I’ve got my backpack slung over my shoulder while chomping on a large soft pretzel as I walk down the main pathway at Hawthorne University. This thoroughfare is the main drag for everyone in school, with brick buildings and groomed trees by the side and a ton of students walking together on the wide cement path. There are also a few tents along the boulevard where they sell stuff, like these amazing Bavarian pretzels. I tell you, they freshly bake the best pretzels in the world at Hawthorne. I don’t know what the hell they put in it, but it’s so magically soft, crisp, and delicious. The walkway will end in a large grassy hill. And above that hill is our main library.
I won’t be seeing Allie the rest of the day. She’s got private witch business. I haven’t told her—I haven’t told anybody—but, honestly, I’m getting seriously creeped out. She’s a witch. I get that. But she’s also my girlfriend. I had sex with her, so she’s my girlfriend now, right? I think that was her definition. I’m conflicted. Having sex made me feel on top of the world last night. But then I woke up remembering demons and ghosts.
Let’s fuck. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to cover the children’s ears. They can just watch.
I mean, that was seriously fucked up. And it pretty much sums her up. She’s an egotistical, conniving, controlling, screwed-up-in-the-head witch. Do I really want to be in love with that?
You are in love with that, Lee.
I can see her saying that to me. Yeah. And, fuck me, but wouldn’t you know it, my chest rises at the thought of her saying it.
Well, today, despite my confusion, it’s pleasant outside. The clouds are gone. The sky’s blue. It’s a bit cold, but as I get closer to the library, I see it’s warm enough for many students to be lounging on the grass.
I have to study. I have a big statistics test tomorrow. I have to memorize construct, content, and criterion and validity in order to pencil in the right multiple choice answers next week. God, I hate statistics.
I take a turn and make my way to my dorm. I pull the glass door open. The hallway seems really dark after being in the bright outdoors. There are a few people rushing by, and I nod to a couple of neighbors. It’s loud inside, which only makes my room seem quieter when I enter it. It’s unbelievable that they still haven’t found me a replacement roommate yet—not that I mind the room all to myself.
I lie on the bottom bunk, lean over, and touch the button on my answering machine.
“Call me,” a voice says, and then hangs up on my answering machine. It’s not Alondra, it’s my friend Bill.
I reach over and grab my small white phone headset, uncoil the plastic cord, and press his number on speed dial.
“Hmm, yeah?” Bill asks on the line.
“Hey, Billy,” I say, munching on the last bite of my pretzel.
“Liam? How the hell are you?”
“Great,” I say with a laugh. “What’s up?”
“Great? I thought you were hating your life?”
“No, things are getting better.”
“Well, guess what? I’m in town for a couple months. I’m doing some research in Myrtle Beach. That’s not far from you, right?”
“Only a few hundred miles.”
“I’m working on the coast. I was hoping we could meet up. It’d be fun. We can chat about that incredibly hot girlfriend you keep obsessing about. I assume that’s why you’re feeling better. It can’t be school. You never had problems in school. You’re a nerd.”
“You’re a nerd too, Bill.”
“Got that right. That’s why I’m teaching at Duke.”
“Where do you want to meet? Myrtle Beach? That’s a state away.”
“I could probably meet in Atlanta. I don’t know about the middle of the woods, but if you’re too busy, I can try to drive through the trees and find you. We’ll sort it out. So, you’re feeling better, huh? Why?”
“Alondra.”
“Well, don’t be jumping off a cliff after the breakup.”
“I’m not so sure that’s going to happen. I’m really into her. There’s a connection.”
“She’s hot, right?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s all that matters.”
I lie back in bed and stare up at the top bunk wondering if he’s right. If he only knew how complicated things were.
There’s a bunch of noise outside. People are shouting and laughing in the hallway. The walls are paper thin.
“So what brings you south?” I ask. “What sort of research?”
“Damn,” he blurts out. “Lee…I can’t talk now. I’m doing some ghost research on the beach. But I’ve gotta go. Just call me and leave a message and we’ll sort things out. Can’t wait to see you again, man.”
Coincidentally, my older friend from high school is now a psychology graduate student at Duke—a parapsychology student. No, I’m not kidding. Seems something about me attracts me to these weirdos.
The minute I hang up with him, my phone rings again.
“Oh, you’re there.” It’s Alondra’s voice. And I melt at the sound of it. Yep, I’m in a crush, I told you. “I was gonna leave a message, babe. Just wanted to tell you I had a lot of fun last night. Maybe not so much fun at the haunting but…a lot of fun after.” I’m completely silent. That makes me feel stupid. It probably makes her feel stupid too. She laughs it off. “I wanted to thank you again for coming with me to Alabama. Now I’m going into radio silence.” That’s what I call our Fridays. She fell in love with that expression a few weeks ago. It’s when she doesn’t want me talking to her because of her weird Friday witchery. “But I was hoping we could meet in the library tomorrow morning? Maybe at your secret enclave?”
“Sure. That’d be fun, Allie.”
“Great… You doing okay?”
“Yeah, fine.”
“Hmm. Sometimes I can’t read you. How ’bout ’round ten tomorrow?”
“’Kay.”
“Love ya.”
“Okay…” Uh. “See you then, Allie.”