Page 121 of Black Hollow: Awakening

“Yeah,” Will replied weakly.

Liam stared at him with sympathy, then unexpectedly blurted out:

“You know, it’s really not so bad.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. Look on the bright side. You’ll miss a few months of school.”

“I’d rather have school than be lying here.”

“And that’s where we differ.”

Will smiled faintly. He knew Liam was joking, but he’d brought up a subject that had been weighing on him.

“They told me I’ll be laid up for at least two months. I’m going to fall behind a semester.”

“No way!” Liam protested. “You’re not skipping, you’re sick. Say what you will about BHA, but they know how to handle situations like this. Last year, a buddy from the team… the previous captain, actually… suffered a serious injury. And he was out for almost half a year. He was conditionally allowed to take the exams. I mean, he actually did fail them because he didn’t study, but it’ll be different with you, right? Just don’t ask me to bring you my notes.”

“You have notes?” Will asked playfully.

“One notebook for everything.” Liam grinned cheerfully.

Will answered with an amused smile, but it quickly faded, replaced by an expression of uncertainty.

“What is it?” Liam picked up on it.

“Nothing… It’s just…”

Will wondered for a moment if he should share his doubts with Liam, but in the end, he decided there was no reason not to.

“I was just thinking about my powers. My powers, that’s a laugh. Back when that psycho kidnapped me, they were the only reason I escaped. They protected me in a lot of other situations, too, but not in the accident. Why?”

“Because you didn’t have time to react. They’re your powers, Will. You control them.”

“No,” Will whispered. He’d had his doubts before, but now he was completely sure. “Not at all.”

“I mean, you can’t yet, but…”

“They’re not mine, they just… are. They seem to exist and act independently of what I do.”

Liam was clearly flustered.

“What?” Will asked, furrowing his brow.

“Nothing, nothing,” Liam replied immediately. “I don’t know anything about magic. You’d have to talk to Norma about stuff like that.”

Will shot him a stern look.

“Or Abby!” Liam suggested, raising his hands in a defensive gesture. “I’m not bringing up the forbidden subject, I’m just giving you options.”

Will smiled faintly. If he believed anyone would take him seriously, he probably would have brought it up, but he felt like no one wanted to listen. No one except Liam, and he really wasn’t much help in this area.

“It’s gonna be okay,” Liam said. “See? That didn’t even sound so bad, did it?”

Will smiled warmly.

“No, it didn’t.”