The Unlikely Resident of Room 313

Chapter 19

I didn't have the heart to return inside. I told myself that storming out was a natural response to a supernatural shock. How else would someone react to learning their father had a hand in killing the ghost haunting their dorm room? For all I knew, that could be the tip of the fucked up iceberg.

I need a pint of ice cream, the first four seasons of The Vampire Diaries, and a hiding spot. Now.

"We can go back to the dorm," Roy said when I remained frozen in place beside the bench.

"Yeah." I nodded. "That sounds like a good idea."

We walked in silence through the square; my mind, despite my best efforts, played Roy's confession on a loop, and I squinted into the afternoon light, the sudden realization that my room was once a crime scene making me nauseous.

Why the hell wouldn't they close room 313 off forever? Didn't the university have any shame? And why was this the first I was hearing of it?

Gnawing on my bottom lip, I said, "You know what? I don't want to go back yet." Or ever. "Do you want to go to the beach? Maybe to a part where I won't get thrown off a cliff?"

The tension eased from Roy's shoulders. "That sounds like a great idea."

The air, which cooled with the incoming storm, grazed the tops of my cheeks with a cold grit, weaving into my hair and sliding down the back of my neck and into my clothes. I pulled the hood of my sweatshirt over my brow and crossed my arms over my chest, glancing at Roy out of the corner of my eye. He stared straight ahead, lips downturned in a frown that bordered on a smolder, those obsidian eyes swallowing every drop of light that crossed its path.

What was he thinking?

The question had an easy answer; I could read his thoughts, right? Why not just check?

Because that's wrong, the angel on my shoulder reprimanded.

Noticing my frown, Roy asked, "What are you thinking about?"

My heart leapt in my chest. Oh, crap. Did he hear that? Damn this connection.

"Like you don't know." I murmured, quickly looking away. He bumped me with his elbow.

"I don't. I'm not going to invade your mind on purpose, sweetheart. That's an invasion of privacy, remember?"

My cheeks flushed. I remembered being upset about that not too long ago. Seriously, Asteria. You're such an idiot. Roy bumped me again, his voice echoing in my mind,

You're not an idiot.

"Okay, okay." I shook my head. When we crossed the street, Roy insisted on being the one who walked on the outside of the sidewalk, closest to traffic. "How does this mind reading work? Can you hear everything? Can you... feel everything?" Black clouds thickened on the horizon. "Because for me, I hear your voice sometimes. Sense your feelings only sometimes."

"I only started hearing your voice yesterday thanks to you."

"I'm sorry about that. Again."

"Thankfully, I'm not constantly tuned into Asteria FM. I think of our little bond like a telephone line. Both of us need to pick up the phone to hear or say anything."

"So, if you don't want me in, you just hang up the phone."

"Exactly." Roy bopped the tip of my nose with his index finger, causing me to stumble. "It's just that we are an open-line it seems."