Zach

***

“Are you ok, Zach? You seem pretty out of it.” Martin sits on the grass next to me, setting the football between us.

I squint at the sky, dark clouds, like my mood, hiding the sun. Then, a thought.

Does Martin know about my family’s secret?

“Is it a chick?”

I snort. “I wish.”

“Is it me?” He raises an eyebrow. “I piss you off or something?”

“Of course not.” I pause. Well, I guess there’s no harm in it. We could have a good laugh. “It’s just my family. I heard Sami say something the other day that struck me as strange.”

He studies me a second. “How strange?”

“Like, she’s-not-human strange.”

His gaze is thoughtful. Almost forcibly so. then, my best friend scratched his head while saying, “Well, about time you found out. I personally think they should’ve told you much sooner.”

“Told me…?” I’m surprised that my voice is not faltering. My heart is pounding so hard, I can hear it.

“Sami’ll punch me again.” Martin sighs. He shrugs, “This time, though, it’s her fault.”