“Oh?” Jamie wouldn’t stand a chance in a knife fight with Aiden Davis if all Aiden had was a roll of toilet paper.
Jamie smiled knowingly. “I threatened him with Ebola.”
I blinked.
“I don’t actually have Ebola. It’s a biosafety Level Four hot agent.”
I blinked again.
“In other words, impossible for teenagers to obtain, even if your father is a doctor.” He looked disappointed.
“Riiight,” I said, not moving.
“But Davis believed it and almost soiled himself. It was a defining moment for me. Until that rat bastard tattled to the guidance counselors. Who believed him. And called my dad, to verify I didn’t actually have Ebola at home. Idiots. One little joke involving hemorrhagic fever and they brand you ‘unstable.’ “He shook his head, then his mouth tilted into a smile. “You’re, like, totally freaked out right now.”
“No.” I was, just a tad. But who was I to be picky in the friend department?
He winked and nodded. “Sure. So what class do you have next?”
“Biology with Prieta? In the annex, wherever the hell that is.”
Jamie pointed to an enormous flowered bush about a thousand feet away. In the opposite direction. “Behind the bougainvillea.”
“Thanks,” I said, peering at it. “I never would have found it. So what’s your next class?”
He shrugged out of his blazer and button down. “AP Physics, normally, but I’m skipping it.”
AP Physics. Impressive. “So … are you in my grade?”
“I’m a junior,” Jamie said. He must have registered my skepticism because he quickly added, “I skipped a grade. Probably absorbed my parents’ short genes by osmosis.”
“Osmosis? Don’t you mean genetics?” I asked. “Not that you’re short.” A lie, but harmless.
“I’m adopted,” Jamie said. “And please. I’m short. No biggie.” Jamie shrugged, then tapped his watchless wrist. “You’d better get to Prieta’s class before you’re late.” He waved. “See ya.”
“Bye.”
And just like that, I made a friend. I mentally patted myself on the back; Daniel would be proud. Mom would be prouder. I planned to offer this news to her like a cat presenting a dead mouse to its owner. It might even be enough to help stave off therapy.
If, of course, I kept today’s hallucinations to myself.
8
I MANAGED TO SURVIVE THE REST OF THE DAY WITHOUT being hospitalized or committed, and, after school ended, Mom was waiting for me at the cul-de-sac exactly as Daniel said she would be. She excelled at those small “mom” moments, and didn’t disappoint today.
“Mara, honey! How was your first day?” Her voice bubbled with overenthusiasm. She pushed up her sunglasses over her hair and leaned in to give me a kiss. Then she stiffened. “What happened?”
“What?”
“You have blood on your neck.”
Damn. I thought I’d washed it all off.
“I had a nosebleed.” The truth, but not the whole truth, so help me.
My mother was quiet. Her eyes were narrowed, and full of concern. Par for the course, and so irritating.
“What?”
“You’ve never had a nosebleed in your life.”
I wanted to ask “How would you know?” but, unfortunately, she would know. Once upon a time I used to tell her everything. Those days were over.
I dug my heels in. “I had one today.”
“Out of nowhere? Randomly?” She gave me that piercing therapist stare, the one that says You’re full of it.
I wasn’t going to admit that I thought I saw my classroom fall apart the second I walked in it. Or that my dead friends reappeared today, courtesy of my PTSD. I’d been symptom-free since we’d moved. I went to my friends’ funerals. I packed up my room. I hung out with my brothers. I did everything I was supposed to do to avoid being Mom’s project. And what happened today wasn’t remotely worth what telling her would cost.
I looked her in the eye. “Randomly.” She still wasn’t buying it. “I’m telling you the truth,” I lied. “Can you leave me alone now?” But as soon as I spoke the words, I knew I’d regret them.
I was right. We drove the rest of the way home in silence, and the longer we went without speaking, the more obviously she stewed.
I tried to ignore her and focus on the route home, since I’d be driving myself to school in a few days thanks to Daniel’s long-overdue dentist appointment. It was only mildly comforting that Mr. Perfect had a penchant for cavities.