I reluctantly walked into Geometry (my last class of the day) as the day was drawing to a close. I stopped mid step to see Cody Ford sitting in the very back corner desk… right next to my usual seat. I walked up to the front of the room to Mr. Golden, the teacher.
“What may I do for you, Miss Evans?” He asked without looking up from his papers.
“Did we happen to change seats yesterday?” I asked.
“No, we did not. You will sit in your normal seat, as always.” He said, still not looking up. I nodded then walked sluggishly to my seat, trying not to look at Cody’s beautiful, yet almost terrifying face. Not that it mattered much. He wasn’t looking at me anyway.
“Hello,” He said peculiarly. I nearly jumped ten feet.
“Hi,” I said automatically. I must admit, I was stunned. Why would he ignore everyone around him, and then just suddenly pop up a random “hello” at me just like that? I didn’t understand.
“Something wrong?” He asked, his voice deep. It was smooth, though. Not raspy like I had imagined it would be.
“No,” I said flatly. I glanced in his direction. He was looking at me intently. I looked away.
“How old are you?” He asked.
“Sixteen,”
“And you’ve been in how many accidents?”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re sixteen and you’ve been to the hospital many times.” It wasn’t a question.
“How do you...?” The corners of his lips drifted up into a small, wicked smile.
“You have an unusual gift. Someone is unhappy with you.” He said. If I wasn’t freaking out before, I certainly was now. I didn’t know what to say. I looked at Mr. Golden, who was still sitting at his desk. He always waits at least ten minutes before he started class.
“Don’t be afraid.” He said. But I was. I truly was.
“Don’t tell me what to do! You need help. Get away from me!” I got up to ask to use the bathroom. I had to get out.
Once I was in the hall, I started walking at top speed. What did he mean by “an unusual gift” and “someone is unhappy with you”? I started to hyperventilate.
That night, I locked the door and slept with a baseball bat. I know, I was probably overreacting but something inside me was telling me kept telling me that Cody Ford had moved here because of me. I heard Savannah’s words repeat over and over in my head. “His dad is either a serial killer or on America’s Most Wanted.”
The next day I nearly begged Mr. Golden to let me change seats. He refused.
“Just try it out for a few days. You may find that you like it.” He said obliviously.
He was sitting there when I came over. I turned my desk and sat as far away from him as possible. I decided that I was going to be strong and not skip Geometry for the rest of the year like my original plan.
“Mallory,” He whispered. I cringed away at his voice but ignored him.
“I’m sorry I made you mad yesterday. I didn’t mean it.” He said. I still remained silent.
“Please listen to me. I really have something important to tell you that you need to know.”
“Do I honestly want to know?” I said surprising even myself with my words.
“Not now, but you still need to hear it.” He said. I turned slightly.
“You need to listen to me. I can’t tell you, exactly, but if you can figure it out, I’ll be okay, I think.” He said. He waited, but when I didn’t respond he went on.
“Have you ever wondered why you’ve been in so many accidents?”
“Bad luck. Freak accidents.” I stated. He shook his head.
“They weren’t accidents.” Cody said.
“So you’re saying there’s something out there who tries to kill me.” I said in disbelief.
“I wouldn’t say it like that, exactly.” He said.
“Why do you even bother talking to me if you aren’t going to make sense? And why is it that you ignore everyone else in the school but only talk to me? Why me?” I said angrily.
“Why not?” He shrugged.
“You need help.” I turned away.
“Why do you think I know so much about you?”
“I should ask you the same question.”
“You are very different from everybody else, you know.”
“You’re a lot creepier than everybody else.” I snapped.
“Go ahead, insult me, but when you’re ready to listen to me I’ll be sitting right here.” He said. I continued to stare at him in pure amazement, but he said what he had to say so I stuck my tongue out at him and looked away for the rest of the period.
* * *
