Chapter Two

 

“It was definitely a big mistake, and I know you warned me against it,” Celia continued, unaware I listened through the door.

“Yep. I did,” Micah agreed.

His words stunned me. I’d thought we were friends—and more. Now, I knew exactly how he felt. I remembered how he objected to Celia’s offer to have me live in their basement after he’d accidentally broken my arm. I remembered the grief he’d endured—grounded from the car for a month and losing his cell phone privileges for a low score on his French test. It probably didn’t help that I beat him on the test.

Then again, I did stand up for him when he’d thrown that impromptu party in Celia’s absence. Had he forgotten about that? Or about how he’d felt, right before he kissed me?

I guessed so since Micah refused to utter a single word in my defense.

“But I didn’t listen,” Celia added with a deep sigh. “I’m sorry, I never meant for any of this to happen. Will you forgive me?”

A long pause passed before Micah replied, “Of course, Mom.”

Why doesn’t he stand up for me? I slumped to the floor in shock. And here I’d planned to apologize when I came to check on Cam. How could I go in there when I knew she despised me for creating this mess?

Sully offered me a hand. I glanced at his outstretched palm, but shook my head, unable to speak. Celia kindly took me into her home, and look how I repaid her hospitality…putting her sons in mortal peril. Some appreciative guest I turned out to be.

“C’mon, Jordan. You know Celia,” Sully whispered and knelt by my side. “She may get mad quickly, but she forgives even faster.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. The truth behind Cam’s miraculous healing no longer concerned me. I couldn’t face Micah’s family again, not now that I knew how they really felt.

“You can go back to your room or you can get this over with, right?” Sully reminded me.

I looked up at him, biting my lip nervously. Tears glazed my eyes. Her words echoed in my mind. Something like her.

“Go on,” Sully prodded, turning the door handle for me. “No time like the present.” He flashed me an encouraging smile.

“Yeah. Might as well.” I muttered, knowing Celia’s protective motherly nature accounted for her anger. I hadn’t wanted them to get hurt. She had to understand that, didn’t she?

“I’ll be here if you need me,” Sully said and pushed the door ajar.

“Thanks.” I tried to mask the hurt in my wounded voice. When I stepped through the doorway, the room felt noticeably colder, even with my hospital robe wrapped tightly around me. It seemed the cold originated from within, radiating from my core the second I spotted Micah.

Before, I’d felt drawn to Micah’s hazel eyes, engaged and sympathetic at times, disinterested at others. I often wished he’d look at me in the same way he did at Tessa. I’d found his short dark brown hair particularly cute, how it spiked up a bit in the front and trailed into sideburns.

Funny how quickly my perception changed. Now, I couldn’t stand to look at him, knowing our friendship was a farce. He had claimed he cared about me when he saved me from The Three, had even kissed me sweetly when I lay on the hospital bed. But his reaction to Celia told me all I needed to know. Everything he’d said and done had been a lie.

Even Celia didn’t seem herself. Her normally styled hair appeared scraggly and unkempt. With one side flat and matted, I imagined she’d spent the night sitting upright in the chair next to Cam’s bed. But from the look of her red, puffy eyes, I doubted she’d actually slept more than a few minutes in a row since she received Micah’s call. She draped a protective arm over Cam’s shoulder. Her eyes gauged me with suspicion and trepidation.

Her face changed, perhaps from regret for her previous kindness. If only she hadn’t opened her house to me, if only she hadn’t been called into work and missed Cam’s game, if only she hadn’t seen me for who I really was, then her son wouldn’t be in this situation.

“Don’t worry, I’m leaving,” I said coolly. “I only came to say good-bye.”

“Where will you go?” she asked. I noticed Micah’s curious eyes met mine for a flash of a second. “Will you finish school?”

I didn’t see why she cared. I wasn’t a normal teen, regardless of how hard I tried. Shouldn’t my education be anything but traditional?

I shrugged. “What does it matter as long as I’m far from you, right?”

My comment came out harsher than I intended. But the shock of her hurtful tone still lingered in my ear. Micah didn’t say a thing, unwilling to choose a side.

Fine, Micah. Whatever. The thank-you-for-everything kiss we shared meant the world to me…and nothing to him. I blinked back another round of stinging tears and turned to leave.

I almost reached the door when I heard Cam’s soft, groggy voice. “Is that Jordan?” he asked, hopeful.

Well, at least one person seemed glad to see me.

I wiped my eyes, and slowly spun to face him, forcing a smile despite Celia’s hurtful words. I needed to appear brave for the little boy who reminded me so much of my little sister, Sarah. I desperately wanted to sweep him into a hug, grateful he survived Gaia’s wrath when my own Sarah had not, but I hesitated in taking a step toward Celia’s reproachful face. “How are you feeling, buddy?” I managed, straining to keep the sadness at bay.

“I’m all better now,” he replied. “Thanks to them.”

“Them? Them who?” I prompted, pretending I’d never heard a word about his angel story. I forced my anger and hurt aside. If I could get him to elaborate, he should be able to confirm or deny my suspicions. I hoped for the latter.

“The angels,” Cam replied in his sweet, soft voice. “They came into my room and made me all better.”

“You know Cam,” Celia said through tight lips. “He’s got a pretty active imagination.” She patted the top of his head.

“How’d they do that?” I asked, my voice shaky with anticipation.

“It was pretty cool,” Cam said. His face relaxed. “The old woman put her hands under my back, right where it hurt the most. Her hands got really warm for a long time. And then the pain was gone.”

“All gone?” I asked.

“Yep,” he said, flashing me his toothless grin, “Like magic.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. “And these angels…” I began, my hands starting to tremble. “Do you remember what they looked like?”

“Sure,” Cam replied. “One had a soft, round face, kind of like the moon.”

I didn’t recognize his description, but still had one to go. I took a deep breath. “And the other?”

“She had really long, black hair.”

“Long?” My throat grew dry. I dared to ask, “How long?”

Celia eyed me skeptically. I could tell my questions made her uneasy. I seemed to know too much for someone who hadn’t heard his story.

Cam didn’t appear to notice his mother’s concern. He shrugged. “I think it reached all the way to the ground. And it was hot.”

“Hot?” I swallowed hard. Not exactly your typical adjective used to describe someone’s hair.

“Yeah,” Cam said, nodding his head. “It was kind of melting.”

“You know kids—sometimes they say the most ridiculous things,” Celia said with a nervous laugh. “I mean, really, since when are angels on fire?”

“Melting?” I repeated. My eyes didn’t leave Cam’s face. “Like lava from a volcano?”

“Yes!” he exclaimed. “Exactly!”

“Oh God,” I mumbled.

Celia gasped. “Don’t tell me you know what he’s talking about.” She wrapped her arms around Cam’s body, shielding him from me.

I felt the blood drain from my face. I backed toward the door, afraid to admit I did know exactly what he was talking about.

“It’s her,” I breathed. I glanced at Sully, my face filled with fear. “She healed Cam, knowing that would make me indebted to her, that I’d have to seek her out. It was her way to guarantee I’d find her to complete my training.”

“What are you talking about?” Celia asked, panicked. “Who is she?”

“Cam’s fine now,” Sully told me, reassuringly. “You don’t have anything to worry about.”

“No,” I shook my head, resolute. “I have to go. I’m supposed to find her.”

Micah shifted uncomfortably in his chair, but remained awkwardly mute. Celia opened her mouth to speak, but shut it again, afraid to delay my departure.

Only Cam bothered to wave. “Bye, Jordan, I’ll miss you,” he chirped from behind the shelter of his mother’s arms.

I wished Celia realized I’d never intentionally harm someone as sweet and innocent as Cam, especially when he reminded me so much of Sarah…before I lost her forever. I braved a smile, wishing I could hug him good-bye. But I wouldn’t have that chance, reminding me I never got to say good-bye to Sarah, either.

“See you,” I managed, my voice choking on each word. I turned on my heels and closed the door behind me with a note of finality.