CHAPTER NINETEEN

At the start of open rec, I find Charlie over by the pool table. The butterflies taking flight in my stomach are both troublesome and elating. It’s like I’ve been transported back to the sixth grade, to the first middle school homecoming when Aaron Breckman asked me to dance. Slow dance. It was right before he got sick, and I haven’t had that same feeling since.

“Hey,” I say, sliding up next to Charlie.

“Hey, yourself.” Our arms brush together and he smiles.

“Are you waiting for someone?”

He waves his hand. “Yeah, but he’s always late. Besides, it’s just pool.”

“Do you have a minute to talk?”

“For you? Of course.” He looks around the game lounge, which we have to ourselves. “And there’s no one here but us chickens.”

I can’t help but smile. “What?”

“Just something my grandpa used to say.” He drops onto a couch that’s directly behind the pool table. He pats the cushion just like he did at Morning Meditation. “What’s up?”

Rather than join him, I step back and sit on the edge of the table to stall a moment longer while I muster the courage to have the conversation I’m dreading. “It’s just … I only met you yesterday, Charlie, but … ”

“Hannah, right?” he asks, his voice soft.

I nod, unable to meet his gaze. “Maybe we should—”

Herc appears, walking out from the library, his face alight with scorn. His eyes narrow as he looks from Charlie to me and back to Charlie. “What’s she doing here?” he demands.

“The same thing everyone else is, jackass.” I say. “Hanging out, being dead. The usual.”

Waves of disdain flow off of him like flames. “Was I talking to you?”

“We’re just talking,” Charlie says. “What’s the matter with you?"

“Just talking, huh?” He looks at me with disgust. “The hell you think you’re doing sitting on my table?” He spits out the words like a cobra expelling its venom. I can almost hear his hiss.

“Apparently Crosby didn’t knock enough sense into you this morning,” I say.

Herc steps closer. “And apparently getting T-boned by a semi yesterday didn’t knock enough sense into you.”

I jump down from the pool table. “What did you say?” I demand. “How—”

“Knock it off, Herc,” Charlie interrupts. “Just stop it. You’re better than this.” The silent exchange unfolding between them is impossible to read, and the sympathetic look in Charlie’s eyes leaves me baffled.

My anger ratchets up. “Better than this? I seriously doubt it.” I stare daggers at Herc.

Charlie tries to intervene. “Both of you, stop. Herc, you’re out of line. Just go cool off. I’ll talk to you later.”

“You’d be wise to listen to your roommate.” My mood is morphing into dangerous fury, hovering near the boiling point.

Herc sticks his finger right in my face. “The only good bitch is a dead bitch. Except when she’s the nosy new bitch on my floor.”

My hand flies without restraint, slapping him hard across the cheek. His face snaps to the side as it absorbs the impact. I keep my hand up, ready to strike again. “Say it again. I dare you.”

His eyes smolder with rage. “That was your freebie. Put your hands on me again and it’s a different story.”

“Herc, that’s enough!” Charlie grabs his shoulder and tries to turn him away from us. “Just walk away. We’ll talk later.”

Herc gives Charlie a hard stare, but he finally stalks off toward the elevators.

I direct my rage at Charlie. “Really? You stick up for him? What he said—that’s okay with you?”

“Come on, Dez. You know me better than that.” His voice is soft, the hurt clear. He reaches for my hand, but I snatch it away.

“Do I? I thought I did, but we just met yesterday, so what do I really know?”

The pain reflecting in his eyes is turning into anger. “That’s not fair.”

“You want to talk fair? So I should just sit back and let him call me ugly, hateful things? Like it’s nothing?”

“That’s not what I’m saying. He shouldn’t have said that, but once you hear what he’s been through, you’ll understand.”

“Oh, poor little Herc.” I shake my head, completely taken aback by how wrong I’ve been about Charlie. “What a load of crap.” I look away, disgusted. “I have to go. Have fun with your game of pool.” My voice shakes. I will not let myself cry in front of him, but I know the tears are coming. “You can tell Hannah she doesn’t have to worry anymore.” I spin to walk away.

And crash into Franklin.