chair and down to the floor. I managed to stay in my seat and ignore everything Claire said for the next hour. I was sure Brecken thought I was a complete idiot. I’d certainly given him reason to.
Concentrating on Brecken’s voice, I tried to focus as he worked the problems, realizing that this math might not be as hard as I’d thought. It was easy for him, and he explained it in tiny words so I could understand it. I didn’t know why he hadn’t taken an AP math class instead. I asked him out of pure curiosity.
“I do take an AP math class.”
He was lying. We had all the same classes.
He laughed at the look on my face, which must have disclosed my doubt. “I take it online. I’m trying to catch up to get where I should be this year. In college. Instead, I’m stuck here repeating my senior year, and I’m not even sure why. Last year wasn’t even that hard.”
My eyebrows rose in surprise. Mostly because he was telling me something personal and he didn’t even know me… or Claire anyway. This was the most he’d said to me since his memory lapse, and I could tell he was confused by it all. I was tempted to explain it to him, but I didn’t want to ruin things so early in the evening.
“Sorry. TMI, I know.”
“It’s okay,” I answered. “I like knowing I’m not the only crazy person in the world.” I laughed, but he threw me a funny expression, cocking his head with a half smile. I let it go, and we got back to work.
It wasn’t until the end of our session that Claire piped up with her condescending tone and said, “I know how to do calculus. You could have just asked me.”
Seriously ?
She couldn’t have mentioned this earlier? Who cared. I wouldn’t trade this time with Brecken for anything, even if he didn’t know who I was. I didn’t make it home until almost six o’clock, and Claire’s mother was furious. I’d never told her I was staying late at school. My phone, or rather, Claire’s phone, had been on silent.
“I’m so sorry, Mom. I totally forgot to call. I’m having trouble in math, so I stayed after for tutoring.”
She looked at me in disbelief, her arms crossed over her ample bosom. “You needed tutoring… in math.”
I nodded.
“How is it possible you needed tutoring when you take advanced calculus?”
Well now . That was a good question. “Advanced calculus?” That was news to me. “What I meant to say was I stayed after to help tutor.” I laughed, flushed with my lie, convinced she could see right through me. “Yeah, my teacher was swamped with students who are struggling.” I could tell she didn’t believe me, but I shut my mouth, knowing if I kept trying to explain, I’d dig my grave even deeper.
“Well, eat your dinner before it gets cold.”
I sat at the table alone and glanced around the kitchen, feeling the heavy weight of loneliness. I missed my family. I missed the noise of my brothers, the loud, bright kitchen in our house, the fun dinners we used to have, and it made me wonder what they were all doing right now.
If only I could get out of this body.
28
~Bas Iblis~
Alisa
It was almost eight o’clock in the evening, and Claire’s parents were in their bedroom watching TV. I was left to do whatever I wanted, so I headed down to the freaky basement alone. Did her parents have any idea what Claire was up to in their deep, dark pit of despair?
Adam had already arrived, and the candles were lit. He faced me when I got to the bottom of the stairs, motioning to some pillows he’d set up for us to sit on. It felt cozy. Almost . If it weren’t for a chill rippling up and down my spine, I would have been excited. Raphael never made me perform rituals or ceremonies like this, but, like Adam had said, they were implementing a new program.
He inhaled a deep breath and smiled at me. He always seemed so confident, but tonight, I got the sense he was nervous too.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
I nodded, and he began to chant. He closed
Concentrating on Brecken’s voice, I tried to focus as he worked the problems, realizing that this math might not be as hard as I’d thought. It was easy for him, and he explained it in tiny words so I could understand it. I didn’t know why he hadn’t taken an AP math class instead. I asked him out of pure curiosity.
“I do take an AP math class.”
He was lying. We had all the same classes.
He laughed at the look on my face, which must have disclosed my doubt. “I take it online. I’m trying to catch up to get where I should be this year. In college. Instead, I’m stuck here repeating my senior year, and I’m not even sure why. Last year wasn’t even that hard.”
My eyebrows rose in surprise. Mostly because he was telling me something personal and he didn’t even know me… or Claire anyway. This was the most he’d said to me since his memory lapse, and I could tell he was confused by it all. I was tempted to explain it to him, but I didn’t want to ruin things so early in the evening.
“Sorry. TMI, I know.”
“It’s okay,” I answered. “I like knowing I’m not the only crazy person in the world.” I laughed, but he threw me a funny expression, cocking his head with a half smile. I let it go, and we got back to work.
It wasn’t until the end of our session that Claire piped up with her condescending tone and said, “I know how to do calculus. You could have just asked me.”
Seriously ?
She couldn’t have mentioned this earlier? Who cared. I wouldn’t trade this time with Brecken for anything, even if he didn’t know who I was. I didn’t make it home until almost six o’clock, and Claire’s mother was furious. I’d never told her I was staying late at school. My phone, or rather, Claire’s phone, had been on silent.
“I’m so sorry, Mom. I totally forgot to call. I’m having trouble in math, so I stayed after for tutoring.”
She looked at me in disbelief, her arms crossed over her ample bosom. “You needed tutoring… in math.”
I nodded.
“How is it possible you needed tutoring when you take advanced calculus?”
Well now . That was a good question. “Advanced calculus?” That was news to me. “What I meant to say was I stayed after to help tutor.” I laughed, flushed with my lie, convinced she could see right through me. “Yeah, my teacher was swamped with students who are struggling.” I could tell she didn’t believe me, but I shut my mouth, knowing if I kept trying to explain, I’d dig my grave even deeper.
“Well, eat your dinner before it gets cold.”
I sat at the table alone and glanced around the kitchen, feeling the heavy weight of loneliness. I missed my family. I missed the noise of my brothers, the loud, bright kitchen in our house, the fun dinners we used to have, and it made me wonder what they were all doing right now.
If only I could get out of this body.
28
~Bas Iblis~
Alisa
It was almost eight o’clock in the evening, and Claire’s parents were in their bedroom watching TV. I was left to do whatever I wanted, so I headed down to the freaky basement alone. Did her parents have any idea what Claire was up to in their deep, dark pit of despair?
Adam had already arrived, and the candles were lit. He faced me when I got to the bottom of the stairs, motioning to some pillows he’d set up for us to sit on. It felt cozy. Almost . If it weren’t for a chill rippling up and down my spine, I would have been excited. Raphael never made me perform rituals or ceremonies like this, but, like Adam had said, they were implementing a new program.
He inhaled a deep breath and smiled at me. He always seemed so confident, but tonight, I got the sense he was nervous too.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
I nodded, and he began to chant. He closed
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