Something is wrong. It's all Noah can think when Ronan starts laughing. Something is wrong because even Chainsaw sounds cruel. He keeps thinking it like a skipping record in his head, like how he used to watch Whelk hitting him with his skateboard over and over. Something is wrong. Which is why he doesn't push Ronan away when he grabs his shirt, which is why when Ronan shoves him he stumbles back and falls instead of catching himself, palms scraping the sidewalk unnoticed, tendrils of fear hooked in his ghost heart, hammering in his chest.

Braced on his arms, he just stares at Ronan, uncomprehending. This isn't his Ronan. He doesn't know how, but it isn't. It can't be.