Devin meets him halfway. Being in someone’s arms while they’re running is just asking for whiplash.
“She was complaining about not feeling well and then she….” he explains.
“Take her to the nurse,” Coach orders, and we take off.
“Breathe, Kyle,” I whisper as Devin carries me up the stairs, knowing Kyle can hear me. When I feel like we’re enough out of Coach’s sight, I frown up at him. “Take me to the girl’s bathroom.”
“Oh, what’re you going to do to me in there?” he jokes, which I appreciate, even though it’s not working.
As soon as we’re in there—the one outside of the gym, which isn’t used very often—he shuts the door and locks it. Without really thinking about it, I strip out of my shirt, and I’m just standing here in my bra and shorts. “Look at my back,” I demand. “Do you see anything?”
“This is moving too fast for me….”
“Devin.”
I feel his hands carefully moving over my back. Like a doctor would.
“I’m not seeing anything.” His voice trembles, “J-just calm down.”
“Ha.” More pain shoots through me, bringing me to my knees. “It feels like something’s trying to rip out of my back.”
“What?” he asks, bending down to my level.
I can’t talk anymore because the pain gets worse. A scream escapes me and then something literally springs out from my back. I exhale in relief and slump against the wall, panting.
“Holy….” Devin breathes.
“What the hell was it?” I ask in a small voice.
“I think you need to see it for yourself.” He helps me to my feet, and I peek over my shoulder at the mirror.
“Well, that’s new.”
I have wings.
CHAPTER FIVE
~ Rumors ~
I don’t know how long we’ve both been standing in this bathroom, gaping at my reflection. It seems like an eternity, but it’s still too hard to grasp. I have wings. I don’t even drink Red Bull. This is ridiculous. It’s like something out of James Patterson’s Maximum Ride series. I loved those books but there’s no way in hell I could possibly fly.
Fly because I have wings.
I don’t know who’s more shocked, him or me. But, soon enough, I shake my head. Time to clear it and get to work. Someone could try to come in here at any minute, and a girl in the school bathroom with wings would definitely hit the paper. So I wet some of the cheap paper towels and start wiping the blood and gunk off of my new off-white wings. Surprisingly, once I turn to the side, I notice the tips are purple. Like the color of my eyes in some places…weird.
“Can you help?” I’m trying to reach farther back, but it’s just not working out.
“Uh…yeah,” He clears his throat. Then he’s getting where I can’t reach, and the little pains shooting through my back are nothing compared to what I previously went through. “Does it hurt?” he asks in a quiet voice.
“Not really.” I wipe off my shoulders. “Did I get blood anywhere else?”
“You burst like a cherry, girl.” I hear the grin in his voice.
“I think we’re both thinking of how this conversation could be taken wrong.”
Once he’s done, he throws everything in the trash, whistling to himself. When he turns back to me, I wrap him in a hug. At first he stands as stiff as a statue but then his arms close awkwardly around me. “You okay?”
“Thank you for taking care of me.”
“Okay, we need to figure something out with….” he gestures to my back, holding up my gym shirt.
“I thought I’d just walk around in my bra for the rest of the day.” As I’m saying this, feathers spring out, on my lower back, ripping my bra. I have enough presence of mind to grab the front before he gets a show.
“As much as I’d love to see that,” he murmurs, “I’m not in the mood to bat guys away from you, and you might get into trouble.”
With a sigh I turn back toward the mirror and accidentally smack him in the face with a wing. He rolls his eyes when I grimace. When I extend my wings as far as they can go, they brush the walls on either side of us. I don’t think I’ll be able to wear a bra anymore. Lovely.
“Okay.” Breathing deeply, I grip the counter with both hands and let my head fall against it. It hurts but eventually they’re folded neatly against my back.
“Um….” He extends my shirt.
Right now, I’m too tired to care about modesty. Handing him my bra, covering my girls with my arm, I wait until he turns around before slipping my shirt back on. Yay, the question is, how am I going to change in the locker room from now on?
Thankfully, I got this shirt when I was a little chubby, meaning the shirt’s baggy and loose, comfortable against my aching back and newfound wings. “Okay,” I whisper and he turns around.
“I don’t even notice them,” he says.
“Cool.” I move toward the door, “You might have to carry—” I’m back in his arms. “I was kidding.”
“I don’t mind. You’re as light as a feather.”
“Hardy, har, har,” I snort, but still I wrap my arm around his neck and lay my head against his warm, firm chest. Resting my eyes for a little bit….
<<<->>>
At a loud sound, my eyes spring open. It’s bad when you wake yourself up with a snore. Blinking, I recognize the nurse’s ceiling. I’ve been here many times before. Dodgeballs to the face, cramps, headaches, you name it. I know Nurse Chambers pretty well.
“Hello, Sleeping Beauty.” Giving Devin a dirty look, I sit up. “Your clothes,” he announces passing them to me.
“Thanks.” I yawn.
“Don’t thank me. One of the girls from PE brought them.” Before he’s even finished with that sentence I’m carefully examining my clothes, wondering what said girl did to them. “Don’t be so paranoid—” I show him the bright red letters. Freak.
“I’m loved here, didn’t you know?” Good thing the girl who did it was a dumbass because it’s on the inside of my shirt.
“I’ll take care of it.” I shake my head. “Well, you can go change in the bathroom. My excuse for our pit stop is that you woke up and had to barf.” I give him a thumbs-up for the grotesque explanation. “Bathroom’s that way.” He gestures with his chin. Like I don’t know this, and I know Nurse Chambers is getting her lunch now. She’d probably just tell me to lie down until I feel ready to get back up.
“You’ve already seen me half-naked.” He turns pink, like it’s a big deal. All girls have the same parts, I’m sure he’s seen a girl naked before, whatever. “Thanks again.” I rest my hand on his chest and give him a kiss on the cheek as I pass. Which makes him turn red.
As soon as I took my shirt off they wanted to spring back out. In a very tiny bathroom, that wouldn’t be good at all.
When I get out, Devin’s still waiting on me. Why is he being so sweet? Not used to sweet people here…aside from Kyle.
Walking together to lunch, every so often Devin’s arm would brush mine. Well, it’s more like his forearm would brush my shoulder. Because he’s a giant and I’m a Smurf. Now I’m a Smurf with wings.
When we walk into the cafeteria, Nicks is already sitting at their table with Kyle and Jake. Antonio’s probably being his slow, flirty self. I know I need to sit and talk with them about this new problem, but Devin’s arm brushes my shoulder again. I can’t just leave his side when he’s been so nice to me. Gargg.
“Nice.” He snorts.
“What?” I frown up at him.
Being very subtle about it, he wraps his arm around my shoulders and somehow lends me his vampy hearing. It’s not weird at all, being able to hear someone’s stomach growl from across the room, their hearts beating, with the blood rushing through them, too. Then, my vision shifts to outside, where I see two squirrels fighting over a nut. I can hear their loud squeaks then the blood rushing through their veins and their little hearts pounding in the excitement of a fight.
; Then I’m dragged back into the room, to the conversations between groups. I hear my name. “Oh my God, look at Nessa and Devin now. They’re totally screwing.” Someone else. “The rumors must be true.” Another person. “They’re actually kinda cute together.”
“So, what exactly was the rumor to begin with?” I whisper so no one will really overhear.
“Apparently someone saw us coming out of the bathroom together. They think you were faking being sick so we could be alone.” Before I can ask my other question he says, “You’re tired, so your guard’s down. That’s the only reason I’m able to do this now.”
“What do you want to do about the rumors?” I ask, resting my head against him, barely able to keep my eyes open.
“Nothing, they’re just some bullshit an ignorant girl created to bring some excitement into her boring life.” He brushes it off easily, actually speaking this time.
“That’s the difference between us. I like messing with their ignorant minds.” I smile evilly up at him. “Would you like to play along?”
“No.” He gives me a pointed look.
“Fine, you party pooper.” I step away and go back to watching my friends’ table. Antonio’s finally there, and there’s enough room for us, too. If he’ll sit with me, that is.
Getting our trays, we move through the line and pay. I jerk my head to the guys’ table. He shakes his head and starts to go to his usual spot, outside, where he’ll be all by himself. “Please?” I ask in a quiet voice and he stops where he is.
“Why in the hell am I doing this?” He grumbles, but follows me.
“Because you secretly love me,” I tease cheerfully then turn back to give him a grin, letting him know I’m kidding.
He grunts.
“Hey y’all.” I slip into a seat beside Nicks in case he starts being a jerk, and I have to zap him. They blink up at Devin who couldn’t look more awkward standing there.
Kyle tries for a welcoming smile and slides over, making room, which I highly appreciate. Nicks starts to stand up, probably to leave, but I put a hand on his shoulder and give him puppy dog eyes. After a moment, he sits back down and I hug him.
“Yeah, yeah.” He goes back to eating his tacos.
“You look like shit, Nessy.” Antonio turns pink when everyone glares at him, including Devin.
“Oh, really? I thought I looked gorgeous. Thank you for clearing that up for me.” I glower.
“Sorry,” he mumbles.
“Anyway, are we all on the same page here? Something’s going on, and we need to get to the bottom of it before it gets out of control.” I glance at the guys’ faces.
“Yeah, we just don’t know where to start.” Nicks focuses on his tray.
“Does he know who changed him, Devin?”
“He doesn’t remember anything,” he replies.
“How do we know you’re not the one who did it?” Nicks scowls at him, and, for that, I grab his thigh, zapping him. “Hey!”
“Be. Nice,” I growl through my teeth.
“I’m only saying I don’t trust this guy. It’s better than me pretending to be buds with him and then talking shit behind his back.” His voice comes from low in his throat. “I’m an ass, but at least I’m not two-faced.”
“I trust him. Doesn’t my judgment count for anything?” I rub my aching temples and soon move to my shoulder. I need to carry some aspirin.
“No offense, Nessy,” Nicks snaps, keeping his angry gaze on Devin, “But since he flashed his pearly whites your way, you’ve been following him around like a lost puppy.”
“Excuse me?” My face heats.
Kyle shares a worried glance with Jake, “Nessa, I think you need to calm down.”
“Why do you keep rubbing your shoulder?” Nicks asks me then goes back to glaring at Devin. “What’d he do? Beat you up, and now you’re too weak and scared to say something about it?”
My blood boils.
“There’s no way in hell I’d hurt Nessa.” Devin’s fangs shoot down and then back up in a matter of seconds. At least he’s trying to control himself.
“You’re not here two days, and you’ve already stole her away from us.” Nicks looks around at his friends. “Doesn’t it scream something’s not right with this guy to anyone else?”
They keep arguing. People stare at the snarling Vamps. Kyle bows his head in shame when the tears stream down my face. Jake holds Nicks in his seat. Devin appears like he’s about to explode at any given moment. And Antonio sits there with a bland expression throughout.
It’s all too much for me. My heart feels like it’s being ripped out with the people I care about at each other’s throats. Feeling like I’m about to explode, I gasp when every drink in the room explodes, liquid shooting up toward the ceiling and all over everyone.
Except me. It showers around me like there’s an invisible umbrella over my head.
The room goes quiet, except for some girls squealing at their wet hair. I guess Mom was right about my talents coming to me in time. Yay. I grab my salad, throw my tray into the trash, and walk out.
CHAPTER SIX
~ Just Give Me A Reason ~
Instead of waiting for Devin to take me home, I avoid him and walk home the back way, which in a small town in the mountains means through the woods.
Walking through the trees and down the trail doesn’t bother me too much. I’ve grown up here, after all. Adding in the fact that in a small town—when it’s not raining—the woods is our playground? I think this is where I’m most comfortable.
I remember playing hide-and-seek out here at night, easier for those with night vision, but I held my own. I might’ve cheated a little bit with glow sticks but, then again, weren’t the other players cheating as well? That was my argument back then, too.
They really cheated by flying from tree to tree like monkeys, leaving me to try and catch them. At one point, I got so mad, I burst into tears because I couldn’t do those things. Kyle jumped down and put tiny me on his back and jumped back up into the trees.
That was the best night ever.
Our parents always yelled at us, when they caught us, but Antonio’s only pretended to be mad like the others. When we were over at their house, they came out, too. Practicing their old skills. They used to be—way back in the day—spies. It’s sounds farfetched but, one time, Antonio, Nicks, and I snuck into their room while they were gone and went through their stuff.
We found all kinds of crazy things, like guns that aren’t even sold in stores. Files of solved cases. You name it. But thinking back on it, it seems we got into their cache of secrets a little too easily. The pass code to the safe in their closet was Antonio’s birthday.
They probably just set it up as a decoy, either for us or for someone else. I don’t know. Either way, it still started our game of cops and ninjas on rainy days.
I don’t know what hurt me the most at lunch. Seeing Kyle upset that I was upset or watching Devin and Nicks fighting. Nicks made very little attempt to be nice, and Devin wasn’t even doing anything besides sitting there.
You would think the woods out in the middle of nowhere would be the best place to release anger and frustration by screaming at the top of my lungs…but not here. If I were to do that, it wouldn’t just cause the dogs to howl. Every vamp in town would be sticking their heads out their windows wondering what the hell’s up now.
Instead, I find a cozy spot under a tree and sit Indian style. Placing my book bag in my lap, I rest back against the solid oak and let my mind reach out. As my mom taught me to do when overwhelmed and stressed.
I haven’t done it since I was a kid in third grade. I had a crush on this guy who’d just moved here. I thought he was cute. Christie-Ann—my arch nemesis since preschool—snatched the poor bastard up before I could even say hi to him. Instead of making her run face first into the metal playground structure, I did this. Why yes, I was a violent beast then, not a lot has changed.
Later on, Nicks and Antonio put gum in her h
air. Bye-bye long, curly red locks, hello practically shaved head. Damn, I’m mean. Then again, she made fun of me for being a slightly chunky kid with a front chipped tooth and crazy multicolored eyes.
I realize it was a dick move—even if I didn’t do it personally—and I apologized once when I saw her at the grocery store. She just stared at me like I was nuts and asked if she knew me. Lovely times, lovely memories. Now, focus.
First, I send my mind down into the earth. It’s kind of hard to explain, but it fills me with peace. Something welcome in my hectic life. After staying there for a little while—imagining the inside of the earth, the core, where it’s all lava—I move to something else.
I mentally go through the woods, and then make it to the “city” part. Where there are people everywhere, some eating outside at a restaurant, others drinking coffee while their friends bawl about being dumped by their boyfriend for another girl or vice versa. When, in reality, their friends were the other women or men.
That girl’s gonna get a surprise when she realizes she was dumped because she didn’t have the parts he really wanted.
Then I get a sense of the guys having a talk with Nicks about the way he acted at lunch. Jake glares at him when he tells him how I was crying over their scene then Nicks stares down at the table, realizing he was a douche. Then Antonio and Kyle taking the wooden chair and breaking it over his head while the other people in the restaurant don’t pay them any attention.
Ha, so very unrealistic.
What really happens is.… Jake glares at him while Kyle tells him he wasn’t being very nice. And Nessa was really hurt. Nicks snorts and says he doesn’t give a shit about what I think. Which hurts me, but, oh well. Then Jake leans across the table, eyes blazing, and fangs extended. “You’re jealous. Not picking up some feeling off the new guy. He hasn’t done a damn thing to any of us—”
“That’s bullshit—” Nicks explodes, earning odd stares from a few people.
Freaksville Page 5