My books tumble out of my arms as soon as I step into the hallway. With a groan, I drop to my knees and gather them up. I could’ve taken the few minutes to put them into my book-bag, but then I would risk not seeing Will.copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRiDMs9juk
A fairly attractive guy bends and hands me books, making small talk as he does so. I don’t really know him, just that he’s in Will’s year and we’ve had a couple of classes together.copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxo7Ojsfcl
I thank him and clutch the books to my chest, hurrying down the hallway. I crane my neck to see Will—and there he is as always, in the throng of students, coming from the opposite direction. I can’t help the smile that streaks across my face, and I can’t help the joy that bursts in my chest like tiny fireworks when he smiles back. We draw even with each other and continue to our next classes. I turn my head slightly, but he’s already gone.copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6UGoy68YG
Allowing my eyes to fall shut, I lean against the wall. I’ve known him for over two years now, and every time he looks at me, it’s like the first time all over again. I remind myself Will’s a Sixth Form student now. After Year Twelve, he’ll graduate and go off to uni.copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHydkkGuEa
If Wolverhampton House has become home to me, it’s only because of Will and Roanna.copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxIdFww7MJ
“Cami.” Roanna thumps me on the shoulder, jolting me out of my melancholy. “Did I see you with Will just now?”copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0PnGdWNmU
I think about the way we passed each other without having the time to exchange a word. “I guess you could say that.”copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhB2vWnbq1
She smiles and nudges me. “You should just tell him how you feel.”copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡmez4seBZlo
I wave her off and change the subject, telling her about Lewis and the ghost. She jots it down in the notebook reserved especially for the odd happenings of Wolverhampton. As always, her eyes shine now that we’re on this topic.copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPoxc5L9S7
Roanna lowers her voice and leans in toward me. “Library after lights out tonight.”copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mpFpUBM52
I groan and shake my head. I adore Roanna, but she insists on making me do things that might get me a demerit. “Ro, I can’t chase proof of conspiracy theories anymore. We have A Levels next year.”copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrhowJC7IY
“I think I’ve figured something out,” she says, ignoring me and rapping her nails on the notebook. “I’ll tell you tonight.”copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqNUY00J9S
Before I can say anything, a scream erupts from the loo. We glance at each other and sprint toward the sound, able to be fearless because I don’t believe in ghosts and because she wants to make sense of the ghosts. Other people are already crowding the doorway, but Roanna is small enough to squeeze through and strong enough to pull me through behind her.copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdfgTEavrg
Roanna’s roommate, Jen, is on the floor, sobbing into her hands while two of her friends have their arms around her.copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgIOEexgmg
“Get Will,” Jen says through her tears. “I want to see Will.”copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSG3ME3Mod
I fight the urge to roll my eyes at a scene that is common enough at this school. Every time anything happens, Jen cries out for Will, and yet I’ve never once seen the two of them together.copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgqUxjzIO1
“What’s going on?” Roanna says.copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmhHaWVIch
“There was a ghost,” Amelia says in a hushed tone.copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡYs9EvWjyJI
Of all the daily ghost sightings here, it seems at least half of them are Jen’s. Still, rumors can’t be easily squashed, and nobody here seems to be trying to squash them.copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoZcjxwTfl
“What did he look like?” Roanna says, as about the only non-tourist who would be interested in this.”copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeHcVS8RAl
“H-he was old—”copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yNidjfxSY
“—with buggy, crazy eyes—”copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEngRHNnA2
“—and he reached out for Jen—”copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvhqIciR3T
“Hold on,” Roanna says. “I thought Jen was the one who saw him?”copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcs1vFkKdc
“All of us did,” Amelia says. “He was here, clear as day.”copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuQ7KHOx5p
Jen stands up shakily, letting her hands fall to her sides. A purple bruise runs horizontally across the width of her throat.copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOVRfD3yv7
*/*/*copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIjTJOz3zM
Roanna fairly skips out of the bathroom. The very first conversation we had at this school was about the ghosts. She came up to me and asked if I’d seen any, even before I knew this school was apparently known for ghost sightings. It figured that The Stepmother would throw me in a school that was haunted.copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjg7q1OeyU
“It’s unbecoming to be so happy about something so traumatizing,” I say to hide how unsettled I am.copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8Iz0Yd3wI
She stops and tries to make the expression more somber. “I just feel this—”copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXruQajqeS
“‘Sense of affinity to the ghosts,” I say. “I know, I know. You’ve only told me every day since we became friends.”copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvbtCCvrQ3
Roanna smiles and shrugs innocently. “Don’t you ever feel like there’s something more? Like you don’t quite belong, or something?”copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡluc44d2hgy
“Yes,” I say, nudging her, “except when I’m with you.”copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rwrWmCfNR
Or with Will, but I don’t add that part.copyright protection204ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80mkuYWZqN
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