Rae threw up her hand and disappeared down the hall. Tori shot a scowl over her shoulder, as if this was my fault. As she turned, something flashed between us, and I stumbled back, grabbing the railing.

Her scowl twisted. "Geez, I'm not going to hit you."

Over her shoulder, a hand appeared, pale fingers wriggling like worms.

"Chloe?" Liz said.

"I-I-I--" I peeled my gaze from the disembodied hand. "I t-tripped."

Liz came down and laid her fingers on my arm. "Are u okay? You're all white."

"I j-j-just thought I h-h-heard something."

"Why is she talking like that?" Tori asked Liz.

"It's called a stutter." Liz squeezed my arm. "It's okay. My brother stutters, too."

"Your brother's five, Liz. Lots of little kids do it. Not teenagers." Tori peered at me. "Are u slow?"

"What?"

"You know, do u ride the looong bus—" She pulled her hands apart, then brought them together again. "—or the short one."