The Less-Dead by April Lurie Page B

was murdered. That’s one of the reasons he thought I should disappear for a while. If Warren Banks isn’t the killer, then the guy’s still out there. And if he is still free, he may have been following me, too. Anyway, the detective also told me that the police just hired a criminal profiler.A guy from the FBI. They’re trying to cover all their bases. The case is close to being solved. At least, that’s what he tells me.”
    “But, Will?” I look around the campsite. “How long can you stay here? I mean, I understand about disappearing, but this place doesn’t look safe to me.”
    “I won’t be here much longer,” he says. “Turns out my social worker found me a home. She says it’s a good one. When things blow over, I’ll move in. Plus, Hawk’s been helping me out. Even lined me up with a job, waiting tables at Kerbey Lane. If everything goes well, I’ll make it to L.A. right after I graduate.”
    I look at Hawk, wondering what kind of trouble he’s in and whether he’s here in the woods with Will because he’s hiding out from the police. It’s highly possible. “Eh, you give me too much credit, Will,” Hawk says. He takes a long drag and blows a smoke ring.
    “So, enough of this morbid stuff,” Will says. “You guys got my note. Are you ready for Saturday night?”
    “We’re ready,” Carson says. “Thanks for setting up the gig, Will. Really, we owe you one.”
    “No problem. Turned out the Red Room had an opening and the owner took my word for it that you guys were good.” Will looks at me. “And now, I get to keep my promise to Noah. Remember? I’m going to help you write that song for Aubrey.”
    “Tonight?” I say.
    “Of course. You’ll need to sing it for her on Saturday. Come on.” He stands up. “Do you have the book I gave you?”
    “Oh … no. I didn’t bring it.”
    “That’s all right, I’ll get mine. Hey, Hawk, keep Carson company for a while, okay? Noah and I are going to write a song.”
    Hawk eyes Carson and blows another smoke ring. “Sure thing.”
    Will leads me several yards away to a big limestone rock. We take seats atop, and Will pulls out his notebook. “Now, tell me ten things you hate about Aubrey.”
    “What? Ten things I
hate
? I thought this was supposed to be a love song.”
    “Well, in your case an
anti
-love song might work best. Especially if Aubrey needs some persuading. Words can be more powerful if you write the opposite of how you feel.”
    “Sorry, Will, but that doesn’t make sense.”
    “Oh, it does. Come on, give it a try.”
    Will and I brainstorm, and when we’re done, I have the bare bones of the strangest song I’ve ever written. A few lines of the chorus, too. “So if Aubrey never speaks to me again, I can blame you, right?” I say.
    “After Aubrey hears the song, she’ll be begging for more.”
    “Now,
that
I highly doubt.”
    “Trust me, Noah. I know what I’m talking about. I’ve had my heart broken a few times.” Will looks at me and smiles sadly. “And I know what unrequited love is like.” There’s a tense silence between us. I feel my face growing hot. Suddenly I realize that my knee is touching Will’s. I pull it away. “Listen, Will, I can’t—”
    “I know.” He hangs his head. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. It was really stupid.”
    “Yeah, it was.”
    I’m about to hop off the rock, but Will stops me. “Noah, wait, please. God, this is so awkward. Let me explain. You see, when I first saw you on the Drag, playing guitar and singing, you reminded me of the guy I told you about—the one I was seeing. The guitarist. We were together about eight months. Our breakup was pretty rough, and I’m not even sure I’m over it yet. Anyway, the day I met you I took a chance, and when I figured out you were straight, which didn’t take long, I still wanted to be your friend. I just like you. That’s all.”
    I’m sitting on the edge of the rock. My whole body is tense. “Okay, whatever. I