Page 135 of Black Hollow: Awakening

“You mean the team?” Norma retorted with amusement. “Are you kidding? I already told you you won’t see Abby here, and the Prince of Darkness is probably crying into his mommy’s sleeve because he didn’t get a hundred percent on every single exam.”

Will chuckled, picturing the scene.

“Knowing Liam, he’s probably hanging around somewhere nearby. Where’s Sam?” she asked suddenly, planting her hands on her hips and looking around.

This time, it was Will’s turn to take the opportunity to make a safe escape.

Will hadn’t planned on staying long. He had to get up early tomorrow morning to catch his train and hadn’t even finished packing yet. Taking the opportunity to say goodbye to a few acquaintances from his year, he chatted a bit about their scores—the official ones wouldn’t be out until the end of July, but if you knew the right answers, you could estimate your results. Will wasn’t particularly worried. Having done well in most subjects, he would definitely pass the threshold, and if he’d failed any classes, he could always make them up next year and take the exam again.

At one point, Will spotted Oscar—he was standing on the other side of the room, surrounded by a group of friends. He was smiling and occasionally saying something, but he seemed distant. When he noticed Will looking at him, he was clearly flustered. Will waved at him almost instinctively, unable to muster anything else. Oscar returned the gesture and went back to his conversation, a little more animated.

Will had hoped to run into Liam but didn’t spot him anywhere. Finally, he decided it was time to go. First, however, he went to the kitchen to return his glass. As he was walking in, someone bumped into him hard.

“Sorry—” Will started reflexively, but when he looked up and saw Owens standing there, his desire for politeness vanished.

“Watch it,” Axel snarled, then turned as if to walk away, but Will yelled:

“No, you watch it!”

He did it loudly enough to catch the attention not only of Owens but of a dozen or so people nearby.

“You’re in my friend’s house, so act right or you won’t be here much longer,” Will hissed, ignoring Owen’s warning glare. “And spare me the threats. They don’t impress me,” he finished emphatically, and then walked away.

Apparently, Axel got the message, because he didn’t bother him again.

A few minutes later, Will finally managed to get outside. He took a deep breath, stuffing his hands into his pants pockets. To his surprise, he saw Liam running toward him from the opposite direction.

“Hey,” Liam said with a smile.

“Hey,” Will replied. “Did you just get here?”

“And you’re already leaving?”

“I have to be up at five, I have a train.”

“Oh, you’re leaving?”

“Yeah, for Greenhill.”

“For long?”

“I’ll probably be back before the school year starts.”

Liam nodded thoughtfully.

“So, a long time,” he concluded.

“Yeah,” Will confirmed with an uncertain smile. “I could use a little rest.”

“That’s true.”

Will was about to say something else, but at that moment, Liam leaned in and pressed an unexpected kiss to his lips. Will’s eyes flew wide open. He had no idea how to react, and he didn’t really have to—it was a short, almost innocent gesture, which didn’t change the fact that when Liam pulled away, Will was so stunned he couldn’t get a single word out, and he was so flushed his cheeks were burning.

“Have a good summer, Will,” Liam said, winking at him, then raced into Norma’s house.

Will watched him go. An involuntary smile spread across his lips.

This year really hadn’t been so bad, after all.