Page 75 of Library or Lattes?

But Lennie wasn’t having any of that.

“Willa! I thought something terrible had happened. Like I thought he’d said or done something really awful. Not … this?”

“What do you mean? Not this? This is really awful!”

“Okay, let me rephrase. I get why you might think that. But you don’t know anything …”

“What?”

“You don’t know the whole story. It’s like Instagram. A few seconds in time. Maybe she forced a hug on him. Maybe it was a goodbye-forever hug. Maybe she whispered something evil in his ear when she captured him in her witchy claws.” Lennie made claw hands and I managed to smile.

“She had perfect cinnamon-for-fall nails,” I sniffed. “And it didn’t look like a goodbye hug. It looked like an I’m so happy to see you hug, or a Let’s go back to your place and stay in bed for the foreseeable future hug.”

“Lennie’s right, you know.” Sara cut in. “I mean, probably not about the evil-claw-whispering. But about it being a snapshot. I mean, when I was upset about all the coming-out stuff, I was still posting all these happy selfies, when inside I was completely broken.”

I winced.

“Same,” said Lennie. She turned to me gently. “Sara and I were fighting at Harvest Festival because we couldn’t be normal, and I still posted from there. Then everything was really horrible and we were fighting and my girlfriend was upset, and I still posted. And I didn’t mean any of them, I was literally just trying to distract myself. But listen. We talked this through last night. He likes you. He kissed you? And you said he even notices when you don’t have that grubby green scarf on.”

“Hey. I love that scarf.”

“Looks amazing with your hair,” Sara added.

“Look, all I’m saying is, don’t make up a whole scenario based on a snapshot. Not until you know the whole story. And I’m still going with the evil whispers …”

“The party!” Sara clapped her hands. “The perfect distraction!”

I shook my head. I felt a tiny bit less terrible, but I wasn’t ready for a party. “No, you guys go and tell me all about it. I’m not in the mood this year, and my face will probably be swollen until the end of time.”

“No, I’m sorry. We need you. Hawkins needs its Max!” Lennie begged.

I shook my head. “Sorry, guys. I just can’t. I’ll stay here and scare off the trick-or-treaters with my ogre face.” I forced out a laugh I did not feel.

“You could cry for an eternity and still look good,” said Lennie.

“But I’m not giving up. At least turn your phone back on. You don’t want to miss it, Will, you really don’t. Think of the drama. You know what Krista’s like at her parties, running around yelling at people to clean up.”

“I can’t wait …” Sara groaned.

Lennie and Sara left after I promised them that no more tears were imminent and that I might come to the party, that I would let them know. Only because they’d genuinely made me feel a little bit better, just by being there.

Pop came home at lunchtime to find me reading in front of the fire. I still hadn’t turned my phone on.

“Willa? Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine. I thought I was sick this morning but I feel way better now.”

“Oh, thank goodness. There’s a terrible flu going around town.” Pop shook his head and took off his woolly hat. “Are you still going out tonight, then?”

I shook my head. “Nope. Staying in this year.” I said it firmly enough that I hoped it wouldn’t invite any more questions.

“About that, Will … I assumed you’d have plans, so I told Jo I’d help hand out treats at the library, and then she’s going to cook … But I can cancel, if you really are sick?” Pop was trying to figure me out, I could tell.

“I’m not sick. I’m absolutely fine. I promise.” I grinned extra hard to convince him.” Go, enjoy your date.”

“You promise to call me if you want me home?” Pop looked at me skeptically.

“I promise. But I won’t need to. I’m a big girl.”