by Abra Ebner
I swallowed hard, regrouping and rolling my eyes. Liz was another friend I couldn’t seem to brush off. “Yeah. I got it done.” I pulled my backpack from my back, rummaging through its contents.
Liz was quite literally the only other person I conversed with. A long time ago, we had been best friends. We grew up having the same teachers through elementary school, but come junior high, we had grown apart. She was a cheerleader, and dubbed to be one of the best looking girls in school. She wore Dior makeup, and tanned regularly, leaving me looking like a pale speck of dust in comparison.
We hung out on weekends in private. She never wanted to be seen with me at school anymore, but I didn’t care. She made my weekend chores more invigorating as she followed me around spouting gossip. I always figured I was the only one that really listened to her. I knew it was the only reason we were still friends, other than the fact I did her homework. At least she paid me.
I handed her the pile of book reports she was supposed to read and write about over the summer for 20th Century Lit.
“Great! Here,” she shoved a wad of money toward me—college fund. “Jane, I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have a friend like you,” she squealed.
“Fail?” I muttered.
She didn’t seem to hear me. “So, this Saturday… do you want to hang out?” She blinked, her blue eyes glittering.
I tried to remember what it was I’d had to do on Saturday. In fact, I began to hope that I had something, just to avoid hanging out with her. Who was I kidding? I was a loser. “Yeah, sure.”
“Great!” she hissed, jumping slightly. “I need your opinion on the new kid. I want to try and reel that one in.” She winked, bringing one finger to her chin in thought.
My thoughts then went back to the boy I saw in the hall. “The new kid?” My brows were creased together, suddenly interested.
“Though, he could use a makeover,” she added, ignoring my question. I looked at her strangely, wondering how it was she had already caught up on all the gossip by lunch.
“The new kid?” I repeated, this time louder.
She rolled her eyes and began to swoon. “Yeah, the tall dark and mysterious one.” She bent down for dramatic effect, as though suddenly weak in the knees. “Have you seen him? Such a text book hotty.”
So, he really was new. “Yeah, I think I’ve seen him.”
Her smile got bigger—if that was even possible. “Yes! Wasn’t he totally the tall dark and handsome type, or what?”
I shook my head. She was being pathetic. “Yeah, sure, I guess. I only saw a glimpse of him, so—”
“Well, anyway.” She cut me off. “Pay attention this week, so we can gossip about it Saturday!” she squealed some more, shaking her hands with apparent excitement. “He’s mine by next week.” Her face changed to one of extreme determination. With that, she skipped off into the courtyard where a group of girls surrounded her, all vying to be her newest best friend.
I blinked away the disbelief, fanning my hand in an attempt to clear the air of her perfume. Not much changed in our town, and most of my class had known each other since first grade. It was also that fact that made the news of a new kid spread like wildfire. He was fresh meat thrown into a circle of boy-starved girls. I gave him until the end of the week; by then, Liz would surely have her claws into him. He’d be a whole new person. The mysterious boy that tickled my senses in the hall would no longer exist, replaced by some unfortunate jock. That was Liz’s talent.
I shook away the images of him. I’d given myself a moment to dream, but let’s face it—that moment was over. I made my way to the library and slinked inside. The dusty smell of old books wafted into my nostrils, washing away all the stress and worry.
Emily:
I gave the unnamed senior a kiss on the cheek. It was no big deal. I liked men to stare. I turned then, walking away with the bottle in my hand, feeling as two pills jingled inside. He had given them to me for free. I loved free. Not a penny lost this time around. I was certain that here, there were many more dealers I could convince just as easily as him.
My hand shook as I popped the top off the bottle, fishing inside for a pill. With haste, I threw it in my mouth and swallowed, stashing the other away in my pocket for later. I let a breath release from my lungs, my shoulders dropping.
Alexis was leaning against the wall up ahead. I stopped, leaning beside her. “Scored once today already,” I remarked.
She pursed her lips with jealousy. “Lucky.”
I laughed, pulling the crimson lipstick from my pocket and applying a new layer. I prayed the pills would work fast so that I could drown out the thoughts in Alexis’ head—mostly nasty thoughts about how much she envied me.
I shut my eyes in pain, pressing my lips together. Opening my eyes, I saw my sister walk toward the library. I scanned for Wes, seeing him leave the courtyard and enter the lot. I watched him, curious about why he seemed to be in a rush. I wasn’t lying when I thought he was hot. He was. In truth, I was a little confused as to what was wrong with my sister.
It was my secret that I liked him. I always had. Growing up, he was the cute older kid, but he was too infatuated with Jane to ever notice me. I remember watching them as they played basketball, or sat in the yard. I even daydreamed about it as though it were me.
I told no one.
It was embarrassing.
The Vicoden started to seep into my blood like a rush of cold water. I exhaled, the tension in my muscles melting away, along with the tight feeling in my bones. The whispers in my head began to silence and I could no longer hear Alexis’ thoughts. I looked to the ground, finally feeling relaxed for the first time today. Finally, I felt normal.
Alexis crooned beside me, and I looked up.
“Look at him. I bet he sells.” She stood tall, perking her chest out and smacking her lips.
I didn’t have to ask who she was speaking of as my eyes met her target. He was walking across the courtyard with his hands in his pockets, wearing a black T-shirt that accentuated his chest and muscles. There was a strange tattoo blazoned on both his forearms. I tried to concentrate on his thoughts, but they were faded and strange. I attributed it to the slowly seeping Vicoden.
“He doesn’t look like he’s from here,” I remarked, admiring his bad boy image.
Most kids from around here came from rich families. Trouble to them was choosing in which room to watch their flat screen TV. It made for a good pool of prescription-drugged mothers and fathers that didn’t seem to notice when their meds went missing. They likely assumed they forgot them somewhere—yet again. It was a flaw in society, an unspoken sin that it seemed everyone here was committing. There was no lack of medication, and no lack of people wanting them. It was sick—but I was one of them.
When my father died, he had left us with an insurance policy that kept our heads above water. We were one of the few exceptions to the wealthy gene pool of Glenwood High.
“Think he’ll give me a freebie?” She smirked, brushing the hair from her face. Alexis had money, but she liked the thrill of the hunt and the challenge of getting drugs for free. She used it as her way to validate how beautiful she was.
I watched him disappear in the same direction my sister had—toward the library.
“Come on, let’s follow him,” she hissed, zeroing in on her newest prey.
Alexis grabbed my arm but my feet were planted. She spun around when I refused to move.
If I hadn’t made it obvious already, I had a strange talent for hearing people’s thoughts. I figured I was schizophrenic, but they were often so clear, that I couldn’t deny hearing them. I didn’t want to know what every student in school thought, especially when it came to the guys I hustled for drugs, but it didn’t seem I had a choice.
I furrowed my brow, trying to concentrate on him. Though the ability to hear Alexis’ thoughts had faded as the drugs did their job, his thoughts had suddenly come clear, like a dissipating fog. It wasn’t as though he was any diff
erent than anyone else, at least not outwardly. What was different was the one thought that had made it through. He was thinking of Jane.
“Em, come on. What’s wrong with you?”
I was frozen, the whispers repeating her name.
“Em-il-ly,” Alexis sang. “What did you take? Tranquilizers or something? Come on.” She yanked me once more. I finally gave in. “Geez. What’s gotten into you?” She tossed her ink-black hair over her shoulder as she pulled my arm behind her. My feet were moving now, but I couldn’t feel them.
Who was he?
Jane:
I found an empty table behind one of the library stacks and sat, putting my bag down beside me. I unzipped it and reached in, pulling a book from inside. Anxious to escape the day, I folded back the cover, bringing it to my nose as I breathed deeply. I loved the smell of books, and I loved the way they filled my head with images—images other than death.
Looking up, something caught my eye through the stack of books. I dropped the book into my lap, ducking down to see what it was. I narrowed my eyes, seeing the new kid enter the library as though looking for someone. I watched him, breathing quietly, afraid he could hear me.
I felt shameless as I stared. In truth, I was a little surprised to see him step foot in a library at all. The only boys I ever saw here had glasses thick enough to be considered bullet proof and GPA’s fit for Harvard.
The images in my head began to surface and I shut my eyes, forcing them back. I saw a graveyard—I saw him there. I didn’t know why my mind always had to go to that place, but it was hard to prevent. With each person that got close enough, so followed a small glimpse of their death.
Everyone was different, and it changed frequently, like it had for Liz. Just this morning, when I saw her in my second period class, she had died from skin cancer, only to be replaced by the drowning incident at lunch. As I’d left the house, I saw my mother die of exhaustion and Emily die of a drug addiction. It was hard to believe them to be omens when each was so fleeting. I always figured it was a result of my thoughts mixed with their actions at that particular moment.
My eyes shot open, not wanting to see any more of that scene. Instead, I shamelessly focused on the new kids eyes, knowing that the stack hid me. They were dark blue, clear and deep, unlike anything I’d ever seen before. They reminded me of how death should feel—cold but releasing, like an ocean.
I shut my eyes again, envisioning this ocean and myself there. Opening my eyes again, I was disappointed to see he was gone. I glanced around, exhaling slowly before bringing the book up to my eyes, opening it to a random page and scrolling down. I tried my best to shrug it off, but I couldn’t pay attention to the words as I read the same sentence at least five times, his outline still painted across my memory.
I heard the door to the library open once again, and I looked up, hoping it was him again. Emily and her stupid friend Alexis walked in instead. My heart sank. The pleasant images of the ocean in the new boy’s eyes ceased as I became fixated on their unwelcomed presence. Alexis was looking around the room with a determined expression plastered on her face, clearly not here for the books.
What was it about this new boy that made every girl go so nuts? Surely there was no other valid explanation as to why she was here. I doubt she read, let alone turn a page.
I slammed the book shut and exhaled sharply. I grabbed my bag, stuffing the book inside as I shrugged my coat back on, finding my hopes for solidarity and peace destroyed. I stood and turned away from the stack of books, fuming. Why was everyone determined to spoil the only time I had to myself? Staring at my feet, I suddenly halted when a pair of brown leather shoes entered my line of vision. My eyes shot up, my mouth agape.
“Hi,” he said.
Our eyes met—the ocean of blue washing over me. His voice was raspy, but in a seductive way that sent chills down my spine. The image of him in the graveyard rushed back, but what I found interesting was the noticeable fact that in my premonition, he still wasn’t dead. My breathing stopped. He blinked, a smirk animating his face with the dimple I had noticed earlier.
“Er…” I stumbled over my words, though my head was eerily clear.
He said nothing.
“Uh…” I tried again, but no words came. As I stared, all I could think about was running away, but he was in my way. His long lean body blocked most of the aisle, one tattooed arm leaning against the stack. A lock of his hair came loose, sweeping into his face.
My eyes dropped, feeling my cheeks flush with dumbfounded embarrassment.
“Excuse me,” I whispered, ducking my head and squeezing through the small space between him and the stacks. I walked away at a brisk pace, looking over my shoulder to see that he was following me with his eyes. Not watching where I was going—or caring, for that matter—I collided with another student.
“Ouch!” The person squealed, their death colliding with the other thoughts in my mind—Alexis.
I nearly screamed as I saw her dead face, repositioning my gaze to look at her alive one. Emily rolled her eyes, leaning against a nearby worktable. A boy with bulletproof glasses sat at the table, glaring at the three of us.
“Alexis,” I hissed.
She shrugged me away from her as though I were a giant coodie.
“It’s not my fault. You ran into me. You were the one not watching where you were going.” Her voice was much louder than it needed to be.
My cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red. I didn’t need this kind of attention. I looked to Emily, but she seemed distracted, almost disturbed by some thought brewing in her head. I watched her for a moment, wondering what was wrong with her. Her foot was shaking nervously, and I willed her to look at me so that I could determine if she was high.
I gave up, exhaling resignedly and grabbing her arm, although at first, she still refused to look at me. I shook her roughly, and our eyes finally met. Her pupils were dilated. My eyebrows pressed together with frustration. I pushed her away in disgust.
“Emily, it’s the first day and already you’re—” I stopped myself, realizing I was talking rather loudly.
Emily looked ashamed, but still nervous. She said nothing to me as she grabbed Alexis’s arm. “Let’s go,” she murmured to her.
Alexis continued to glare, trying to intimidate me, which was laughable. She was so frail and thin, that there was no way she could ever win in a fight. I stood my ground, seeing her as nothing but a bad influence.
“Alexis, let’s go.” Emily pulled her away from me, causing Alexis to stumble backwards. They made their way to the door.
I turned and leaned against a nearby stack, placing my forehead against the spines of the books—trying to regroup—trying to calm down. I could feel the glares of every person in the room.
Why me?
Max:
I watched Jane as she stood with her sister, spying between the books with nervous energy.
Why didn’t I say something more?
I felt her heart racing, her body heat rising. She looked around her, her brown eyes scanning the room. Her sister left her, and she leaned against a stack of books, looking so alone—feeling alone. She stayed there for a moment before adjusting the bag on her back and walking briskly toward the door.
I shook my head, angry with myself for acting so stupid, so juvenile. Almost one hundred years, and still I hadn’t gotten past the awkward feeling that comes with being a teen—
“Nice try.”
The voice forced an instant flash of anger into my heart. I shut my eyes. I’d been hoping he wouldn’t come, but I was naïve to think he’d finally leave me alone. I turned to face him, my jaw clenched.
“I knew it wouldn’t take you long,” I seethed.
He smirked, his green eyes accompanied by a dark afterglow.
“I could never pass up a chance to play with my dear brother.” He sneered, his eyes sharp and his black hair spiked accordingly. He looked over my shoulder. “So, who is she?”
“Gregory, it�
��s nice to see you.” I addressed him with a nod, hoping I could avoid the question he’d asked.
Greg laughed under his breath, leaning against a stack of books. “Nice to see me? You’re pathetic.”
It had been ten years since I’d seen him last. When I’d left Glenwood Springs, I’d gone to a place he didn’t care to follow. Naturally, he hadn’t changed much, except for the new hairstyle that left his once wavy black locks spiked.
“What do you want, Greg?”
He looked amused. “So, you like my hair?” He touched it. “I think it’s a nice way to change things up. Keep it fresh and interesting for the ladies.”
I stared blankly at him. “What do you want?” I repeated.
“Like I said, Max—to play.” Greg tilted his head. “Looks like you’ve come back for her.” He sighed. “So have I. Mostly because whatever interests you, dear brother, interests me. Plus, she is a bit of unfinished business.”
“I saved her, Greg. You can’t touch her anymore. I made sure of that,” I snapped.
He laughed, acting calm. “Max. You know I’ll find a way. You can’t toy with fate. She was meant to die.”
“You caused the accident. How is that not toying with fate? I saved her; she is mine to protect. You can not touch her.” I threatened him.
“She shouldn’t be alive, Max. You know that’s against the rules.”
I felt my teeth grind together. “Your crusade is without just cause. You tried to murder them without a valid reason. It’s because of that that she should be allowed to live.”
Greg laughed quietly. “I have to kill all of those we leave behind, Max. That is the balance of the Earth.”
“Then why didn’t you ever come back for Erik?” I challenged. Erik had been the reason I was here, like this, in the first place.
Gregory’s black eyes glimmered with evil. “He’s different. He was never supposed to be there, so there’s no need to do any clean up.”
