say to most people.
Behind them, there was a flat smack as Theo landed on another student, and the others on the wall cackled. Oliver couldnât resist glancing back. One of his classâs smallest students, Berthold Welch, was squirming his way free of Theoâs grip, righting his glasses.
Oliver turned back to Seth. âLooking forward to Longest Night?â he asked, trying again to make conversation. Longest Night was the vampire celebration of the winter solstice.
âI guess,â said Seth, raising his eyebrows. âMom and Dad say I need to get my grades up if I want a bunny.â He licked his teeth as he said it, and glanced over at Oliver. âHey, you donât look so good.â
âOhâIâm just tired. I umâ¦â Oliver scrambled to think of some acceptable excuse for why he looked so exhausted and landed on the familiar one before he could stop himself. âI started having the dreams, I think.â
Seth looked impressed. âNo way, really? Wow, I think youâre the first. I havenât heard anyone else say that.â He glanced around class. âYou should tell Mr. VanWick, heâll probably give you less homework, and have you tell your dreams to the class. Man, Oliver, youâre lucky.â
Yeah right , Oliver thought, cursing himself. Why had he started the lie again? âIâ¦Iâm not ready to tell anyone, yet,â he said quickly. âActually, theyâve been making me a little sickâ¦â
Sethâs eyes widened even further. âWow, âcause theyâre so intense? Maybe youâre going to get your demon soon!â
It was official: Everything Oliver said just made things worse. âOh, I donât know about that. My dad said it could still be a while. It might just be acclimation sickness or something.â Acclimation sickness was almost like an allergyâwhen a child felt ill and out of sorts as their energies first joined with their demon. It was common and almost always passed before the demon actually arrived.
âOh, yeah, could be,â Seth said, but he was still impressed. âMan, if you get your demon firstâ¦â He gave a mischievous glance toward Theo and his gang on the back wall.
âMmm.â Oliver nodded. âRight now I just want to feel better. Iâve got my checkup on Friday though, so that should help.â
Seth had started flipping over his cards again. âYour what?â
âYou know,â Oliver said. âDoctorâs visit. Just the same old yearly checkup stuff.â
Seth gave him a strange look. âYou go to the doctor every year?â
âYeah,â Oliver replied. âDonât you?â
âI canât even remember the last time I went to a doctor,â Seth said. âWhat would you need to go every year for?â
âYou know, I mean, make sure youâre healthyâ¦â Oliver trailed off. His thoughts raced. Because thereâs something wrong with me, obviously , he thought.
âHealthy?â Seth said the word like it was from another language. âYour mom must beâow!â There was a smacking sound and Seth grabbed the back of his head. âWhat theââ
Oliver heard a whoosh of air, and he and Seth turned to find Theo landing right behind their seats, flanked on either side by Brent and their friend Maggots. Maggotsâs real name was Rollie, but the nickname came from a case of the worms that heâd had since kindergarten and never fully gotten over, which often left him scratching at his head and feet.
âWhat, Seth ?â Theo asked, smiling.
Seth reached to the floor and picked up the object that had hit him: a rolled-up ball of paper. He threw it back at Theo. âKnock it off!â
Theo was quick. He grabbed the paper in mid-flight, then smacked Seth across the head with it. âCareful!â
âLeave us alone, Theo,â Oliver muttered.
âThe