Chasing Souls

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

            “Lindsay, are you okay?” Casey asked, her look full of concern.

            “I’m fine,” I yawned. “Just tired.”

            It’s been two weeks since Seth stormed out of my house and he hasn’t talked to me since then. Of course, I understand why and I probably wouldn’t talk to him if he said those things to me, but isn’t two weeks enough? Every time I pass him in the hallway and wave at him, he continues to walk like nothing happened. In Spanish class, we sit right next to each other and I use that hour and twenty minutes to get him to talk to me, but nothing. Not even a ‘shut up’ or ‘fuck off’. He just continues to stare at the front board, his paper, or the clock.

            I miss him. I miss his smile and laugh, his beautiful ice blue eyes, even his stupid comments that make me want to slap him.

            I walked into class and put my books on my desk and sat down. Seth was already in his seat next to mine, staring down at the desk.

            “Hey Seth,” I smiled at him.

            Of course, he didn’t respond and continued to stare at his desk, completely ignoring me. Jerk.

            “Look, I’m really sorry about what I said. I was just angry and I didn’t mean any of it.”

            He continued to ignore me and stare into space. Who knew that someone could be this stubborn?

******

            “I got a lead.”

            I looked up at Cole’s grinning face and raised an eyebrow. “What?”

            We were in chemistry and working on a lab that involves us lighting wood and metals on fire with the Bunsen burners.

            Cole used the tongs and picked up a piece of magnesium, putting it into the faint orange and blue flame. “I have a lead on who is stalking you.”

            “Who do you think it is?” I looked down at the fire and saw a bright white light. It faded away a few seconds later and left a white powder in its place.

            Cole and I recorded the reaction before he poured seven milliliters of hydrochloric acid into a test tube. He grabbed another test tube a dropped a smaller piece of magnesium into the acid and put the empty test tube over the other. “Light that splint, would you?”

            I picked up the small piece of wood and put it into the flame until it caught fire. Cole separated the test tubes very slightly and I put the stick in between them, creating a sound that reminds me of a yelping dog.

            “I managed to get the guy’s wallet from the closet. His name is Max DeLong and he is supposed to be meeting someone tonight at The Howler at 10:00.”

            The Howler is a popular bar in the area that is always packed with people, and sadly, that includes people from my school. It would be a good place to talk privately because nobody would be able to hear you over all of the talking and music.

            “I’m gonna go and try to find out who is doing this to you. Seth is going to stay with you until I get back. “

            What? You have to be kidding me. Seth told me himself that he would rather hand me over to the guy than continue to watch me. “Can someone else stay with me? Harley maybe?”