It Will Come Back

Grumpy Gills and Serial Thrills

“Jeez, what’s eating you, Grumpy Gills?” Ravi mutters, falling into step beside me as we walk to class. His voice has that familiar edge of mockery that usually amuses me but feels like nails on a chalkboard today.

I glare at the pavement, my hands stuffed into my hoodie pockets. “Nothing, okay? Asshole,” I snap.

“Sure, nothing,” he replies with an exaggerated roll of his eyes. “Spit it out, would you?”

I groan, hating how easily he can read me. “Fine. I upset someone—a…a friend. I was trying to interrogate them, you know, to figure out why all this weird crap keeps happening.”

Ravi’s grin widens like he’s just been handed a juicy bit of gossip. “So, Mystic Meg, did you get anything out of this…um, ugh, friend?” He draws out the word, his tone dripping with teasing skepticism.

I shoot him a glare. “No. Instead, he just shouted, slammed the floor, and stormed off. For a second, I thought he’d kis—” I stop short, realizing what I was about to admit. “Never mind.”

Ravi’s eyes light up like a kid on Christmas morning. “Wait, wait, wait. You thought he’d kiss you? Oh my god, are we talking about Levi?”

I whip my head around to face him, mortified. “Why in God’s name would Levi kiss me? Or me kiss him? That’s just—ugh—weird!”

Ravi’s laughter echoes through the hallway, loud and unapologetic. “Yeah, but have you met you? You’re kinda weird. And anyway, I have this sixth sense about these things, and trust me, you two have a connection.”

“Oh, sure,” I scoff, smirking. “And I also have a connection with the thumbtack stuck in my shoe. Maybe that’s my soulmate!”

Ravi rolls his eyes so hard I’m worried they’ll fall out of his head. “Alright, fine, Miss Sarcasm. If it’s not Levi, then who’s this mystery man?”

For a moment, I hesitate. But Ravi’s my best friend, and if there’s anyone I can trust with this, it’s him. “His name’s Ash. I, uh, saved his life.”

Ravi stops dead in his tracks, then doubles over laughing like I just told him I moonlight as a superhero.

“Hey! What the hell?” I snap, punching him in the stomach to shut him up.

“No offense, Lux,” Ravi says between wheezing breaths, “but you couldn’t save a packet of Cheerios, let alone someone’s life!”

I glare at him, then aim lower. My fist lands squarely in his nuts.

“Ow! Okay, okay, I’m sorry!” he wheezes, clutching himself.

“Apology not accepted. And if you don’t shut up, I’ll rip off your favorite appendage,” I threaten, crossing my arms.

“Fine, geez. So, how’d you save him?” Ravi asks, straightening up.

“He got shot by some sketchy thugs. I took the bullet out. After that, he just…kept visiting me.” My voice softens as I recall the moment, a small smile creeping onto my lips.

“I have to meet this guy,” Ravi declares, his grin wide and mischievous.

“Yeah, well, that’s if he ever visits me again,” I mumble, the smile fading. “I don’t even know his last name or where he lives. What if he never comes back?”

Ravi rolls his eyes dramatically. “Trust me, babes, he’ll be back.”

Before I can respond, Levi saunters up to us, his usual brooding expression firmly in place.

“Oh, look. My day just keeps getting better,” I mutter under my breath.

“What’s biting Moody?” Levi asks, looking between me and Ravi.

Ravi grins, clearly sensing an opportunity for chaos. “Her boyfriend,” he says, his tone syrupy sweet.

“Yep,” I mumble, rolling my eyes. “Like Gossip Girl said, ‘my boy who’s a friend.’”

Levi scoffs. “I’m surprised you even have a friend. Does he know?”

My eyes narrow as I punch his arm. But the moment my knuckles make contact, a searing heat shoots through them, and I jerk back, blowing on my hand. “What the hell, man?”

Levi looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “What?”

“Your arm just burnt me, that’s what!” I snap, holding my hand close to my chest.

“Are you wearing color-changing contacts?” Ravi asks suddenly, shoving his phone camera in my face.

“No! Why would I—” I glance at the screen and freeze. My hazel eyes have turned an icy white.

I blink rapidly, and just like that, they’re back to normal. “You’re deluded,” I mutter, shoving Ravi’s phone away. “I didn’t see anything.”

“Great,” Ravi says, throwing his hands up. “Not only do we have to work with you two sad sacks to find a serial killer, but now I’ve got to figure out what’s going on with Hot Stuff over here and Mystic Meg wannabe.”

“Hey! I am not a wannabe!” I snap.

Levi smirks. “That’s your biggest concern, huh? Not the killer on the loose?”

“Since when did I say that?” I retort. “And look who’s talking, Budget Stefan Salvatore.”

Ravi bursts out laughing, clutching his sides.

Levi glares at me, his smugness unwavering. “I just assumed—”

“Well, you know what they say about assuming,” I cut him off. “It breeds a lifetime of misery.”

Ravi raises an eyebrow. “Since when has that been a thing?”

“It’s a thing!” I snap, turning on him.

“Yeah, seriously, have you heard of acting normal?” Levi says, crossing his arms. “Maybe you’d have a shot at a boyfriend if you tried that.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “I didn’t realize you were an expert on my life. Please, Professor Levi, enlighten me while I take notes.”

“Come on, Firecracker and Elisa,” Ravi interrupts, shaking his head. “This is gonna be a long-ass day.”

With a collective groan, we all head to class.