"Eli. Wake up."
He groaned and turned his face into the pillow.
"Eli."
"I'm up," he muttered. "I'm up."
His mom stood in the doorway, arms crossed.
"You're going to be late."
"I heard you."
She waited.
Eli opened one eye. "What?"
She frowned. "You sound… different."
He sat up slowly. "Different how?"
"I don't know," she said. "Sharper."
"Maybe I'm just awake," Eli replied.
She studied him for another second, then shook her head. "Breakfast is on the
table."
"Thanks."
She left.
Eli swung his legs off the bed and rubbed his face.
He glanced at his desk.
The mask sat exactly where he left it.
Stitched smile. Quiet. Patient.
Eli looked away first.
At breakfast, his mom slid a plate toward him.
"Big night?" she asked.
"Something like that."
"You usually come home early."
Eli shrugged. "Guess I stayed longer."
She poured coffee. "You okay?"
"Yeah."
She hesitated. "You sure?"
Eli met her eyes. "I said yeah."
She blinked, surprised.
"…Okay," she said slowly.
Eli took a bite of toast.
It tasted fine.
Everything felt fine.
The school hallway buzzed with post-party energy.
"Did you see the fog machine?"
"Someone puked in the bathroom."
"That stitched-mask guy was crazy."
Eli stopped.
"…What?"
A group of juniors walked past him.
One of them glanced back.
"Yo," he said. "Nice mask last night."
Eli nodded. "Thanks."
The guy smiled. "You were wild."
They walked off.
Eli stood still for a moment.
Then kept walking.
"Eli!"
Mara caught up to him at his locker.
She looked tired. No fangs today. No glitter.
"You vanished," she said.
"I went home."
"After all that?" she asked. "You?"
Eli shrugged. "Party ended."
"No, it didn't," she said. "You just left."
He smirked. "Guess I don't like crowds."
She stared at him. "Since when?"
"Since now."
Mara sighed. "You're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"That thing," she said. "Talking like you're better than everyone."
Eli leaned against his locker. "Am I wrong?"
Her eyes widened. "Wow."
He tilted his head. "You asked."
She shook her head. "You're not funny."
"I'm not joking."
She looked at him like she didn't recognize him.
"…I liked you better quiet," she said.
The words hit.
Eli's smile didn't fade.
"Yeah," he said. "I figured."
She walked away.
Eli opened his locker.
Inside, taped to the door, was a note.
WATCH YOURSELF.
He stared at it.
"…Cute," he said.
He crumpled it and tossed it aside.
First period.
Mr. Caldwell droned on about history.
Eli leaned back in his chair.
Someone behind him whispered.
"That's him."
"No way."
"He's not even tall."
Eli turned slightly.
"Problem?" he asked.
The whispering stopped.
Mr. Caldwell cleared his throat. "Eli. Do you have something to add?"
Eli looked at him. "Do you want me to?"
A few students snickered.
Mr. Caldwell frowned. "Just answer the question."
"What was the question?" Eli asked.
Silence.
"…Excuse me?" the teacher said.
Eli smiled. "You were talking about revolutions."
"Yes," Mr. Caldwell said stiffly. "The causes."
"People get tired of being ignored," Eli said. "So they stop asking."
The room went quiet.
Mr. Caldwell stared at him.
"…Sit down," he said finally.
Eli did.
Someone nearby whispered, "Damn."
Eli liked that too.
Between classes, he felt it.
The itch.
The pull.
His bag felt heavier than usual.
He stopped in the bathroom.
Locked himself in a stall.
"…Not yet," he said under his breath.
He washed his face.
Looked at himself in the mirror.
Same old Eli.
Same slumped shoulders.
Same quiet eyes.
"…Yeah," he muttered. "That's the problem."
Lunch.
The cafeteria was loud.
Eli scanned the room.
The bullies sat at their usual table.
Laughing. Loud again.
He walked past them.
They stopped laughing.
One of them muttered, "Don't start."
Eli didn't even look at them.
He sat alone.
Someone slid into the seat across from him.
It was the skeleton hoodie guy from the party.
"Mind?" he asked.
Eli shrugged. "Already sitting."
The guy laughed nervously. "Fair."
They ate in silence for a moment.
"So," the guy said. "People are talking about you."
Eli chewed. "They always were."
"Not like this."
"Good."
The guy hesitated. "You didn't used to be like that."
Eli leaned forward. "You didn't used to talk to me."
The guy flushed. "…Okay."
Eli smiled. "Relax. I don't bite."
The guy forced a laugh. "Right."
He finished his food quickly and left.
Eli watched him go.
"…Everyone's so fragile," he said quietly.
After school, the sun was still up.
Too bright.
Eli walked home slowly.
He passed the thrift store.
The sign still flickered.
SECOND CHANCE.
He stopped.
"…Yeah," he said. "Sure."
At home, his mom was on the phone.
She glanced at him. "Homework first."
"I know."
He went to his room.
Closed the door.
Dropped his bag.
Sat on his bed.
He stared at the mask.
"You're not even special," he said.
The mask didn't respond.
Good.
He stood up.
Picked it up.
Put it on.
The room felt right again.
He straightened.
Exhaled.
"…There you are," he said.
He checked his phone.
New message.
Unknown:
You think no one noticed?
Eli stared at the screen.
"…Interesting," he said.
He typed back.
Eli:
Who's this?
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then one message.
Unknown:
Take it off tomorrow.
Eli laughed.
"Yeah," he said aloud. "No."
He lay back on his bed, mask still on, staring at the ceiling.
The smile stayed stitched.
And this time—
He didn't try to take it off.