Page 89 of Black Hollow: Awakening

“I could.”

Will was about to ask how that was possible, but then he remembered KC. Only Kubrick’s influence could explain the school allowing such a thing. And persuading Dan to show up for Chemistry. But why? Will had been convinced that once he pushed Danny away, KC would lose interest in him.

“Anyway, I wanted to say I’m sorry,” Will said. “We both went too far. If you need—”

“If you want to apologize, then do it, but don’t drag me into it,” Dan cut him off sharply.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t regret a single word I said that day.”

Will was in shock. He’d assumed they had both gotten carried away and both regretted it. Maybe that was still true. Maybe Danny was just upset.

“By the way, I see being a pest paid off and you’re finally with Oscar,” Dan added maliciously.

“Danny!” Will protested in disbelief. “I know I didn’t handle things well, but I’m trying to fix it. I don’t want things to be like this between us.”

“But they will be,” Danny stated firmly. “We’re not friends anymore, Will. Maybe we never were, and we certainly never will be.” Will felt like he’d been stabbed in the heart. “Get over it and stop following me around. Don’t approach me. Don’t talk to me. Stay away from me. Understand?” Dan asked desperately, unexpectedly grabbing Will’s forearm and looking him straight in the eye.

Will was confused. Danny seemed hurt and furious, but that last word… The way he’d said it… Like he was scared? Trying to warn him?

Maybe that was really it, or maybe Will was just making up a story to explain his friend’s behavior, not wanting to accept reality. He slowed his pace, falling behind, until he finally stopped completely, watching Dan walk away. Oscar appeared at his side a moment later.

“Everything okay?” he asked with concern.

“No. It’s hopeless,” Will answered honestly.

The encounter with Dan threw him off for the rest of the day. He couldn’t focus. Mr. Johnson, the history teacher, noticed and called on him. Will blamed it on a stomachache. Honestly, he hadn’t expected it to work. Johnson was strict and never took excuses like that seriously, but surprisingly, he believed him and sent him to the nurse’s office.

Will walked down the empty hallway, partly glad about how things had turned out, partly still furious about the situation with Dan. As he passed the cafeteria, he noticed the door was ajar. He heard a raised voice:

“I’m about to wipe that smirk right off your face!”

Driven by curiosity, he peeked inside. He’d expected to find some overgrown jocks, and on that front, he wasn’t mistaken—he spotted Kent Bower and Steve Mamet. They were both a year older, but he recognized them because they were on Liam’s team. There was a third boy, probably a freshman, whom Will didn’t recognize at all. He wasn’t the victim in this situation, though.

Surrounded by the three muscleheads, practically backed against the wall, stood Blake.

“Fucking bloodsucker!” Kent snarled.

Will’s eyes widened. For a moment, he’d been sure Blake had just gotten on someone’s bad side with his nasty personality. He had no idea his attackers were paranormal.

“Watch what you say,” Blake replied icily.

“Shut your mouth!”

“Thanks for clarifying my message for your buddies. I’m sure they’ll understand it in that form.”

Steve, the biggest of the group, grabbed Blake by his jacket lapels, pulling him violently forward.

“You’re about to understand! Back the fuck off from Liam, or you’ll regret it!”

Now Will was completely bewildered. He felt like he had just stumbled upon some kind of gay… love pentagon?

“Stay away from him!” Kent echoed his friend.

“That’ll be difficult,” Blake replied with an air of boredom. “He lives right next to me.”

“You know what I mean!”