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 protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRhdKzgUld
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 protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡBImCthzCoS
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 protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡHheL28kivA
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 protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13sigdSx7d
If Wolverhampton House has become home to me, it’s only because of Will and Roanna.copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIW7lpoU2N
“Cami.” Roanna thumps me on the shoulder, jolting me out of my melancholy. “Did I see you with Will just now?”copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJ51u8aPqF
I think about the way we passed each other without having the time to exchange a word. “I guess you could say that.”copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsJSL06Dxd
She smiles and nudges me. “You should just tell him how you feel.”copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiVOpgeObg
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 protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZ0H0uPbkg
Roanna lowers her voice and leans in toward me. “Library after lights out tonight.”copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKJADuAJ87
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 protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0qTOPa2El
“I think I’ve figured something out,” she says, ignoring me and rapping her nails on the notebook. “I’ll tell you tonight.”copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡigljYmNOx8
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 protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oTOZxiAgr
Roanna’s roommate, Jen, is on the floor, sobbing into her hands while two of her friends have their arms around her.copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡIer87fYhiC
“Get Will,” Jen says through her tears. “I want to see Will.”copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡDATYTSkHGR
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 protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLgJzggSQx
“What’s going on?” Roanna says.copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyLKGS0Eai
“There was a ghost,” Amelia says in a hushed tone.copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNTaLN26vI
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 protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡYluf43vlVl
“What did he look like?” Roanna says, as about the only non-tourist who would be interested in this.”copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfTE0Ax0eH
“H-he was old—”copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvvcGgZJnv
“—with buggy, crazy eyes—”copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡslQWAU05fW
“—and he reached out for Jen—”copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8blMbVjca
“Hold on,” Roanna says. “I thought Jen was the one who saw him?”copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vGvInMH6a
“All of us did,” Amelia says. “He was here, clear as day.”copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzv3w6Ywce
Jen stands up shakily, letting her hands fall to her sides. A purple bruise runs horizontally across the width of her throat.copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDmEZ8PVs1
*/*/*copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sxMYfaLXh
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 protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaQrdmybTK
“It’s unbecoming to be so happy about something so traumatizing,” I say to hide how unsettled I am.copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡploMZnUPjn
She stops and tries to make the expression more somber. “I just feel this—”copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpQpbOElAC
“‘Sense of affinity to the ghosts,” I say. “I know, I know. You’ve only told me every day since we became friends.”copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwMtX0QvcJ
Roanna smiles and shrugs innocently. “Don’t you ever feel like there’s something more? Like you don’t quite belong, or something?”copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡgB5Eo52jUl
“Yes,” I say, nudging her, “except when I’m with you.”copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMKwbWlQhV
Or with Will, but I don’t add that part.copyright protection144ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUreopfeUr
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