The Changeling's Ghost (Thirteen Gates #1)

He's Still Here

It's not everyday you wake up with a mind numbing, stomach emptying, sweat inducing headache, and indescribable feeling as though you've turned your own world upside down with no recollection of how you've done it. I rose, checked the time to see it was too early, and noticed I wasn't in my bed. I was in Con's bed--well, Gus's bed. I froze, and squinted into confusion... I can't imagine even a completely plastered me would... no... Then another headache settled in and I put it off.

I was delighted to discover that both of my parents and Sheryl were out of the house which means I could retch into the loo as loudly as I wanted. Although I don't know how we got home last night without them knowing, I guess I had to hand that to Gus. Speak of the devil, there was a sharp knock on the door about half an hour into my intestinal escapade.

"If you've come to rub my nose in it I'm going to have to tell you to bugger off." I said, clutching my forehead.

There was a chuckle from the other side. "Actually, I've brought you some breakfast."

"I don't want it."

"I've also got some painkillers."

I opened the door and Gus was standing there, right as rain, holding a plate of eggs and a glass of water respectively. He set the plate down on the sink counter before taking a seat himself, I took the glass of water and the pills.

"You're looking pretty rough." He noted.

"Mm." I replied.

"Understandable. I mean, you were totally legless last night. On the piss. Off your trolley."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh that's clever. I see somebody's spent five minutes on the wiki page for British slang."

He laughed and I felt my mood soften ever so slightly. I even started picking at the nice meal he had made me. It... it was a nice gesture.

"I don't even remember most of last night. Anything wild happen?" I admitted, a secret tactic of my own, hoping he'd talk about it.
Something twinkled in his eyes.

"Oh uh... not much. Your horse friend ditched us and we got kicked out. You started telling me about Conway."

I choked on my mouthful of food, forcing it down. "I... I what?"

Gus stared pointedly at me. "Your... brother right? The dead kid?"

"He's not dead." I said through gritted teeth.

"Right." Gus corrected himself. "Missing."

There an uncomfortable silence following that statement.

"Are you...alright?" Gus asked.

"I'm fine." I sighed. "He..."

I trailed off and glanced up at his face. That look was back. I hate it when he does that. It's like I'm a shoal of fish and he's the shark. It's terrifying.

"What?"

"You're just going to tell Sheryl all of this, aren't you?"

Gus frowned. "That's my... job."

I scoffed "So what? This is all just a job to you?"

Gus raised an eyebrow. "Uh... I would like to plead the fifth."

"You would like to what?"

He sighed. "Never mind, just... okay fine. I won't tell Sheryl... yet. I have to tell her though. I'm not going to lie to Sheryl. I'm not going to lie to you."

Well that's comforting.

He looks at his eggs with a surprisingly genuine smile. "I try not to lie. It makes things unnecessarily complicated, y'know?"