Page 25 of Black Hollow: Awakening

“Norma’s throwing a party tonight. She invited me. It was awkward to say no and…”

“…and you decided to lie to your best friend,” Dan finished, his voice laced with hurt. “I get it. No, actually, I don’t. I can imagine a party at Norma’s is more exciting than sitting at home with boring Dan…”

“Danny…”

“…but why couldn’t you just tell me?”

“Because I felt stupid! She only invited me. I didn’t want you to feel…”

“…like you’re blowing me off for your new friends?”

“I’m telling you, it’s not like that! I said yes before you told me you’d be home. I didn’t want to back out of it later.”

“Wouldn’t have been hard. You could have just lied. You seem to enjoy doing that.”

“Danny…”

“You know what?” Dan hissed, piercing him with a resentful glare. “I don’t get you at all lately. Go to your damn party, because I really don’t want to look at you right now.”

“Danny, listen…”

“I’m serious, Will. Go.”

Will hesitated, but ultimately did as he was told. He knew Dan, and he knew that any further discussion would have inevitably led to a fight, which he wanted to avoid. It was better to let him cool off. Will needed a break, too. He was wracked with guilt, but this party was important to him. He just wished he’d found a better way to explain the situation to Dan.

*

Norma lived almost at the very edge of town, near the Black Forest. Will took the bus most of the way, but he still had a sizable walk from the stop. By the time he arrived, music was already spilling out of the house.

The first person he saw was Liam, who was standing by the gate, leaning his elbow on a fence decorated with plastic pumpkins. He was holding a phone in one hand, probably texting. In the other, he had a bottle of beer, from which he took a long swig without looking up from the screen. He was in his usual getup: a gray hoodie and loose, navy blue pants. Apparently, he wasn’t feeling the holiday spirit.

“Hey,” Will said, because he felt he should. After all, Liam wasn’t ignoring him. Unlike Blake.

“Hey,” Liam replied, glancing at him briefly.

Will started to walk on, but after a few steps, he turned back. He stopped in front of Liam and asked, “Do you think you should be drinking out here?”

“What are you, a cop?”

“No, but one could be. That’s why I’m suggesting you do it inside.”

Only then did Liam focus his full attention on him.

“The drinking age in Black Hollow is eighteen.”

“You’re not eighteen.”

“I am,” Liam assured him. Will raised an eyebrow, making it clear he didn’t quite believe him. “Want to see my ID?”

“Are you saying you were held back?”

“My… changes started when I was thirteen,” Liam explained calmly. “Let’s just say getting a handle on everything cost me a year of my life.”

Will felt stupid. He thought of Dan again—like Liam, he was already of legal age because he’d failed a year at his old school. It was no reason to poke fun.

For a moment, they stood beside each other in an exceptionally awkward silence before Will decided to blurt out, “It’s not a full moon tonight, is it?”

Liam smiled faintly.