Page 48 of Black Hollow: Awakening

“How do you know?”

“I heard.”

“From your new best friends?”

“Wh-What?” Will stammered.

“Liam used to bully you, and now you’re walking around everywhere together like you’re best fucking friends,” Dan hissed aggressively. “That Norma girl is from another planet, and Blake… You’ve always had a thing for Blake. Everyone has a thing for him, but not so long ago, you claimed you couldn’t stand him, and now you’re fighting in public like some couple having issues. It’s fucking pathetic. Just like your jealousy, you know?”

“I’m not jealous,” Will protested firmly. “I’m saying this for your own good.”

“Great. I’m touched,” Dan stated flatly, his tone chilling Will to the bone. “Except I have a few brain cells, and that’s enough to not turn down such a good offer just because of the supposed concern of a so-called friend. So leave me alone,” he snarled, then walked off quickly.

Will sighed quietly. What if he told him the truth? It would be risky, but there was no other way to get him to change his mind.

“Don’t even think about it.” A whisper sounded right by his ear.

He turned to see Blake standing behind him.

“Can you read minds, too?” he snorted, irritated.

“No, but I know exactly what’s going through your head. You want to tell him. It’s idiotic and dangerous, especially in this situation.”

Apparently, Liam had filled him in.

“If I don’t, he’ll accept. Anyone would.”

“Make him move out.”

Will looked at Alden in shock.

“What?”

“You won’t make him refuse, so separate yourself from him, at least for a while. That way, he can’t function as their observer. He’ll become useless to KC. You’d be doing both him and yourself a favor.”

“By kicking him out of the house?” Will seethed, incensed by the idea. “Are you out of your mind?”

“It’s the only way to keep you both safe.”

Will was so frustrated he wanted to hit something, preferably Blake, but his self-preservation instinct told him that hitting a vampire was not a good idea.

He had planned to talk to his friend again during lunch, but he didn’t show up at the cafeteria. Norma did, however, and she fundamentally agreed with Blake. And although Will had no desire to hear it, she pestered him for the rest of the day, trying to convince him that he needed to distance himself from Danny.

Finally, Will’s last class of the day ended. He was just putting his textbooks in his locker when he heard a soft voice behind him.

“Will.”

“What?” he snarled, convinced it was Liam. Liam was the only one who hadn’t been on his ass today about the great plan titled get rid of your best friend.

But it wasn’t Liam. It was Oscar, who looked confused by the aggressive reaction.

“Shit, I’m sorry,” Will said quickly, embarrassed by his outburst. “I didn’t know it was you.”

“It’s okay,” Oscar replied cautiously. “I can see you’re not in a good mood.”

“Just a little stressed, it’s nothing major,” Will assured him with a forced smile. “What’s up?”

“You’re done with classes, right?”