School Spirits (Hex Hall Novel, A)

He gave a little bow. “Until tomorrow, Fair Isolde.”

God, why were boys so complicated? I suddenly wished I had a ghost to fight right that second. Or a vampire. A werewolf. Heck, I’d even take a gollum, no matter how messy killing one was. Anything to make me feel like me again.

“What about you? You seem like the kind of girl whose romantic life is full of thrills and danger.”

“Yes,” he said, chewing. “And now that I’ve stolen food from you, it’s official. You and me, friends for life.”

His eyes met mine. They were very blue and…twinkly. “Besides, your weirdness is why I like you so much.”

“I’m just full of mysteries, Miss Brannick,” he said. “And now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to head back to my bleachers and my book. But I’ll see you on the bus.”

I couldn’t get suspicious over every single person who showed the slightest bit of interest in me. Clearly, I was going to have to brush up on my Normal People Skills.

“You knocked out Ben McCrary?” he asked, eyes wide.

“It was an accident,” I said again. “I threw the ball harder than I meant to.”

Dex burst into laughter. “Oh my God, that is the greatest thing I’ve heard all week. You are my new hero.”

Squinting at me, he leaned in and said, “Seriously, I might actually be in love with you now. Would it be awkward if we made out?”

“Yeah, nice one, Ben. You took out a ninety-pound myopic chick. Congratulations on your masculinity!”

“Well,” Torin said as the credits began to roll, “take heart, Isolde. At least a ghost will be less terrifying than that.”