Aiden went straight to Hanna’s locker as soon as the last bell rang. Not that he wanted to have this conversation, but it would be better to get it over with.
Hanna showed up a minute later. “So, um, I guess we should talk.” She half hugged her bag against her stomach.
“Maybe outside?” Aiden suggested. He didn’t want people listening in.
“Okay.” She grabbed a few things from her locker before following him out.
Aiden found them a relatively quiet corner near the front of the building. “Just in case Dylan didn’t tell you, I’m not mad.” Surprised and confused, but not mad.
Hanna bit her lip. “I’m so sorry. It was stupid. I didn’t mean to hurt you or cheat on you—”
“You didn’t cheat. We aren’t dating. We broke up.”
She looked at the ground. “I’m sorry about that too. But my parents were so mad.”
“It’s okay.” He touched her arm. “The only thing I was really upset about was when you wouldn’t even talk to me or sit with us.”
Hanna met his gaze for a few seconds, her eyes wet with unshed tears. “Why aren’t you mad? I… I think maybe I want you to be mad. To fight for me.”
His stomach twisted, and he didn’t know what to say. Dylan had told him to fight for her, but he was too afraid. I’m such a wimp.
Her head dropped again. “I’m sorry. It sounds so awful and selfish. I know you don’t like fighting, and Conner was already giving you enough trouble.”
Aiden struggled to find the right words, but he was worried that whatever he said was going to hurt her feelings. “I think I got confused about what I wanted from you. I liked the idea of dating you, but now I—” Totally have a crush on Tiago. “I think I’m happy being friends with you.” Was he being stupid, giving up a chance to get back together with her? But on the other hand, she’d never made him feel the way Tiago did. “Do you really like Dylan?”
She wouldn’t look at him, her voice soft as she answered, “I don’t know. Maybe. He’s like Conner but without being mean. I guess maybe I liked you because you’re the opposite of Conner, sweet and gentle.” Hanna shook her head and finally looked up. “I guess we’re both confused.”
Aiden laughed a little. “That’s true.” He took her hand. “Would it be okay if we were just friends? If you like Dylan and he likes you, I won’t be mad.” And I can keep daydreaming about kissing Tiago. Which will never happen.
“Friends. I’d like that,” she said. “Does Dylan like me? Did he say anything to you?”
“He’s not sure. I think he’s as confused as we are.”
She frowned. “Do you really think they’ll expel him? If he can’t go to school…” She swallowed.
“I hope not. People are just afraid because they don’t know what’s going on. I’m sure things will calm down once they figure out who’s kidnapping people.” Aiden kept thinking of it as kidnapping because it was too horrible to think of those people being dead.
* * *
Being stuck inside with nothing to do was driving Dylan crazy. He’d thought being trapped in Shadow Valley was bad, but now he had an idea of what it was like to really be in a cage. His parents wouldn’t let him out of the house, so he stayed in his room, pacing, feeling the walls closing in on him.
Mr. Johnson’s visit yesterday had made his dangerous position clearer. Maybe it had been monumentally stupid to beat Conner up when half the town thought Dylan was kidnapping or even killing people. If the wardens decided he was too dangerous, Dylan was as good as dead.
He pressed a hand against the window, looking at the backyard and the woods beyond. He desperately wanted to go to the pit and burn off his frustration. Even going out to the woods would be better than nothing, even if he had to be careful with his fire.
Dylan glanced at the door. It was just after dinner, and his parents might leave him alone until bedtime. His gaze shifted back to the window. Maybe just an hour, or a half hour to be safe. Enough time to vent the worst of his building anger. He needed to, or he was going to go nuts.
Pulling the window open and lifting the screen, Dylan looked down. It wasn’t all that far. If he dropped and rolled, it probably wouldn’t hurt at all. He wished there was a convenient tree or trellis like there always seemed to be in movies, but no such luck. He didn’t have good enough control of his transformation to count on his wings either.
Climbing out, he lowered himself as much as he could, fingers gripping the edge of the sill. With a deep breath, he let go and rolled. Impact vibrated up his legs and back, but by the time he got to his feet it was only a tingle. Dylan looked at the house, fearing that maybe one of his parents happened to be looking out at just the wrong moment.
The lights were on downstairs and in his room, but no one was peering out. He searched each window again before turning and jogging for the woods. The trees and shrubs were full of leaves, which slowed his progress but also provided him cover. Dylan slowed when he was sure he was hidden.
He took a deep breath of warm air and smiled. Two days stuck in the house had felt like forever. His feet found a path and he’d gone down it for several minutes before he realized he was headed for the clearing. That clearing.
Well, why not? He went there to think all the time. The space was open enough that he could weave some fire-shapes in the air without burning down the trees. God, he wished he could go to the pit and let loose.
He stepped out of the tangled brush and into the tall grass. Like every time he came here, his eyes automatically searched out the spot where the portal had been. Dylan sighed and shook his head. The longer he was gone, the better the chance his parents would check on him, so he had to make this quick.
Lifting his hands, he paused. It wasn’t a sound, exactly, but he suddenly had the feeling that he wasn’t alone. He scanned the trees. Had one or both of his parents come out here looking for him already?
Then the air filled with the scent of candle wax and he turned. A shape blurred toward him and his head exploded with stars. Dylan fell into darkness.