[Faustus]:He didn’t hit you back, did he?
[Ravenweal]:No. I think I surprised him too much
[Faustus]:That’s good.
[Ravenweal]:Good news, though—we both made it on the raid list!
[Faustus]:haha yeah
Ash is always subdued in chat, so it’s hard to get a read on him now. Still upset about something, or just his normal self?
There is an easier way for me to find out.
[Ravenweal]:Are you going to be home for the rest of the day?
[Faustus]:Yeah. Why?
[Ravenweal]:Can I come over?
[Faustus]:Yeah, but my parents are here.
[Faustus]:I thought you didn’t want to see them?
[Ravenweal]:I don’t, but if we’re in your room, will they bother us?
[Faustus]:Probably not. I’ll have to tell them why we’re hanging out later.
[Ravenweal]:Just tell them we’re playing CoH together.
[Faustus]:Okay. Yeah.
[Ravenweal]:I’ll be there in a few minutes.
I log out, power down my computer, and switch the power cables back, then make sure my laptop and supplies are in my backpack. I grab some old Adidas slides to wear with my socks, throw a sweatshirt on, tuck the fourth Children of Hypnos book under my arm, and leave my room.
Mom appears from the living room like she’s been waiting for my door to open.
“Can we... are you going somewhere?”
“Yeah. Is it okay if I go to the Whitakers’ to hang out with Ash?”
“Ash?” Whatever steam she’d built up while she was waiting for me to emerge has dissipated. “When I saw him at the track meet, he said the two of you had been talking a bit, but...”
“Yeah, since the funeral,” I say. “We hang out at school.”
“What are you going to do?”
I hold my book up. “Read. Talk. Maybe go get some food.”
This must seem like a Normal Teenager Thing to do, because she brightens. “Oh. Okay, sure, yes. Do you have your phone? Call me if you need anything. Let me know how the Whitakers are doing too. Tell them I said hi.”
“I will.” I give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek before I go. She squeezes me tight. I can’t bear the thought of her thinking I hate her. “Love you, Mom.”
“I love you too.”
Ash is waiting on his front porch when I get there, clicking around on his phone.
“Early downloads are starting for Dreambreaker,” he says as I climb the steps.
