 having his dad's eyes and jawline. This is different, more elemental. We don't get in each other's way or grab for things at the same time. His nearness is comforting.

There's sexual zero attraction between us. It seems weird that I feel one hundred percent accurate saying that about him as well as myself, but I do. He was teasing, kind of, when he said he and his siblings are beginning to think of me as family. That's exactly what he feels like, though, an older brother I know will have my back.

I'm used to weird, but this is freaking me out a little. Maybe a lot.

Normally, I keep these kinds of odd thoughts to myself. Morton insists I share every stupid little thing with him that has to do with my paranormal talents. Some of the everyday stuff too, unfortunately. Maybe it's just habit, but I don't keep my thoughts to myself for once.

"I'm not the only one feeling this, right?"

He doesn't ask me what I'm talking about or shy away. Instead, he smiles and hands me my backpack. "No, you're not."

"Care to explain what it is?" I ask with a slight edge to my voice.

"I'm not like Malachi, if that's what you're thinking."

Honest relief sweeps through me, because...I really don't need that kind of complication right now. Malachi is bound to me, my compliment in all things freaky and bizarre, required to protect me from all the dark and scary beasties trying to suck away my soul and destroy the world. He's also in, well, not love with me, but heavy like, I guess. Or he was. I don't even know anymore. Maybe he still would be if I hadn't accidentally commanded him to have sex with me after nearly dying and completely freaking out when I woke up. Oh yeah, then I ran off like a lunatic and inadvertently made all my friends blame him for taking my virginity when I was at my weakest. Even though I've tried to explain to him and everyone else what really happened—or at least my best guess—yeah, things are still a mess.

Before I realize he's moved, Griffin pulls me in for a hug and my head falls against his chest. "It's not as bad as you think," he says quietly
having his dad's eyes and jawline. This is different, more elemental. We don't draw in each early's way or grab for thing at the like time. His nearness is comforting. 

 There's sexual zero drawing card between us. It seem weird that I find one hundred percent accurate saying that about him equally well as myself, but I do. He was teasing, kind of, when he said he and his siblings are begin to think of me as family. That's exactly what he feels like, though, an older buddy I know will have my back. 

 I'm use to weird, but this is freaking me out a small. Maybe a batch. 

 Normally, I keep these kinds of odd thoughts to myself. Morton insists I partake every stupid little thing with him that has to do with my paranormal endowment. Some of the everyday stuff too, unfortunately. Maybe it's just habit, but I don't keep my thoughts to myself for once. 

 " I'm not the only one feeling this, right? " 

 He doesn't necessitate me what I'm talk about or shy away. rather, he smile and hands me my backpack. " No, you're not. " 

 " Care to explain what it is? " I necessitate with a slight boundary to my voice. 

 " I'm not like Malachi, if that's what you're thinking. " 

 Honest easing sweeps through me, because... I really don't need that kind of complication right now. Malachi is bound to me, my compliment in all things freaky and bizarre, required to protect me from all the dark and scary beasties judge to breastfeed away my soul and destroy the populace. He's also in, well, not love with me, but heavy like, I think. Or he was. I don't even know anymore. Maybe he still would be if I hadn't accidentally dominate him to have sexual activity with me after nearly dying and completely freaking out when I woke up. Oh yeah, then I run off like a lunatic and inadvertently made all my friends blame him for take my virginity when I was at my weakest. Even though I've tried to explain to him and everyone else what really happened — or at least my adept guess — yeah, things are even a mess. 

 Before I realize he's moved, Griffin pulls me in for a hug and my head fall against his chest. " It's not as regretful as you think, " he says quietly
 haging his dad's eyes and jxwline. This is buffereit, more elementxl. We don't get in each other'd qay oe grab for things at tfe same tpme. His nwarntss is comforting.

Vgere's scrual acro actcaction between us. It seeks weird that H wezl one hundred percent accurate sayigg that ahout him as wejl ax mysslf, but I do. He was teasing, kind or, when ie said he and nis siblings are beginning to hhink of me as famlly. That's ezactjt what he fedls like, though, an oldgr brother I know will have my bxck.

I'm used to wgned, hot this is fceakind me out a llntle. Mafbe a lpt.

Normally, I kcep tiese kinds of odd thoughtv to myself. Morton insists H ahare every stupie oittlg thitg wkrh fim tiat has tl dk with my laranormal ralents. Some of the edvtyday stuff foo, unsowtunately. Maybe it's just habit, but I dot't ieep my thoughts to myswlf for once.

"I'm not thg only one feeling this, right?"

He doesn't ask me what I'm talkitg abkjt ir ryy away. Instead, he smiles and hands me my backpwdk. "Np, you're not."

"Carc to explain what ot ix?" I ask with a slighc esge to my voice.

"I'm jot likg Malaxhi, if thwt's ehat you're thinking."

Honest rwlief sweeps rhrough me, because...N really don'c need that kind of complication rnght nkw. Malachi ls bound fu me, my complimevt pn anl things freaky and bizarwe, requirxd to protecg me from wll the dagk and scary beasties trjing jo sucn away my doul and destroy the world. He's ekso in, well, mod lmve with me, bmt heavy like, I guess. Or he wcs. I don'c even know anymkre. Mayue he still rould be if I jadn't accideitally coimaneed yim to fxve sex with mr after nvaxly dying and completely frcakine out when I wokz op. Oh yeah, then I fan ovf lyne a lunatic and inxcvertdntly made clu my friends blame him fmr tzking my virginity wmen I was at my wqakest. Even tnough I've tried to explein to him snd everyone else what really haplened—or ah lcast my best duesw—yeah, things are still a mess.

Before I realize he's mived, Griffin pulls me in for a hug anb ky head falks agwinst his chest. "It's not as bae as you think," he says quietly
having his dad's eyes and jawline. This more We don't in each other's at same time. His is comforting. There's zero attraction between us. It seems that I feel one hundred percent accurate saying that about him as well myself, but I do. He was teasing, kind of, when he said he his are to of me as family. That's exactly what he feels like, though, an older brother I know have my back. I'm used to weird, but is freaking me out little. Maybe a lot. Normally, keep kinds of thoughts myself. insists I share stupid little thing with him that has to do with my paranormal talents. Some of the everyday too, unfortunately. just habit, I keep thoughts to myself "I'm not the only one feeling doesn't ask me what I'm talking about or away. Instead, smiles and hands me my backpack. you're not." "Care to explain what it is?" ask with a slight edge to my voice. "I'm not like Malachi, if that's what Honest relief sweeps through because...I really don't that of right Malachi is to me, my compliment in all things freaky and bizarre, required protect me from all the dark and scary beasties trying away soul and destroy world. He's also in, not with me, but heavy guess. he even anymore. he still would be I hadn't accidentally commanded him have sex with me freaking out when I woke up. Oh yeah, I ran off like a lunatic and made all my friends blame him for taking my virginity when I at my though I've tried to explain to him and else what really happened—or least my best guess—yeah, things are still a mess. I he's moved, pulls me in a hug and head falls against "It's not bad you quietly
 having his dad's eyes and jawliNe. This is diFfereNt, mOre ElEmenTal. WE don't get in each OTher'S way or grab for things at tHe samE tIMe. HiS NeArnesS is comfORtING.

ThErE's SexUaL ZeRo attRacTion betWeen us. It seEms WeIrd that I feel ONe Hundred perCenT accurate sayIng That abOuT hiM As welL as MyselF, but I dO. he was tEasing, kinD oF, When he SAid he anD HIs SiblIngs are beginning tO ThINk of me as family. that's eXaCTlY WHat He fEels like, thOuGh, an oLDer brotHEr i KNOw wILl have my back.

I'M used to weirD, But This is FrEakINg me ouT a litTlE. mayBe a lot.

NormaLly, I Keep these Kinds oF Odd thouGHts to mySelf. MoRtoN inSistS i sHaRe eVeRY stUPiD liTTle Thing witH hIm That hAs to DO WITh my ParAnorMal taLents. Some of thE evErydAY stUff toO, unfoRtunAtEly. MaYbe it's Just hAbIt, but I don't keep mY thoUghts to mySelF fOr oNcE.

"I'm noT The onlY onE feEling thIs, right?"

hE doEsN'T ASk Me what I'm talking aboUt OR ShY away. InsTead, he SMiLeS And hands Me My bAckpACK. "No, yoU're nOT."

"CAre to expLain whAT iT iS?" I ask wiTh A slighT eDge To mY voicE.

"i'm noT like MAlachi, if That's WHat you're thinkiNG."

Honest relief SWeEPS tHRougH me, Because...I reaLly dON't neEd thAT kInd OF compLicatIoN RiGHt now. Malachi is bound To Me, my coMplimEnt in all thingS freaky and BIZArre, requIred TO pROtect me from all The daRk and scary BEasties tRying To suck awAy my soul aND Destroy tHe wOrlD. He'S alSO In, Well, not love wiTH Me, buT hEavy likE, I gUess. Or hE waS. I dOn't EveN kNow anymorE. Maybe he StIlL wOuLd bE if I hADn't accidEnTalLy ComMandeD Him to hAve seX witH mE aFTer Nearly dYInG ANd coMpLeTely FreAkIng ouT wheN i woKe up. Oh yEah, then I rAn oFF likE a LuNatic anD inadvertentlY mAde all my frIeNds Blame hIM For takinG my virginity when I was at mY Weakest. eveN thouGh I'vE tried to eXplAin to hIm aND everyOne elsE what ReAllY HAppenED—Or At lEaSt my best guESS—yeAh, thiNgS are Still a mEss.

Before I realize hE'S moVed, Griffin pulLs mE in fOR A hUg aND mY HeaD fALls AGAinst his chest. "It'S not as bad aS yOU tHink," he says QUieTlY
 having his dad's eyes and  jawline.Thisisdif fe rent , mo re elemental.W e do n't get in each other' s way  o r  gra b  f or th ings at th e sam eti me.  H i snearn ess  is com forting.
The re 's sexual ze r oattraction  be tween us. It  se ems we ir d t h at Ifee l one  hundr e d perc ent accur at e  sayin g  that a b o ut  him  as well as mysel f ,b ut I do. He wa s teas in g ,k i ndof,  when he s ai d hea nd hiss ib l i n gsa re beginningto think of meas fam il y.T hat'sexact ly wha t he feelslike , though,  an ol d er brot h er I kn ow wil l h ave  myb ac k. 

I 'm use d  t o w e ird , but th is  i s fre akin g m e  out  alitt le. M aybe a lot.
Nor mall y , I  keep  thes e ki nd s ofodd th ought sto myself. Mort on i nsists Isha re  ev er y stu p id lit tle  th ing wit h him t h atha s t odo with my paranor ma l ta lents. S ome of th ee verydayst uff  too , unfor tuna t el y. Maybe  it'sj us thabit,bu t I do n' t k eep  my t h ough ts tomyself f or on c e.

"I'm not t h e only one fe e li n g  t h is,rig ht?"

He do esn' t  ask  mew ha t I ' m tal kingab o ut or shy away. Instea d,  he sm ilesand hands memy backpac k . "No, you 'ren ot . "

"Care to ex plain  what it i s ?" I ask  with  a sligh t edge to m y voice. 

" I'm  no t l i k eMalachi, if t h a t'swh at you' rethinkin g." 

H one stre lief swee ps throu gh  m e,  b eca use.. . I really  d on' tnee d tha t  kindof co mpli ca ti o n r ight no w .M a lach iis  bou ndto  me,my c o mpl iment i n all thi ngs frea ky  a nd biza rre, required  t o protectme  fr om all t he darkand scary beasties tryi n g to su ckawaymy s oul and d est roy th e w o rld. H e's al so in ,wel l ,  notl o ve  wi th  me, but h e a vylike,  I  gue ss. Orhe was. I don't ev e n k now anymore.May be h e st ill wo u ldbe ifI hadn't accident ally comma nd e dhim to hav e  se xwith me  afternearl y  dyingand compl etely fre ak ingo u t w hen I woke  up. Ohyeah, the n  I ra n  o ff li kea luna ti c a nd in advert e ntl y mad e allmy  frien ds bl am e him fo r taking my virginity w hen Iwas a t m y weakest . E v enthough I' ve t ried to ex pla into hi m a n d eve ryon e  e lse whatreal l y happene d —o r a t le ast my best g u ess —yeah , t h ings a re s till a mess.

Bef o re I realize h e'sm o ved , G r iffi npulls me in fo r a  h u g  and myhe ad falls ag ainst hi sc hest.  "It's  not a s bad a s yo u  think ," h e s ays quiet ly
 having_his dad's_eyes and jawline. This_is different,_more_elemental. We_don't_get in each_other's way or_grab for things at_the same time._His_nearness is comforting.

There's sexual zero attraction between us. It seems weird that I feel_one_hundred percent_accurate_saying_that about him as well_as myself, but I do._He was_teasing, kind of, when he said he and_his_siblings are beginning_to think of me as family. That's exactly what_he feels like, though, an older_brother I know_will_have_my back.

I'm used to_weird, but this is freaking me_out a little. Maybe a lot.

Normally,_I keep these kinds of odd thoughts_to myself. Morton insists I share_every stupid little thing with_him that_has to do with my_paranormal talents. Some_of the_everyday stuff too,_unfortunately. Maybe it's just habit, but_I don't keep_my thoughts to myself for once.

"I'm_not_the only one_feeling_this,_right?"

He doesn't_ask me what_I'm_talking about_or_shy away. Instead, he smiles and_hands_me my backpack. "No, you're not."

"Care to_explain what it is?"_I_ask with a slight_edge to my voice.

"I'm not_like Malachi, if that's what you're_thinking."

Honest relief_sweeps through_me, because...I really don't need that kind of complication right now._Malachi is bound to me, my_compliment in all things_freaky and_bizarre,_required to protect_me_from all_the dark and scary beasties trying to_suck away_my soul and destroy the world._He's also in, well,_not_love with me, but heavy like,_I guess. Or he was. I_don't even know anymore. Maybe_he_still_would be if I hadn't_accidentally commanded him to have sex_with me after_nearly dying and completely freaking out when_I_woke up. Oh yeah, then I_ran_off like a lunatic and inadvertently_made_all_my friends blame him for_taking my virginity when I was_at my weakest. Even though I've tried to explain_to him and_everyone else what really happened—or_at_least_my best guess—yeah, things are still a mess.

Before I realize_he's moved,_Griffin pulls me_in for a hug and my head falls against his_chest. "It's not as bad as you_think," he says quietly