Gifted | Sleepy Bois Inc

Chapter Twelve

I couldn't take my mind off of Smiley as I walked towards school the next morning. I was even more distracted than usual, which was saying something.

If I could tell Wilbur what I knew, I was sure that he would be able to figure out everything in no time at all. But that was what I was scared about. If he figured it all out and then decided to go all hero-mode on him, then he'd probably take a page out of my own book and not tell me. Worst-case scenario, he might even act himself.

I gritted my teeth and sighed irritably. Why does everyone in my life have to be so heroic?

My house was pretty far from the college, which meant a long walk for me. Not that I minded. Nightmares had woken me up again and disrupted my sleep like the annoyances that they were. I really didn't understand why their frequency had been ramped up so much.

Usually I got Philza to drive me, but he had left for work before I could ask. Besides, he seemed stressed. I didn't want him on the road for longer than he had to be.

The ground had dried up remarkably since last night's rainfall. The trees on the side of the pavement were beginning to blossom, finally shaking off the cold weather. I was happy to see the small green buds. At least something was still alive and well in the world.

I flipped up the hood of my sweater and tucked my hands into the pockets of the hoodie. My glasses slipped down my nose. I freed a hand and pushed them back up. They were old glasses of Wilbur's, back from when he needed them for looking at computer screens. Now I needed them. College did sad things to one's eyesight.

A scuffling sound made me look up, glancing around warily. An alley cat slinked out from behind a pyramid of garbage cans piled beside the wall, giving me a long look. I blinked at it. It stared back.

It's just a cat. Stop being so skittish.

I crouched down. The cat padded over to me, but it stayed a distance like any smart animal would do. It was a pretty enough cat for one that lived on the streets, with dark brown fur interlaced with blond. I had never seen a cat with brown eyes before, but this cat proved me wrong.

My reaction to the cat just showed me how shaken I was. Anyone could randomly jump me at any time. My marks weren't covered, either. If Smiley decided to pass by, I'd be dead.

What does he have against Gifted?

"Sorry, cat," I murmured quietly under my breath. The cat perked up. It looked like it was trying to frown at me.

I shrugged it off and stood up, continuing on my way towards the college building. When I glanced back, the cat was gone.

***

"You look tired," Tommy noted as he grabbed his textbooks from his locker.

"Oh, really."

"Mhm," Tommy said with a nod, completely oblivious to my sarcasm. "Looks like you need more sleep. That would probably be good for you."

"Gee, alright, I'll try."

Tommy glanced over at me, before looking over and around us. "Uh... stay aware of Haden, okay, big man? I heard that he's been more moody lately. Might have something to do with all the deaths on the news."

Of course. Because Haden was a Gifted too, which meant that he could very well be on Smiley's hit-list as well. If I were him, I'd be on guard as well.

In fact, I already was on guard, especially after my last encounter with the killer. I never thought I'd say it, but I actually might've felt bad for Haden.