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our relationship would ever recover. “Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to check out the castle after registration.”
    He didn’t look in the least bit interested.
    “The family who owns it is away for the summer,” I added. “It’s closed to the public,
    so we’d have to break in. I totally understand if you don’t want to.”
    His eyes instantly lit up. “Count me in.”
    · · · · ·
    Braemar High was an old brick building that smelled oddly similar to my school back home in Portland. It had three levels, and given my schedule, I knew I’d be getting a lot of exercise running up and down the stairs since my classes were scattered throughout each floor.
    Shane had bailed on me shortly after arriving at the school, telling me we’d meet up later at the castle. I wasn’t holding my breath, especially now that he’d found buddies, but at least we were talking. That was a good start.
    Only one girl had approached me in the two hours I was at registration, and as sweet as she’d been, I knew we would never be
    close friends. We were just too different, and honestly, I didn’t know if I could let anyone in after losing all my buddies back home. I realized I hadn’t helped matters by pulling away after my mom’s death, but still, it hurt that everyone had let go so easily.
    And what about Ian? Did I feel it was okay to befriend him because he was a ghost? I’d never had a guy friend, well—aside from Kerry Johnston in the first grade, but that hardly counted. Playing hide-and-seek on the school playground was a lot different than a sixteen-year-old girl hanging out with a nineteen-year-old guy.
    I rushed over the bridge and past the inn.
    I didn’t spare the cemetery a glance, and even stayed on the opposite side of the road.
    Before I knew it, I was at the castle’s driveway, sliding under the chain.
    I avoided looking over at the trees, not wanting or needing a reminder that I had cut yesterday.
    “It’s sort of creepy.”
    I jumped at the sound of Shane’s voice.
    His hands were shoved into his jean pockets, and his eyes were seriously bloodshot. No wonder I hadn’t been able to find him after registration. He’d been getting blazed with his new friends.
    “Yeah, it is,” I said, not blaming him for getting high. I’d smoked pot a few times with my friend Ashley. I never did understand the appeal. I felt paranoid and awkward, and I ate anything in sight. Not pretty.
    “So are you sure about this?” he asked, sounding hesitant.
    Nothing short of cops showing up was going to stop me from getting inside that castle.
    “Yep. Are you?”
    His eyes were mere slits, and the sides of his mouth curved the slightest bit. I had a feeling he wouldn’t be a huge help if we ran into trouble, but at least I wouldn’t be alone.
    “Let’s do it.” He motioned for me to go ahead of him, and he followed behind as we walked into the castle’s courtyard that was hidden behind a tall, stone wall. As expected, the front entry door was locked, and as we rounded the back I saw painting supplies beside a partially opened window.
    I glanced at Shane. “You want to try it?”
    His eyes widened. “I don’t know. It looks kind of small. I don’t think I could squeeze through.”
    He could fit, but I was the one who wanted to see the castle. He was here at my invitation, and if he wanted to stay outside and play look-out, then that was fine with me.
    “Whistle if anyone comes, okay?”
    He nodded, looking relieved. “Okay. Be careful.”
    I pushed the window down, remembering when Ashley and I had sneaked out of my bedroom back home.
    I dangled from the window frame for a second, and then dropped down onto the floor. The smell of paint was nearly overwhelming, and across the room there was a ladder, which would come in handy if I needed to leave in a hurry.
    I walked out of the room and headed down a hallway that had black-and-white photos of landscapes, all in black frames with white matting.
    I came upon the