In hindsight it was fairly obvious that Keeley only came to Boston to be closer to Aaron. Now that they weren't even on friendly terms, she had absolutely no reason not to go to her first choice university. It was a disquieting thought.

　　She hadn't responded to his last text so he sent a second one. 'Which school is it?' He knew of course but he wasn't ready for the conversation to end. He missed her.

　　'NYU'

　　'Which program?'

　　'Biomedical engineering. Once I get my bachelor's I want to stay on and get my PhD in developmental genetics'

　　It was the most personal information she had willingly given in a long time. She must be in a good mood.

　　Aaron frowned. He had no idea she wanted to get a PhD. Had she ever mentioned anything about that in his last life? He couldn't be sure. They got married shortly after graduating from college and she stayed at home afterwards.

　　'I didn't know that. That's cool'

　　'Why would you know that? We don't talk. I don't know why we're even having this conversation'

　　'I told you, I'm bored. Entertain me'

　　The phone went silent for a few minutes and he thought she was done humoring him before it beeped again. He practically dove for his phone, grateful that no one was around to see his desperation.

　　'Try solving this riddle. You can look up the answer later online and see if you got it right. I have better things to do' A second text came in shortly afterwards. 'I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind. What am I?'

　　Aaron couldn't help but be amused even though she was brus.h.i.+ng him off again. At least her offbeat sense of humor hadn't changed.

　　He figured out the answer about fifteen minutes later and searched it online to be safe. He was right. It was an echo. Had Keeley looked the riddle up just for him or was it already in her head?

　　===

　　"Who are you texting?" Lydia asked when she came back from answering a frantic call from her mother, who didn't realize how long she would be out.

　　"Someone annoying," Keeley said with a frown.

　　She wasn't sure why she bothered answering. Maybe it was because she was already thinking of him. Or it could be because she was bored waiting for her friend to finish her rather long phone call. The latter seemed more likely.

　　"Someone annoying?" she repeated. "Do I know him?"

　　"He ruined our lunch period a while back."

　　Lydia gasped once she remembered. "How on earth did you get Aaron Hale's number?!"