A few hours later... 

By the time Sloane came back, the sky outside had long since turned dark. The only light in the room came from the small desk lamp I’d been working under. Its golden light cast a lonely circle on my homework I had left undone after I allowed myself to be troubled by Sloane’s weird behaviors. 

I looked up immediately when I heard the door. Sloane stepped inside slowly, shutting the door behind her without so much as a glance in my direction. Her heels clicked softly ...