touch (4 page)

Her angry expression cracked showing a small bit of
concern.  Not good enough.

The yelling hurt my face, but I didn’t care.  I’d suffered
enough abuse in the last twenty four hours.  I didn’t need it from her, or any
of them.

With angry tears in my eyes, I grabbed my coat and headed
out the door ignoring the stunned silence behind me.  Going to school didn’t
seem like a bad idea anymore.  Outside, I paused eyeing the family car parked
on the side of the house and then the long road to school.

Even though I should feel safe in daylight, I wasn’t ready
to walk that road again.  I also didn’t want to go back in and ask any of them
for a ride after yelling like that.  Life sucked.

The door opened behind me, and I turned to glare at whoever
dared approach.

Gran walked out wearing a warm jacket and a purse hanging
from her shoulder.  Keys jingled in one hand.  In the other, she held my bag.

Her calm expression melted a tiny bit of my anger.  No
yelling, then.

She handed me my bag and said, “You drive to school and I’ll
drive it back home.  One of us will pick you up today.”

I nodded and took the keys.  She followed me to the car,
settling into the passenger seat while I slid in behind the wheel.  Gran didn’t
like driving, but she would if she had too.  About halfway to school, my anger
faded and I started feeling guilty.

“I’m sorry for yelling,” I apologized grudgingly still
feeling the innocent person in the whole mess.  “I was just so mad she didn’t
even ask what happened.”

“She’s sorry too, honey.  We need to trust each other, especially
now.”  She looked straight ahead watching the road carefully.

Her words brought the image of the thing chasing me back to
mind.  “What was that thing?”

“What thing?”  She turned to look at me with worry.

“The black thing with horns chasing me.  It couldn’t have been
that dark…” I said trailing off to glance at her in concern.

She slowly shook her head.  “We didn’t see anything, honey,
but it sounds like you saw the reason we have to get you inside and sleeping at
night.”  She sighed gustily.  A slight quaver of fear escaped with it.

“If you didn’t see anything, why did you say ‘Especially
now’?” I asked confused.

“Before you woke, Danielle predicted we’d need to move
again.  It’s why everyone stayed home.  She wouldn’t say why.  I’m sorry to say
that no one noticed your face when we put you to bed.  It hadn’t yet bruised,”
she explained.  “After what you just told us about the bullying at school, you
won’t mind will you?”

I shook my head.  Bullying seemed an understatement given
the state of my face.  It was abuse.  I’d once touched a boy and saw my fate as
an abused wife.  No guess on how he died early.  It’d scared me so bad I’d
stayed home for two days and then avoided him for the rest of the school year.

With all the weird things I’d seen, and the rumors that started
no matter where we went, they’d never moved me during the school year before. 
We’d always managed to hang in there, even though Gran had suggested it a few
times.  I’d been one that constantly wanted to stay.  Not this time.  Leaving
mid-year didn’t bother me as I’d thought it would.  Gran was right.  After what
Clavin and Brian did to me, I wanted to leave.  Maybe I had a chance for a
friend at the different school.  I refused to revisit my thoughts of the day
before… it had to be better at a new school, not worse.

“If we’re leaving, do I really need to go today?”  I still
didn’t want to face Clavin and Brian.  Hurting Clavin as I had would only make
him meaner.  Also, my face looked horrible.

“No, I was going to talk to the office to get your papers. 
You can wait in the car if you want.”

I thought about her offer.  The idea of avoiding everyone
had appeal.  But why should I be the one to run and hide.  Hadn’t I done enough
of that in my life?  Especially last night?  Besides, there were books I should
return and a final paper I wanted to turn in.  I spent a lot of time on it and
knew it would be an A.

Sighing, I declined taking the easy out.  Pulling into the
staff parking lot, close to the school, I parked in a visitor spot since Gran
wouldn’t be staying long.

We walked to the office together so I could get a late
slip.  The state of my face shocked the office secretaries.  More so when Gran
told them kids at school did it to me, and I wanted to transfer because of it. 
It wasn’t the real reason, but a convenient one for a sudden upheaval.  Moving
because of a book written by a centuries old ancestor, or because a monster
with glowing green eyes had found me, didn’t seem as plausible.

After talking to the principal, Mr. Jameson, for twenty
minutes, I finally made my way to class.  I gave the teacher the slip and
ignored everyone’s stares as I took my seat.

As soon as I sat, I heard Brian and Clavin’s names called
over the loud speakers.  Behind me, someone whispered ‘snitch’.  Did all the
students know what happened?  Could my day get worse?  Probably.

At the end of each class, I turned in my textbook along with
any homework and explained that I wouldn’t be back.  Some of the teachers
glanced at my face sympathetically before nodding and taking the books.  I
figured word had spread through the faculty regarding the reason behind my
abrupt departure.  Although the students seemed to side with Clavin and Brian’s
actions, the faculty did not.  Neither of their lives wouldn’t be the same
here.

My stomach began rumbling during third hour.  When the lunch
bell finally sounded, I sighed.  I never got to eat dinner the night before and
in my rush to leave the house, I’d forgotten to eat breakfast.

Ignoring the stares in the hallway, I headed toward the
cafeteria noting the presence of additional teachers.  Bodyguards.  Nice.

In line, I piled on as much food as they would let me. 
Being poor meant I didn’t need to worry about paying, but they still limited me
on what I could take.  The sympathetic lunch ladies didn’t stick to the rules
today though.  A bruised face earned me a double scoop of mashed potatoes.

With a laden tray, I made my way through the sea of filling
tables.  Conversation quieted as I neared some tables and escalated again after
I passed.

Close to the table where I usually sat, I saw Brian and
Clavin unobtrusively speaking to a group of girls.  Their gazes darted my
direction, but they didn’t move to approach me.

Before I could decide what to do, Mr. Jameson approached
me.  He had a tray of food in his hands as well.  “Mind if I sit with you?” he
asked.

Sit with the principal or risk more Brian and Clavin quality
time.  I really didn’t have much of a choice.

“Not at all,” I answered quickly.

Together we walked the rest of the way to the table.  The
table of isolation.  No one approached us the entire lunch while I thoroughly
enjoyed my food.

Mr. Jameson kept a light one-sided conversation going.  He
didn’t mention ‘the incident’ nor did he ask to which school would be
transferring.  He rambled on about his love of winter and snow.  I appreciated
his effort, since his presence allowed me to eat in safety, and nodded or made
non-committal noises when needed.

As I forked the last bite into my mouth, his demeanor
changed.  He stopped talking and just watched me, his expression hard to read. 
I glanced around us looking for what may have caused the change.  Most of the
other students had finished eating and left the cafeteria, including Brian and
Clavin.  Everything seemed normal to me.

Curious, I glanced back at him.  “Is there a problem Mr.
Jameson?”

He didn’t immediately answer me.  Instead, he reached across
the table and lightly touched my bruise, shocking me.

Before I could react, he asked, “Who did this?”

I froze, cold spreading through me on the tail of dread. 
I’d talked to him about what had happened in detail just a few hours ago.  But
his sudden memory lapse didn’t concern me.  His voice did.  It softly echoed as
he spoke sounding as if two people said the same words at the same time.  One
was Mr. Jameson’s voice.  The other was deeper, quieter.  And it didn’t belong.

His finger stroked my bruised flesh once more, without
inflicting pain, before he withdrew his hand.  I stared at him, not knowing
what to do.  First, some kind of phantom monster chases me and now my principal
is talking as if he’d possessed.  Unrelated?  Definitely not.  I thought
daylight provided safety.

Opening my mouth to ask who I was talking to, my English
teacher interrupted me.  She approached the table with a rapid lick of her
heels on the tiled floor her eyes on Mr. Jameson.  She frowned at him several
long moments before addressing me.

“I’ll walk you to class, Tessa.”

I kept my eyes on Mr. Jameson as I stood so I didn’t miss
the change.  He seemed to deflate ever so slightly his shoulders tilting
forward in a minute hunch.  Then he blinked twice and looked down at his food
as if lost in thought.  I didn’t hesitate.  I fled with my English teacher.

*    *    *    *

For the rest of the day, I watched everyone around me.  I
knew my peers perceived my actions as weirder than normal, but I couldn’t help
it.

Some
thing
had taken over Mr. Jameson for a minute. 
If not for his voice, I never would have known the difference.  Its ability
scared me.  It could be anywhere, in anyone.  But what did it want?  Other than
to know who bruised my face...  And why did it care?  Why had it chased me last
night?

Thinking over what Gran said on the way to school, none of
this made any sense.  Why did we need to hide from it at night if it could find
us during the day?

Uncertain, I watched and I listened.  I didn’t see or hear
it.  But I did run into Clavin again.

Toward the end of the day, I had a study hall.  With nothing
to do since the homework didn’t apply to me, I asked to go to the library
thinking I’d research this new phenomenon in my life.  I doubted the school
library would have anything related demon possession, but it didn’t hurt to
look.

Wandering the racks of books, I didn’t notice Clavin at
first.  When he spoke to me from the other side of a bookshelf, I nearly
screamed.

“Don’t do this to us, Tessa,” he whispered.

Annoyed, I pulled a book out so I could see him better and
he did the same.  “Do what?”  After lunch, I’d almost completely forgotten
about my problems with Brian and Clavin.

“They are talking about you pressing charges.  They said
we’re old enough to be treated as adults.  It was a stupid accident, Tessa.  We
let you out,” he pleaded.

His ridiculous statement had me rolling my eyes.  “And
following me in your car?  Chasing me through the woods?  That was an
accident?”

He rubbed his face with one hand in frustration and looked
close to tears.

Annoyed, I didn’t stop.  “We both know the only reason
you’re even slightly remorseful is because you got caught and are going to get
in trouble.  Look at my face!” I whispered harshly.  “What you did was not a
funny prank.  You were angry, and you were cruel.  I have to live with the
consequence of your actions.  You should too.”

I pushed the book back into place and walked away to find
the librarian.  I’d thrown a rock at him and hurt him.  Then I threw his plea
for forgiveness back at him.  If he’d been mad before, he’d be furious now.

After my last class, the teacher walked me to my locker.  I
didn’t mind.  Students made way for us in the hallway and Brian and Clavin
remained scarce.  As I bent to clean out my locker, I wondered if they were
even still in school.  Mrs. Wrightly watched me impassively as I put my
notebooks and folders in my backpack.  Up until today, she had been my least
favorite teacher.  Older and starchier, she’d lost her tolerance of youths long
ago.  But I found it hard to dislike her when she diligently watched my back.

I stood and smiled at her.  “Thanks, Mrs. Wrightly.  I’m all
set.”

“I’ll walk you to the bus.”  She didn’t wait for my reply,
but set out in the direction of the main entry, her sensible pumps announcing
her approach and clearing a path.  I didn’t correct her, appreciating the
escort.  My mom’s car would be out there somewhere.

In the atrium, she stopped so abruptly I almost collided
with her.  Students streamed around us in their haste to leave.  Stepping
around her, I warily looked at her, wondering if whatever happened to Mr.
Jameson got to her too.  But she appeared fine.

She glared at the outer doors with tightly compressed lips. 
Her gaze narrowed behind her overly large glasses.  Following her gaze, I saw
Brian and Clavin talking outside.  Brian reached out to grab Clavin’s jacket
sleeve pulling Clavin close to speak in his ear.  Whatever they said to each
other, they were trying to be quiet about it.  Brian looked worried while
Clavin looked angry.

As I watched, Clavin shook off Brian’s hand and pushed
through the doors heading in our direction.

“Should we go back?”  I turned to Mrs. Wrightly.

She no longer looked toward the outer doors, but instead
studied me.  She didn’t look as upset as she had a moment ago.

“He looks mad,” I added just in case she’d missed that
detail.

She opened her mouth to say something, but Clavin
interrupted.

“Mrs. Wrightly,” he said approaching us.  “I’m not going to
cause any trouble.  I just want to talk to Tessa.”

I turned away from Mrs. Wrightly, who hadn’t even blinked in
Clavin’s direction, to gape at him.  Just talk?  He’d already tried that in the
library.  “What more do you need to say?”

Turning to me with a pleading look, he tried yet again to
appeal to me.  “Tessa, please.  Talk to Mr. Jameson for us.”

“Us?  Brian’s not with you.  Why’s that?”

Behind Clavin, I caught Brian’s gaze through the glass. 
Brian raised his hands in an apologetic gesture and then ran his fingers
through his hair.  He looked at Clavin, then toward the buses.  After one more
glance, he walked away, his actions severing ties with Clavin.  The majority of
the students still lingering inside, probably sensing a confrontation in the
presence of faculty, hurried out the door to the idling buses.