Page 68 of When Darkness Calls

I really shouldn’t be doing this. Me being me aside, if the mask was an entirely different person, she doesn’t know who he is. He wouldn’t know anything about her either. Not really. Only parts of her he’d glimpse from afar or through her window.

Like her love for horror, and that she listens to music when she studies, and usually wears shorts and sweatpants when she’s home.

Or that she sometimes loses herself in moments of quiet introspection when she’s alone.

I had known all of that but the last one just by being in her life. But I also know her favorite foods, her favorite movies, her favorite books, her favorite directors and film scores, the holiday traditions she loves and the ones she hates.

But…maybe I don’t? Not anymore. Not after I had avoided her for so long. Not after her mom died and this melancholy has gripped her so tightly, molding her into this new person.

Maybe I should be grateful for a chance to get to know her now.

Me

Yeah.

There’s a short pause. The bubble at the bottom of the screen showing her typing pops up and disappears multiple times before she finally replies.

Dani

Like what?

Me

Like all the things your body can’t tell me that only your mind and soul can.

And she does. Hours go by. I move from the garage to my bed, settling into the sheets, replying to her messages instantly as the clock ticks softly into a new day.

“Damn, I’m sorry. Let me help you with those.” I’m crouching on the ground, hurriedly picking up the stray papers that have fallen from my crash into the person before anyone notices the scene. Especially Dani sitting by the fountain. If she looked over, and I mean really looked, I have no way to explain why I’m here.

I should’ve been more careful turning the corner around the liberal arts building. In my defense though, I was trying to hurry towards the parking lot behind the art building, which has become my usual look out spot when Dani is sitting by the fountain. There’s enough coverage with all the cars lined up that I can easily hide without looking like Michael Myers peering behind a tree.

There’s a slight shuffle and groan as the person I walked into squats beside me. “It’s not a problem at all. These things tend to happen to the best of us.”

My grin overtakes me as the familiarity of the warm, jovial voice sets in.

“Professor Logan?”

He lifts his head a fraction at his name before his own smile forms.

“Grayson? My, what a surprise!”

With the last papers in hand, I stand offering my free one to him as he rises to his feet.

Logan mutters a quick thank you taking them from me and stacking them on top of the small pile he has in his arms. “Boy, they’ll just let any old person on campus, don’t they?” He chuckles, extending his hand in greeting. I laugh with him, shaking it.

“Yeah, I suppose that’s true, isn’t it? Seeing as your still around here.”

“What’re you doing spending your Monday afternoon strolling around here? You do know you graduated, right?” Logan’s teasing lilt puts me at ease. It’s been far too long since I’ve seen him.

“Yes, sir. Trust me, I don’t think I could forget. But no, sir. I’m—uhh, I’m here to,” I pause, wracking my brain for an excuse.

I’m glancing in every direction, praying I’ll find some kind of reason. Then, I spotted her. Head tucked low over her notebook and text books, the wind tugging softly at the loose curls falling into her face from being left out of the small buns pinned near the top of her head.

My tone is shockingly even, maybe even a little…hopeful when I say the words before thinking. “I’m here to pick up my girlfriend.”

Then the lie burns. The non-truth of that reality weighing in my throat like acid. I don’t like it. I don’t like lying to him. I don’t like that it’s this particular lie.

“Hmm, a girlfriend, huh? Maybe there is hope for you yet.” He winks at me chuckling and the corner of my mouth twitches.