Lucas was taken aback when Alice’s walls suddenly shot up out of nowhere. He didn’t get the chance to defend himself before Alice started letting out rapid-fire accusations and assumptions. He could physically feel the energy in the room getting more and more tense and heavy as Alice got more and more worked up. Her anxiety appeared to rise and rise until it reached a peak—and her cover was blown.

Now it made more sense. [i]Alice[/i] was the psychic.

Lucas was in shock and the two of them stared at each other for a few seconds, both equally speechless.

Alice was the first to make a move. Out of nowhere, she had jumped up and rushed over toward the front door, grabbing all her stuff and telling him they’d do the project tomorrow. But Lucas couldn’t let her leave, not now. Before getting the chance to think about what had just gone down, he jumped up as quickly as she had and came after her, hoping to reach her before she got out the door.

He approached her from the rear as she was anxiously explaining that she didn’t need a ride, when he quickly but firmly placed a hand on her shoulder so she wouldn’t go anywhere.

“Alice, stop!” he said in a slightly louder voice, hopefully to get rid of some of her panicking.

“It’s okay,” he urged her. “I understand what you’re going through!”