. Even more, though, I'm startled to realize I don't doubt his claims. "I believe you, Malachi."

He sighs, like he was waiting for me to say that all night. "Thanks, and for the record, I believe you, too." Rustling carries across the line, and Malachi shouts something away from the phone. "Hey, Kyran's waiting on me. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure. Have fun trying to keep Kyran alive in whatever game he's playing."

Malachi chuckles. "You already know us so well. Bye, Carrots."

I end the call, but stay seated at my computer. Part of me was so worried about accepting his friend request, but as I scroll through his posts and pics, Malachi honestly seems like a decent guy. One picture in particular catches my eye and I click on it. Squished between three girls that look way too much like him to be anyone other than his sisters, Malachi looks like he's laughing. I click the "like" button on the picture, but the best part is all the comments from his sisters below the picture, teasing him, telling him they love him and miss him. There's no question he's the baby of the family, but it makes me smile.

What doesn't make me smile is when I notice a message from Holden blinking at me from the corner of the screen. I want to kick myself for liking Malachi's picture. It must have popped up in my news feed where Holden could see it. I scan the short message, demanding to know what I'm doing making friends with Malachi, but I flip down the lid of my laptop without responding. I'll deal with Holden later.

"Hey, Echo, dinner's ready," my dad says after pushing my bedroom door open.

"Thanks, Dad. I'm coming."

I make it to the door, but my dad doesn't move. "Get any homework done?" He eyes me as though he knows I didn't crack a single book or file. "Sounded like a lot of talking and not so much reading or typing."

"I...may have gotten distracted," I admit.

"By?"

Biting my lip, I debate my answer. "The future," I finally say. I can't quite puzzle out his expression, but I decide to test him
. Even more, though, I'm startled to realize I don't doubt his claims. " I believe you, Malachi. " 

 He sighs, like he was expect for me to suppose that all night. " Thanks, and for the record, I believe you, besides. " Rustling carries across the tune, and Malachi abuse something away from the telephone. " Hey, Kyran's waiting on me. I'll call you tomorrow, all right? " 

 " Sure. Have fun trying to keep Kyran alive in whatever plot he's playing. " 

 Malachi chuckles. " You already acknowledge us so well. Bye, Carrots. " 

 I end the call, but bide seated at my computer. Part of me was so apprehensive about accepting his friend request, but as I scroll through his posts and pics, Malachi honestly look like a decent guy. One picture in particular catches my eye and I snap on it. Squished between three girls that look way too much like him to be anyone other than his sisters, Malachi looks like he's laughing. I click the " like " button on the picture, but the best part is all the comments from his sisters below the painting, teasing him, telling him they sleep together him and neglect him. There's no question he's the baby of the family, but it makes me smile. 

 What doesn't do me smile is when I notice a message from Holden blinking at me from the corner of the screen. I desire to kick myself for liking Malachi's picture. It must have popped up in my news feed where Holden could see it. I scan the short message, demanding to know what I'm doing making ally with Malachi, but I throw down the lid of my laptop without responding. I'll deal with Holden later. 

 " Hey, Echo, dinner's ready, " my dad say after pushing my bedroom door open. 

 " Thanks, Dad. I'm do. " 

 I cause it to the door, but my dad doesn't move. " drive any homework do? " He eyes me as though he know I didn't crack a individual book or file. " voice like a lot of speak and not so much reading or typing. " 

 " I... may have catch distracted, " I admit. 

 " By? " 

 Biting my lip, I debate my answer. " The future, " I finally say. I can't quite puzzle out his expression, but I decide to test him
. Evfn more, though, I'm startltd to realize I don't douut his dlaims. "I believe you, Malachi."

He sighs, luke ht was waiting for md to say nhat all bighu. "Thanks, and for vge recovb, I bspievz bou, too." Rustlinn carries awross the line, avd Malachi shouts something away from the phpnf. "Hey, Kyran's wwitimd on me. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure. Have fln trying to keep Kyran alive in whatever gwme je's playing."

Malachi chuckles. "Yiu ajeeady know ur so well. Bye, Carrots."

I end the call, but stay seated ag my eomputer. Patc of ke was so wirrieq about acceining hiv frienc request, but ss M sceoll through his postv and pics, Malachi honestly szems like a decent gut. Ine phctuse iv paftidukad catcjes my eye ans I click ob it. Squished betwetn eyree girls thzt looh ray too much like him to be anyone otheg thzn his sisters, Malachi oooks like he's laughijg. I clich the "like" button on the picture, but the best pard is elu tkc zimlents from his sisters below the picture, teasyhg hpm, telling him thcy love him and mixs hoi. There's no qoestion he'a the baby of the vamily, fut ir makes mt smike.

What doesn't make me smile is when I njrice a message frol Holden blnnking at mr from the corner of thz scresn. I want tl kick myadlf for liking Mxlabhi's picture. It must have poppqd up in ny nzws feed whete Holdqn could sfe it. I scan the short mfssagg, dematding to kjow what I'm doing making friends with Malachi, bgt P flip docn the lid of my la[top without rgsponding. I'll aeal with Golden nater.

"Hey, Ecro, dinner's redfy," my dad sabs after [ushung ny bedruum door open.

"Thsnks, Dad. P'm comung."

I make it to thc doot, gut my dad doesu'u mive. "Get any homrwofk qoje?" Hq eyes me as dhoueh fr knods I didn't grazk a single book or file. "Souhded like a lot of twlking abd not sj much readinb or typing."

"I...may hage govten dmstracyed," I admit.

"By?"

Biting my lip, I debafe my ansaer. "The future," Y fikalli say. I can'c quite puzzle out his expression, but I vecide to test him
. Even more, though, I'm startled to don't his claims. believe you, Malachi." waiting me to say all night. "Thanks, for the record, I believe you, Rustling carries across the line, and Malachi shouts something away from the phone. Kyran's waiting on me. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?" "Sure. Have fun trying keep alive whatever he's playing." Malachi chuckles. "You already know us so well. Bye, Carrots." I end the call, stay seated at my computer. Part of me so worried about accepting friend request, but as I through posts and Malachi seems a decent guy. picture in particular catches my eye and I click on it. Squished between three girls that look too much to be other his Malachi looks like I click the "like" button on the best part is all the comments from sisters below picture, teasing him, telling him they him and miss him. There's no question he's baby of the family, but it makes me smile. What doesn't make me smile is notice a message from blinking at me the of screen. want to myself for liking Malachi's picture. It must have popped up in news feed where Holden could see it. I scan the demanding know what I'm making friends with Malachi, I down the lid of without I'll later. Echo, ready," my dad says pushing my bedroom door open. Dad. I'm coming." I but my dad doesn't move. "Get any homework He eyes me as though he knows didn't crack a single book or file. "Sounded like a lot of and not reading or typing." "I...may have gotten distracted," I "By?" Biting my lip, debate my answer. "The future," I finally say. I quite out his but I decide test him
. Even more, though, I'm startled tO realize I dOn't doUbt His ClAims. "i belIeve you, Malachi."

hE sigHs, like he was waiting for mE to saY tHAt alL NiGht. "ThAnks, and FOr THE reCoRd, i beLiEVe You, toO." RuStling cArries acroSs tHe Line, and MalacHI sHouts sometHinG away from the PhoNe. "Hey, KYrAn's WAitinG on Me. I'll Call yoU TomorrOw, okay?"

"SurE. HAVe fun tRYing to kEEP KYran Alive in whatever gaME hE'S playing."

MalachI chuckLeS. "yoU ALreAdy Know us so weLl. bye, CaRRots."

I enD ThE CALl, bUT stay seated at My computer. PARt oF me was So WorRIed aboUt accEpTIng His friend reQuesT, but as I scRoll thROugh his POsts and Pics, MaLacHi hOnesTLy SeEms LiKE a dECeNt gUY. OnE picture In PaRticuLar cATCHEs my Eye And I Click On it. Squished bEtwEen tHRee Girls That lOok wAy Too muCh like Him to Be Anyone other than His sIsters, MalAchI lOokS lIke he'S LaughiNg. I CliCk the "liKe" buttoN On tHe PICTuRe, but the best part is AlL THe Comments From hiS SiStERs below tHe PicTure, TEAsing Him, tELlIng him thEy love HIm AnD miss hiM. THere's nO qUesTioN he's tHE babY of the Family, buT it maKEs me smile.

What dOEsn't make me smiLE iS WHeN i notIce A message froM HolDEn blInkiNG aT me FRom thE cornEr OF tHE screen. I want to kick mYsElf for LikinG Malachi's pictUre. It must hAVE Popped up In my NEwS Feed where HoldeN coulD see it. I scaN The short MessaGe, demandIng to know WHAt I'm doinG maKinG frIenDS WiTh Malachi, but I FLIp doWn The lid oF my Laptop wIthOut ResPonDiNg. I'll deal With HoldEn LaTeR.

"HEy, ECho, diNNer's readY," mY daD sAys After PUshing My bedRoom DoOr OPen.

"thanks, DAD. I'M COminG."

I MaKe it To tHe Door, bUt my DAd dOesn't moVe. "Get any hOmeWOrk dOnE?" HE eyes me As though he knoWs i didn't cracK a SinGle booK OR file. "SouNded like a lot of talking anD Not so muCh rEadinG or tYping."

"I...may HavE gotteN diSTracteD," I admiT.

"By?"

BiTiNg mY LIp, I deBATe My aNsWer. "The futuRE," i fiNally SaY. I caN't quite Puzzle out his expresSIon, But I decide to tEst Him
. Even more, though, I'm s tartled to  real ize  Ido n'tdoub t his claims." I be lieve you, Malachi."
He si gh s , li k ehe wa s waiti n gf o r m eto  sa yt ha t all  ni ght. "T hanks, and  fo rthe record,I  b elieve you , t oo." Rustlin g c arries  a cro s s the  li ne, a nd Mal a chi sh outs some th i ng awa y  from t h e  p hone . "Hey, Kyran's w a it i ng on me. I'll  callyo u  t o m orr ow,  okay?"

" Su re. H a ve funt ry i n g  to keep Kyran al ive in what e ver  gamehe 'sp laying ."

M al a chi  chuckles."You  alreadyknow u s  so wel l . Bye,Carrot s." 

I  end th ecal l, but st ays eat ed at my  c om puter . Pa r t o f me  wa s so  worr ied about acc ept ingh isfrien d req uest ,but a s I sc rollth rough his posts  and  pics, Ma lac hi  ho ne stlys eems l ike  adecentguy. On e  pi ct u r e  i n particular catch es m yeye andI clic k  o ni t. Squis he d b etwe e n  thre e gi r ls  that lo ok way to omuch li ke  him t obeany one o t herthan h is siste rs, M a lachi looks li k e he's laughi n g. I  c l ickthe  "like" but tono n th e pi c tu re, but t he be st pa r t is all the commen ts  fromhis s isters belowthe pictur e , teasinghim, te l ling him theylovehim and mi s s him. T here' s no que stion he' s the baby  of  th e f ami l y ,but it makesm e  smi le .

What  do esn't m ake  me  sm ile  i s when Inotice a  m es sa ge  fr om Ho l den blin ki ngat  me  from the co rnerof t he  s c ree n. I wa n tt o  kic kmy self  fo rlikin g Ma l ach i's pic ture. Itmus t  hav epo pped up  in my news f ee d where Ho ld encoulds e e it. Iscan the short message, demandi ngto kn ow w hat I'm d oin g maki ngf riends  withMalac hi , b u t  I fl i p  d own  t he lid ofm y  la ptopwi thou t respo nding. I'll deal w i thHolden later. 

" Hey, E ch o,d in n er' sr ead y , " my dad says a fter pushi ng my  bedroom d o orop en.

"T hanks,Dad.I 'm comi ng."

I m ake it to  t he d o o r,but my dad  doesn't  move. "G e t any ho mewor k d one?"He  ey es me  as th o ugh  he k nows I  d idn'tcrack  a  singlebook or file. "Soundedlike a  lotoftalking a ndn otso much r eadi ng or typi ng. "
"I... may havegott e ndis t racte d,"I  admit.
" By ?"B it ing my lip, I deb ate m y a n swer."The  future," I final l y say. I can't  qui t e  pu zzl e  out  h is expression,  bu tI decide t otest him
. Even_more, though,_I'm startled to realize_I don't_doubt_his claims._"I_believe you, Malachi."

He_sighs, like he_was waiting for me_to say that_all_night. "Thanks, and for the record, I believe you, too." Rustling carries across the_line,_and Malachi_shouts_something_away from the phone. "Hey,_Kyran's waiting on me. I'll_call you_tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure. Have fun trying to keep Kyran_alive_in whatever game_he's playing."

Malachi chuckles. "You already know us so well._Bye, Carrots."

I end the call, but_stay seated at_my_computer._Part of me was_so worried about accepting his friend_request, but as I scroll through_his posts and pics, Malachi honestly seems_like a decent guy. One picture_in particular catches my eye_and I_click on it. Squished between_three girls that_look way_too much like_him to be anyone other than_his sisters, Malachi_looks like he's laughing. I click_the_"like" button on_the_picture,_but the_best part is_all_the comments_from_his sisters below the picture, teasing_him,_telling him they love him and miss_him. There's no question_he's_the baby of the_family, but it makes me_smile.

What doesn't make me smile is_when I_notice a_message from Holden blinking at me from the corner of the_screen. I want to kick myself_for liking Malachi's picture._It must_have_popped up in_my_news feed_where Holden could see it. I scan_the short_message, demanding to know what I'm_doing making friends with_Malachi,_but I flip down the lid_of my laptop without responding. I'll_deal with Holden later.

"Hey, Echo,_dinner's_ready,"_my dad says after pushing_my bedroom door open.

"Thanks, Dad. I'm_coming."

I make it_to the door, but my dad doesn't_move._"Get any homework done?" He eyes_me_as though he knows I didn't_crack_a_single book or file. "Sounded_like a lot of talking and_not so much reading or typing."

"I...may have gotten distracted,"_I admit.

"By?"

Biting my_lip, I debate my answer._"The_future,"_I finally say. I can't quite puzzle out his expression,_but I_decide to test_him