“You know I can’t eat all of this.” Raine shook her head at the expanse of food in front of her. The breakfast feast was a tradition started when she was very young. When asked what she wanted for her special day, Raine rattled off all her favorites. To her surprise and glee, her father fixed every item on her list that morning, and each birthday morning since.
“Thanks, Daddy.” She kissed his cheek, took the plate of steaming hot French toast to the table, and sat.
“After school, why don’t we go shopping for some real clothes? I don’t like my daughter looking like a ragamuffin all the time.” Stephan tossed a wink over his shoulder before he pulled a fresh batch of scrambled eggs off the stove, pushed the lever on the toaster down, and turned to her. He paused with his mouth open, as if he were seeing her for the first time.
Raine stopped with her fork halfway to her mouth when she saw the look on his face. Surprised by his change in demeanor, Raine dropped her uneaten bite back onto her plate as she glanced down to inspect what she was wearing. She had a snug fitting gray t-shirt layered over a white long sleeve shirt. Her jeans were comfortable and broken in, and she wore Go Walk Sketchers to complete her ensemble. It was plain, but comfortable, and what she normally wore, except in the beginning of the week when she’d tried to impress Kaden—and failed.
“What’s wrong with how I’m dressed? This is comfortable and it looks nice. I don’t have one hole in these jeans.” She pointed out the obvious. Raine grabbed her fork again and shoved a bite of French toast into her mouth, chasing it with a swig of milk. “I choose comfort and warmth over fashion and skin, Dad. I would think you’d be happy about that. I don’t want to be asked out because of the amount of flesh I have showing. My value isn’t here,” she pointed to her chest. “In here is what I want the guys to notice and appreciate.” Raine tapped her head and smiled.
Proud of her speech, Raine shoveled another bite of food on her fork and stuffed it in her mouth. She watched her dad as she chewed, but he said nothing. He just stood staring as if in a trance. Finally, he shook his head and cleared his throat.
“Something is different about you,” he said offhandedly.
“Dad, flip the bread. I think it’s burning.” There was smoke coming from the toaster when he flipped the handle, muttered an oath, and tossed the burned bread into the sink.
“Is everything okay?” she asked with real concern.
“Uh, yeah. Sorry. You better hurry before you’re really late for school.” Stephan shook his head and turned the stove off. When he looked back at her, a piece of bacon hung from her mouth like a cigar while she fiddled with her hair.
“Are you sure everything’s okay? Do I have a big booger hanging out of my nose or something?” Raine asked when she caught him staring at her again. She smiled when he grinned and took an exaggerated bite from her bacon.
In three long strides, Stephan crossed the length of the kitchen and pulled her into a desperate embrace. A little startled and more than a little unsure of the cause of his solemn mood, Raine wrapped her arms around him and held on. She felt the shudder of his breath when he inhaled, and felt his wet tears on her neck.
“Dad?”
“Nothing’s wrong. You just look so much like your mother. I wish she could see you right now.” He pulled back and swiped at the wetness on his cheek.
“I love you, Daddy,” Raine whispered and then gave him another peck on his cheek.
“I love you, too, munchkin.” He smiled and turned back to the stove to dish his own plate. “You better get going.”
“You haven’t called me munchkin for years. It feels so weird to hear you say that.” Raine made a face, relieved at the break in tension. Stephan laughed and whipped the towel at her. She squealed when he caught her backside.
“Get going. Don’t want to be late on your birthday.”
“Okay, okay. I’m going.” She grabbed another strip of bacon and shoved it into her mouth as she maneuvered to the back door. As she reached for her keys, her sleeves lifted slightly. Stephan grabbed her bare arm and gripped it in an iron-like vice. His face was ashen as he frantically pulled the sleeve further up her arm. He was looking for her bracelet, which she knew well enough, was nowhere to be found. When his eyes met hers, he studied her closely.
“It’s gone,” he muttered
“Dad, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I didn’t want you to worry. I can’t find my bracelet but it has to be here somewhere. I’ll find it.” She pulled her hand away from him and tugged her sleeve back down.
“Why don’t you stay home today? You don’t need to go to school on your birthday.” His voice shook and his eyes widened with fear.
“I can’t stay home, Dad. I have two tests today, remember? It’s okay. I’ll find it somewhere. It’s probably just in my jacket that I stuffed in my bag. No big deal,” Raine tried to reassure him.
Hurrying to leave, Raine exited the back door, made her way to her old red VW bug, and threw her stuff into the back seat. She climbed in and cranked the engine a few times before it came to life.
As she backed out of the driveway, Raine rolled down her window and yelled to her father who stood motionless on the back steps.
“I love you.”
Stephan waved but said nothing more as he watched her drive away with a look that haunted her thoughts all the way to school.
Once at school, Raine found Camille waiting for her in the school parking lot. She pulled into the spot Camille saved for her by standing in the center of the two lines. Raine cut the engine as it sputtered and died a slow death.
“When are you going to let this thing die for good?” Camille asked as Raine pulled her bags from the backseat and slammed the door. Camille now leaned against her white BMW convertible with a silly grin on her face. Her short, red, pixie cut hair spiked in every direction. Today the tips sported a vibrant red, which surprisingly added to the subtle blonde highlights she’d added. With her toned legs crossed casually in front of her to show off her new Converse clad feet, it was easy to see why Camille was so popular with the student body. Her feet beat in time with some unheard music in her head as she casually waited for Raine to come around her car.
Camille wore many bracelets on each arm, some sporting cool rocks and designs while others were simple threaded homemade bracelets, but all of them looked natural on her. She was petite, fit, and caught every eye that walked by. Her short skirt and designer jacket didn’t look out of place with her punk style.
“Don’t listen to her, Lady. She is just jealous.” Raine patted the top of her car and gave Camille her most annoying smile.
“You’re late today,” Camille said. “You almost didn’t get your spot. I seriously fought off three cars before you got here. For real, I’m not joking. People come up with some extremely creative sayings when they get upset.”
Camille waggled her eyebrows and looped her arm through Raine’s, pulling her toward the busy school. It was Friday and all the students buzzed with excitement for the weekend, which meant many of the students sectioned off in their regular groups to talk about the latest gossip, last night’s homework, and their upcoming weekend plans. The noise level was loud with excitement.
“Sooo . . .” Camille dragged the word out, her enthusiasm building as she spoke. “Your birthday. What are we going to do to celebrate this weekend?” Camille almost bounced with each step she took. “We’ve got to do something.”
Camille chattered on as they came to the front doors of the school. She missed how the groups became quiet and stared as they passed. However, Raine didn’t. She saw the stunned look on each boy’s face, as if they were seeing her for the first time. She also didn’t miss the surprised, if not disgusted, look on the girl’s faces as the boys in the group became silent and watched her pass.
“Raine?” Camille stopped just inside the door. “Have you heard a word I said?”
“Oh . . . uh . . . sorry. I actually have plans tonight for my birthday. Ryker cornered me
at the store yesterday and asked me out. I don’t know why, but I gave in. Ummm . . .” Raine lowered her voice, leaning closer to Camille. “Does everyone seem to be acting a bit weird today?” Raine asked.
Camille glanced around and her face fell when she saw the many eyes trained on them. With a glare, Camille looked at each staring face before she looked back at Raine and forced a smile.
“Come on. We’ve got to get to class.” Camille pulled Raine forward as a wave of silence followed them down the hall. Raine was more than a little disturbed.
At their shared locker, Camille entered the locker combination and started pulling books out. She mumbled to herself and made overt comments about the eerily quiet hall.
Raine stood silently and watched as the boys blushed when they made eye contact with her. Camille fidgeted with one of her bracelets while Raine absentmindedly stuffed her bag into their locker.
“Are you feeling okay today, Raine? Did anything happen this morning that was out of the ordinary?”
“This morning was anything but normal, but I don’t know why that would mean everyone would be acting funny,” Raine replied. With a soft push, she shut her locker and looked into Camille’s concerned gaze. “I went for my normal run today and ran into Kaden.”
Camille’s eyebrows disappeared under her bangs.
“I know you don’t like him, but he is incredibly hot and he was really nice to me this morning. I literally ran into him. I actually, like, fell on top of him. It was so embarrassing but I totally felt a connection to him. Is that weird?” Camille stood speechless so Raine continued. “Ryker was there, too. Apparently, he was too excited for our date tonight so he followed me. Strange, huh?”
Camille nodded her head slowly.
“Today, when he surprised me at the beach, he tried to kiss me. It made my skin crawl.”
“Kaden?” Camille’s voice lifted and it came out more of a shriek.
“No, Ryker.”
“Huh,” was the only response Raine received.
“Hey, Raine,” Josh, a boy from Raine’s second period class, called as he walked by them in the hall. His eyes never left Raine, and she could have sworn he looked a bit flushed.
“Uhh . . . hey, Josh,” Raine stammered before she tipped her head to Camille and whispered quietly so no one else would hear. “He’s never spoken to me before.”
Camille flinched when Josh walk right into the open door.
“Oh, did you see that? I hope he’s okay,” Raine said when she saw Josh bounce off the door, wave to her, and duck inside the classroom.
“Raine, looking good,” Carter, another boy who’d never acknowledged she existed, said as he walked up and stopped directly in front of her. His face was so close she could smell the toothpaste on his breath. Raine opened her mouth to speak when Camille pushed him hard in the chest and he backed up a step. His smile never left his face. “See you in third period,” he said.
“What is with everyone today?” Raine asked Camille once they were out of hearing. “Even my dad was acting funny today when I came back from my run.”
Camille continued to glance over her shoulder as Carter stumbled into a group of gawking boys before he made his way into his classroom.
“I don’t know.” Camille pushed Raine through the doors and followed her to her seat.
Raine dropped her books on her desk and pulled her sleeves up before she grabbed a pencil and prepared to take notes. Camille gasped.
“Where is your bracelet?” Camille grabbed her arm and held her hand firmly.
“I don’t know. This morning when I was running it was there, but I lost it somewhere along the way. I looked in my jacket, thinking it might have fallen off in my pocket, but I can’t find it. My father kind of freaked about it. It’s the only thing I have of my mother’s and he’s pretty protective of it. I’m sure it will turn up somewhere.”
“Raine, are you feeling okay today? Do you feel different?” Camille thrust her wrist out and placed it on Raine’s forehead.
“Crap. Do I look that bad? Everyone is staring, my dad tried to convince me to stay home, and now you. Do I look like death? I mean, I know I’m older today but I’m a few years away from farting dust, don’t you think?” Raine pulled her hand away from Camille as she shoved her arm away, and opened her book. “I don’t know what everyone is carrying on about, but it’s getting annoying.”
“No, you look great, actually. I was just curious if you’re feeling a little under the weather or something.” Camille tried to act nonchalant, but Raine quirked an eyebrow.
“Seriously, Camille. What is it?” she said in a huff.
“Nothing serious, I’m sure. Just let me know if you start to feel weird at all.”
The bell rang and more students filtered into the room and took their seats as Raine tried to shake off the strange morning.
By third period, she was more than ready to go home. Her stomach lurched with the smell of food from the cafeteria and her brain felt like it was going to explode. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead and the back of her neck. All she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and die.
By lunch, Raine felt like death and she took back her words from the morning. She wished more than anything that she could go home, but felt too horrible to even lift her head off the lunchroom table where she sat waiting for Camille to appear.
“You’re burning up.” Camille’s voice almost made Raine jump out of her skin, but she felt too horrible to move. “You look like hades underworld,” she whispered. Under normal circumstances, Raine would have laughed at Camille’s inventive way of cursing, but was too drained to care.
“I feel like death warmed over,” Raine said into her arms. “My head pounds, the smell of food is making me sick, and my skin itches like crazy. This day totally sucks. I totally should have gone home,” Raine groaned.
“You need to drink something. I wouldn’t push eating anything yet, but you definitely need to drink something.” Camille made light circles on Raine’s back as she fanned her heated neck. The swift breeze created by the paper Camille waved in the air made Raine sigh.
“Wait here, I’ll be right back.”
Moments later a cold bottle of water touched the back of Raine’s neck, making her squirm under the sudden temperature change.
“Holy crap. That feels wonderful in a torturous kind of way.” Raine lifted her head and took the offered bottle off her neck. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” a gruff voice said from behind.
Slowly, Raine opened her eyes and turned to find Michael directly in front of her. She felt a knot form in her throat that kept her from speaking so she just stared, dumbfounded. For years Raine tried to get this guy’s attention, but he never noticed she was alive. Until today
“You, ah, looked like you could use a drink of something cold.” Michael reached down and placed both hands around hers as she held the bottle. He twisted the cap off slowly, pulled back, and blushed. “I, uh, well, I hope you feel better. And, well, you look great today.”
Michael turned and walked back to his table. Before he sat, he glanced at her over his shoulder and winked.
“Guess I was a little too late, huh?” Camille stood off to the side, apparently a witness to the whole encounter. As she sat on the other side of the table, she fidgeted with the bottle in her hands as she scooted it back forth on the table. “Drink up, sweetie.”
Raine put the bottle to her lips and took a dainty sip before her eyes lit up and she downed half the bottle in the next few gulps.
“Slow down, you don’t want to make yourself sick,” Camille said when Raine drained the remainder. With each gulp she took, Raine felt better and better as the heat on her skin eased and her head quieted from the pounding.
“I’m feeling better now. Thank you,” she said as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
“You look better,” Camille said as she watched Raine closely. “What did Michael want?”
“He got me a
water.” Raine shook her head. “For three years I’ve tried to get his attention and the only time he notices me is right now, in this moment, when I look so stellar.” Raine glanced over her shoulder at Michael and caught him staring. Instead of looking away, he grinned. His girlfriend scowled.
“Camille, you know how everyone was staring at me this morning in first period?” Camille nodded in response but didn’t speak. “Every class has been the same. It’s really starting to freak me out a bit.”
“Honey, why don’t you go home? All your tests are done for the day, right?” That was not the response Raine expected.
“I can’t. I’ve missed swim all week and I can’t wait to get back in the water today. Plus, I’m feeling better now. Maybe I just didn’t get enough water after my run this morning,” Raine said thoughtfully. “It’s strange what a little bit of water can do for a person.”
Camille remained quiet as she shoved the second bottle of water across the table, nodding in a silent order to drink, which Raine did without question.
“Come on, the bell’s going to ring and I’ve still got to get some books from my locker,” Raine said. Camille nodded and followed her into the hallway.
“You’re not going to eat?” Camille asked once they entered the quiet hallway, heading to their lockers.
“I’m really not hungry. I’m not sure I could handle food right now, anyway. But,” Raine held up her now empty bottle and shook it in front of Camille’s face, “I’m going to fill this up for the rest of the day. Hey, have you seen Ryker or Kaden? I haven’t seen either of them all day.”
Kaden had been a no-show all day, and Raine fully expected to see Ryker since he said he was better and they had plans later that night.
“Sorry, hon. I haven’t. Hey,” Camille stopped walking, making Raine pause in her steps and turn to look at her. Camille smiled halfheartedly before she said, “I’ll catch up with you after school, okay?”
“Is everything okay?” Raine asked to Camille’s retreating form. Her response was a wave over her shoulder as Camille practically ran out the front door.
Raine (Elemental Series Book 2) Page 6