"Somewhere in the country," Cloud says. "Up in the mountains. I don't think there was even any music teachers for miles around and the internet kept going out. That's why everything I know, I taught myself." He gives a little shrug. "Really, it was so boring I can't even remember anything to tell you about it. I think the city has a way of making you forget."

He can't imagine impressing a city girl with talk of the country anyway. In a place like this, you wouldn't even believe the rest of the world existed.

He swallows and kicks his legs. A part of him wants to tell her that he's noticed an instant connection, like they've known each other forever, but it's too early. Might as well try the other insane thing.

"Is Pride HQ as haunted as this place?" he asks, trying to play it off like he's being funny. "I swear I'm not making it up - I saw a ghost in the bathroom a few minutes ago. Is that normal in the city?"