touch

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.

Unaware of Brian’s desertion and the rapidly emptying atrium, Clavin again glanced at Mrs. Wrightly.

So did I. Her unwavering gaze met mine. The realization that she’d not once looked away from me sent a shiver through me.

I took a cautious step back angling away from both. Clavin grew more agitated with my move and kept talking unaware he probably no longer spoke to Mrs. Wrightly.

“It was an accident Mrs. Wrightly. We opened the door to let her out, but then heard someone coming down the hall. That’s why we closed the door again.”

For the first time, Mrs. Wrightly looked away from me, her gaze falling on Clavin. “You?”