Page 65 of Pick Me Up On Tuesdays

Chapter 20: How To Successfully Avoid a Demon (Spoiler: You Don't)

The night air was cool, the kind that made you question your life choices. Like, for instance, why I was following a demon out of a motel window when I could be sleeping like a normal person.

Ethan had already hit the ground, hands in his pockets, looking suspiciously casual for someone who had just broken curfew. His hoodie was up, his smirk was in place, and, of course, he looked annoyingly good in the dim motel parking lot lighting.

I landed with significantly less grace, nearly rolling my ankle on a loose rock. Ethan turned, eyes gleaming with amusement. "Smooth, Ghost boy."

"Shut up," I muttered, brushing off imaginary dust in an attempt to restore my dignity.

Before I could demand an actual explanation for this little escapade, I noticed something. A group of very familiar silhouettes lingering just around the corner of the building.

My stomach dropped.

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me."

Mia, ever the dedicated camera lady, had her phone up, snapping photos like this was some kind of paparazzi moment. Joy was beside her, grinning like she had been waiting for thisexact moment to happen. Max was there too, along with some other jocks and wildlife club members.

"Aw, look at them," Joy cooed, her voice loud enough to be legally considered a crime.

"Sneaking out together, like a celebrity couple."

Ethan, the absolute menace that he was, leaned in closer to me. "Hear that, Ghost boy? We're famous."

I took two deliberate steps away from him. "No. Nope. Absolutely not."

Joy gasped dramatically. "Trouble in paradise already?"

The others cackled. Mia zoomed in with her camera. Ethan, enjoying my suffering far too much, ran a hand through his hair in that stupid effortless way, as if this was some kind of planned photoshoot.

I turned to leave.

Shun, scrolling through memes on her phone as if this nonsense was beneath her, casually grabbed my sleeve. "No use running, Clark. You're in too deep now."

"I hate all of you."

Ethan slung an arm around my shoulder. "But you love the attention."

I very calmly removed his arm and took three more steps away for safety. Subtle avoidance, that was my strategy.

Joy stretched dramatically. “Alright, now that we’ve confirmed that Clark and Ethan are the new tabloid obsession, let’s get going!”

I blinked. “Wait, wait—going where exactly?”

“To have fun, Clark,” Joy said, giving me a patronizing pat on the shoulder. “You know, that thing you avoid like it owes you money?”

I was this close to turning around and crawling right back through that window. But the odds of Mr. Dax catching me and reporting me to Principal Catherine were too high. Furthermore, Ethan was my personal duty. And if this got out, she’d definitely shut down the documentary.

I exhaled sharply. "Fine. But if we get caught, I am not covering for any of you."

Shun hummed. “Mr. Dax is dead asleep. He won’t know.”

"Joy, do not start singing."

Joy gasped. "How did you know—"

"Because you're you," I groaned.

She pouted but didn't argue. Probably because she was too busy plotting something worse.

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