Seers (5 page)

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it left little to the imagination. She flirted with everyone, but this time I was really bugged. If only she knew what I knew . . .

Which was what, exactly? He had no aura? Could that really be a bad thing? What if there was nothing unnatural about that?

Maybe, he was like me. Maybe if you could see auras, no one else could see yours.

I don’t know why I was irked by that thought, but I was.

Though it was a weird, often scary quirk, it was kind of cool.

And I felt special with it. I liked thinking I was the only one with this gift. Making lemonade out of lemons, looking on the bright side—whatever you want to call it. Since I was stuck with the psychic thing, I intended to like it. But no matter which way I looked at it, the possibility of having to share this special ability with someone else took away a lot of the appeal. I was no longer special. Just Kate.

And now I was being melodramatic.

I rolled my eyes at myself and stooped to retrieve a notebook from my bag. Lee was probably right. I was just going overboard with this whole thing. Maybe he wasn’t psychic. Without being able to see his aura, there was no way to judge. And just because he didn’t have an aura, well, that didn’t make Patrick O’Donnell a dangerous alien. He was different. Nothing more.

I straightened, setting my notebook on the desk with one hand while gripping my pencil with the other. I heard Patrick murmur something low, but I couldn’t make out the words. I didn’t want to.

I was done being freaked by him. Done spying on him. I certainly wasn’t one to judge what was normal and what wasn’t.

The teacher entered the room, calling us all to attention.

That’s when I noticed Virginia.

She was sitting straight backed, staring straight ahead. Her body, which had been twisted strategically toward Patrick, was now facing perfectly forward. I’d never seen her abandon fresh meat so quickly—not in all my years knowing her.

I watched her all through class, glancing every once and a 30 K • • •

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while toward Patrick’s broad back. Virginia took studious notes the whole hour, and didn’t once flash a flirty smile toward the boy beside her. In fact, it was almost like she couldn’t see him. Like she’d forgotten about him completely.

All at once, my worries were back. Something was definitely wrong with Patrick O’Donnell, if he could get Virginia to turn away with only a few words.

s

Lunch finally came. And with it, I hoped to escape Patrick O’Donnell. He was in every class I was. Somehow, I always had to sit near him. For some reason, he would sometimes stare at me and other times ignore me completely.

I entered the cafeteria, waited in the long line, got my lunch, paid my money, and made my way to the back corner table. I sat next to Aaron, who was already eating.

“Hey Kate, how’s the day going?” He asked me through a bite of apple.

“I think I’m ready to be done,” I said shortly, placing my tray next to his.

Aaron’s best friend, Jaxon, laughed from his place across from me. “Come on girl, you still got two hours to go!”

“Thanks Jaxon,” I muttered. I turned to Aaron. “You remember that weird guy from Lit class?” He stared at me, still chewing apple slices. “What weird guy?”

“You know—the new kid. Patrick O’Donnell.”

“Oh, the Irish guy, right!” Aaron reached for his milk carton, poking the straw in and then taking a huge sip. “What about him?” I started peeling the plastic wrap off my tuna sandwich. “He’s been in every class with me.”

Jaxon snickered, his dark skin tightening with his grin. “Lucky you, girl—I heard he’s a looker.”

“Jax, knock it off,” Aaron said dimly, setting his milk aside so he could look at me. “Is he bothering you?”

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“No. Most of the time he doesn’t even look at me. I just . . .” my words drifted and faded. I had nothing to add to that. I was trying to save my relationship with my boyfriend. Now was not the time to tell him I was psychic, or something equally bizarre.

Aaron was looking at me intently, worry creasing his brow.

But before he could ask me anything else Lee was setting her tray next to me, ending the potential conversation. I hurried to take a bite of my sandwich, expelling my breath while I chewed.

“Hey guys!” Lee declared loudly as she settled onto the bench next to me. “Mind if I invite a cool new guy to the table?” She asked.

I choked—literally. Aaron patted my back gently, like that would help anything. It was Lee who finally got smart and pushed my boyfriend’s hand away, so she could firmly pound my back.

“Kate?” Aaron asked, rising to his feet in aggravation. “Are you all right? Do you need me to get something?”

“Here,” Patrick’s lilting voice soothed at my other side. “Drink this.” I blinked through tears to see the water bottle he was prof-fering toward me. Mutely I took it, uncapped it, and took a few generous swallows.

Several coughs later, I was waving everyone back into their seats. “I’m fine,” I gasped. “Really. Sorry.” Lee patted my back a last time, then sat down between me and my new stalker.

Aaron sat back down, but he kept staring at my face, looking worried. “You sure you’re okay? You’re a bit pale. .”

“She just choked on a school of fish and a wheat field—how would you feel?” Lee glared distrustfully at my sandwich. “I knew that stuff was unhealthy.”

“I think you’re exaggerating,” Jaxon stated, staring at her huge slice of pepperoni pizza, dripping in grease.

Lee glared at him.“An-y-way everyone, this is Patrick O’Donnell.”

Jaxon nodded. “I’m Jaxon. Pleased to meet ya, Ricky.” 32 K • • •

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“Patrick, please,” he corrected.

I snorted a little, and Lee elbowed me. “Ow!” I protested lowly. “Choking here.”

“So Patrick,” Aaron said loudly. “You’re from Ireland?” Patrick nodded and took a bite from his sandwich. I don’t know why it unsettled me so much to see that he was eating tuna on wheat—just like me. “Yes. Wexford County.”

“Uh, is that near Dublin?” Aaron asked uncertainly.

Patrick gave a half nod, as if considering. “Pretty close, I suppose.”

“When did you move to the States?” Lee asked.

“A few years ago.” He took another large bite.

“When did you move to New Mexico?” Lee asked, still fishing deviously for his life history. I wanted to roll my eyes, but somehow I resisted the urge.

“Oh, just earlier this Summer. Two months ago, or so.” I swallowed hard, then set my sandwich down and reached for the water bottle. I didn’t want to think about what I’d been doing two months ago.

I felt Lee’s hand on my knee, and I knew her thoughts were with mine. I’d been in the hospital two months ago. My parents were deep in the ground.

“Why haven’t we seen ya around?” Jaxon asked.

Patrick shrugged. “I’m not much of a social person, I guess.”

“Well,” Lee grinned at him. “We’ll have to change that now, won’t we?”

I glanced around at my friends, completely shocked. I was sure he’d somehow hypnotized Virginia earlier, and obviously Patrick’s hypnosis was working on everybody but me.

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Four

School was finally over. I hurried to my car, sure that Lee would meet me there. As for Patrick, I wondered how I’d survive the rest of the semester. It was like he’d stolen my schedule or something. He was in every class I had. Even choir! I hadn’t seen him sing a single note, but there he was, standing with the basses. I hate to admit it, but I literally fled from the choir room as soon as the bell rang. It wasn’t that he was openly hostile, but he was just always . . . there. And then there was the way everyone acted around him—and the way he acted around them.

He could be friendly when he wanted. But more often than not, he was staring into space, a pensive frown on his face. I wasn’t sure what his intentions were yet, but one thing was certain: He was manipulative, and I was fairly certain that he was hiding something.

I hurried out to the car to find Lee already waiting. “Pretty good first day, huh?” She asked. “I mean, you and Aaron were talking like normal, and then that new guy . . . swoon.” I got into the car without a word and reached over to unlock her door. Once she was inside she stared at me, looking a little surprised. “You still think somethings wrong with him?”

“I know somethings wrong,” I corrected stubbornly. “He’s in all my classes. It’s like he copied my schedule or something.” Lee’s eyes lit up. “Even choir!? He can sing too?”

“I think you’re missing my point.”

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“What point is that?”

“He’s stalker creepy.”

“He is not.”

I pulled out my iPod and tossed it to her before I forced the key into the ignition. “Look, can you just trust me that he’s weird?

Doesn’t anyone else see that?”

“Nope. But then, we’re not psychic.”

“Does that mocking response mean you’re not going to trust me?” I asked, looking behind me and shifting into reverse so I could back out.

Lee’s mouth twisted a little as she searched for a song. “Well, I sort of already invited him to the party I was planning for this weekend.”

I groaned, shifted to first, and started to make my way out of the parking lot. “Really? A party? He could be some psycho or something.”

“We’ll have to start a psych club or something,” Lee grinned, finally finding a loud song with a driving beat. The blasting music sort of killed conversation, so I drove to the elementary school while Lee texted.

s

I dropped Lee off at her house, then headed for home. The twins were in the backseat arguing about who got to watch what when they got home, and when I suggested it might be easier if they just liked the same things like normal twins, I got yelled at.

By the time I pulled into the driveway Josie was so angry the red swelled around her like a very real, very tangible cloud. I’d noticed that about kids—they’re more controlled by their emotions than adults. Jenna was slower at exiting the vehicle, so she was still present when I was shutting my door and caught sight of him, standing in the middle of the street in front of our house.

It was the Hispanic guy from earlier, and he was staring at me with a huge grin. Though he was good looking, the eeriness of the

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moment made him creepy. Fortunately, ever since the accident I’d become very good at faking, in an attempt to keep from freaking everybody out. And so with a super calm voice I asked Jenna if she knew who he was.

Jenna turned to face the street, following my gaze quickly.

“Uh . . . who?” She asked. “Mr. Sorenson?” I saw that our neighbor across the street was working in his yard. Jenna saw him, but didn’t see the Hispanic guy standing twelve feet away? The one staring right at us?

His silver lining was familiar to me by now, after all my time with Patrick today. But seeing it on this guy only made me more wary of Patrick. In what ways were they similar? Why could everyone see Patrick, but only I could see this man?

I didn’t want to freak my sister out, so I decided not to talk to him. I grabbed her arm and tightened my grip on my bag. “Oh—

right—Mr. Sorenson. Come on, I think I smell cookies.” I pulled her into the house, but luckily she didn’t think it odd. Homemade cookies would have warranted almost any sort of behavior, even running and screaming.

Josie had left the front door open so we were able to walk right inside. But before I closed the door I forced myself to look back out into the street. I shouldn’t have been surprised.

It was empty.

s

Once I was holding two gooey chocolate chip cookies I hurried up to my room. I shut the door, turned the lock, and dumped my backpack on the bed. I walked to the window, which over-looked the front yard. I took the first bite of chewy goodness, and it practically melted in my mouth. I watched the street as I swallowed, but it was completely empty. But just the memory of that man—his smile, his aura, his invisibility—had me shivering despite the heat of the afternoon. Whoever he was, he knew where I lived.

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I finished my cookies and reached into my pocket, plucking out my phone. In seconds Lee was answering.

“What’s up?” She asked. I could hear the TV in the background, and the sound of her setting a glass of water aside. I knew her house as well as my own, so I could easily picture her curled up on the brown couch in her living room, the low coffee table holding an array of snack items.

“I know you’re going to think I’m crazy,” I started, still staring out the window.

Before I could go on she interrupted. “I know you’re crazy. So spill.”

“I just saw him again.”

“Who?”

“The Hispanic guy—the one who stepped in front of my car this morning at the elementary school.”

“The invisible one?”

“He’s not invisible to me. I came home, got out of the car, and there he was—standing in the middle of the street, staring at me.” I heard the couch wheeze as her weight shifted. “Kate, there was no one there. I would have seen him.”

“I know,” I groaned, finally turning away from the sunlight to fall across my bed, which squeaked in protest. “But something’s going on. And I’m not gonna lie—I’m freaking out.”

“Look, don’t freak out. Do you want to stay over at my house tonight?”

I sighed, and rolled on to my back. “No. He’d probably just find me over there.”

There was a short silence, then Lee spoke softly. “You’re the one with the special vision, Kate. If you say you saw someone, I believe you.”

Her faith meant a lot, but it didn’t erase my unease. “Thanks.

But what if I really am going crazy? Or what if he’s a ghost or something?”

“You don’t believe in ghosts.”

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“I didn’t believe in auras, either.”

“True.” Lee hesitated, then spoke slowly. “Does this guy . . .

have an aura? I mean, can you tell if he’s angry about something, or....?”