Heather 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

For days I kept staring out the windows, hoping Brent would come back, but he never did. I guessed he didn’t really have any reason to come back. That didn’t stop me from wanting it. I was curious about him and needed to figure out why I was so drawn to him.

Hours filled with unpacking endless boxes went by, and I started to wonder if what I’d seen, what I’d felt, had been a figment of my imagination.

For a girl who was used to seeing things that weren’t there, it wasn’t completely out of the realm of the possible. But it’d be a damn shame. Just the thought of seeing Brent again had my palms sweating and I kind of liked it.

But Brent wasn’t the only thing on my mind. The house was a minefield of visions. Sometimes they were normal, everyday stuff—people laughing, fighting, getting ready for work.

Then I’d touch something and rage would fill my body. My blood would boil and an animalistic urge to destroy things would consume me, but I wouldn’t exactly see anything. It was all emotions, which I was adding to the weird and new category.

So far, Texas was turning out to be pretty interesting.

By the end of the weekend, the house was mostly in order—all the essentials in the right spots even if they weren’t totally organized—so I started attacking the boxes in my room. I dusted my books off, placing each one—sorted alphabetically and by genre—on the shelves Dad installed.

What some people might call "anal," I’d call efficient. What good was it to have a book if you couldn’t find it when you wanted it?

When I was done, I sat on the bed and stared at my collection. West and Dad were arguing over what station to stream music from. Dad wanted classic rock and West wanted hip-hop. Dad informed West that there were no "thugs" in the house.

I was laughing at their verbal sparring when Mom came into my room holding a stack of clean towels.

She pointed at my gloveless hands. "How’s it going in here?"

"Fine." I waved toward my books. "Got them unpacked."

She set the pile down on my bed. "What about the rest? The house giving you any trouble?"

I shrugged. "Define trouble."

"Anything you need to talk about?"

"Nah. I think I’ve got it covered. But thanks for the offer."

She settled down next to me. "You okay? Your brother’s leaving in a week and half, we’re living in a different state, and your new school starts tomorrow. It’d be totally cool to admit you’re nervous."

"Have you met me? This whole no-brother, new school combo is going to rock."

Mom gave me her patented I’m-not-buying-the-line-of-crap-you’re-selling look.

"West leaving is gonna suck."

She kept silent as she stared at me.

"Okay, so I’m nervous about next week. I’m a freak, but I’m also human. Who wouldn’t be?"

"That’s what I thought."

"I don’t know why admitting it was helpful. It didn’t do me any good."

"Well, it made me feel better."

I laughed.

"Kidding. But admitting your nerves is the first step to getting over them." She smiled. "And you’re not a freak. You’re gifted."

"There’s a difference?"

Her smile turned into a full-on grin. "I’ll admit. It’s slight, but there is a difference." She put her arm around my shoulders, and I leaned into her. "You’re going to do great. People here are nice, more down to earth."

"So you’ve said." But I wasn’t holding my breath.

I was a freak to the core, and even if the people were "down to earth," chances were they wouldn’t be down with me.

"And now your cousins are only an hour away. Once we get more settled, we’ll have them over for dinner. They’ll understand you, even if the other kids don’t."

She had me there. If they were "gifted" too, then maybe I could finally figure out how to have a normal life. "Sounds like a solid plan."

"Have you eaten anything?"

I thought for a second. "Zone Bar?" I might have forgotten to eat again. When an organizational task was put in front of me, I was a girl on a mission. Puny matters like eating faded away.

"A woman cannot live on Zone Bars alone." She gave me another squeeze before getting up. "Don’t worry so much. It’s all going to work out. Your dad and I are leaving for dinner. Date night, remember?"

I nodded. Every Sunday, rain or shine, Mom and Dad had a date. It was cute. I kind of envied them, but I had time to figure the whole boyfriend thing out. One day I’d find a way to be a regular girl with a totally awesome guy by my side.

Okay, so I’d take an average one. I’d even settle for a mediocre one at this point. The blame wasn’t on them; it was totally me. No one needed to be inside the head of a teenage boy when you’re the object of their thoughts.

Because seriously, eew. Which defeated the purpose entirely.

"There are frozen pizzas in the freezer, and we’ll leave money in case you and your brother want to go somewhere. Eat. It’s an order."

"Got it. Starvation-chic is not my look." I grabbed an old Nora Roberts book and settled down in my window bench to escape for a bit. The predictability of her books drew me in quickly. There was nothing more certain in life than the ending of a good romance novel.

A few Chapters in, Mom yelled that they were leaving. I watched them get into the car and disappear around the curve in the road.