Part 5 (2/2)

”Are you serious?”

”How could you do this to her? She hates me now.”

He released a harsh laugh. ”I saved your friend's life.”

I stomped my foot, the thump echoing down the empty hall. ”You humiliated her!”

His jaw clenched and he took a step back, intending to leave me as well. I didn't want him to leave, at the same time I blamed him for this mess.

”Better humiliated,” he said, ”than dead.”

I felt miserable. More than miserable. I felt like someone had drained me of all energy. I'd always been able to at least dim the thoughts coming from people by focusing on other things, but not today, not now. Every feeling, every thought burst into my brain like an explosion, leaving me weak, trembling. I knew why, too much had happened. My defenses were down. I needed to go home, be alone with my thoughts and no one else's. I needed sleep. Unfortunately, first I needed to get through French cla.s.s.

Hefting my books in my hands, I left Biology and started down the crowded hall. Emily stood at her locker, which happened to be next to mine. I couldn't ask her if she'd happened to hear anything about me, oh, say, reading minds. I knew she was done with me even before she glanced over her shoulder, as if sensing my presence. She smirked and turned away. It was a direct cut and a lot of people saw it happen. I kept my face pa.s.sive, not daring to show how c.r.a.ppy I felt, but my hands were visibly shaking.

”You think it's true?” someone whispered as I moved by.

”Oh please, no way,” someone else responded.

G.o.d, what if she can read my mind?

I stumbled and glanced back. Tara leaned against the wall, watching me. She jerked her head down, focusing on the floor. Does she know what I'm thinking?

I froze there, in the middle of the hall, the scent of lemon cleaning product sharp and strong, making me want to gag. They all knew. The roar of conversation became a m.u.f.fled murmur. No. This was not happening. Frantic, I looked up and down the hall. More than one student was looking at me, whispering, some giggling as they moved by, careful not to get too close.

Can she read minds? Emily thinks she can.

Oh s.h.i.+t, what if she knows I cheated on that math test?

Will she tell Emily that I really hate her?

I wanted to throw my books to the floor and scream for them all to shut up. I didn't care about their stupid, insignificant problems. Instead, I lowered my head and made my way toward my locker. This was horrible. Worse than horrible. Why had I trusted Annabeth? Clearly, she wasn't a friend, she'd betrayed me. Quicker than the flu in winter, my secret had spread through the school.

”Excuse me,” someone snapped.

I looked up. Annabeth stood in my way. She'd changed, no longer meek and shy, I could see that in the hardness of her gaze. Life had turned her. No one seemed to notice her wrinkled outfit anymore. Her hair had been combed back, and her face was its natural color. Throwing me under the bus had given her strength.

At least now they're talking about her and not me.

My heart stopped, for a brief moment as realization struck hard. She'd done this on purpose...spread the fact that I could read minds. She'd wanted to hurt me.

”You did this,” I seethed.

”Did what?” She lifted a brow, daring me to respond.

I bit my tongue, refusing to give in. She had friends behind her. Friends who used to be my friends as well. Friends who looked uneasy, unsure. They were wondering if they could trust me. Wondering if Annabeth was lying. Wondering if I could really read minds.

”You're in my way.” She glared at me.

This morning Annabeth had been a pariah, but there were those few who felt bad for her and those few were supporting her now. This afternoon, I was the one with leprosy, but the difference was that I had no one to back me up. Alone. Everything I'd worked so hard for was gone. I realized, in that moment, I had no idea what to do.

”Annabeth!” Sarah came to a skidding halt beside us. ”It was just on the news...they've found evidence, it's not looking good.”

Annabeth's large brown eyes filled with tears. My heart actually clenched for her. She dropped her books with a loud thud and raced down the hall, disappearing around a corner. Her friends didn't follow. Some friends.

”Are you serious?” Toni asked.

”Yep.” Sarah was more excited about being the first to know, than being worried about Annabeth's welfare. They darted a glance at me, but realizing they didn't know what to say, they wandered reluctantly away.

I sniffled, my nose burning from unshed tears. How I wished I could go home and cry. If I went home and gave into my tears, Grandma would immediately wonder what had happened. Not that she wouldn't read my mind tonight and know anyway. She would realize I'd told Annabeth about my ability and then there'd be h.e.l.l to pay. Would she make us pack up and leave? Had I ruined everything once again, just as I had in Michigan?

The bell rang, indicating the start of last cla.s.s period. The hall emptied but I still stood there. Confused. Lost. Alone.

The thud of footsteps sent my heart racing. Lewis? I spun around, but it wasn't Lewis. No. It was Trevor. Slowly, he looked me up and down, a smirk playing on his lips. No thoughts of me and my mind reading abilities flashed through his mind. Thank G.o.d. Same old Trevor, wondering if now that he and Emily had broken up, he could get some from me. He thought I'd be happy to take Emily's place because he was, well, Trevor. School star athletic. Of course I wanted him. Not.

”Hey, Cameron.” He paused in front of me, too close. I really didn't have the time to deal with him right now.

”Hey,” I muttered, brus.h.i.+ng past him and heading toward French cla.s.s.

”What's the hurry?” He latched onto my arm, pulling me to a stop.

”I've got cla.s.s,” I said, trying to shrug off his touch. ”Don't you?”

She'd be easy, he thought. Screw her and move on. She won't say anything, she'll be too worried about Emily finding out.

I sighed and tried to jerk my arm away. ”Listen, I gotta go or I'll be late.”

”So,” he shrugged, grinning that grin that made many a girl's hearts flutter. Fortunately I was totally immune. He pulled me back. Off balance, I stumbled and fell against the wall.

”Aren't you ever bad?” He took the opportunity to step closer, his body pinning mine to the wall.

I was so stunned that I let him. The idiot didn't think he was doing anything wrong. He actually believed that I would be so grateful to have his attention, I wouldn't mind the fact that his hands were currently traveling down my waist and creeping dangerously close to my a.s.s.

”You know I've always liked you.”

”Bull,” I snapped, using my French book as a barrier between us. ”You've never liked me; you're just h.o.r.n.y and have some delusional belief that I'm so desperate I'll let you use me.”

I saw the surprise flash in his eyes, heard the mental curse come from his thoughts. But he was good, and if I couldn't read minds, I might have actually fallen for his c.r.a.p.

”Cam, it's always been you I was interested in. I only dated Emily to be close to you.”

”Wow,” Lewis' voice suddenly reached out, a beacon of hope. ”That is the worst pick up line I've ever heard.”

He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall not ten feet from us. Heat shot straight to my cheeks. Lord, I hoped he realized I didn't want this.

Trevor looked unimpressed. ”We're having a private conversation here, Newbie. Might want to make yourself scarce.”

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