Page 59 of Even in the Dark

I sit up, ready to kick her out.

She must notice because she sighs. “Okay, fine. Whether you care about her or not, it would still be a good way to let Kenz know she doesn’t need to be scared of you. Make her feel more comfortable around you again.”

I don’t respond. I’m thinking about it. Can’t imagine myself doing something like that—going up to Kenz and asking if she wants me to read to her.

“You’ve got nothing to lose. Just do it. Tomorrow night, ask if you can read her a comic—something that doesn’t have swearing or too much violence, obviously.”

Shit. I wouldn’t think about that.

“Yeah, maybe,” I say. Don’t think I’ll do it, though.

“Cool.” She motions with her chin towards the discarded comic on my bed. “So, what’s the deal with the comics, anyway? How long have you been into them?”

I shrug, looking over at the piles on the shelf, then back at her. “Since I was eight or nine.”

“Are you into the movies, too? The superhero movies?”

“Sure.” I’ve only watched a couple. Truth is, I only got into the comics because I could hide a few of them in the closet under the loose linoleum tiles. Gave me something to do those times I got locked in there. Couldn’t usually read the text, but it was still better than nothing, just looking at the pictures. Made me feel like I was somewhere other than a cramped dark closet. Like I was in a whole other world. Easier to do when I was younger, though. Got harder, the older I got. Like I got too smart to fool myself after a while.

“Can I read one?” She swivels in the chair so she’s facing the stacks piled on the bookshelf. Means she doesn’t notice when I freeze.

Why would she ask that?

What the hell game is she playing? Why is she in my room acting like we’re life-long buddies or something? Asking if I’m okay.Asking to read my comics.

She’s on her feet now and wanders over to the stacks of comics, no clue that she’s got me on the defensive now. She picks up the one on top of the second stack—theLocke & Key Small Worldissue—and flips through the pages. Picks up theDog Daysone and leafs through that one, too.And it feels so fucking personal.

“You need to leave.”

Her eyes dart upwards. She looks surprised. Then embarrassed. Never seen this girl look embarrassed before. Except that time I called her out for staring at my dick, when she swore she wasn’t.

She puts the issues back on the pile really fast. “Sorry. I uh… I should have asked if I could touch them.” Her polished fingers stumble to straighten the pile. “Sorry,” she says again.

It makes me realize what a psycho I must seem like. Getting bent out of shape over someone picking up a couple of freakin’ comics.

“It’s fine.” I bite the inside of my cheek. Meet her eyes. “Pretty sure you won’t like it, but you can read one if you want.”

Her eyebrows shoot up. “You sure? I don’t mind if… You know, if they’re special to you or whatever. If you’d rather I not read them or—”

“I said it’s fine.”

She nods once. “Okay.” She looks back at the stacks but doesn’t pick one up right away. Then she turns. “Which one should I read?”

“Whichever one you want.” I sound like a dick and I don’t care. It’s taking all my restraint not to jump off the bed and shove her a good ten feet away from my stacks of comics.

Yeah. I sound like a freak again. Well aware.

Also, like I said, I know she’s not gonna like it, no matter which one she reads. Don’t know much about this girl, but I do know she’s not the type to get any of the series in my small collection.

“Okay, but which one would you recommend I start with? As a comic-book virgin.”

I swallow. Hope to hell she doesn’t notice my cheeks warm at the word “virgin”, especially when she wasn’t even talking about it in a sexual way.

“Well?” She smiles.

Scarlett doesn’t smile a lot. She’s a siren when she’s poised, arrow-straight, and putting other people in their place. When she smiles… holy shit—she’s stunning. Puts me on edge, again. It’s a good question, though, so I’m not gonna ignore it.

I slide off the bed. “Depends what you’re into. Really dark, or funny, or classic superhero-villain shit, or whatever.”

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