Will tells me he couldn’t find me the previous night, even though he kept searching. I feel a prickle of guilt. I should have found him last night and told him to go back to his dormitory.895Please respect copyright.PENANAX8xNBnj2G2
895Please respect copyright.PENANA5fAbkcexUd
I’m afraid of what he might think of me, but I still tell him about the classroom and ask for his opinion. I hesitantly tell him Roanna’s idea about the psychiatric hospital.895Please respect copyright.PENANAWlx4zIiYW3
895Please respect copyright.PENANAHZmTdHH3Fn
“It was a lunatic asylum?” he says. “So what is it now?”895Please respect copyright.PENANAjrWi9jOk1r
895Please respect copyright.PENANA7TcwJU65L7
“Ha, ha,” I say, leaning against the closest tree to block out the window.895Please respect copyright.PENANA0zQhleFTsR
895Please respect copyright.PENANAKkjdYasZqA
I would prefer to hang out with Will indoors, but he prefers to be outside—even in the rain. He’s a complete nutter, but that’s probably what I love most about him.895Please respect copyright.PENANA0OyVD3323z
895Please respect copyright.PENANAUK4VZ2BX2T
“I wouldn’t worry about the ghosts,” he says, sitting down in front of me.895Please respect copyright.PENANAhRcRsUjN9X
895Please respect copyright.PENANA3YetIgRMn7
“You didn’t see them, though.” I shudder as the scene flashes before my eyes. “I will never again roll my eyes when someone has a ghost sighting.”895Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6Jv5k0qCc
895Please respect copyright.PENANAykdzr7KpT8
Will closes the space between us and laces his fingers through mine. They feel light and cool. He looks like he’s about to say something but closes his mouth and turns away.895Please respect copyright.PENANAPc9Mr2JMy7
895Please respect copyright.PENANAT23hBc7uoa
“What is it?” I gently squeeze his hand.895Please respect copyright.PENANAlbafLsZ2yW
895Please respect copyright.PENANADxW1QzcOTh
He looks at me as if deliberating and finally says, “I have a surprise for you. I wasn’t going to show you until the spring.”895Please respect copyright.PENANAYz3MPyZezK
895Please respect copyright.PENANAAweDX9pxIj
“Oh, what is it?” I say, glad for a distraction and warmed at the thought that Will has something for me. “I suck at being patient. Please tell me.”895Please respect copyright.PENANAVe2I0i2iCG
895Please respect copyright.PENANAwCnpi3jKet
He stands without letting go and helps me to my feet, smiling. “How can I refuse? I’ll show you.”895Please respect copyright.PENANAWfE8VgzTX7
895Please respect copyright.PENANAK3eJelxJn4
We walk hand-in-hand through the grounds, but none of the other students spares us even a glance. It isn’t that I want attention, but it surprises me that nobody is the least bit curious about the girl Will Poynter is holding hands with.895Please respect copyright.PENANAfXDDQMdbDz
895Please respect copyright.PENANAulTDIs5SSA
He leads me unnoticed to a hidden away corner of the garden and gestures to some flowering shrubs.895Please respect copyright.PENANAP4Hdcj8Ogm
895Please respect copyright.PENANAwiaRLXhwyn
“Pretty,” I say, stepping toward them and smelling. They don’t smell like much.895Please respect copyright.PENANATGKXk91ROB
895Please respect copyright.PENANAmisK1ymb1m
“Camellias,” he says. “I’ve been growing them for you.”895Please respect copyright.PENANApZHEJhA1ME
895Please respect copyright.PENANAolPiWsKLDY
I stare at him, my eyes filming over. Nobody has ever done anything half as sweet for me. I want to tell him so, but instead, I just say, “Thank you.”895Please respect copyright.PENANAF8AcOYklTM
895Please respect copyright.PENANAiIaqevWHSH
He leans like he’s about to kiss me, but then pulls away at the last moment. The pounding of my pulse fizzles into disappointment. You would think two years is long enough, wouldn’t you?895Please respect copyright.PENANAFjiZkTOHG5