One of the Guys by Lisa Aldin

several moments of silence. His eyes are cast downward. “I want to discover the stuff thought to be unreal.”
    â€œYou want to recapture something from fifth grade,” I say.
    â€œMaybe.” Loch fidgets with his camera. He doesn’t look at me. “Don’t you?”
    A twig snaps behind us. We both turn, on high alert. I search the trees for the culprit but find nothing. When my pulse quickens, I feel stupid. Not like an axe murderer would attempt to kill us in broad daylight, but the sense of isolation out here, tucked away amongst the sugar maples, is sort of creepy. Maybe it’s best I lay off the horror movies.
    â€œBOO!” Someone drops from the tree above us. I scream and wrap my arms around Loch’s waist, burying my face in his chest. He curls his arms around me, squeezing tight.
    â€œI got you guys so good!” a voice says, laughing.
    I look up to see Emma Elizabeth Swanson grinning back at me, her sequined pink sweater reflecting the sunlight, her honey-blonde hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. Her jeans are light blue and shredded at the knees.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” I try to catch my breath, embarrassed I screamed so loud.
    â€œSame thing you are.” Emma’s eyes twinkle. “These woods are a great make-out spot.”
    I look up at Loch. He looks back, his cheeks red. We’re still holding each other. Quickly, we take a huge step back, peeling ourselves apart.
    â€œSorry if I interrupted. I’m Emma, by the way.” She extends her hand to me, then Loch. We each shake it. Her nails are painted a pale purple and specked with glitter. She points to me and says, “You’re in my business class, right?”
    I nod. “Toni Valentine.”
    â€œRight. The new girl with the romantic name.” Her eyes shift to Loch. “Now I know you don’t go to Winston.”
    â€œThis is Loch,” I say. “My buddy. My pal. My platonic friend—”
    â€œIn other words, not her make-out partner,” Loch interrupts. “My name’s Micah.”
    â€œOh. My mistake. Nice to meet you both.” Emma looks around. “You haven’t seen anyone else roaming the woods, have you? Perhaps a short guy with messy hair and adorable eyes?”
    â€œNope. Sorry,” I say, exchanging a look with Loch. He just shrugs.
    â€œSometimes I think Kevin avoids me on purpose.” Emma chews on her lower lip. “Am I being paranoid?”
    All I can muster up is, “Huh?”
    â€œHe’s probably around here somewhere,” Loch says. “You never know what you’ll find deep in the woods.” He winks at me. “Keep looking.”
    Emma smiles. “Thanks!” she says. She prances off into the woods like an elegant deer, her pink sweater vanishing behind the trees. We watch her go in awe, like we’d just witnessed a legendary creature.
    â€œShe seems nice,” Loch says.
    I don’t know what to say. Emma Elizabeth Swanson does seem nice, but that doesn’t mean I can relate to her. At all.
    Leaves break beneath my sneakers as I continue to walk. Loch follows, quietly filming the woods as I try to concentrate on finding the elusive yellow birch. I sense Loch’s presence behind me and briefly feel close to my past life again. A past life that doesn’t seem so out of reach.
    â€œI think I found what you’re looking for,” Loch says.
    I turn, following his gaze. He points to a tree with yellow leaves several feet to the right. The bark along the trunk is smooth, shiny, and separates into layers, giving it a shaggy look.
    I snap a photo but, for some reason, I’m not excited about the find. “Thanks. That’s just what I was looking for,” I say, hoping Loch doesn’t notice the reluctance in my voice. If he does, he doesn’t say anything.

seven

    T HE F RIDAY BEFORE H ALLOWEEN, rain slams against the windows of Winston Academy while my