by Rue Volley
I picked up my fork as it shook in my hand. GG noticed and slapped it down with a yelp.
“Oh my gosh, Harper. No—just no. Don’t you dare eat that.”
She turned and smiled at him. I held my ground, keeping my back to him. I knew he was behind me. I could feel it. “Hi.” He spoke, and it made me cringe inside. It’s not what you think. He doesn’t disgust me in the least—in fact—he does the complete opposite.
Why does he have to be so nice? If he was mean, I could go off, saying terrible things with big words that I rarely use, and then walk away, severing this weird bond we seem to have.
It’s like gravity — the earth and the moon.
Stop it, Harper! I don’t want this. I can’t. It’s a threat to everything I know.
He’s a threat. Dangerous. Uncontrollable. Enticing.
STOP. Just stop, please.
With Killian, I knew that things would change. Who am I kidding? Things had already changed. I could feel it twisting a knot in the pit of my stomach, making me nervous—nauseous.
Panic rose inside me once again.
“Hi.” GG just had to respond. Traitor. I shot her the stink eye. She noticed but said nothing as my grip tightened on her hand.
“Can I sit here?” he asked. I closed my eyes. I could feel him. Smell him. I wanted to look behind me, but I fought against it. I have to.
“Sure,” she added.
Seriously? I kept her here as a shield, and she was proving to be a bridge. I don’t need that. I need a moat with alligators and piranhas. Both should do the trick, right?
Killian took a seat across from us, and I tried to keep her with me, but she fought to break free, looking for an out. I guess I don’t blame her.
I’d run, too, if I could.
She pointed behind her. “I didn’t get any casserole, and boy does it look super yummy.”
Killian grinned while poking at the pile on his tray. “It looks objectionable at best.”
“I agree. I think it’ll be good, too,” GG said while backing away. She wasn’t listening to him. Then she turned and ran. I wanted to join her, but I couldn’t. I was stuck in place as Killian’s bright blue eyes locked on me.
I looked around the cafeteria. We’re practically alone! How did this happen? It seemed to be full just minutes ago with low murmurs and the shuffling of feet.
“The exits are behind you and to the left.” He waved his hands around like a stewardess on a flight. I wanted to laugh. I almost did, but I need to stay strong.
I’m just not that girl.
I’m not someone who dates or has boyfriends unless they’re in my books. Those dead boys are controllable. I read them when I want to. They don’t ask me questions or touch my hand. They don’t show up at my house or make my parents go crazy.
They don’t change anything. Anything at all.
Killian waited while I lifted my fork and stabbed at the pile of food on my tray. He leaned in and smiled.
“You can’t eat that.”
“No?” I asked.
He straightened his shoulders. “It wasn’t a dare.”
I think it was.
I stabbed the food and pulled out a chunk of what I could only assume was tuna. The funky smell forced my nose to wrinkle.
“Honestly, Harper, don’t—”
I eyed the fork. “I just feel like you think I’m scared.”
He shook his head. “I assure you that isn’t an adjective that I’d ever use when describing you.”
I paused. “Did you describe me to someone?” I asked. The thought of it was flattering.
He reached in and lowered my fork, getting it away from my lips. His fingers brushed against mine, so I adjusted on the wooden bench. “My dad.”
I scanned the room. I spotted the exit. I wanted to run like crazy, but curiosity held me in place. “Why would you do that?” The question was innocent enough, but his expression darkened, taking with it that natural spark in his eyes.
“I—well, I thought maybe you’d like to come over to my house sometime—when you don’t have anything else going on.”
The shock of it rolled through me. “I have a lot going on.” It sounded ridiculous because it was. I began to inventory my busy schedule.
Let’s see. Books. Books. Dinner. Books. Trying to survive my brothers—and more books.
It’s just jammed packed.
“Oh, like what?” he asked, snapping me out of deep thought.
I swallowed hard. “Stuff.”
He grinned. I hated that. He looks even cuter when he knows he has me cornered. I picked up a cracker and nibbled on it. The thing tasted like cardboard. I tried to chew like it was the best thing I’d ever had, but I doubt I was selling it.
He ignored his tray. His objective wasn’t eating. “That’s descriptive.”
It annoyed me. “And things, tons of that, too.”
He took a shallow breath and coughed. Part of me wanted to ask him if he had been sick, too, but I refrained. Asking him that would only show interest, and if I avoid that, then I may have a fighting chance. But again, I felt terrible. Everyone had become sick because of me.
He stared at his tray and then began to rise, taking it with him.
I couldn’t help myself.
“I—maybe we could do coffee sometime.” I regretted it as soon as the words tumbled out of my mouth.
He lit up. “Yeah?” I hated to give him that, but even now—after deciding what I should do, he still had this way of drawing me in.
I hesitated then offered a nod. I hated myself for doing it, but he’s just so—Killian.
Killian Porter.
Enough said.
Chapter Sixteen
We all stood on the side of the street and gawked at the crew of people who had been assigned the task of decorating the town.
Halloween was coming and fast.
Soon it would be all costumes, candy, parties, and more. We all still trick or treat here, even the teenagers in high school. I don’t think it should only be limited to kids who are in elementary school, and the town agrees.
In fact, they voted on it, as they have everything else we’ve ever done here.
I narrowed my eyes and could see a GET YOUR FLU SHOT NOW sign in one of the windows across the street. I don’t remember ever seeing those before. Again, I felt guilt pour through me. What had I done?
I guess I should be grateful that everyone survived. Juniper Hollow is quite isolated. I would think that any new viruses could prove to be devastating to a town such as ours. Mom said nearly half the town got sick. Half. That’s pretty bad.
It left a bitter taste in my mouth. I wanted to hate both Angel and Max for coming here, but who led them back to their home? Me.
My mind's eye took me back to that night when Angel stood there coughing and tapping his chest. I should’ve taken heed, but instead I was angry and let my temper get the best of me.
I have to stop beating myself up over this. Nothing can be changed about it, and here I stand with my friends, and that’s all that matters, right?
Yes.
I blinked when I heard a pumpkin drop and split open on the cobbled sidewalk. The hollow echo reverberated up into the air. The crew cleaned it up and continued to place pumpkins along the sidewalk, that would be collected by every shop owner. It was a perk of having the largest free-range pumpkin patch of any town on the east coast thanks to my mom.
As I mentioned before, the patch had started, innocently enough, in our atrium and then pollinated itself down the block, around the corner, and up the other side, but it didn’t stop there. Eventually it will be in every yard, every corner, and every cemetery. Not a single person complained because if nothing else, everyone in Juniper Hollow loves Halloween.
Every single one of us.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
That’s why I’ll never leave. I don’t remember hearing about anyone ever leaving. That goes to show how great it is here.
Take that, Salem.
I wondered if it would be the same for Killian and his family. Had they moved here and fell in love with this place just as much as the rest of us had? Or was Liv, right? Was Killian just waiting until he graduated to pack his things and move far away—to some strange place—strange city, where no one really knows anyone and the trees have been cleared to make way for skyscrapers and too many roads?
Fear began to build in my chest, stealing my breath, and twisting my thoughts once again.
“So—what did he say?” Liv asked.
I was still upset with him, so I was making him suffer.
“Harper, please. It’s killing me,” he added.
“Come on, Harper, have mercy on the stupid Middling.” She was referring to Liv, and he can be just that. Stupid and mean.
I glared at Liv. “Harper, come on. Tell us.”
I bit my lip. I guess I could tell them. It didn’t matter; it would probably never happen.
“I promised coffee—sometime,” I spoke with uncertainty. What seemed like an easy ending wasn’t turning into one. One moment I was at ease with my decision to walk away from him and the next I was wondering how it would feel to kiss those lips.
It was a terribly confusing predicament.
I like Killian—more than I should, but I love this town, my family—even my somewhat annoying friends, more. The thought of losing them again had me nearly hyperventilating.
Luckily my newest panic attack was interrupted when a baby blue van came rumbling down main street, and even the crew working on the decorations paused their elf-like behavior to stare at it in disbelief. Our heads turned to glare at the van. Our mouths sat agape.
“What the heck?” Court asked. She sounded mad; I didn’t blame her. If nothing else, it was disruptive to everything we cherished here in town.
I half expected for a million people to fall out of it like a clown car, but the engine stopped, and two doors opened. I could see one girl exit, wearing all black, equipped with industrial style boots, and the other had on a green jacket with reflective stripes down the arms and torn up skinny jeans. She was wearing some Adidas, black and white. They both had brown hair, one with flecks of auburn and the other without. One had a messy bun that shifted on the top of her head, and the other one had a thick ponytail.
The one in all black opened the side door to the van and crawled inside. She exited with a black box in hand.
I can’t help but blame Killian. It seems like ever since he showed up, everything has been shifting—changing, becoming more like the unknown than known. First him and his coy comments, interrupting me as I read, and then Angel and Max approaching me like I burst into bats on the street. All three of these Middlings had treated me like I was odd, out of place—even though it was they who were the odd ones.
Juniper Hollow doesn’t belong to them—to any of them! It belongs to us. The people entrusted to protect the trees, the environment—our way of life.
It may not seem like a big deal to the outside world, but to us, it is. One car, one stranger with ill intent wanting to change everything, will turn into five, then ten—then so many we won’t be able to count them all.
This can’t happen.
GG stepped up next to me. “They shouldn’t be here.”
“They’ll ruin everything,” Liv added.
“They’ll change everything,” Court added.
Liv nodded. “And not for the better.”
Court narrowed her eyes. “They’ll probably get everyone sick again.”
I felt like we were spinning in a circle as they rattled off every truth.
My breathing slowed as I focused in on the van. My anger continued to build.
GG touched my arm. “There will be more.”
“So many more,” Liv added.
I decided to chime in. “You’re right—they shouldn’t be here. None of them.” I watched them enter the BNB. My blood began to boil.
I knew I sounded bitter, but it was more than that. It was this terrible feeling, deep down in my gut, that these strangers were here to alter everything I know and love. If they’re allowed to do this, then what does it mean for tomorrow's Juniper Hollow, or next week’s? We’ll be drowning in cars, exhaust, and cameras pointed in every direction, trying to capture the spirits that peacefully live here among us. They’ll destroy our lives, this town—everything that I love.
It can’t happen. Not now or ever.
“Maybe we should talk to somebody,” Liv added.
GG shook her head. “You’d think that the mayor would kick them out.”
“It’s her fault for having a BNB on main street. Why have one if you don’t want to invite outsiders in?” Court spat out and then began to walk with a purpose.
Marching, really.
I followed; I had no choice.
She was going to start some drama, and I was ready to back her up and tell these people to go away, once and for all. I mean, if the adults in Juniper Hollow couldn’t control this then we’d have to, right? My fist clenched at my side. The wind even picked up, grabbing a bunch of fallen leaves and swirling them around in front of us. We looked like an approaching storm, and in many ways we are. I know that regardless of his willingness to cause mischief, Liv loves this town as much as I do, so does GG—and Court? Well, she loves us, and that places a target on their backs.
But we were stopped dead in our tracks when Killian stepped in the way. I didn’t even see him coming. He smiled and wagged a book in front of him.
“This is amazing.” He spoke while grinning. Why is he so happy? He shouldn’t be. There are invaders right behind him. But he isn’t from here, is he? He doesn’t know how we don’t allow cars in town for a reason. How we keep every tree as healthy as humanly possible—how we respect the dead as much as the living.
No—he’s not from here. Not really. He’s just passing through like those girls in the sputtering van.
Court looked up and down the street. “Where the H did you come from?”
He thumbed across the street. “I was over there, thinking about getting coffee.”
I glanced over and spotted the storefront.
No, Harper. No. Stay on course.
Then GG decided to do it for me. “OMG, a PSL would be amazing, right? Let’s get caffeinated, then kick some butt!”
Killian looked confused. “A PSL and what butts are we kicking?” he asked.
Liv rolled his eyes. “Um, PSL—pumpkin spice latte.” He gave him a once over. “I thought you were cool.”
Court wasn’t having it. “You guys can get some. I’m going to find out what’s going on.”
Killian smirked. “I’m sorry I wasn’t up to speed on the PSL, and what’s going on?”
Court glared at him while raising a hand. She was fired up. “Those D ghost hunters that just checked into the BNB.”
Killian turned just as the two girls exited the BNB. They didn’t even look in our direction. It surprised me, but whatever. Not everybody has manners. They jumped back in the van and took off like they had someplace to be.
“Well, it looks like they’re leaving.” He added a voice of reason. We probably needed one. My friends had me all worked up. I’m just so mad at myself for letting those two ghost hunters stay with us. I feel like I have to fix something—anything. But I really don’t know if that’s necessary. The damage had already been done.
Suddenly my appetite started to come back with a vengeance. My stomach growled, so I placed a hand over it and pressed down. How embarrassing. Of course, Killian noticed. He glanced over at the coffee shop and then back to me.
“They have food, too.”
“I know,” I answered too quickly. GG looked at me, and then Liv joined her.
I sighed. “Sorry.”
Liv leaned in toward Killian and held a hand up to his mouth like I wouldn’t be able to hear him talking. “She gets hangry.”
“Hangry?” Killian asked.
He nodded. “Yea
h, you know. It’s when you get hungry and angry at the same time—hangry.”
Liv let his eyes run the length of me.
Killian spoke up. “Well, you look really cute when you’re angry.”
Everyone froze, including me.
Did he just flirt with me in front of them? Great.
I think he was, but it couldn’t deter me. I knew what I had to do. It wouldn’t be the most pleasant thing, but it was necessary. I was just grateful that I had my friends with me. Knowing they had my back would make this easier.
And Killian will be fine! Look at him—all cute with his cute hair, cute smile—whatever.
Focus Harper.
GG wrapped her arm around Court’s waist and began to walk while giving Liv a nod.
I couldn’t believe they were even thinking about abandoning me here with him, so I called out to them in a desperate plea.
“What about the PSLs?”
GG waved a hand. “I can make one at home. No biggie!”
Liv chimed in. “They’re gone now, there’s no butt to kick!” and off they went, leaving me standing there with Killian and no valid reasons to run. I searched my mind, trying to think up any excuse that I could to leave, but he spoke before I could devise a viable plan.
“Would you like to get some coffee with me? And maybe something to eat?” his eyes lowered to the grumbling behind my hand. “My treat—no trick, I promise.”
My stomach is a traitor, and he can stop being so clever.
I toyed with a loose curl while stammering like a complete idiot. “I—well, I...”
“You don’t have to. I just thought it would be nice if we could talk, ya know? Plus, you agreed to have coffee—sometime, and this is sometime, isn’t it?”
“Talk,” I repeated like a parrot.
He grinned while pushing his hair behind his ear. “Yeah—it’s this thing people do when they exchange their favorite words.” He motioned between us.
I looked down at my shoes and tried to conceal a grin.
No Harper! Do not show any emotion. None at all. You’ll only lead him on—give him the wrong impression. If anything, Killian Porter had to be placed in the friend zone. The outer circle friend zone. Arm’s length. No hugging. No holding hands, and definitely no kissing.