Novels by Skygirl

The world outside was winding down. The street seemed softer, muted by winter the sky turning a deeper gray and the cold biting at any skin left uncovered. Cars slid past; people hustled home, scarves wrapped over mouths and noses, faces hidden. Joe heard the buzz of traffic and felt the crunch of salt under his shoes with every step. He walked close enough to Liam that their coats nearly brushed. The warmth coming off Liam felt startling. “How was your day?” Liam asked, breathing out white in the air. “Fine.” Joe’s voice was rough. “Just fine.” “Just fine?” Liam tried again. “Yeah. It was fine.” Liam nodded, letting the question drop. They didn’t need words for a while. They rounded a corner. Here, the houses leaned in with chipped paint and old mailboxes. Branches tangled overhead; a jay called out sharp and lonely somewhere above. Liam spoke again, hesitantly. “Can I ask you something?” “Yeah.” “Why did you kiss me? At the movie.” Joe’s breath caught. He stared at the cr

Joe slipped back into school at 9:20, shoes squeaking a little too loud on the waxed linoleum. The air inside was heavy, still like the building was holding its breath. He could hear his own footsteps echoing down the empty hallway, bouncing sharply off metal lockers. Behind closed doors, teachers’ voices blurred together into a low hum, punctuated now and then by the drag of a chair or a burst of laughter drifting from deep inside a classroom.He should’ve gone to calc. Henderson would be annoyed, maybe he’d just let it go. Joe didn’t care enough to check. He kept walking past the math room, past the science wing where the chemical tang from the last experiment still hung in the air, past the stairs that wound up to the second floor.He needed out. He needed air.When he pushed open the door to the courtyard, the bite of cold hit him right in the face. The benches were rimmed with frost, leaves frozen to the metal in glassy little patterns. The trees stood totally bare, their thin

The hallway let them out into the cold again through the courtyard, then onto the little path circling the school. The grass looked frozen stiff, the trees skeleton thin. They walked in quiet not exactly comfortable, but not hostile, either. Just... waiting. Liam finally spoke up. "I meant it, you know," he said. "What I said at the movie. About missing you." Joe didn’t say anything, just waited. "I miss the way you used to look at me," Liam said. "Like I mattered." Joe felt his throat get tight. "You did matter," Joe said. "You just couldn’t see it." Liam went quiet, absorbing that. "I see it now," he said, almost whispering. Joe stopped walking, so Liam did too. "Liam," Joe said. "Yeah?" "I’m scared." He said it so quietly, it almost got lost on the wind. Liam waited. "I’m scared to trust you. To let you in,” Joe went on. "Because every time, you shoved me away." Liam looked away. "I know. I don’t have a good answer. I was mad at myself, at everyone. But you were the

Monday rolled in cold and gray.The city felt hungover, still groggy from the weekend. Streets sat quiet, sidewalks glazed with leftover frost. Joe moved through it, hands shoved deep in his pockets, his breath slipping out in little clouds. His body walked, but his mind was somewhere else.He hadn't really slept. The whole weekend was just a mess of thoughts Liam's voice, Liam's hand around his wrist, the taste of his mouth. The way he said “I missed you,” like it hurt him to admit. And how Joe kissed him back without even thinking.He shook his head, kept his feet moving.At the corner, Noah waited. Always did. Bike chained to the rack, bag slung over one shoulder, two coffees in hand."You look like hell," Noah said, passing one over."I’m aware," Joe said, taking the cup."You sleep?"Joe hesitated. "Sort of.""How much is sort of?"He sipped the coffee. Hot. Bitter. Perfect."Enough."Noah didn’t press. He never did. Just fell in step with him, and together they headed toward sch

Saturday morning slid in, quiet and gray. The kind of dull light that makes everything softer, a little blurry around the edges.Noah woke with Jay’s arm still draped over him, the heat of Jay’s body pressed against his back. Their legs tangled under the old comforter. The rhythm of Jay’s slow, even breaths brushed against Noah’s neck warm air hitting cool skin. The curtains kept the room dim, but just enough light leaked in from under the door to paint a pale line on the carpet by the closet.Noah stayed perfectly still. He didn’t want to mess up the moment, didn’t want to lose even a second of how safe and good it felt. He listened to Jay breathe, felt the weight and movement of his chest, the gentle squeeze of his arm tightening and loosening with each exhale. Memories from last night flooded back neon lights in the arcade, their faces smashed together inside a photo booth, Jay’s soft laugh in the dark. Little flashes and feelings that made Noah’s heart kick up and his cheeks g

The car was a little oasis of heat, humming quietly against the ugly slap of February cold. When Noah slid into the passenger seat, he could almost melt into the upholstery fingers tingling as the vents blasted his face and hands. His bag slumped against the floor, sneakers kicked halfway off. He unzipped his jacket, trying to let the warmth soak straight into his bones. For once, his brain wasn’t racing it was like someone had pressed pause on all the noise inside his head."I don’t want to think," Noah mumbled, barely moving his lips.Jay shot him a sidelong look. "About what?""Anything. Seriously—everything. Exams. The future. Figuring out what I’m supposed to do with my life." He tipped his head back, eyelids drifting shut. "I just want to exist for a bit.""That’s pretty philosophical," Jay said, even though he was grinning.Noah cracked an eye open, unamused. "I’m very philosophical. And also very tired."Jay just snorted, shifting the car into drive. "At least you know yoursel