Page 49 of Black Hollow: Awakening

“Yeah.”

“I thought maybe I’d walk you home. You live on Maple Row, right?” he asked, and Will nodded. “I’m going to visit a friend who has a house in the neighborhood. Of course, I don’t want to impose…”

“You’re not imposing,” Will assured him. “That would be great.”

On any other day, it would have been wonderful, but today his foul mood was ruining his enthusiasm.

“Ready to go?” Oscar asked as Will closed his locker.

“Sure.”

When they left the school, Will said contritely, “I’m sorry again.”

“It’s fine.”

They walked in silence for the next few minutes.

“I heard Danny got the internship at KC. That’s amazing,” Oscar said at one point.

“Yeah. Amazing,” Will repeated weakly.

And again, silence. Why were their conversations always so damn forced and awkward? Will just didn’t get it. Oscar was a really charismatic and well-liked guy. Will couldn’t say either of those things about himself, but he certainly didn’t have a problem holding a reasonably interesting conversation. What was happening between them looked like a clumsy attempt at socialization between two people who had spent their entire lives in total isolation.

“Is this it?” Oscar asked when they reached Will’s house.

“Yeah.”

“See you tomorrow?”

“Sure.”

Oscar walked on.

Will watched him for a moment, then couldn’t take it anymore and called out:

“Oscar!”

Oscar stopped. Will ran up to him and pressed a kiss to his lips. Oscar, despite his clear confusion, immediately kissed him back. When Will pulled away, he was red as a beet, but he still looked Oscar in the eye and said with determination:

“Tomorrow, four p.m., the Mirrors café. Works for you?”

“Yeah,” Oscar confirmed, stunned. His lips formed a charming smile.

“Great,” Will said, then hurried home.

He was so embarrassed he didn’t even look back. His hands were shaking, but at least he felt like he was taking control of one aspect of his life.

And thank God for that, because everything else seemed beyond saving.

December 10 | Tuesday

Will watched as Danny packed a few sandwiches, some instant ramen, and two candy bars into his backpack.

“Are you leaving town or something?” he asked. They hadn’t exchanged a word at home yesterday.

“No, I’ll be back late,” Dan replied, not even looking at him.

“Going straight to work?”