by Allegra Skye
“I had a terrible thought,” Keira said.
“More of that?” he seemed unable to take anything else in. “I don’t want to hear it.”
Keira was shaken. On the one hand, he didn’t say a word; on the other, she’d heard exactly what he was thinking. It hadn’t been a fluke before: she definitely had some sort of new power.
“It’s because of mother?” Keira asked, testing the waters.
Her father took a swift breath. He looked shocked. Then, he gathered himself again. “How dare you suggest something like that?”
He’s playing dumb, Keira realized. “Mom can’t bear the thought of seeing me now, can she?” Keira persisted.
He spun away and huddled over. “I don’t know what’s wrong with you,” he said, in a foggy tone. “How could you suggest something like that?”
Keira knew she’d hit the nail on the head. But this was way beyond his comfort zone, and, it wasn’t his fault that her mother hated her. He wasn’t strong enough to step in and protect her. He couldn’t stand up and tell her mother that she had two daughters. And that Keira also needed attention and care. All of this was too overwhelming for him.
He turned to go to his study, where he always went to rest his mind from the day’s work. In the past, Keira would accompany him and they’d sit there quietly together, enjoying just being together, not needing to say a word.
Now, she did not go. And he did not want her to. She heard him think that, too, as clear as day.
CHAPTER 12
The first day back to school was impossible. Everyone crowded around Keira, asking how she was and how Amanda was, was, how her family was--students, teachers, counselors, coaches, the works.
She was embarrassed by all the attention. All these people that had never noticed her before suddenly wanted to talk to her. She felt that they weren’t genuinely interested in her or how she was feeling.
Plus, she didn’t know how to respond, or what to say to any of them. She didn’t even know herself how Amanda was really doing.
Later in the day, on the way to lunch, Tom hurried up to Keira in the hall. His eyes were red and swollen and he seemed very nervous.
“How is she?” he asked.
Keira just shrugged. “We’re just not sure.”
“I heard that you took the back road to the party so Amanda could be with me sooner,” Tom said.
Keira was amazed that he knew. So that was it. He felt guilty.
“Who told you?”
“Prissy,” he said. “Amanda had been texting her before she left. Prissy suggested she take the back road and Amanda thought it was a great idea.”
“Well, I wish you’d tell my father that,” Keira said slowly. “My father doesn’t believe that Amanda asked me to take the back road. He thinks I chose it for some reason.”
Tom grew silent and his eyes opened wide. “For what reason?”
Keira didn’t want to have him spread around school that her parents thought she might have wanted to hurt her sister, so she just shrugged.
“Your father thinks you were jealous of Amanda?” Tom asked, incredulous.
Keira had a sudden burning desire to know what Tom was thinking. She wondered if she really had a power to read minds, and if she could summon it. She didn’t see an indigo light anywhere, but she focused, as hard as she could, willing herself to hear this thoughts.
But nothing happened. She couldn’t. And that depressed her. Had she just been imagining her newfound powers?
“Everyone at school is saying all kinds of things,” Tom continued.
“That I hurt my sister because I was jealous?”
“No, not that you purposely hurt her. Just that you must have been very jealous of her.”
Keira felt sick to her stomach.
“What can you do? People here spend ninety nine per cent of their time talking about each other. They’re saying all kinds of things about me too.”
“What?”
“They’re blaming me for the accident, saying it happened because Amanda was so anxious to see me. They’re saying I should have picked her up and driven her to the party.”
“I hope you know that’s crazy,” said Keira.
Tom looked at her sadly. He didn’t know that.
Keira felt much older then, wiser. She felt really different from others now, as if she didn’t belong here at all.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Keira remembered the accident. A flash of it came back to her, and she saw herself spinning, with Amanda, stuck in the car, rolling head over heels.
Keira suddenly felt dizzy, her heart pounding out of control.
“Are you OK?” Tom asked, suddenly concerned. He reached out and put a hand on his shoulder, steadying her.
Keira was grateful for his hand, and it helped her keep her balance.
Slowly, she came back to the present. She nodded back. “I’m fine. Sorry,” she said, and breathed deeply. “There’s no one to blame, Tom,” she added, knowing that in her bones, deeply.
For a second he picked up her confidence. “Really? How do you know?”
It seemed so clear and obvious. “Nothing like this happens by chance,” she said. “When something really terrible happens, there’s a bigger reason for it. There’s something we all have to learn.”
“There is?” Tom said, his eyes filling with tears.
“Definitely, or else it couldn’t happen. It would have been Stopped,” Keira spoke definitively.
Since the accident Keira felt sure of much more than before.
“Is Amanda going to be all right? If you know so much, tell me that.”
“I don’t know.”
“So, aren’t you terrified for her?” he said.
Keira checked her feelings. They changed so quickly now these days, she had to pay extra attention to keep track of them. A feeling would flash up for a second, and then morph into something else. Fear would turn into confidence, happiness into sorrow, hate into love. She couldn’t much hold onto any of them. They would rise up and then drift away, like smoke.
“Of course I am.”
But Keira also felt a strange new sense of peace, as if something was guiding them all from the other world. Keira was about to tell him how sometimes, since the accident, she saw and heard things that no one else saw. But then she stopped. He’d just tell everyone and they’d all laugh.
Before she could say any more, he turned and walked away, looking sadder than before.
She wanted to call out to Tom, but at that very moment, Nora ran over, and gave her a huge hug. She hadn’t seen her since the accident.
“Finally,” Nora said. “I’m so happy you’re okay.”
“Thanks,” said Keira.
“I texted and emailed you so many times,” Nora said, as she took her by the arm and walked with her towards the cafeteria.
“Sorry,” Keira said. “I’ve been kind of overwhelmed.”
They reached through the double doors to the cafeteria, and Keira braced herself as she entered.
Right away, she could feel all the eyes on her, and could hear the muted whispers.
Keira went right to her table, with Nora. She wasn’t really hungry, but felt it would be nice to sit down with Nora, and whoever else joined them. As soon as she went to the table, lots of other kids sat down there too.
She’d become a curiosity, the twin who survived the terrible accident. Naturally, everyone asked about Amanda.
She saw Prissy, Stacey and some of the other girls who’d been friends with Amanda staring at her from a different table, and wondered if they were going to come over, too. They didn’t. They stayed huddled, talking with each other furtively, sending her odd glances.
The kids who sat at Keira’s table all tried their best to be extra nice. “It’s amazing you’re completely okay,” one of them, Lynn said. “How does it feel to be so lucky?”
That comment stung Keira.
“It’s interesting, isn’t it,” Nora answered her, “how even siste
rs can have different fates.”
Keira appreciated Nora’s comment. She wondered what her fate really was? Had she emerged totally unharmed? It might look that way to others, but she didn’t think so. She’d lost the love a father in the process and probably a mother as well. Not that her mother had ever really loved her, but with her father, it was different.
Not to mention Amanda. Would she ever forgive Keira for the accident? Would she blame her for her whole life? She had been the one who insisted she take the back road, who insisted on not wearing a seatbelt. But still, Keira had been driving. Amanda might blame her, too, just like all the others. Somehow, that would just be too much for Keira to bear.
They all ate lunch, and eventually talked more about other, things too. Someone mentioned what a strange year it had been so far, two other kids from the senior class were also in the hospital, with that weird infection. It made Keira nervous for Amanda.
Something else was happening here, a danger they had no idea of. Even Keira wasn’t sure what. She thought of the shadows she’d seen, and got a chill. Was something happening to this town?
The bell rang and everyone got up.
“I think I’ll just stay here for a few minutes,” Keira told Nora.
The kids filed out of the cafeteria and Keira sat there with her head in her hands, as the room finally grew quiet. From time to time her head started throbbing, then it stopped. She closed her eyes and it felt better as the place grew quieter. For a little while, Keira rested like that, and then felt someone else come over and sit down beside her.
Keira wondered who? She opened her eyes, picked up her head, and suddenly stopped breathing. She had no idea how to react.
There He was, sitting close besides her, breathing the same air, only a few inches away. He was tall and beautiful, statuesque even, with his incredible shock of light blonde hair. Once again their eyes locked for a moment. Keira felt her heart pounding. He was looking her with great focus and attention.
“Cooper,” he said.
Keira swallowed hard. “Hi, Cooper.”
She couldn’t take her eyes off him. His skin was clear, silky, almost transparent. His beautiful grey eyes were sharp, but also kind. She’d never seen a guy who was so handsome, so gentle and powerful at the same time. Her heart started pounding.
Stop it, she tried to tell herself. But she didn’t know how.
“My name is Keira,” she managed.
“I know,” he said. His voice was a little louder now, but still had that husky quality, as if it were coming from somewhere else, across a mountain, under a river.
“How do you know my name?” Keira said. “Because of the accident?”
He smiled obliquely. She knew she must have sounded stupid. But why would someone like him know her name? Why would he want to be sitting here with her? But as they sat close to each other, the energy between them was so strong that Keira knew they had some kind of deep connection. She’d never felt that way with anyone before.
He smiled. He had a beautiful, flashing smile that lit up his entire face. His teeth were perfect, shining white. His lips were full and beautiful. She wanted to reach out and touch his face, but thought she must be going crazy, thinking things like that.
“I’m new here too,” he said, grinning.
Keira wondered if he sensed what she was feeling.
“It’s also my senior year,” he said.
“Really?” She couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t believe anything about him, or that this was even happening. “Do you live in Everstock?”
“No,” he said, his eyes darkening.
“It’s all right,” she quickly cut in, “it’s fine with me. It makes no difference where you live at all.”
He laughed. “I didn’t think so. What does make a difference to you?”
The question took her off guard. It was a great question, and all she could think of to answer was—you.You make a difference.
But, she couldn’t say that because she had to keep reminding herself that she didn’t even really know him. Not yet.
“Different things. Not necessarily all the same things that matter to everyone else,” she finally said.
“That’s easy to see,” he answered.”
He did not take his eyes off her face, could look at her for the longest time without even blinking.
Keira began to feel dizzy. He seemed perfectly comfortable, though.
“Don’t you have another class?” she asked.
“You want me to leave?” he scrutinized her carefully.
“No, of course not. I don’t,” she mumbled.
Just sitting here with him made all the pain she was going through fade. It made the past weeks seem like a nightmare that she could wake up from. She could see that one day she would be able to feel good again, be happy. It was as if the two of them were in their own, special world.
“I noticed you the other morning,” Keira said softly. “Walking through the yard. Then, the other day, in the cafeteria. But I looked again, and you were gone.”
“My classes are all very early in the morning—the early track,” he said. “By the time I have lunch, my day is over.”
Keira was surprised. “I didn’t know they had an early track.”
“It’s for kids who work in the afternoons. There are a lot of kids like that across Junction 101. They can’t afford to spend a whole day at school. Their parents need the money, they’re not so rich and spoiled.”
“I’m sorry,” said Keira.
“There’s nothing for you to be sorry for,” he said. “You’re different. You’re not spoiled.”
It felt wonderful to hear him say that. “Thank you.”
Suddenly, he got restless. “I can’t stay long,” he said then, starting to go.
“Why not? You just got here.”
He stood up sharply. “I have to go. “
“Okay,” said Keira, breathless. “Thanks.” He probably had to go to work, she thought. But she couldn’t let him just leave like that. “Will you come back tomorrow?”
He didn’t like that. He arched an eyebrow and looked displeased. “I don’t know,” he said abruptly.
Keira was crestfallen.
“And please do not wait for me,” he said firmly.
“Fine. I won’t,” she said, hurt. Who was this guy anyway? Kind one second, mean the next?
Keira watched him spin around then, rush towards the door, and disappear through it like a fleeting cloud. When he was gone she felt as though the floor was sliding beneath her. What just happened? Was this all a dream? Had he really been here? Would he ever come back again?
CHAPTER 13
Who is Cooper?
Keira texted Nora as soon as she got home. Nora wasn’t picking up her phone and she needed an answer right away. Her conversation with him had really gotten to her. Nora was up on everything that went on at school. Please call or email me as soon as you can, Keira wrote.Really important!
A few minutes later, Keira’s phone vibrated. He’s a new kid too, just started end of September. Not sure where he lives, I think somewhere near the lake, with his dad who travels. He’s in the early morning track and keeps to himself. Sometimes he comes to the cafeteria for a quick lunch, by himself. Gorgeous, naturally. Everybody’s noticed, but really different too. No one hangs around with him. Prissy tried to get his attention once, so did Stacey, but he didn’t give them the time of day. Some people think he’s stuck up – others think he’s just plain cold. Why do you ask? What’s the deal?
Keira read the text over and over.
At least I didn’t imagine all of this, she thought. He’s real. At least we really spoke to each other.
But why has he picked me?
Keira hadn’t been able to do a thing after her conversation with him. She came right home and lay down in bed. Her head stopped hurting, but thoughts of him filled it completely, blocking out everything else. She replayed everything that happened between them over and over. It mad
e her feel as though she could go on, no matter what happened. Her parents, Amanda, everything else, receded into the background and didn’t hurt so bad. She had no idea why.
Keira went to pick up her journal, but just as she did, her phone buzzed and rang. She looked down and saw it was Nora. She was calling- probably dying with curiosity over Cooper. Keira regretted saying anything. She didn’t feel like being grilled about it right now. She barely knew him. She debated whether to answer.
Finally, she picked up.
“So. What happened?” Nora said, sounding excited and a little scared.
“What do you mean?”
“Cooper. Did he come over to you and actually talk?”
Keira suddenly felt protective, didn’t want to share any details. “Yeah, we had a few words,” she said lightly.
“And?” Nora was getting itchy.
“Nothing much,” Keira said.
“You like him!” Nora said definitively.
“He’s gorgeous,” Keira breathed.
“Don’t I know,” said Nora. “All the girls are dreaming about him. But I heard he’s also weird.”
“How so?”
“Very.”
Keira’s heart fell. She didn’t really care what others thought, though. They found something wrong with everyone.
“Not only is he stuck up,” Nora went on, “he hardly answers when people speak to him. He has all the answers in class, but only talks when the teachers call on him. No one knows anything about his family, where his mother is, or his father, who is supposed to travel a lot. He lives in a little house at the edge of the lake, not even a real neighborhood. Right after classes, he rushes away. This all adds up to one thing, Keira - trouble!”
“I guess,” said Keira, barely listening.
“No matter how gorgeous he is, I’d stay away. You have enough on your plate--hanging with him is the last thing you need right now.”
Keira was silent.
“Did he actually come over and talk to you though?” Nora paused, in awe.
“I wouldn’t put it that way, exactly.”
“How would you put it?”
“We exchanged a few words.” Keira knew she had to cover her bases, couldn’t let Nora know anything at all about the way she truly felt. No one could ever understand the feelings she had for him. And it wasn’t any of their business, anyway.
