Revived (Cat Patrick)

parents are making me go to a counselor. All I do is talk about Audrey.”
    “I understand,” I say, wanting to change the subject. “So… are you on your way back to school?”
    “Not yet,” Matt says. “I came home to take my mom to an appointment. Her car’s in the shop. After I pick her up I’ll head back. I’ll miss a little of next period, but no biggie. Half of another class after all I’ve missed won’t matter.”
    “Yeah,” I say quietly.
    There’s a lull in the conversation before he adds: “When my mom calls, I’ll have to go again.”
    “Okay, no problem,” I say quickly.
    “But I promise to call back,” he says, a hint of playfulness in his voice.
    “You’d better.”
    Pause.
    “So, I know you said you didn’t want to talk about it, but is everything okay with you?” Matt asks. “You guys randomly took off again, and now you’re in… Where are you again?”
    “Texas.” I groan. “And yes, I’m fine. Everything’s okay. It’s some heavy stuff, but it’s all going to be sorted out soon. Thanks for asking.”
    “Sure,” Matt says. I think I hear a little disappointment in his voice, like he wanted me to open up. Then he moves on. “So, what’s it like in Texas?”
    “The lamest,” I say. “At least where we are.”
    “I thought Texas was cool?” Matt asks.
    “Parts of it, yes,” I say. “But Hayes? Hayes is the opposite of cool.”
    “Hot,” Matt jokes. I wipe my forehead with the back of my hand.
    “It is definitely hot!” I say with a laugh. “I’m sweating like a pig right now!”
    Matt laughs, too, the laugh I love so much it hurts, and for the moment at least, the mood is lifted. We chat about whether pigs really sweat that much and it’s so easy and normal that I blurt out what I really want to say: “I want to be your girlfriend.”
    “I want to be your boyfriend,” Matt replies easily, without hesitation.
    “What do we do about that?” I ask.
    Matt pauses, thinking a moment. “I guess what we just did? I mean, if we want to be together, then we are, even if you’re in Texas.”
    “So we’re dating,” I say, trying it on for size.
    “Honestly, I think we have been for a while,” Matt says. “At least since that first kiss.” My stomach turns somersaults and I smile a smile that makes my cheeks sore.
    “I miss that kiss. And the other ones, too.”
    “Me, too.”
    “But, Matt?”
    “Yeah?”
    “I’m glad we didn’t… you know…”
    “I know,” he says. “Not that it wouldn’t be awesome,” he adds quickly. “I’m just glad we didn’t do something so huge on a day that was so bad. The experience would always be a little bit… tainted.”
    Matt’s words are exactly what I need to hear. I want to run to him, but I have no way to get there. Instead I settle for telling him I love him, because suddenly I need to say it out loud—so he can hear me this time.
    The moment I open my mouth, Matt’s phone beeps.
    “Hold on a sec,” he says. “I bet it’s my mom.”
    “Okay,” I say. He switches over to the other line and I consider how I should say it— Matt, I love you , or I love you, Matt— while I move my feet to the beat of his hold song. A fly buzzes near my exposed ear and I brush it away lightly. Feeling airy, I sing quietly along with the song, wondering what he and his mom are talking about right now. It’s been a few seconds but I don’t mind. I’ll wait all day for him.
    Just then my other line rings, too. I switch over excitedly, expecting Megan and wanting to update her on the good news with Matt before I have to flip back over.
    “Hello?” I say enthusiastically.
    “You should keep your room tidier, Daisy.”
    I hear the lisp immediately; it sends chills down my spine.
    “Who is this?” I say, feigning bravery despite the terror surging through me.
    “Give it a think, Daisy,” the voice says. “I’m sure you know.”
    “Is this…” I stop. “Is this God?”
    He laughs a low, thin laugh. I suck in my breath.
    At once I’m thankful for Mason’s keen instincts: He whisked us out of Omaha and hid us in Texas, away from everyone, even God. And he was right to do it: God’s clearly lost it if he’s rummaging through my bedroom right now.
    I feel myself relax the tiniest bit… until he speaks again.
    “I’ve just finished reading the heartfelt letter from your dead friend,” he says. “So sappy, and yet so touching.”
    My safe little world comes crashing down.
    “You’re in