There's an Invisible Man Sleeping in My Bed

Chapter 22

           “-so I’ve only got two more things to pick up and we’re ready to go,” Ruth said, leaning against her locker and grinning smugly as students flowed past them, heading to their lockers or second period classrooms.

            Thalia opened her mouth to reply but sudden movement from beside her caught her attention. When she turned to look, she saw William staring out the nearest window. It had only been two days since he’d told her about being watched, but she could tell that it was getting to him. She’d never seen him twitch so much before.

            She laid a hand on his arm, making him jerk around to stare at her. “Will, you need help. You haven’t found anything out and you’ve got dark circles under your eyes. You need to change your method.”

            Ruth frowned, staring intently at both of them. “What’s going on?”

            Thalia spoke before her cousin could. “Someone’s following Will around and watching him but he can’t find who it is.”

            “Well that certainly explains why you look so tweaked out, Liam,” Ruth said to him, her hands dropping to her hips. “You clearly need our help with this. And don’t bother protesting or refusing. You’re getting the help whether you like it or not.”

            “I’ve got it covered. If I can’t find anything out by the end of the week, then I’ll talk to you two.”

            Ruth’s chin came up. “You’re being stupid.”

            Colt’s voice beside her ear had Thalia freezing in place, eyes still on the argument unfolding in front of her. “I checked in the direction your cousin was looking. I didn’t see anyone who could have been watching him. Not without magic at least. You are certain this is not an illness of the mind or nerves?”

            She nodded sharply. She heard him sigh and felt him move away from her, carefully obeying her new rule of keeping the touching in school to a minimum. She turned her attention back to her best friend and her cousin when the PA system’s chimes cut through that argument and every other conversation around them.

            “Mr. William Holloway, please report to the principal’s office. I repeat, Mr. William Holloway, please report to the principal’s office immediately.”

            Ruth and Thalia stared at William for several moments. Ruth recovered first. “What did you do?” she demanded, eyes narrowing.

            He shook his head. “Nothing. Or at least, nothing they can pin on me. It’s probably about me skipping classes or something. I’ll tell you two about it during lunch, okay?”

            Without waiting for a reply, he ran off, leaving them to watch as he slipped through the crush of students easily. Which had a great deal less to do with skill and more to do with the fact that most students moved out of his way when they recognized him.

            Ruth glared at the stairwell he’d disappeared down before turning to Thalia. “Clearly we need to get this whole ‘being followed around’ thing dealt with quickly. Liam’s way too pale for it to be healthy. I say we get some people to help and start checking the whole area whenever he says he’s being watched.”

            Thalia shook her head. “We can’t. If we do that, everyone will hear that he’s not feeling well and more people will try to fight him which will only tire him further. We should do something like laying a trap for whoever it is. It would be easier and we’d waste less energy that way.”

            “And there’s the nasty part of your brain I so love,” Ruth said. “You keep it so bound up that I only get a glimmer of it every once in a while.”

            “You don’t need any help coming up with ideas for your pranks.”

            “No, but getting out of trouble is something I always need help with.”

            “So who do you think is watching Will? He says it’s not someone out to fight him.”

            Ruth frowned as she led the way down the quickly emptying hall, the warning bell ringing overhead. “Might be a crazy stalker. Or it could be someone trying to attack him when he’s weakest. Of course, it could also be aliens or a secret cult who think he’s the chosen one.”

            The startled a laugh out of Thalia. “You don’t really think it’s aliens, right?”

            Her friend’s nose rose into the air as she replied haughtily “You never know. Just because we haven’t been able to prove that intelligent life exists out there, doesn’t mean it doesn’t. Of course,” she continued, resuming her normal tone and grinning. “I can’t imagine why aliens would be interested in Liam. If they’re going to choose someone to be their point of first contact, I can think of so many people better suited for it. Top of the list is myself, of course. Though don’t worry, you definitely make the top ten.”

            Thalia shook her head. She didn’t know how Ruth did it, but her friend was always able to help her forget her worries and relax. “And why would you be the superior choice?”

            “Well, I’m clearly smarter and more used to taking a non-violent approach. Not to mention the fact that I’ve made a study on human reaction and behaviour. Why, the footage I’ve accumulated throughout high school itself would be incredibly valuable to any otherworldly visitors.”

            “So your whole study has been in preparation of alien contact?”

            Ruth nodded, trying to look solemn but her dancing eyes and twitching lips gave her away. “But of course. What other reason could I have?”

            That was too much for both of them. Ruth descended into her loud, braying laugh while Thalia shook with her own, mostly silent amusement.

Behind them, Colt shook his head. He had no idea what was funny or really, what they’d been talking about. Still, he thought with his eyes on the pink flush coming into Thalia’s face. He could still appreciate the results.