Four months and nine days. That's how long Adam Parrish has been away from Ronan Lynch. Only the fact that Adam is wired to work harder than anybody else has gotten him through the semester. Noah is gone. Gansey and Blue are off exploring the world. Ronan has been at the Barns. And Adam has been adrift without them, especially without Ronan. Late night phone conversations just weren't the same. Ronan and Adam have had a few though, Adam tells Ronan he misses him, Ronan responds with some profanity and Adam knows that Ronan misses him too.

Four months and nine days. Adam has counted each of them. Another two weeks and he's going home for a week-long break between the Spring and Summer semesters. Yes, Adam is an overachiever.

Here's a surprise: Adam Parrish is homesick. Not for Henrietta or that place made for leaving. He's been homesick for the Barns, Opal, Chainsaw and Ronan. He's been homesick for Gansey and Blue and Noah. He's been homesick for Cabeswater.

The knock at his door is surprising. No one ever knocks on his door, at least not after the first few weeks when they'd tried to invite him out to parties and Adam had declined. Now they all know that Adam will be studying so they don't bother anymore.

He gets up from the desk in his room, sets his pen down and goes to the door. A click of the lock and the door swings open. Adam's heart is in his throat. Adam stares. Adam wants to throw himself at Ronan. He doesn't though.

"Four months and nine days." He says.