Kylee woke up suddenly, shivering as a cold breeze blew over her bare flesh. Goosebumps rose up on her stomach, and she curled up, huddling in a ball for warmth.

The dirt did little to reflect her body heat, however. She stumbled out of the hollowed out tree trunk, kicking up leaves and twigs as she made her way back to the house.

She examined the make-shift bandages on her arms. The bleeding must’ve stopped, but the rags were stained crimson. She touched one with a finger, and the crusty dried blood crunched under her touch.

The world tilted around her. Kylee needed to lay down. The full moon lit the yard, casting a ghostly pallor on the dark and silent house. Whatever fighting and yelling had gone on was long over now. She climbed back into her bedroom. The door was closed, but her desk chair lay sideways by the wall. So much for keeping anyone out. It wasn’t the first time she’d snuck back in to find Bill had forced open the door.

A dark suspicion took root in her mind, sprawling outward before she could pluck it away: had Bill ever followed her? Did he know where her secret tree was? She shook her head. No. If he knew, he’d chase her down.

The hall light was out. No sounds came from her mom and Bill’s room. Kylee turned on the closet light. She grabbed a sweatshirt and yanked in on over her head. Turning the light off, she spun in a slow circle. Shadows from the desk and bed loomed in the otherwise bare room. The lack of personality and life mocked her. This generic room could belong to anyone. Or no one.

She couldn’t bear it anymore. Kylee wasn’t staying here another moment. She no longer wanted her bed. She bolted for the window and climbed back out before she could question her thoughts.

A moment later she found herself in front of Price’s house, staring up at the window on the second floor. She knew that was his room. She’d watched his silhouette in the evenings when the night grew dark and his light was on. Kylee couldn’t recall making a conscious decision to come here, and she didn’t remember running over to his house. Yet now that she was here, it seemed the most logical course of action.

She glanced around, wondering how to get to that second floor. There were no nearby trees. A vine snaked up the brick exterior, but Kylee doubted it would hold her. Still, she didn't see any ladders or anything. That left the vine. She grabbed onto it and gave it a tug. It didn't budge. She put her weight on it, pushing off from the ground and swinging. It didn’t come free.

Satisfied, Kylee pressed her feet against the house and rappelled upward, using her grip on the vine to climb to the second story. There was no landing or anything to rest on when she reached the window. Luckily, Price had left it ajar, probably to let in the cool evening breeze. The screen was already off, leaning against the wall inside. Kylee shimmied her slender body under the cracked window.

Her hands hit the hardwood floor first. She crept inside, letting her eyes get used to the dark before she moved around. Last thing she wanted to do was make a loud noise and spook Price, or wake the whole house.

A worm of doubt niggled in her mind. Only weirdos snuck into other people’s houses at night. What would Price think of her?

As soon as she thought it, other doubts trickled in. This was a stupid idea. They’d both get in trouble if she was caught. This was a stalkerish thing to do.

Kylee turned back to the window, eager to make her getaway before her foolish actions were discovered.

“Kylee?”

She froze at Price’s voice. Too late. He’d spotted her. She sighed and faced him. “Hi.” She gripped her hands in front of her, feeling awkward in her jeans and sweatshirt. “I’m, uh, well, sorry. I shouldn’t be here.”

Price sat up in his bed, the blankets falling back to reveal the snug dark t-shirt he wore as pajamas. “Are you okay? Do you need something?”

He looked adorable with his brown hair poking out in unfashionable directions, his face swollen with sleep. Kylee hugged herself. “No, no. I’m fine. This was stupid.”

“What happened?”

“Nothing, nothing. I don’t know why I’m here.”

“Do you need a place to go, Kylee?”

He was looking at her that way, his head cocked. It was too dark to see his eyes, but Kylee was certain they studied her, probed her intimately.

She sagged with relief. “Yes, actually.” She thought of Bill, of the environment in her house, her room, and she didn’t want to go back. “Can I stay? Just tonight?”

“Yeah.” Price climbed out of bed and went to the closet. Kylee glanced at him in his boxers and t-shirt before averting her eyes.

“Here.” He tossed a pillow and a blanket at her. “Do you need that?”

Kylee lay down on the pillow in the middle of his floor and pressed her face into the quilt, inhaling the fresh laundry scent. So soft. “Thank you.”

The bed creaked, and she swiveled her head to see Price pulling his covers back over his body. “Will you be okay down there?” he asked.

“Yes,” Kylee whispered, staring at the ceiling. Price hadn’t acted as weirded out as she’d expected. She chuckled. “I’m not the first girl to show up in your bedroom, huh?”

“What was that?” His voice sounded drowsy, the words slurred together with sleep.

“You didn’t seem too surprised to see me.”

“I wasn’t.”

Kylee barely heard his response, he was so quiet. “Oh. So I’m just one girl of many to sneak through your window.”

Silence followed. Kylee closed her eyes. Just when she thought Price must be asleep, he said, “I’ve never had a girl in my room before. But you’re different.”

A smile pressed itself to her lips, and a warm feeling flooded her limbs. She curled up in the blanket and went to sleep.