by C. C. Bolick
“I can’t help that,” Pade said.
Mia’s voice faded, almost to a whisper. “He’s counting on a scholarship—a football scholarship. The only way he has a chance of getting noticed is if Credence goes to state. For that to happen, you’d have to be throwing the ball.”
“He’ll get a scholarship,” Pade said.
“Maybe,” Mia admitted. “But Terrance doesn’t see that. All he sees is the fact you left him hanging, which hurt. He believes you ran to your rich father, who could probably send you to any college. Is he right?”
“Yes,” Pade said.
“You won’t play football, which doesn’t just hurt his feelings. Now you’re killing his dreams. Why?”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
Mia stood. “You’re right, I don’t. Something about you has changed, Pade Sanders, and not for the good. I suggest you stay out of Terrance’s way. He’s likely to have the whole school ready to fight you soon. Is that more important than your secrets?”
Pade didn’t say a word as Mia followed Terrance’s path.
I placed a hand on Pade’s arm. “Why not tell them about your dad?”
“They wouldn’t understand. Plus, I don’t want them to know I’m related to such a black-hearted bastard. Anyone with half a brain would run the other way.”
“You told me the truth and I understood. I didn’t run.”
He smiled with an irony that twisted my stomach. “Bailey told you the truth. I wasn’t ever going to tell you.”
I felt as if the breath had been knocked from my chest. “But I thought—”
“Whatever you thought about me, you were wrong.”
New Friends
On Monday, I skipped hanging out and went straight to first block. My feelings were still raw from Saturday, and I couldn’t take a chance on seeing Pade again so soon. He knew the secret about Jessica Naples. For two nights, my thoughts had been tortured by what he might think of me, of my parents. We’d had lunch as a family on Sunday, but he’d avoided every opportunity to look my way.
I spent the ride to school again going over the scene from the restaurant. Terrance’s face had been marred by pain and anger. Mia was shocked at Pade’s unwillingness to help his friend. The whole school would hate Pade. I should hate him after admitting his plans to never tell me the truth.
As I hoped, the new guy was already at his desk. The class was silent, empty except for the two of us. I dropped in the desk next to his and scooted closer.
He stopped writing in the black binder and closed it, but didn’t raise his eyes.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
After what seemed like hours, he finally spoke. “Joe.”
I pulled back a little at his deep voice. “Which is short for?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Joseph.” He shifted in his seat to look at me, giving me his full attention. “How did you know my name wasn’t Joe?”
“Just a guess.”
Joe looked down at my desk. “I don’t like people in my personal space.”
Wow, he was serious. I slid my desk away from him. “I’ve sat next to you for days, but you haven’t said a word.”
“Sometimes people talk too much.” He pointed to a cluster of girls who laughed as they entered the room. “I’m not social like they are. Why are you talking to me?”
Good question. Although something about this guy reeked of Chase, his face and voice both told a different story. Maybe I was wrong. “Sorry if I offended you, but I thought you might need a friend.”
This time both eyebrows rose. “You want to hang out with me?”
“Why not?” I asked.
To my surprise, he smiled. “You’ll change your mind.”
“Maybe.”
He collected himself and leaned closer to me. “I’m not the best-friend kind of guy.”
“Since I’m not a guy, I wouldn’t know.”
He inched slightly closer. “I’d break your heart.”
I shrugged. “Maybe I’m not the heart-break kind of girl.”
“I hate this school.”
“So do I on most days.”
Joe cleared his throat. “I’ve been in prison.”
“My whole life is a prison.”
The confidence in his face wavered. “You said that like you believe it.”
“I do. I’d give anything for a way out.”
“Find your seats,” growled a voice from the doorway.
I looked up as Mrs. Austen crossed to the front of the room. Other students filed into the class, including Rachelle.
“Miss Delaney, must you block the aisle?”
Scrambling to my feet, I pulled my desk back in place. “Sorry.”
Her voice could have frozen Lake Credence solid. “See that it does not happen again. Next time I will give everyone an assigned seat.”
“She’s mean,” I whispered to Joe.
“You don’t know the half of it,” he muttered. Turning back to his desk, Joe opened the binder and started writing again. “I can’t help you,” he added, staring straight ahead.
“Yet,” he whispered, but I looked at the board as if I never heard.
* * * * *
“See anything I missed?”
I shook my head and glanced over the pages spread across my bed. News articles about mysterious disappearances, pictures of UFOs, interviews with people claiming to be victims of alien abductions.
“Reminds me of the X-Files,” Bailey said.
“What?” I asked.
“Don’t say you’ve never seen that show—it runs all the time on one of those sci-fi channels. Super cute guy? His sister was abducted by aliens or at least that’s what they always hinted.”
I shrugged.
“You should watch more TV. In one episode, the aliens were experimenting on human—”
“We almost got kidnapped by aliens. Why would I want to watch that?”
She grinned. “Good point, although I never got the impression Chase planned to dissect our brains.” Handing me a stack of emails, she pulled herself up from the bed. “That’s everything from Lauren.”
Four conversations, the last dated back in May. “She says Chase never contacted her again.”
“Did you read the second page?”
I flipped back to the email, not realizing there had been another page. Scanning each line, my heart nearly stopped at the end.
Jes wasn’t the girl. That’s why Chase is never coming back.
“What’s wrong?” Bailey asked.
“Nothing,” I stammered. “Nothing is wrong.”
“You’re not her, but you knew that.”
I swallowed hard. “Yeah.”
“Something is wrong,” she said.
Swallowing again, I pushed the sob back into my throat. I had to be the girl Chase was searching for. I remembered that night. I’d regained my power. Lauren was wrong.
If only I could tell Bailey the truth about my past or how I thought Chase might actually be back in Credence. “I’m fine. I just miss Chase.”
“Me too.”
I gathered the papers. “This was a waste of time.”
“Jes?”
Looking up, I arranged the pages in a neat stack. “I’m good. Promise.”
“Did you tell Chase the truth about New York?”
“It’s how I convinced Chase and Mrs. Pearson to let us go.”
Bailey stared at me. “I’ve wondered why they went to all the trouble to kidnap us and then just dropped us back at the mall.”
“Dad made me promise to keep the secret about Jessica Naples, but it wasn’t worth us being dragged across the sky to another planet.”
“Good thing you came clean to Chase,” she said, though her voice seemed nowhere near forgiving.
* * * * *
Darkness surrounded me as I stared at the ceiling. No one stirred beyond my bedroom door. The clock on the nightstand had glowed eleven-thirty the last time I looked. If only sleep would come
, but no way could I stop thinking about Chase.
This new guy couldn’t be Chase. He’d pushed me away, complained about me in his ‘personal space,’ and then actually seemed worried when I painted him a picture of what my life had become without Chase. Between his odd emotions and the new teacher’s familiar cold words, I found it hard to believe Chase and Mrs. Pearson hadn’t returned. But what kept them away for so long? And why wasn’t he in any hurry to tell me now?
My brain felt ready to explode. It was enough thinking Chase was being held against his will, denied the chance to return to Earth. But what if they’d been here all along?
The creek—maybe hearing the rushing water would clear my head. I closed my eyes and pictured myself near the bank. Opening my eyes, I let out a frustrated sigh. White plaster still hung above me.
I closed my eyes and thought of Chase, of the night I’d run away. I’d pictured myself on that platform a thousand times since January. Moving small objects with my mind had become a simple task in the last month, but I still hadn’t managed to zap my whole body somewhere else. Pooling my emotions—fear for Chase, hatred for him possibly being so close, eagerness to see him—I opened my eyes, this time to a black canvas speckled with a million tiny lights.
Water splashed and gurgled to my side. Above me the moon hung in the sky, watching, welcoming me back to my favorite place.
Beneath my back was a bed of grass and leaves that had fallen. As I struggled to sit, the leaves crunched beneath me. The air was hot, no doubt more so since my bedroom enjoyed the advantage of our air conditioner, but it smelled fresh and wide open. My eyes adjusted to the night slowly, but I was in no hurry.
My heart swelled with the knowledge I’d finally used my gift for more than just a task my hands could accomplish. Sure, I was less than two miles from home, but I’d teleported myself here. TELEPORTED MYSELF. I threw my hands in the air and danced all the way to the water. Over and over, I told myself I’d used my power. Me. Jes Delaney. Who would ever believe me?
When I reached the bank, I sat on a rock and slid my bare feet into the water. My toes tingled against the smooth rocks, cold despite the rush of blood in my veins. Moonlight glittered across the rocks and water, reminding me why this place was so special. There was a beauty I didn’t quite understand, but I knew one thing for sure. I didn’t fear the water. I’d never feared water.
I took a deep breath, still unable to believe I’d finally wielded the same power as Chase. My power. Perhaps the gift never really left me. Maybe getting sick had released something inside of me. Or it could have been fate. The fortune teller at the fair had said my power would keep me safe.
But keep me safe from what?
A low growl came from bushes across the creek. I froze as the branches rustled. Closing my eyes, I pictured myself back in my bedroom.
Panic gripped my chest as the growl deepened. I opened my eyes as the branches rustled again. Chase’s words from the night we sat on the rocks raced through my head.
When I’m scared, my powers don’t always work.
I scrambled back from the rocks as an animal burst into the moonlight. It was a wolf, maybe a dog. No, the snarling beast that stalked toward me must be a coyote. The animal lowered its head, shoulders bulging with each step, baring a full mouth of razor-sharp teeth as it inched closer. Black lines formed a mask around the eyes and down to the black nose. A long shadow stretched across the creek, reaching my toes as huge yellow eyes focused on mine.
My heart raced. I jumped to my feet, tracing the dirt road in the moonlight. Running ahead, my lungs burned as I struggled to catch my breath. Feet scratched the ground behind me, barely making a sound as claws almost flew over the rocks. The air only amplified the deep breathing that closed the gap behind me with every second.
Another growl raged through the night.
My foot caught the edge of a rock.
I fell sideways, landing on my hip. Covering my face, I prayed with every ounce of strength I had left.
When I lowered my hands, the darkness of cold, stale air surrounded me. Had I imagined the animal, almost in range to tear my head off?
Looking down, I barely made out dirt lodged beneath my nails. Dad had warned me not to go to that creek many times.
Only one word summed up my feelings under the glare of that animal.
Powerless.
* * * * *
History class the next morning felt like a marathon run of a TV show I never wanted to watch in the first place. There was the usual boring lecture and then our teacher asked someone to read passages, no surprise. She wrote on the board and called every name in the room except for Joe’s. When the bell rang, I looked at the empty desk next to me.
Mrs. Austen didn’t raise her eyes as I approached her desk.
“Yes, Miss Delaney?”
“Let me guess, Joe didn’t feel well today.”
She paused in her writing and looked up at me. “Who?”
I rolled my eyes. “The guy who sits next to me.”
She stared at me, a curious look on her face.
For a moment, I stood in silence, but as students made their way in for second block, I realized she didn’t plan to respond.
“Fine,” I said and stomped toward the door.
My anger simmered during second block and lunch, rising another notch each time I thought of Chase and Mrs. Pearson. Were they playing games with me now? Did they think I wouldn’t figure out it was them or were the connections merely in my mind?
“Did you hear what I said about Skip?”
I nodded to Angel when in reality I neither heard nor cared. Rachelle sat next to her, picking at a plate of grilled chicken salad that almost overflowed to the tray underneath. She looked up, frowning, but didn’t say a word.
Wasting no time when the bell rang, I headed for the exit and crashed into Tosh in the doorway.
“Sorry,” she said, backing up until recognition flashed in her eyes. “Jes!” Tosh grabbed my arms and pulled me outside.
She wore a T-shirt that said Bahamas and covered more skin than any other shirt she’d worn. Her red hair had been tamed into a single white scrunchy that made her makeup-free face…pretty. No wonder I hadn’t picked her out of the crowd last week.
Shocked by her genuine tone, I hesitated as she pulled me into a corner near one of the counselor’s offices. I froze when she threw her arms around my neck, gripping me in bear hug.
Had Tosh Henley been body-snatched and swapped with an alien? Was the real Tosh on a spaceship circling Earth? I giggled at the thought of Tosh being taken, but it was more of a nervous response to how close we stood. The arms around my neck could easily tighten in a second, leaving me to gasp for air.
“I’m so glad you came out of the coma,” she said and released me. “You had everyone in Credence worried.” Concern spread across her face as she noticed mine. “Did I grip too hard? Bailey said you were still weak…”
She’d been talking to Bailey? “I never had a problem surviving your grip before.”
Her face fell. “I’m sorry, Jes.” Tosh stepped back and eyed me with an uneasiness that didn’t suit her. “I thought maybe I’d hurt you.”
“You? Hurt me?” I asked with sarcasm.
She gave a pitiful laugh. “You’re right, but I can’t take that back.”
“If you could—” I started.
“Yes,” she said. “I get we can’t be friends. Bailey seems to have gotten over hating me; that will have to be enough for now.”
We stared at each other. Maybe she was hoping for more from me, but I couldn’t offer her friendship. Not Tosh. Not after how she bullied me. Eventually, she gave up and walked back to the table where Bailey and Pade usually sat. As I watched through the doors, Bailey and Pade entered from the side door to the cafeteria and went straight to Tosh.
Jealousy welled inside of me. How could Bailey and Pade eat lunch with Tosh? The trio seemed in their own world as Tosh’s lips moved and Bailey laughed. Pade gr
inned, oblivious that only empty seats in the cafeteria surrounded them.
* * * * *
“Did you think I wouldn’t find you?”
I recognized the dainty voice before I rounded the last corner near the locker. The last bell had already rung, but Mom was in a meeting that would last at least fifteen more minutes. Luckily, she’d decided the boys were finally old enough to walk to the van on their own. Easing around the brick wall, I caught a glimpse of Brianna Lars looming over Rachelle. My friend had backed against the lockers.
“What do you want?” Rachelle asked, her voice pleading.
“For you to hurt. Today, tomorrow, forever.” Brianna shoved Rachelle hard against the lockers, in the same way Tosh had pushed me on more than one occasion.
“I’m already hurting,” Rachelle said.
“Not enough.” Brianna rolled up her sleeves. “You aren’t beautiful like Leigh Ann was.” She held her pale arm next to Rachelle’s face. “She went to the tanning bed religiously, just so her skin would be dark like yours. When I’m finished, everyone will hate you for it.”
I had to stop the scene before me. My eyes darted from the books at Rachelle’s feet to the lockers that stretched along the vacant hall. What could I move and not give myself away? I thought of Tosh, nearly choking me earlier.
With a good look at the collar that poked out from beneath Brianna’s sweater, I closed my eyes and pictured the white fabric. Slowly, I pulled the two ends closer.
“No one will like the way you look or the way you talk. Rachelle, you’ll never be able to look in a mirror again.”
I could see the fabric meeting, one corner touching the other. Tighter. Squeezing my eyes, I pictured the white fabric closing around Brianna’s neck.
A squeal echoed through the hall. “I can’t breathe,” Brianna said, running for the nearby doors.
I released Brianna and walked to Rachelle. “Are you okay?”
She blinked, her face full of fury. “You were spying again?”
“No,” I said. “Okay, maybe I was.”
Rachelle pushed me aside. “Brianna doesn’t like me. I told you to stay out of this.”
