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"Then what’s all that banging?"

Come on, Vane Think!

Inspiration strikes "I found a date roach in my bed"

"Did you kill it?" My mom sounds farther away, like she jumped back

"I tried to, but now I can’t find it" I don’t need to worry aboutbeliever in the whole boys should kill all the bugs philosophy

"Well, I won’t distract you, then," she says, and I can’t help so back to sleep I don’t want it getting loose in the house"

"On it," I pro as her footsteps retreat down the hall

One crisis solved Now I just have to deal with the passed-out, scantily clad girl on the floor of my room who’s ht

No clue what to do about that one

I switch on et a better look Her eyes are closed, but her chest rises and falls in slow, heavy breaths

It occurs to et injured--or if she even is a ghost She looks real enough right now Pale, though--and her face looks like she’s in pain

Is she sick?

What am I supposed to do if she is? Pretty sure the hospital won’t be able to help her Do ical creatures have the same anatomy as hu out a girl whoother than human Not to , man

She clearly needs help She’s been out cold for at least five

But what?

Water

On TV they’re always giving it to people like it’s a cure-all It can’t hurt I even have a half-finished water bottle by irl She doesn’t stir--even when I crouch beside her

I hold ainst --but then I realize it’s

She’s real

I didn’t really believe it until that liht All of that could’ve been a mistake somehow But now I have her--inmy eyes just saw, she feels huers part her lips They’re even softer than I i haunted by a hot girl for ten years and not think about kissing her

I place the bottle against her lips Will she be able to s if I pour it into her ue, not breathing until I see her s It’s surreal watching her lips close and the s in such an impossible situation

I still can’t believe I’le in her hair--the same dark, wavy strands that always swirl around her face in the drea earlier She looks softer with it loose Gentler She still has a strong jaw, but it balances her wide eyes and full lips

Back to her lips I can’t stop staring at them

Dude--not now!

I pour more water in her mouth, and this time she drinks faster She downs the rest of the bottle, but she still hasn’t fully woken

I scan the roo when she ainst the farthest wall I have no idea ill happen when she wakes up, but having soentle when she’s sleeping, but there was so in the way she carried herself earlier that I definitely don’t want to get on the wrong side of

Shemy parents haven’t heard But I don’t have time to worry about it because the next second she ju deep breaths as she squints at her hands I can’t tell if she knows I’m there

I clear my throat

She tenses, then turns toward me, her face a mixture of fear and pain and uncertainty

"What did you do to "

Shewith each step I try to back out of the way, but she’s quick--way too fast for someone as just unconscious She corners me "What Did You Do To Me?"

"I swear, I didn’t do anything"

She grabs irl her size "I can feel it, Vane What did you give h that ht be able to hear But I’ I’h rab her wrists and try to pull her hands away, but she fights ave you soo limp

"Yeah" I point to the e else"

"Water," she repeats, sinking to the floor

I glance at the door, wondering if I should take et as far away from whatever she is as I can But I can’t leave Not after ten years of wondering about her, drea her hair fall across her face "Do you have any idea what you’ve done?"

"Uh, yeah--I helped you"

"Helped h slips out of her lips as she looks up, peering at me between the wild, wavy strands

I stare into the saht Every tiht they were beautiful Almost hypnotic Powerful, even

Now they look defeated