by Amy Miles
How had I shattered the bottle with my bare hands? Defective bottle? It had to be. I couldn’t imagine the amount of strength it would take to crush a glass bottle.
Strangely, all the pain had faded, even though it had only been a matter of seconds since I’d broken the bottle. Flipping my hands over and back again, I couldn’t find the source of the blood. How was that possible? Blood would’ve required an opening to pass through. And yet, no such opening existed.
No avoiding it now. Something was definitely up.
A logical explanation had to exist somewhere, but I had no idea where to start. The last place I’d go for information was my parents. The way they worried about me, I’d probably find myself in the hospital. Next thing you know, I’d be the subject of some weird experiment.
CHAPTER FOUR
I’d fallen asleep at my laptop last night, surfing the Internet for anything on powers or accelerated healing. The Marvel comic sites told me about superheroes with special abilities. But I already knew I wasn’t a superhero. I needed to know why it was happening. I had some other ideas for research, but had to hold off until later, after I worked off my debt to my parents.
Dad had plenty for me to do — filing, data entry, billing. I even started a website for him. He did graphic design, but his true love was computer forensics. He’d examine the hard drive for evidence of hacking or whatever he was hired to investigate. And that required traveling. But why did we have to move for every single job when he could leave us behind and return when he finished?
By the time Maya texted me Saturday afternoon to let me know she’d be there soon, I’d whittled my debt to almost nothing.
“Anything else you need done?” I waited for my dad’s reply while he typed in code for a website.
“Always. There’s another stack of filing.” Dad smiled, blue eyes twinkling, and pointed to the top of the file cabinet. “How’s it going with Daniel? Haven’t seen much of him lately.”
My love life was the last thing I wanted to discuss with my dad. “Fine. He has some friends over tonight. I was supposed to go, but I’m grounded.” I shrugged. “I’ll see him Monday.”
He nodded slowly, eyes narrowed. “Did he do something?”
Damn, my dad had good instincts. “No. I promise.”
“And how are you doing?” Dad’s eyes bored into mine, as though he could hypnotize me into coughing up whatever might be bothering me. But I’d never tell my parents about my school problems or I could lose what few days there I had left. I wasn’t going to spill that I was crazy enough to think I might have superpowers either. Best-case scenario, they’d think I was losing my mind and keep even closer tabs on me. They hovered enough as it was.
“You mean other than being forced to move again?” I asked, struggling to keep the attitude out of my voice.
He sighed.
There, that would throw him off the subject of Daniel and school. If anyone could make me talk, it was my dad. “I didn’t realize it was so late,” I said, checking my cell. “Maya will be here soon. Okay if I do this tomorrow?”
Maya usually spent Sundays with her family. With me avoiding Daniel, and Gina avoiding me, I’d have tons of time to earn money.
“Sure.” He smiled and returned his attention to the computer monitor just as the doorbell chimed.
I hurried downstairs and relieved Maya of her overnight bag. Still holding her pink, vinyl makeup box and a small, paper sack, she followed me to my room. I locked the door and turned up the music, so we could speak freely without anyone eavesdropping.
“Gina still mad?” Setting the pink box on a chair, she flopped on the bed, small bottles clinking against each other inside the sack.
“Yep.” I waved her into the connecting bathroom. “Pedicures first.”
A few minutes later, the jet tub’s motor kicked on and bubbles rose up from the steamy water. We leaned against the tile wall and let the water beat against the bottoms of our heels.
I was dying to tell her about my super-powers, but if they went away and I couldn’t prove it, I’d look crazy. Maybe sitting on it for a while would be better than blurting it out and paying for it later.
“What’s new with Trevor?” I asked.
“Nothing.” She stared into the bubbly liquid.
“Maybe it’s time to make a move. How long have you been crushing on him?”
Maya groaned. “Too long. But a guy has to give me some kind of sign before I’m that brave. How are you and Daniel getting along?”
I still planned to dump him, but didn’t want the added pressure of Maya rushing me, since I clearly sucked at the whole breakup thing. “We’re fine.”
When we finished our pedicures and had given each other cucumber and avocado facials, I whipped out the makeup. It was almost a waste to do full makeup if we weren’t going anywhere, but we loved trying new things, whether anyone saw us or not.
“I’ll do yours first,” I said. Setting the box in the sink, I put the toilet seat lid down for her to sit. I dipped the giant brush in the bronzer, then swished it over her cheekbones, nose and forehead. After rummaging through the box, I found the right shadow. “Close your eyes.”
Maya obeyed. “What do you think of Zack?”
“He seems like a bit of a jerk.” Which was why I loathed the way my stomach fluttered at the mere mention of his name. I concentrated on getting the mascara on thick enough without clumping.
“Then he’s just your type.” Maya chuckled. A few seconds went by before she noticed me staring at her. “What?”
“You think Daniel’s a jerk?”
“Me and everyone else.” She held out her hand. “Give me the mirror, so I can see what you’ve done.”
I passed it to her. “If that’s true, how can he be the most popular guy in school?”
“It’s an illusion. When you’re king of Verdugo Hills Academy, everyone’s afraid to cross you.”
“He used to be so sweet,” I mumbled, peeking over the mirror.
“They’re all nice in the beginning,” Maya said as she examined her eyeliner.
“Sometimes they stay that way,” I said, thinking how much my parents adored each other, even after nearly twenty years together. “But you’ll never have that if you don’t put yourself out there.” I waited a beat, but she didn’t comment. “So, what do you think?”
“Interesting.” She turned her face from side-to-side, examining my work from every angle. “The eyeliner’s thicker than I usually do, but you balanced it with the clear lip gloss. I look nice.”
“You look phenomenal.” I mentally patted myself on the back for impressing Maya, my makeup guru. “Hey, what if you flirted with Trevor? You know, be receptive?”
She blinked. “I’m not receptive?”
“You’re the queen of casual. We hung out for weeks before I stopped wondering if you liked me. He probably has no clue.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” I chuckled. “Just flash him a smile. You don’t even have to use words.”
Maya frowned as she processed that. I almost grinned at my matchmaking attempt, then remembered my own disastrous love life.
CHAPTER FIVE
While my parents went out for their run Sunday evening, I cleaned and organized my room. With arms full of dirty clothes, I shot out of the hallway and nearly crashed into the wall. I leaned an elbow against the doorjamb for balance as the world shifted around me, blurred for an instant, then sharpened.
What the hell?
I proceeded with caution, moving slower to keep track of the hallway in relation to myself. Taking the stairs went smoothly enough, but as I took a step through the doorway of the laundry room, tingles of energy snaked through my stomach, chest and limbs. When the heel of my foot landed on a nearly invisible puddle of water, I overcompensated by pulling back. My other foot skidded across the floor and I hydroplaned. My free hand shot out to break the fall and the fleshy part of my thumb caught on a loose screw in the threshold. Blood pooled in
my palm.
I stared at my hand, feeling queasy. Then, right before my eyes, the opening slowly closed. Within moments, there was no sign of even a scratch.
Whoa.
As if to demonstrate my power, another swell of energy moved through my hands.
Okay, I would not freak. I would calmly and systematically figure out what the hell was happening to me. Had I been exposed to a chemical or radiation? My new intermittent abilities couldn’t be hereditary. Aside from their hovering, my parents were totally normal. And if they knew anything, they would’ve told me.
I couldn’t confide in them or they’d probably worry that an aneurysm was bringing on freakish abilities and would lead to death or something. Sorting out what was going on was enough without adding their neuroses into the mix.
Maybe I should see a doctor. Except the only way to keep it from my parents would be to see someone I didn’t know and pay cash from my car savings. That was a last resort. Besides, they’d have to document the case and what if someone evil found out about me who wanted to use my powers to rule the world? Yeah, my imagination was running wild. Still, I didn’t want to become someone’s experiment.
Sneakers pattered outside and I realized I’d sat there scrutinizing my hand for several minutes. I jumped up, rinsed off my hand and straightened my clothing.
Breathe… Breathe.
I strolled into the living room just as the front door swung open. “How was your run?”
“Great,” my mom answered, hanging her keys on a hook by the door. “We’re going to rent a movie. Would you like to join us?” She pulled a cigarette from her pack and fished in her pocket for a lighter.
“Not tonight, thanks. I have some research to do.” I couldn’t possibly concentrate on anything other than figuring out what was going on with me.
† † †
As I drove to school Monday morning, to prevent getting into a car crash or something and miraculously healing in front of someone, I kept the radio off and ignored anything else that might distract me. I’d have to remember to be careful of my movements at school too, so I wouldn’t accidentally leap a tall building in a single bound, or some such crap, and draw attention to my newly developed weirdness.
I’d researched again last night, using all the words and phrases I could think of. I’d even checked diseases, but nothing about superpowers and accelerated healing popped up. There were all sorts of websites on herbs and acupuncture to promote healing. Not helpful.
Seeing a roadwork sign and cars bottle-necked up ahead, I slowed. By the time I passed the orange cones, I’d lost five minutes.
When I parked in the school lot and rounded the hood of my car, the passenger-side rear tire caught my eye. Damn, it was almost totally flat. Zack had mentioned it Friday, but I’d forgotten all about it. I needed to remember to stop for air after school.
On the way to the school entrance, I saw Daniel in my peripheral vision leaning against his car. I wasn’t in danger of being late, but I no longer had time to dive into a long and probably heated conversation with Daniel. I pretended not to see him, but he darted out from between cars and captured my hand.
Oblivious to my cringing, he lowered his head to try to kiss me, his long, blond hair whipping around and tickling my nose. I stiffened and prepared myself for a confrontation.
“Hey guys. What’s up?” Gina’s eyes narrowed a moment at his arm around my waist.
“Oh, hi.” I gave her a small smile, not sure if she was still mad at me.
Gina grinned, like she was totally over it. I didn’t want to be her bestie anymore, but I didn’t want us unfriendly either. She’d get another chance to make up for being such a hag on Friday.
“I’ll see you at lunch.” Daniel freed my waist and left without kissing me goodbye. Whew.
Gina walked with me through the school entrance and stopped at her locker. “The party was crazy. I had such a blast.”
She definitely seemed back to her less-bitchy self. “You look awfully cheery. Did you hook up with someone at the party?”
“Yes, and he’s gorgeous.” Gina beamed as she dragged a book from her locker.
“And?” The juicy details would take my mind off my epic fail with Daniel, among other things.
She turned to face me. “The thing is… I might really like this guy. Maybe I should see him a couple more times before I say much. Don’t want to jinx it.”
So much for distraction.
† † †
I nearly choked on the thick smell of grease that hung in the corridor as I headed to the cafeteria. My super sense of smell didn’t do much for my appetite.
Daniel and Gina beat me to our table. They sat next to each other, shoulders brushing like they were deep in conversation. For a second, I considered going straight to Maya and pretending Daniel and Gina didn’t exist. But that would be too rude.
After getting my food, I closed in on them. Gina noticed me, then returned to a normal sitting position as Daniel glanced over his shoulder. I shot them a weird look and was about to ask them about their big secret when Maya stopped by our table. She’d let her hair go natural and golden waves fell around her face. Her makeup was almost the same as I’d done it Saturday, but somehow improved upon.
She glanced to her right. “There they are, looking mighty fine.”
Following her gaze, I spotted Trevor. Next to him sat Zack, appearing every bit as delectable as ever. His straight dark hair spiked up and he’d dressed in faded jeans and a solid black T-shirt. It was basic, yet looked anything but plain on him.
“Ooh-la-la.” Gina clicked her tongue.
Daniel snorted. “Those guys are total losers.”
Like a bullet, Zack’s eyes shot to mine. I hung with the two most beautiful girls in school and he was looking at me? I thought he didn’t like me. He grimaced before looking away, reminding me nothing had changed.
“I’ll see you later, Autumn.” Maya twirled and walked toward John’s table.
I stared after Maya, longing to go with her. Normally, I would’ve sat down by now. To stall, I whipped out my cell and texted my mom just to say hello. There, I’d beaten her to it. Still standing, I contemplated how to spend the rest of lunch at John and Maya’s table without Daniel or Gina making a scene.
“I haven’t seen Jeff today. Is he okay?” Gina asked Daniel.
“Yeah. He’s still hung over from Saturday.”
Gina tucked an auburn lock of hair behind her ear. “That’s some hangover.”
“Moderation isn’t one of Jeff’s strong points,” Daniel said.
I yawned, my gaze wandering to John’s table. “I need to talk to Maya for a minute.”
Gina beamed. “We’ll hold your spot for you.”
“Yeah, I’ll walk you to class in a bit.” Daniel shot me a quick look and returned his focus to Gina as though I were an afterthought. No giving me crap about hanging with my less popular friends? Something had to be up, but I wasn’t going to question my good fortune. I snapped up my tray and high-tailed it.
Two other girls and a guy sat with John and Maya. The only free spot next to John allowed a full view of Zack. Taking the seat, I smiled, which was easy since I was so glad to be away from Daniel and Gina. “Hey.”
John’s brows rose. “Gina and your boyfriend let you go?”
I shrugged, barely containing my joy.
Maya glanced over at them, then gave me a grin. “They seem just fine without you.”
A moment later, proving once again I was powerless against Zack’s pull, my line of vision adjusted a fraction to include him. And suddenly he was watching me. Damn. Caught ogling again.
Twisting around, I let my hair form a barrier between us. But I could feel the energy emanating from him, like a beam coming straight for me. Just as I snuck another peek at him from under my lashes, he rose, emptied his tray and left. I wondered where he was going when he still had most of lunch period left. Well, good. With him gone, I could enjoy my meal with my real fr
iends.
After lunch, Daniel walked me to English Lit. Near the entrance of my class, he leaned in. He didn’t smell like his usual self. There was something extra. Perfume? It was all over him and reminded me of Gina.
“We’ve barely seen each other for days.” He moved closer. I automatically backed against the wall and he caged me in with his arms. “After school, want to go for coffee or something?”
No, I didn’t want to go anywhere with him. But I needed him to stick around so I could dump him.
“I’ll see you after school.” I ducked under his arm, making my getaway. Thankfully, Daniel and I didn’t have any classes together. We probably wouldn’t cross paths again until school was over.
Several desks away from Zack, I took my seat and swiveled toward the door, so Zack could only see my back. The bell rang.
“Everyone face the board, please. Autumn,” Mr. Farajian boomed.
Zack chuckled softly and my cheeks heated. Lifting my chin, I aimed it at the teacher and managed to get through the entire period without glancing at Zack. Keeping my mind on my studies was a different matter entirely.
There had to be someone I could talk to about my strange new abilities. Maya’s mom maybe? Except super-human powers were kind of a big deal and what if she talked to my parents?
When the bell rang again, I rose and moved around my desk. With my eyes anywhere but on Zack, I darted into the aisle. When he bumped into me, my step faltered and I lost my balance. His hands shot to my shoulders to steady me and I spun around.
His hands moved to my hips. “Falling for me again? It’s either that or I give you vertigo,” he said softly, a smile playing on his lips.
My gaze dropped to his mouth, then lower. Zack had a dimple in his chin. A very sexy dimple.
“I…” I what? The pressure of his thumb at my hip bone turned my brain into soup and I couldn’t squeak out even one syllable.
“Are you okay?” A frown marred his forehead.
“Yeah, sure.”
The lines over his brows disappeared and he shook his head as if wiping away cobwebs. “You should get going, don’t you think? Daniel’s probably waiting for you.” He smirked, then dropped his hands. “That one’s a keeper, huh?”
