Impossible Things by Robin Stevenson Page B

head slowly. “What is Tyler’s problem?”
    Ben shrugged. “He says I talk like a freak.”
    â€œJust because you use words of more than one syllable,” said Sydney indignantly. “Tyler is an imbecile. He doesn’t know what Ben means half the time, and it makes him mad.”
    I looked at Victoria and Felicia. “What should we do? Mom’s not picking us up for another hour.”
    Victoria didn’t answer. She met my eyes, frowning; then she quickly looked away.
    I caught my breath. “Can you guys excuse us a moment?” I grabbed her arm and pulled her aside. “So?”
    She shook her head and spoke in an urgent whisper. “No, I know what you’re going to say and the answer’s no. I want to, I really do, but I can’t. I—”
    â€œPromised your mom,” I finished. “I know, but Victoria, this is really serious. I mean, a kid drowned in that creek a few years ago. We can’t let Tyler get away with this.”
    â€œI’m not saying we should let him get away with it.”
    â€œWhat then?”
    She shook her head. “I don’t know.”
    I stared at the ground. I didn’t want to fight with her again, but I couldn’t help being angry. What was the use of having this incredible power if she wouldn’t use it? “What if Ben had fallen in?” I asked. “Would you have used your power to get him out or would you just let him drown?”
    My words came out sounding harsher than I meant them to. Victoria’s cheeks flushed as pink as if I’d slapped her. She was quiet for a moment. “I’d have jumped in myself if I had to,” she said. Her voice was so sad I could hardly stand it.
    It didn’t make any sense, but I could have sworn she looked ashamed. “Victoria…”
    â€œIf it wasn’t for me, Rick wouldn’t have gone to jail and my parents wouldn’t always be fighting.” Her voice broke. “You think it’s so great being telekinetic? You don’t understand anything.”

Nineteen
    Sydney was watching us impatiently. “Look, I’m sorry to interrupt but…”
    I turned back to her. “We’re trying to figure out what to do, okay? If Victoria would help…”
    â€œShe can’t,” Sydney said flatly.
    â€œWhat do you mean, she can’t?”
    Sydney gave me an exasperated look. “I mean, if you guys just fix things for Ben today, it won’t change anything. It’ll just be the same tomorrow, and you can’t always be there.”
    I folded my arms across my chest. “So, what are you suggesting, Sydney? We all give up and go home?”
    â€œMaybe we should,” Ben said. He sounded defeated. “Maybe we should find someone who has a cell phone and call Mom.”
    Sydney stamped her foot. “Ben, don’t be a wimp.”
    I scowled at her. “I thought you were his friend.”
    â€œI am,” she said. “And if you really want to help him, you have to help him figure out how to do this on his own.”
    For a skinny little kid, she sure had a lot of opinions. There was a long silence. Felicia and Victoria both stared at Sydney; then slowly they both turned and looked at me.
    Finally Felicia spoke. “It’s not like we don’t have some experience with bullies,” she pointed out. “Um, Ben? I don’t know if you already know this, but I’ve been picked on a fair bit by Tyler’s sister, Amber.”
    â€œWe all have,” I said. “We all know what it’s like.”
    â€œShe doesn’t threaten to beat you up,” Ben pointed out.
    I nodded. “True. But you know what? You have to make Tyler think he doesn’t scare you.”
    â€œBut he does scare me,” Ben said. “I’d be an idiot not to be scared of him. He’s twice my size, and he likes to hit people.”
    â€œBen’s got a point,”