“You’re right.” Twig nods. “We have to tell Kate. And Harper, too.”
“Tomorrow morning then,” I say. “Before school. We can tell them what’s happening, and hopefully they’ll believe us.”
15
NOW’S NOT THE TIME
We thought we could use the library, but the library has been turned into a crisis center. So we sneak into an unused classroom across the hall. The four of us—Twig, Kate, Naomi, and me—take a seat at a round table while Naomi texts Harper, and Coach Dempsey pokes his head inside the room.
“Oh,” he says. “Hi there. Are the four you needing?—?”
“A quiet space to talk,” I say, trying not to fidget or squirm. “To process everything. Before, you know, school starts.”
“Of course, of course. Take as much time as you need.” He gives us an awkward smile, hisattention lingering longest on Naomi, who hasn’t quite gotten her coloring back. “There’s counseling in the library if anyone needs it.”
“We know,” I say.
He nods, then closes the door behind him.
Naomi stares into her lap. She stayed over last night. I was shocked Mr. and Mrs. Kapoor let her. They’re very strict, Naomi’s parents. Especially about academics. A sleepover on a school night isn’t typically allowed. But recent events had them making concessions.
Same with Coach Dempsey.
“What’s going on?” Kate asks. “Why are you guys acting so cloak and dagger?”
“There’s something we have to tell you,” Twig says.
“Something you couldn’t just tell me at home? Or on the drive here?”
“I don’t think you would believe me without backup. I’m not even sure you willwithbackup.”
Kate quirks her eyebrow.
The door opens.
Harper slips inside.
“Hey,” she says.
When she sits down, I take a deep breath and set my palms flat on the table. “What I’m about to tell you is going to sound crazy. I need you to listento the whole story, and when I’m done, Twig and I will answer any questions you have as best as we can.”
Harper tries catching Naomi’s eye, confusion in her own. But Naomi continues staring into her lap, so Harper exchanges a befuddled shrug with Kate instead.
I take it as permission to continue.
So, I dive in.
I tell them the same story I told Naomi yesterday, only a slightly more organized rendition, as I have had the whole night to think about how to tell it.
When I finish, Harper laughs, clearly expecting Naomi to join her. But Naomi isn’t laughing. She looks up from her fidgeting hands and swallows. “It’s true.”
Harper laughs some more, only this time, there’s more uncertainty in the sound.
“I’m serious, Harp. I saw Griffin disappear with my own eyes. Lainey’s were glowing, and then she disappeared, too.”
These are highly unusual words for Naomi to speak. Perhaps ifIhad said them, or Twig, Harper’s laughter would continue. Instead, she pulls her chin back with a frown.
Kate’s cheeks have taken on a mottled hue. Herlips, meanwhile, have gone white. “Now’s not the time for this.”
