It had been a month. 

A month and a few days, to be exact. 

I counted because pretending not to was impossible. 

Summer break was bleeding out slowly with just three weeks left. The days had become a routine of quiet mornings, long afternoons, evenings spent pretending I didn’t hear Ace’s footsteps in the halls or feel his presence like a ghost hovering just out of reach. 

I had perfected the silent treatment..., and with Scott out on a business trip, it was extra hard staying ...