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the pieces fit now.”
    Badly, I thought. You only see me half the time.
    Still, I was relieved he’d be around tomorrow. Maybe, if we tried really hard, we could coax a smile out of him. The new apartment came with a TV and I could hook up my laptop for a holiday movie marathon. Given his status as a classic-movie nerd, Kian probably adored It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street . I’d seen both—didn’t love them—but I was willing to sit through them if Kian and Dad wanted to.
    I chilled with my dad while he paged through a scientific journal. But an hour later, he murmured, “We should get some sleep, if we’re making a feast tomorrow.”
    It was eight o’clock.
    But I couldn’t force him to talk to me. Maybe the progress I’d made was as much as I could hope for so soon. Tired, I trudged down the hall to wash my face and brush my teeth. My room was still devoid of personality, most of my things still boxed up in the closet. This didn’t feel like somewhere I actually lived, more that I was killing time.
    When I popped my laptop open, I had a message from Vi waiting. She was still online, so I pinged her for a chat. As usual, her room was a mess and beyond her closed door, I could hear her mom yelling at Vi’s brother. Then her dad rumbled something while she made an OMG face.
    â€œSorry about that.”
    â€œIt’s okay. I envy you the noise, actually.”
    â€œOh. Yeah, I bet.” She changed the subject swiftly, probably guessing I didn’t want to go farther down that road. “Did you get my package?”
    â€œNot yet.”
    â€œCrap. It’s probably hung up in the Christmas mail rush.”
    â€œThanks for thinking of me. I forgot to send you anything.” Yeah, I’m definitely winning the cruddy friend award this year.
    â€œI didn’t expect you to. Merry Christmas, Edie.”
    â€œThanks. Give my best to your family.”
    â€œOh, if your invitation still stands, I’m talking to my parents about coming to see you. Maybe for a few days during spring break?”
    Since I’d mentioned that a while ago, long before the supernatural shit hit the fan, it was probably a terrible idea for all the reasons. But she seemed so bright and hopeful that I couldn’t say no. Maybe her parents would do that for me. I’d used a favor to protect her, so Wedderburn should honor the deal.
    â€œI’d love to see you,” I said honestly. “I miss you.”
    â€œMe too.”
    Just then I heard Vi’s mom yell, “Are you coming down to wrap presents or not?”
    Visibly exasperated, she shouted back, “Give me a minute!”
    â€œIt’s fine. Go do family stuff.”
    â€œSorry. We all have to wrap junk for the relatives. Grandparents, cousins, nieces, whatever. God, it’s such a pain.”
    Vi might think so, but if it went away, if her house got quiet, I bet she’d feel differently. “Say hi to everyone for me.”
    â€œNo problem.” With that, she signed off.
    There was no word from Ryu, but it hadn’t been long enough since we talked for me to worry about him. That left me sitting in my room, wishing Kian could pop in secretly like he used to. But some things couldn’t be undone.
    In my darkest moments, I wondered if it would’ve been better for everyone if I’d stuck with the original plan … and jumped off the bridge.

 
    MONSTER’S BALL
    Christmas wasn’t bad.
    With my dad checked in, we made enough food for the three of us and it wasn’t depressing or lame like Thanksgiving. There was ham, mashed potatoes, and green beans—not a feast—but better than the frozen junk we’d been eating since my mom’s funeral. Afterward, we exchanged gifts. I was astonished my father remembered to buy me anything, even a bookstore gift card. He seemed to like the blue scarf I got him.
    Kian offered me a small