Page 9 of Thirsty

He grabbed a few more items of clothing that needed cleaning and marched downstairs, shoving them into a drawstring bag.

He returned to the living room just as Rachel unhinged her jaw, faced the ceiling, and let out an unholy scream, the air around her bubbling and melting like polaroid film on fire. A moment later her head returned to its normal shape and size, and she toyed with the buttons of her flannel while Charlie caught his breath, staring at her wide-eyed.

“How’s it going,” Lorenzo asked, and Charlie jumped, gaping at him.

“That was rude,” Maggie said to Rachel.

“What, um,” Charlie managed, his voice sounding wheezy. “What was that?”

Rachel scoffed at him. “Now who’s being rude?”

“It’s her poltergeist,” Maggie explained.

“Hey!” Rachel said, smacking Maggie lightly on the arm. “I told you, I’m not interested in being studied like a bug by some human scientist.”

“I’m not a scientist, I’m just a grad student,” Charlie said hesitantly. “And—you’re a poltergeist?”

“No, I’m Haunted,” Rachel corrected him.

“What does that mean?”

She took a precise step toward Charlie, her features darkening. “You really want to know?”

“Actually, y’know what,” Charlie said, turning toward Lorenzo a bit desperately, “I need to get Lorenzo’s clothes—”

“Oh, I have more,” he said, smiling when Charlie’s face fell. “I think there are a few more things in the laundry room. I will return.”

“Okay,” Charlie said. He cleared his throat, and as Lorenzo walked away, he heard Charlie saying, with an admirable attempt at breeziness, “So...you’re haunted. Aren’t we all?”

He’d heard Rachel’s speech on the benefits of being Haunted dozens of times before, so he tuned them out as he reached the back of the apartment. He wasn’t even sure he had any clothes in the laundry room; he’d only left to prolong Charlie’s discomfort. His revenge scheme was off to an excellent start so far. He was enjoying seeing Charlie out of his element.

When they’d known each other before, Charlie had always seemed in his element; always confident and just a touch smarter than everyone else. He hadn’t been popular, exactly, at least from what Lorenzo could glean of the university’s social dynamics. But he’d been personable, witty, and almost—wise. The kind of person others listened to.

He’d known exactly how to turn Olivia against Lorenzo.

He dawdled one extra moment, hoping that Rachel would scare Charlie properly, and then returned to the living room.

He found Rachel, Maggie, and Charlie huddled together on the sofa, laughing uproariously. His stomach dropped.

“What did yousay?” Maggie demanded, stifling giggles.

Charlie grinned. “That I don’t own a giraffe.”

Maggie and Rachel pealed off into laughter again. “What did I miss?” Lorenzo asked tersely.

“Oh, we’re doing worst first date stories,” Charlie said.

“I thought you were doing research,” he said. “For your thesis.”

“Well, yeah, but I’m also getting to know your roommates,” Charlie said with a big, giddy smile. “Did you know that Maggie can grow her limbs back if they’re cut off?”

“Yes,” Lorenzo said testily. “She ismyroommate, and this is a well-known troll power.”

“Half-troll,” Maggie said reflexively. “And I dunno, full trolls can grow back arms and legs and stuff. I’ve only ever tried it with fingers. I’m not very brave.”

“I think you’re amazing,” Charlie said fondly. Lorenzo twitched with irritation—he’d met Maggie all of five minutes ago.

“And you,” Charlie said, turning to Rachel. “I can’t believe I didn’t know you could be voluntarily possessed.”