Falling (The Falling Angels Saga) (6 page)

“Oh,” said Tran. It was like watching the air go out of a balloon. “Okay. No problem. I’ll let everyone know.” He hauled up his books. “Winning State’s the most important thing,” he said, his voice hinting dejection. He moved away.

“I think you made the right decision, Megan. Grades are way more important than an election. We’ll get over it,” said Jenny, who’d hung back after Tran had left the room. She patted me on the shoulder to show her support. From the tone of her voice, she was over it already.

“Thanks,” I said.

When I arrived at second period French, I wasn’t surprised to find Ashley and Heather standing by my desk. And this time I was ready for them.

“From what I can tell, you haven’t resigned yet,” said Ashley before I’d even arrived at my seat. “Is there a problem?” She put her hands on her hips and Heather followed suit.

“Sorry. Maudrina’s Aunt Jaz was rushed to the hospital yesterday, and I had to go support her. It was life or death, and I totally forgot.”

“Maudrina?”

Maudrina and I had been hanging with the Poplarati since last semester. Maudrina’s boyfriend, Curtis, was a card-carrying member of the cool crowd even though he didn’t go to our school. And yet, to these girls, Maudrina was still a zero, would always be a zero. Ashley had no idea who I was talking about. Truth is, if not for circumstance, Ashely wouldn’t know who I was, either. The Poplarati had no use for anyone they deemed a lesser being.

“Maudrina. The girl I hang with all the time.”

“Curtis’s girlfriend,” Heather whispered.

“Oh,” said Ashley, a haze settling over her eyes. She still had no idea who I was talking about, and from the look of her, could care less.

“I’m going to resign today. Don’t sweat it.”

Ashley’s demeanor changed instantly. “Oh, you poor baby. I hope Maudrina’s aunt is okay.” For Ashley, turning up the care in her voice was like turning up the heat on a furnace—just the flick of a switch. She moved in and pulled me into a hug. “I’m having a student rally next week. It’s going to be the first big party of the year,” she whispered so none of her
lesser
classmates could hear. “Exclusive guest list. You
must
be there. It’s going to be so fun.”

I didn’t bother telling her that a student rally is supposed to be open to the
entire
student body. I was once again a member of the in-crowd, and didn’t want to rock the boat for fear that I just might fall out.

*

It was mind boggling when I thought of all that had happened in my life in a mere twenty-four hours—discovering that I’d lost an entire day, and that during that day I’d done quite a bit of damage to my social standing. Then there was the earthquake in math lab, a sign that I was losing control of my powers, and finally, Aunt Jaz. Aunt Jaz’s blood pressure episode scared the bejesus out of Maudrina and me. At least that part was behind us.

During lunch break, I decided to put something else behind me. I went down to the office to withdraw my name from the list of candidates for junior class president.

When I entered, I discovered Mrs. Cleveland, the no-nonsense school secretary, wasn’t at her desk. Instead, a student aid was at the counter.

“Hi, Megan,” the girl said, smiling as I walked up. I had no idea who she was, but she knew me. “How can I help you?” There was so much cheer in her voice, as if I were her best friend. I detected a hint of Texas in her accent.

“Do I know you?”

No. I’m just a lowly freshman.” She leaned in, her eyes crinkling behind her glasses. “But if I were a junior, you’d have my vote.” She winked at me.

Ah, a geek.

I should have known from the geek-of-the-week eyeglass frames and the unflattering maroon cardigan sweater. “Thanks,” I said. “Is Mrs. Cleveland around?”

“Sorry, Megan. She took a quick lunch break. Is there something I can help you with?” She was a pretty girl, although she was doing her best to keep her looks under wraps. Her hair was long and brown and had a bad case of the frizzies.

“No. It’s about my application to run for class office. I need to change something.”

“Sorry,” she said again, and it came out
sor-reee
in a long, apologetic drawl. “I don’t have access to stuff like that. But when Mrs. Cleveland gets back, I can come and find you.” This girl was really trying to be helpful.

“You’d do that?” I asked.

“Of course.” She chuckled. “Wouldn’t you?”

I shot her a thin smile. This girl was obviously a freshman because she was a bit too overzealous. Erin and I had volunteered in the office when we were freshman, but we weren’t so annoying.
Were we?
We’d volunteered because we thought working in the office would help us get to know people. It did. We got to know all the wrong people, all the other do-gooder geeks who volunteered.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll come back,” I said, and turned to go.

“No problem. I’ll let Mrs. Cleveland know so she can have it waiting for you when you return,” the girl said. “Good luck with the election,” she called, her voice ringing with cheer.

“Right.”

As I started for the door, Guy entered my thoughts. I flashed on the day we attended the countywide mathlete challenge at Salesian High. He was looking so handsome and cool that day—like a teen-idol movie star. It was early in our relationship. I hadn’t even kissed him yet.

I recalled how audience members from all the opposing schools responded to him. Rather than root against him, which was the norm, they cheered him on with raucous applause. That was because when they looked at Guy, they no longer saw themselves as goofy, geeky math nerds. He made them feel better about themselves. When they looked at him, they too had become polished, confident, and chic.

Guy was one of them … and I was, too. I realized why I suddenly thought of Guy and that day. It was because no matter how long I fringed the Poplarati, I’d be kidding myself if I thought I’d ever really be accepted by them. To them, I was one click above Maudrina. We were from different worlds. I was the mathlete, the trivia nerd, the AP student, the geek, and they were … they were them.

I turned back and faced the girl behind the counter. She was still staring at me, still smiling. I recognized that smile. It was the smile of a hopeful freshman looking to meet all the right people. It was my smile not too long ago.

“You know what? Silly me. I just realized the thing I was going to change, I changed it already. Duh!”

The girl laughed. It was light and airy, like a child’s giggle. “That happens to me all the time. Duh!” She laughed some more.

I found myself laughing along with her, and it was the weirdest thing, because instead of feeling more tense over the decision I was about to make, I felt as though my lungs had opened up after a stifling asthma attack, and I could finally breathe.

I flashed on the day my dark self showed up and gave Curtis a piece of my mind. It was something I would never have done, yet it was the catalyst for Maudrina and Curtis getting back together. My dark self, at times, could do some good.

“So, umm … Guess I’ll see you around,” I said.

“Good luck,” she called again with a toothy grin, and I knew she meant it.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Julie.”

“Well, Julie, I appreciate the well wishes. I’m going to need them.” For some reason we both found that funny and started laughing again. I was laughing as if I didn’t have a care in the world, even though I knew I’d just opened up a can of worms so big, the worms inside were going to crush me.

*

That afternoon when I arrived at the hospital hoping to assist Maudrina in escorting Aunt Jaz home, I was surprised to find Curtis seated next to her in the waiting room. From the look of things, he was consoling her. Despite my helping get them back together, I wasn’t a big Curtis fan—not after the stunt he’d pulled last summer. But I knew Maudrina loved him, so I was always civil in his presence.

“What’s up?” I said as I approached.

Maudrina raised her head. Her eyes were red rivers of sadness. “She’s had a turn for the worse,” she said. “The doctor said we might want to think about gathering the family.” With those words her face fell to pieces.

“What?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “But she was fine when I left last evening.”

“I know. She was fine when I left, too.” The words trembled from her lips. “But when I got here this morning, she was running a high fever. She was delirious, Megan. She didn’t even recognize me.” Fresh tears rose in her eyes and began sliding down her cheeks. Curtis pulled her in and rested her head on his shoulder.

A lump started forming in my throat. It was as if a glob of mashed potatoes had gotten lodged there and was growing bigger by the second. The situation surrounding Aunt Jaz seemed eerily familiar to what I’d been through with my own mother. This was not the result of a high sodium diet.

Dark magic.

The words whispered in my mind, and like the lump in my throat, they would not go away.

“The nurse is in with her now. As soon as she’s done, we can go back in,” said Curtis. I nodded as Curtis turned his attention back to Maudrina.

I eased onto one of the hard chairs and waited along with them, and try as I might, I couldn’t stop thinking that someone was causing this—someone we knew. Aunt Jaz had been my greatest resource on the occult. Who am I kidding? Aunt Jaz was my
only
resource on the occult. Getting her out of the way would strengthen Satan’s position against me. Not that it needed strengthening—after all, he
was
Satan.

After a few minutes, the nurse appeared and said we could go back inside.

“I’m taking off,” said Curtis. Since he’d come back into Maudrina’s life, he’d been uncomfortable around me. He knew I had my eye on him—both eyes.

“No, stay,” Maudrina whined softly.

“Megan’s here now,” he said, flicking a brief glance in my direction. “I’m just a phone call away if you need me.”

We watched the elevator door close behind him, Maudrina smiling bravely. “He’s so supportive,” she said. “He’s been here nearly all day.”

“Yep,” I replied through tight lips. “He’s a great guy.” Maudrina didn’t know about my distrust of Curtis. That was between Curtis and me.

As soon as we walked into Aunt Jaz’s room, I felt the drop in temperature.

“It’s freezing in here,” I said, wrapping my arms around myself.

“I know,” Maudrina replied. “I felt it all afternoon. I thought it was just me.” We approached the bed. Aunt Jaz looked horrible. She was staring off into space, her eyes floating in her head as if she’d been drugged. “Hi, Aunt Jaz. Look who’s here.”

At the sound of Maudrina’s voice, a wee bit of light returned to Aunt Jaz’s eyes. She focused on me. “Megan,” she said in a near whisper. She smiled. It was a smile that broke my heart; so distant, so faint, as if her light were nearly out. I felt my own tears rising.

Hold it together, girl.

“Hi,” I said softly. Meanwhile, my mind was working a mile a minute. Everything that was happening to Aunt Jaz was familiar to me—the fever, the weakness, the chill in the air around her. It was as if I was witnessing my mother’s bout with evil magic all over again. I pulled Maudrina aside.

“Has Erin been here today?” I didn’t want to think it. It pained me deeply to say it. Erin was my oldest friend. Not too long ago she was the person I shared my most intimate secrets with. Yet knowing what I knew about dark magic, I couldn’t help myself.

“No,” replied Maudrina. “But I know why you’re saying it. I’ve been thinking it, too. It was strange her rushing to be by my side last night, wasn’t it?”

“It was!” I said, glad I wasn’t alone in my thinking.

Maudrina stared at me, her brown eyes wide. “You’re wondering if someone placed a gris gris somewhere in Aunt Jaz’s room,” she said, her eyes never leaving mine, waiting for me to confirm her suspicions.

“I’m wondering if
Erin
placed a gris gris in Aunt Jaz’s room. It was the presence of the gris gris that kept my mother from getting better.”

“I know. But would Erin do such a thing?” Her voice was rising. Even though her suspicions were shared, it was still hard to believe.

“I don’t know. She’s … been so different since she’s been back.” We moved to Aunt Jaz’s bedside. “Hey, Aunt Jaz,” I called.

She again appeared to be in a stupor, but when I spoke, her eyes focused on me and she smiled. “Hey,” she said. “How was school today?” I could barely hear her. My lower lip began to tremble as I again fought off tears.

“School was fine, but I have to ask you an important question.”

“I hope it’s not about cooking. Because the food here is horrible,” she said and tried to laugh at her own joke, but wound up in a mild coughing jag.

“No, it’s not about cooking or food,” I said with forced smile. “It’s about visitors. Have you had any visitors since we left last night?”

Her eyes moved up to the ceiling in thought. “The doctor,” she replied weakly, after a few moments.

“No. Someone besides the doctor,” I said. “A friend.”

“Monsieur Perez, perhaps?” Maudrina asked, shooting me a quick glance as she added his name to the list of suspects.

“Humph!” Aunt Jaz replied at the mention of Monsieur Perez, and shook her head gently. “Just you.”

“Aunt Jaz,” Maudrina said. “Megan means
after
we left.”

“I know. I’m just saying I haven’t had any visitors until you got here earlier this morning, except when Megan came back last night.”

“Back!” the word detonated from my lips. “What do you mean came back? I didn’t come back. When did I come back?” My heart was suddenly racing.

“I think it was early this morning, deary. You brought me that cute little teddy bear over there.” She lifted her hand and made a weak gesture.

Our eyes followed to where her hand was pointing. On the windowsill, across the room, sat a kelly green teddy bear that reminded me of a Care Bear. The teddy was wearing a chef’s hat and holding a mixing spoon in one hand. He was smiling. My blood ran cold.