Chapter 12

 

I ignored Dad’s annoyed call from the gym and slipped out to check the house. It took me barely any time to check the large house. As I walked down the winding staircase, I wished I’d timed it. I’d make an awesome detective with this skill. Mom came in so I helped her carry dinner and groceries into the kitchen. Dad came in shortly after. He had cleaned up, and when Mom saw the shiner starting to show, he brushed it off blaming it on a wild ball from playing racquetball after work. He told the story so well, I almost believed him.

I excused myself after dinner, lying that I had a lot of homework. I stayed up in my room and chilled.

All night my thoughts kept coming back to Seth and how he could have easily gotten into the gym, turned the alarm off, or just waited till my dad was there and snuck in. The guy probably had the ability to taste money now, and got greedy – then went a step too far.

In between the bouts of frustration and anger, I thought about Zoe. I was kidding myself if I believed I really stood a chance. I’d waiting too long before making my move. Now Kieran liked her and the feeling seemed mutual. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. Well, except for Rylee. She still hadn’t clued in.

The next morning, after a long night of little sleep, I sent the gang a message: Meet me at PHP after school at 4:00pm.

I decided to skip school, faking a bad headache to Mom, and couldn’t help but be relieved when Dad told her to let me sleep in. He never agreed to missing class, so she didn’t argue. I went back to my bedroom and worked on fine tuning my touch-seeing sense.

Mom brought me a bowl of homemade soup for lunch and a nasty looking vegetable shake. “It’ll help flush the bad toxins out of your body and get rid of your headache. It’s better than any aspirin or ibuprofen.”

“I’m not drinking that.”

She crossed her arms and stared down at me sitting on my bed. I felt six years old suddenly. “I am not leaving until you drink the entire glass. If you think it tastes bad now, wait till you try drinking it warm.”

I sipped and gagged. “I can’t drink this!”

She laughed. “Don’t be such a wimp.”

Seriously? My mom just called me a wimp? I gulped it down and shuddered. Twice. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and gave her the glass.

“That’s a good boy.” She kissed my forehead. “Now eat your soup and try to get some rest.”

My throat reflex had a mind of its own. I swallowed hard and mentally told my stomach to cool. “Thanks, Mom.”

She left the room and I sighed. The awful taste in my mouth needed to be eliminated so I went straight for the chicken noodle soup. It killed the thick taste of spinach and every other dark and disgusting garden vegetable mixed in. Mom made the best soup. I enjoyed every bite and set the empty bowl on my desk.

My phone’s red light flashed from its location charging on my desk.

Zoe had messaged: Everything all right?

I replied: I’m good. Just chilling. Taking a personal day. I’ll see you at PHP after school?

I crawled back to bed. The headache I faked ended up as bad karma and showed up. I wanted to blame it on the horrible drink, but crawling under the covers and hiding in the dark seemed all the thought process my brain could handle. Images flashed through my head when I shut my eyes tight. I clenched my hands and toes as the agony turned into a migraine.

I don’t know when, but I managed to fall asleep or pass out into oblivion.

An annoying beep-beep-beep sound woke me. Some truck must be backing up. Probably a dump truck or cleaning vehicle for dad’s conference office. I bolted upright and checked my clock radio for the time. Almost three. School would be out in ten minutes.

I sat up and swung my legs over the side of the bed. My migraine had disappeared. I felt good – fantastic, actually. Maybe the migraine had shown up from the toxins in my system spilling into my blood or brain or some kind of scientific explanation Heidi would know. Mom’s disgusting veggie drink actually cleaned my system. Whatever. I felt better.

I hopped off the bed and dropped to do a set of push-ups. As I pumped my arms up and down, I looked through the floor with my hands. I blinked in surprise. The room below was dark but I could see clearer than normal, almost like a pair of night vision goggles – but not that good. I’d have to ask Mom to make me the veggie drink again.

My watched beeped, reminding me of the time. I needed to shower and jet. Fifteen minutes later I jogged down the stairs and grabbed a banana from the kitchen. Mom was reading by the window.

“Feeling better?” she asked.

“Loads. I might even ask you to make me that drink again.”

She laughed. “I will. Be good to have one before bed tonight. You’ll sleep like a baby tonight and back to normal tomorrow.”

I nearly choked on my banana. She knew nothing of what normal was for me anymore. “I’m heading down to PHP to meet the gang.”

“Don’t eat anything greasy.”

“Pardon?”

“Stay away from French fries or their onion rings. The grease will clog your system and ruin everything the drink just cleared.”

I saluted. “Yes, ma’am.”

She grabbed a napkin, balled it up, and threw it at me. “Get going, silly. I’m glad you feel better.”

I walked around the counter and hugged her. “Love you, Mom.”

“Love you, too, Sweetie.”

The drive to PHP took another ten minutes. Kieran’s bike and Seth’s truck were already there, but I didn’t see the Bug. I pressed my hand against the building and pretended to fix my shoe as a couple walked by. Heidi, Rylee, Seth, and Kieran were all sitting in our usual spot.

I went in to meet them. “Where’s Zoe?”

Rylee, sitting close to Kieran, looked up. “Hi to you, too. She said she had to go home to change. She’ll be here in a moment. So, I ordered our outfits.”

Seth sat beside Heidi wearing a leather jacket I’d never seen before. I glanced down his arm and noticed new watch. Something big and expensive.

What the hell? I unfortunately ignored Rylee’s chatter and cut her off. “Been shopping, Seth?”

He grinned and pulled the sleeve up on his jacket, showing off the watch.

Seriously? The guy robbed and beat up my father, and now had the balls to show it off? Screw him!

Rylee, the queen of fashion, leaned forward. “Wow, that’s very nice.”

“Thanks. I just got it.” Seth shoved his arm closer to Rylee’s face.

“I thought you were broke.” I couldn’t believe it. The guy had the balls to show it off in front of me. Some friend. We’d been buds since kindergarten. Scratch that. I hated him now. I clenched my fists, trying to keep things in check in front of everyone. This was not the place to break his jaw.

“I am.” Seth shot me a weird look. “My dad found an awesome deal and decided to get me it as an early grad gift.”

I grabbed a chair from the table beside and flipped it around so I sat on it backwards. I rested my arms on the back and leaned forward, faking interest. “Why didn’t he save it for grad then?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it was an early birthday present.” He shrugged. “I wasn’t paying attention to the whys.”

I pulled my phone out. “Why don’t I give him a shout and ask him? I wouldn’t mind one myself.”

“Wha’?” He pulled his coat over the watch. “No! Don’t call him.”

Heidi glanced at me, then Seth, and then back at me. “What’s going on?”

“Ohhh…” Rylee glared at Seth. “It’s you.” She pointed an accusing finger at him.

Seth pushed her hand away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Kieran and I looked at each other. I had a feeling he knew what Seth had done.

Rylee crossed her arms. She hissed at him, “You’re not the only one who watches the news or reads the paper! You bastard! How did you think we wouldn’t figure it out? It’s been you robbing those shops and stealing stuff.”

Seth straightened. “What the hell?”