s making me come, so I’ll be there. But I appreciate it.”
He nods. “Sucks. Sorry about that. If you want, we can hang out while you’re there.” He crumples up his burrito wrapper and holds out his hand for mine too. I take one last bite and hand the wrapper to him. “Thanks for the ride.” He gets out of the car. For a moment, he stands outside with the door open, braced between the hood and the doorframe. A wing of his hair falls over his forehead. “The thing we gave to you at the funeral. The gift. Was that Alissa’s Children of Hypnos books?”
“Yeah,” I say. My stomach turns over, like I’ve done something wrong. “Do you want them back? I was going to start the second one today, but I can bring them to you—”
Ash is already shaking his head. “No, you keep them. She wanted you to have them. Let me know what you think when you finish them.”
“Okay. I don’t have your number.”
“Oh.” He pulls out his phone. “This is awkward. I have yours.” He taps through a few screens, and then my phone buzzes. It’s an unknown number, and the text just saysHi.
I input his contact name and save the number. “How’d you have mine?”
“Liss gave it to me,” he says. He clears his throat. “Anyway. Thanks again for the ride. And, uh, for my hand.” He turns his bandaged hand over and back. His cheeks have turned pink. “I owe you one.”
I start to say, “You really don’t—” But he shuts the door before I get the chance. He tosses the wrappers in a nearby trash can, gets in his car, and gives me a raised hand of acknowledgment before he pulls away.
I drive home feeling warm for the first time in a long time, and the whole way, I keep replaying what he said:
I get to be somewhere else. I get to be someone else.
Right now, that sounds amazing.
Interstitial
WelcometoFenhallowEmery Ashworth
Hey, transfer! You are the new transfer, right? My name’s Emery—I’m another dreamhunter in your class. We just got assigned our hunting partners, so look forward to that.
Could you do me a huge favor? Since you have to run all around campus today anyway, could you keep an eye out for my partner, Wes? We’re supposed to head to the administration building to get a remedial mission from my grandpa—uh, I mean, Dean Ashworth. But I can’t find Wes anywhere! He’s the lowest ranked dreamhunter in the class and he’s going to mess this up for me, too.
He’s pretty tall, bronze hair, and his weapon is a giant hammer. You can’t miss him.
When you find him, tell him Emery’s gonna kick his butt, okay? I’ll make it worth your while.
QUESTREWARDS
100XP
10FC
ACCEPT
