Chapter Forty
When I arrived at school the next day there was a strange feeling in the air. Well, it could have just been my perception since I didn’t have on five layers of clothing like usual. I still wore a thermal shirt and a long-sleeved T-shirt, but I intentionally left my hooded sweatshirt at home. I wanted to make sure the dark clique could see me. Plus, without my CD player I no longer had ear buds to hide anymore.
I had been worried that everyone in school would think that I was some kind of psycho chick after my flip-out yesterday. My useless worrying streak would continue unbroken.
Talk about coming out of my shell via a nuclear blast! Students I have never met before spoke to me like they had known me forever. It felt like everyone on campus suddenly knew me by name. By lunch time I had said “hey” or “hi” a thousand times. They might know my name now, but it would take the rest of my life to learn all of theirs.
Our normally quiet lunch room corner was crowded with a zillion people. The dark clique remained at their tables. The middle tables had been abandoned. The high school was divided. The dark clique kids are sitting on one side and everyone else is sitting on my side.
What on earth did I get started???
My only goal was to make a rather loud point to my so-called friends and get them to rethink their obnoxious idiocy. Obviously, it had been a ridiculous assumption on my part to believe that everyone would just go back to business as usual today. I decided to run away and hide in my air vent for the next few weeks, but before I could leave, the crowd noticed my entrance.
Everyone rushed toward me and I was surrounded. They were all talking at the same time. I guess they had already forgotten what my meltdown had been about. No one gave me a chance to say anything.
I heard someone request to interview me for an article in the school’s newspaper, someone else asked me to sit with them in Algebra and someone else asked if I would be interested in joining the pep squad. The rest of their voices were incoherent. I was less than ten feet from Krista, but the ocean of people prevented me from taking another small step. I was overwhelmed.
“Wait! Everyone stop!” I exclaimed at the top of my voice when I felt the touch of someone’s hand against my back.
My internal fire reacted as I panicked. I felt another scene coming on fast. If everyone starts feeling me up, I will come unhinged. The door to the outside briefly opened and allowed the winter wind to brush by me. I struggled to contain my spirit light that surged violently. I somehow contained it, but I had to prevent anyone else from touching me.
“I can’t hear anyone if everyone talks at the same time and please stop putting your hands on me,” I shouted firmly.
The crowd hushed immediately. It was evident that they weren’t planning on saying another word until I said it was okay. I stood like a moron. I never gave any consideration to the idea that they would actually listen to me. I had no idea what to do or say.
I somehow went from being invisible, to the most popular girl on campus, faster than the speed of light…not good…
I had very little experience dealing with people because Tray typically handles all Pateman social interactions. I had no experience dealing with a crowd of people. Avoiding all form of public speaking, I usually opted to move out of town. The countless sets of eyes were staring at me like I had the power to grant their wishes. I would’ve given anything to make a quick departure (heaven or swallowed by the earth). I was willing to go either way, as long as I was out of this crazy position.
The silence grew into a pink elephant type situation. The elephant is certainly here, but we are all trying hard to ignore it. My spirit light can’t take much more. It’s going to explode from my body. I braced myself and then…
“Hey, everyone chill out. Sit back down and go about your business – Ember wasn’t in the lunchroom today,” Tray’s voice was smooth as silk.
His obliteration even lulled my mind although it’s never worked on me before. I was so relaxed that I couldn’t seem to freak out about the fact that his obliteration had channeled to me as well.
The crowd dispersed and began to talk among themselves. It was as if I was no longer in the room.
“Comon’ kiddo – you’ve paid your dues for today – don’t you agree?” he whispered as he led me outside.
The frigid air broke the last remnant of his obliteration. Relief and then fear consumed me as I realized that Tray had just saved me. But his nose was bleeding as a result.
“Oh my…” was all I managed to say before he covered my mouth and pointed me toward the parking lot.
“I’m fine – just get to the car,” he whispered urgently in my ear.
By the time we sat down in the station wagon the small trickle had turned into a flowing fountain. I found the emergency kit and held it open for him. Tray retrieved what he needed. Then, he relaxed against his seat and leaned his head back on the headrest.
“Holy Creator, I didn’t know you could do that. That was crazy!” I exclaimed with genuine surprise.
“I didn’t know I could do that either…” Tray revealed and closed his eyes.
I sat there for as long as I could without making a sound. That only amounted to the equivalent of sixteen nanoseconds before I transformed into a mini-inquisitor…Tray-style…
“What happened in there? What did I do – that crowd and all those questions – where did they come from? Why did everyone suddenly want to feel me up like I’m some kind of cantaloupe??” I rapidly asked and continued for an unknown amount of time.
“Gimme a second, Ember…” he finally managed to choke out his request.
Tray’s voice sounded strangled as the blood trickled down the back of his throat.
“Oh my heavens I’m so sorry,” I told him and he patted my arm to let me know he forgave me.
I was scared beyond belief, but I forced myself to stay quiet. It wouldn’t help him if I turned back into rambling-psychotic-Ember.
A few minutes later the bleeding was kind of under control. Tray swallowed two pain pills dry. He intensely massaged his forehead and temples. Angry red streaks were left behind. I pulled an ice pack out of the emergency kit, popped the inner bubble of chemicals and it immediately started to feel cold. I handed it to my brother and he promptly stuck it to his forehead. He had bloody tears leaking from the corners of his eyes.
“Maybe you should go see the school nurse…” I suggested, worriedly.
“Nah, it’ll stop hurting in a few minutes. Besides, nose bleeds and headaches are red flags for ambulances and hospitals. I’m not about to leave you here alone in that massive chaos…” Tray responded and tried to sound casual.
“Lemme just call an ambulance! Then, I’ll ride with you…”
“It’s already starting to ease off…”
His eyes were glassy and red rimmed. He was as pale as a ghost and he looked deathly ill. My brother desperately needs to go to a hospital. But he won’t listen to me. I had never been so terrified in my entire life.
“I don’t think I can drive like this, but we gotta get away from this school…” Tray told me with a shaky voice that frightened me further.
I prepared to shove him out of the way and drive him to the Emergency Room. Fumbling around in his pocket, he pulled out his cell phone before I could do anything. He called Rave and asked him to come pick us up without offering him any real details. After Rave agreed, Tray slid into the back seat.
“I’m going to rest back here so I can lie flat on my back. You will not attempt to drive this vehicle anywhere – not a single millimeter! Do not leave our car for any reason until my boss gets here…” Tray stated firmly.
“I won’t drive and I promise to stay in here – I’ll wake you when he pulls in,” I vowed.
It seemed like Rave broke some land speed record to get to us. I woke Tray up gently and he had deep, black circles around his eyes. His skin had turned an ashen color
as we climbed into Rave’s truck.
“You should have told me how bad it was Tray. I could’ve brought Celeste to drive. That way, I could’ve worked on you…” he stated with urgency.
Tray only grunted in response and handed me the ice pack he had on his forehead. It was burning hot.
“Hang on!” Rave ordered and then he floored the accelerator.
Ember Rising Light (Book One) Page 44
