Chapter 30 The Midnight Visitor

After Noah dropped her off, the silence of the house felt heavy, almost suffocating. Katherine went through the motions of her nighttime routine—brushing her teeth, washing her face, pulling on an oversized vintage t-shirt—but her reflection in the mirror looked like a stranger's. Her mind was a chaotic loop of Connie’s fragile voice and Noah’s unnervingly calm eyes.

My, my, my, you have not aged a day.

She climbed into bed and pulled the duvet up to her chin, but sleep was a distant country. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the black-and-white flickering of the movie screen and felt the cold realization that she hadn't been watching the film at all. She had been watching a boy who might be a ghost.

Be careful, Connie’s warning echoed. The things that don't fade usually have a price.

"Stop it, stop it," Katherine groaned softly into her pillow, pressing her palms against her eyes. "You’re being paranoid. It’s a coincidence. A name. A face. That’s all."

A sharp, rhythmic knocking at her bedroom door made her bolt upright, her heart hammering against her ribs.

"Katherine? You still up, kiddo?" her father’s muffled voice called out.

"Yeah!" she called back, her voice sounding higher than usual. She threw back the covers and hurried to the door, swinging it open. Thomas stood there, looking tired but alert, one eyebrow arched in suspicion.

"There’s a guy downstairs," Thomas said, crossing his arms. "His name is Ethan? Says he’s a friend from school."

Katherine froze. "Ethan Matthews is here? At this hour?" Her mind raced. How does he even know where I live? She hadn't given him her address, and they’d only spoken for five minutes at a pizza parlor.

"Yep," Thomas grunted. "Seems to think it’s a fine time for a social call."

"Yeah... he’s new in school," Katherine said, trying to sound casual as she brushed past her father.

"Is he a friend of yours?"

"Kind of," Katherine replied with a non-committal shrug, her feet padding softly on the carpeted stairs.

"Kind of?" Thomas repeated, following her to the landing. "You don't sound very sure of yourself, Kat. Between him and the Riley boy, you’re suddenly very popular with the new arrivals."

"It’s a small town, Dad. New people are exciting," Katherine sighed, though 'exciting' was the last word she would use for Ethan.

She reached the foyer and stopped. Ethan was standing by the coat rack, his hands shoved into the pockets of his leather jacket. He looked perfectly composed, his dark raven hair slightly windswept, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips.

"Hey," Ethan greeted her, his voice a low, smooth vibration that seemed to carry through the quiet house.

"Hi," Katherine replied, her voice cautious. She felt her father’s shadow behind her.

"I'll leave you two to talk," Thomas said, leaning over the banister and fixing Ethan with a stern look. "But don't stay long, you hear? It's late, and I'm sure your parents are expecting you home. We have a curfew in this town for a reason."

"Yes, of course, sir. I completely understand," Ethan replied with a polite, deferential nod that looked a little too practiced to be genuine.

"Good night, kiddo," Thomas said to Katherine, giving her shoulder a quick squeeze before retreating up the stairs to his bedroom.

Katherine waited until she heard the click of his door before she turned on Ethan, her eyes narrowed and her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "How do you know where I live, Ethan? Seriously."

Ethan didn't flinch. He took a slow step forward, the light of the foyer lamp casting long, sharp shadows across his jawline. "Ashley told me," he lied easily. "I mentioned I wanted to drop by and apologize, and she was more than happy to give me the address."

"That doesn't sound like Ashley," Katherine countered, her voice a cold whisper. "She’s protective. She doesn't just hand out my address to guys she’s only known for forty-eight hours."

"Maybe I’m just that persuasive," Ethan suggested, his dark brown eyes locked onto hers. He tilted his head. "Is this a bad time? You seem... agitated. Did I upset you?"

"I don't like you, Ethan," Katherine snapped, dropping the polite facade. "Let’s just start there. I don't like the way you talk to Noah, and I don't like you lurking on my porch at midnight."

Ethan gasped, a theatrical, sarcastic sound. "Ouch. I am so hurt and offended right now. My heart is practically breaking, Katherine."

"That’s exactly why," she hissed. "You think you’re some mysterious hot-shot who can just charm everyone into ignoring how weird you are. Well, guess what? You aren't. I see right through the act."

"I don't think I'm a hot-shot," Ethan said, his voice dropping into a more serious tone, though his eyes still danced with a hidden amusement.

"I beg to differ," Katherine snorted. She stepped closer, her finger pointing at his chest. "Listen to me. If you hurt Ashley in any way—if you’re just using her to get to Noah or to mess with me—I promise I will make you very, very sorry. Do you understand?"

Ethan looked down at her finger, then back at her face. For a moment, the smirk vanished, replaced by a flicker of genuine intrigue. "Got it," he whispered.

"Good. Now, why are you really here?"

"I told you," Ethan said, his expression softening into something that looked suspiciously like a real apology. "I came here to say I’m sorry. I was a jerk at the pizza place. The whole 'Leila ' thing... it’s a sore subject for Noah and me. I shouldn't have dragged you into our history."

Katherine’s eyes widened in shock. She hadn't expected a confession, let alone an apology. Her hands dropped to her sides, the wind taken out of her sails. "Oh," she sighed, feeling a pang of guilt for her earlier hostility. "I... I didn't expect that."

"I know. I have a habit of making bad first impressions."

"I'm sorry I snapped at you," Katherine murmured, looking at the floor. "I was really harsh."

"Yeah, you were," Ethan agreed, letting out a short, dry laugh.

"Hey! You're not supposed to agree with me when I'm being self-deprecating," Katherine giggled, the tension finally breaking.

"Wow," Ethan whispered, his gaze intensifying.

"Wow, what?" Katherine asked, furrowing her eyebrows.

"You have an adorable laugh," Ethan answered, his voice smooth as silk. "I see why Noah is so taken with you. You have a light that’s... rare."

Katherine felt a heat rise to her cheeks. She looked down awkwardly, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. "Thank you."

"My pleasure."

"Do you promise to take care of Ashley?" Katherine asked, her voice turning earnest again. "She’s my best friend. She thinks you’re... well, she really likes you. Please just be nice to her."

"I promise," Ethan said, his voice steady and his smile warm. He reached out and opened the front door, pausing on the threshold. "I’ll see you at school, Katherine."

He stepped out into the night, vanishing into the darkness before the door even clicked shut. Katherine stood in the foyer, her heart still racing. He seemed so sincere, so charming... but as she walked back up to her room, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had just invited a different kind of storm inside.

Downstairs, Ethan stood on the sidewalk, his smile fading into a look of cold, calculated victory. He hadn't needed Ashley to give him the address—he had followed the scent of Katherine’s perfume from miles away.

"She’s sweet," Ethan whispered to the empty street. "Almost a shame."