Page 80 of Even in the Dark

“I mean, I texted Phil a couple times,” he says, his voice low and soft. “Letting him know where I am or if I need a ride or something. But never… you know…”

Oh! He’s explaining why he didn’t respond to my text earlier, about coming here.

“That makes sense." I scramble to form words into a coherent sentence. "It… Yeah, it’s fine. I just figured you were busy or something… It’s fine,” I repeat.

He shrugs. Pokes at the lip ring with his tongue. “It’s more that my spelling…” His eyes meet mine. “My spelling is really bad… It’s total shit.”

So, he was too embarrassed to text because he’s ashamed of hisspelling?This guy… He’s had pile after pile stacked against him. And still, it seems there’s always more.

“Okay.” I place theMy Little Ponycomic back on the shelf. “Here’s something you need to know.” I turn to him, giving him my full attention. “Everyonesucks at spelling when they’re texting.” I lean in closer. “Literallyeveryone.”

He nods. Still looks like he wants to sink into the floor, though.

I pull my phone out of my back pocket and swipe through a couple of screens. “You know my friend Seb? The guy who’s in hospital right now?”

He nods again.

I hold out my phone to him. “Scroll to anywhere in my text chain with him.”

He doesn’t move, so instead I lean in closer, scrolling through my texts with Seb, then pause at a random spot. “Look,” I tell Dylan, pointing at our series of messages:

Scarlett

Why do u keep texting me so late? I told u I was going to bed

Seb

cos im awke and fell lick talking

Scarlett

so talk to someone who's awake then

Seb

ur obs awke

Scarlett

Yeah. BECAUSE YOU'RE FKG TEXTING IS KEEPING ME AWAKE!

Seb

wo w the tampon

Scarlett

wtf???

Seb

i mean wo w the tampa

Scarlett

???

Seb

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