It was Thursday, two days after my last vision at the mall, and Muriel and I were at swim practice, getting ready for a big meet against a rival school. Everyone was there, even the boys’ team. Usually the girls and boys’ teams practiced on different days, but that day was different—and so was my vision.
I saw three boys walking behind Miranda. She was stuffing her hair into one of the horrendously ugly swim caps the school made us wear, and the boys were snickering about something, and then their thoughts slammed into me. Two of the boys were daring the third to reach out and undo the clasp on Miranda’s swimsuit. It wouldn’t have done much good since the swimsuit had another strap holding it in place, but just the thought of what he wanted to do, what he wanted to happen, made me angry and the feeling took over. It was almost like I was in a trance, but I was aware of what was happening. I just couldn’t stop it.
Do it, one boy urged, bumping his friend’s arm toward Miranda.
Are you a chicken shit? the second boy taunted.
I jumped. I was too far away to hear them whispering, so why could I hear them when Miranda couldn’t? It was like the way I’d just seen what was about to happen. Now I was hearing them, too. Great.
Walking faster, I passed the boy just as he reached out. I rammed my body into his before he was able to touch Miranda.
“What the heck!” he yelled. He started to get up, his hand slipped on a puddle of water, and he hit the floor a second time. His face turned tomato red. A thick vein pulsed down the side of his neck.
Miranda swung around, looking at the boy who was still on the floor.
I shrugged. “Sorry, I slipped.”
“Dude, she totally body checked you,” one of the stupid idiots said.
Darn straight I did. Just be thankful I didn’t break out and go all Tae Kwon Do on your ass.
Smiling, I glanced across the room. Muriel was watching me with an odd expression. Knowing she saw everything, I turned away quickly, hoping if I ignored it, she would too.
Seven weeks, five days until my birthday.
I’m a freak. There’s no other explanation for what’s happening to me.
Lying on my back across my bed, looking up at the ceiling, I stared at the posters taped there. I’d gone home right after swim practice, not even waiting for Muriel like usual. Staying wasn’t an option, though. She’d ask questions about what happened with Miranda, and I didn’t know what to tell her. How could I explain what happened when I didn’t understand it myself?
I turned over and looked out of the window with a sigh. Part of me needed—wanted—to talk to someone. Muriel seemed like the logical choice. She was my best friend, after all. She was family. Or I could’ve talked with my parents. We’d always been open with each other. I got along with them fine, as far as parents go. But I didn’t want any of them to know.
I’m a freak. That’s all there is to it. And I want to keep my freakishness a secret.
The doorbell chimed, and I rolled off the bed. It was Muriel. I knew she’d come looking for me when I didn’t wait for her after swim practice. I walked down the hall toward the stairway but stopped short at the corner of the stairs, skidding on the hardwood floor. It wasn’t Muriel’s voice I heard but my aunt’s. And she was talking about me to my mother. I held my breath and strained to listen to their quiet voices.
“Muriel thinks it’s started. She says Milayna’s showing signs.”
“She hasn’t said anything to us,” my mom answered.
“It’s only been a few days, but Muriel is pretty sure. She’s almost positive Milayna’s had some sightings.”
Sightings? What does she mean? Visions?
I adjusted my weight to my other leg, and the floorboard creaked. They heard and changed the subject.
My mom and aunt stopped talking and looked at me when I bounded down the stairs. A frown pulled at my mom’s lips, and the skin between her eyes wrinkled.
“What’s started?” I looked between them.
My mom wouldn’t look at me. “Oh, um, old Mrs. Haggarty is complaining that Muriel’s dog is digging up her flower bulbs again. You know how she is.”
Yeah, and you’re lying to me.
“Oh.” I looked at my aunt and smiled. “Hi. Where’s Muriel?”
She smiled, but her lips quivered at the sides. She was so faking it. “She’s doing homework. She said to tell you she’d call later.”
“Okay.” I looked between them one more time before I wandered into the kitchen to help my dad make dinner. He was silent, and that put me even more on edge. He usually never shut up when we made dinner together. His silence was like a scream telling me that something was wrong. Whatever my mom and aunt were talking about, he was in on the secret.
And it definitely wasn’t about Muriel’s dog.
***
Muriel called just after dinner. “Hey,” I mumbled.
“Whatcha doin’?” she chirped, and I cringed. I wasn’t in the mood for bubbly.
“I’m finishing my English homework.” I drummed my fingers and waited for the inevitable questioning to begin. It didn’t take long.
“What was up in swim practice today? You almost pushed that guy right into the pool.” She laughed. It was too high and too loud. So fake.
“Yeah, well, he deserved it.” The scene replayed in my head. “He was a tool who was going to undo Miranda’s swimsuit.”