Close to the Covert Rains **Book One**

Chapter 9 (Wednesday)

"La-dee-dah-dee-dah-dee-ah-laaaaa!"

"Will you shut it!"

The music stopped. "No thank you, I will not, you ding dong! LAAAAAA--"

skreaech.

Kwayo winced, covering his head with his pillow.

"Hey! You better fix that!"

Why? It wasn't even seven o'clock yet. Kwayo groaned and rolled over.

Then his eyes popped open and he grinned. He crawled out of bed and crossed the hall, knocking quietly on Verspri's door. "Go away!" Verspri shouted, and something thumped against the wood.

"Wait, Verspri, I have an idea."

Shuffling footsteps, then the door opened. Verspri's madly tousled hair and wrinkled pjs made Kwayo take a step back. "What's your brilliant idea?" Verspri grumbled, eyes red.

Another loud screech came from next door, and Kwayo winced again. "It's my concussion, see. Loud noises are giving me this pounding headache." Another loud screech, and his head literally throbbed--he was not kidding.

Verspri blinked a few times. "I don't--" he paused. "Ooooh," his eyes flickered. "You better go lie down, Mr. Concussed," he darted outside, and Kwayo returned to his room, sinking into bed.

The noises next door stopped almost immediately, and Verspri returned, peering into Kwayo's room. "Are you sure you can't have a concussion more often? Everyone might get to sleep a bit longer."

Kwayo rolled onto his back, the mattress springs squeaking. "No thanks. The medics said I have to stay here all day, lying in the dark. Tomorrow, too," he glanced over at Verspri. "Do you have any idea how boring that's going to be? Technically, I'm not even supposed to be talking this long."

"Oh," he frowned. "At least you don't have to do homework, right?"

Kwayo sighed. "Yeah, until I get better. Then I'll have twice as much to do."

"Well, good...um, morning, I guess. Should we bring breakfast for you before we leave?"

"Sure. Thanks Verspri," Kwayo closed his eyes, trying to fall asleep again.

***

Kwayo wished he had a book. Even though he didn't like reading. At least reading was better than staring blankly at the ceiling for hours on end. Teremki had brought him a sandwich...how long ago now? An hour? Less than that?

Kwayo closed his eyes, even though all he'd done today was sleep. Did the healers say he wasn't allowed to shapeshift? He considered becoming a red-tailed hawk, but his head pounded at the prospect.

He sighed. What was everyone else doing right now? They were in sixth period, so Verspri had...mechanics? And Teremki probably had some silly art class. Kwayo would be in sixth grade science right now, with Dryda and Razón. Would they bring him the homework today?

What about his family? His mom and older brother lived in Arizona. He'd visited during the summer, but they still looked at him strangely, especially when he mentioned his powers. He hadn't dared actually shapeshift in front of them. He'd only done that once, and within the week they'd gratefully shipped him off to this school. He still remembered his mom's stony face, watching him climb into the black car from the kitchen window.

A tear unexpectedly slipped down his cheek. He rolled onto his side. Did concussions make you weirdly emotional or something? Because that hadn't felt normal. He hardly ever thought about his family, much less cried about them.

The apartment door squeaked open. "Hi, Kwayo!" Teremki walked into the bedroom with a cupcake. "I figured you'd need this soon. It's triple chocolate, by the way."

Kwayo knit his eyebrows together. "Oookaay?" he held out a hand anyway. "Does that mean don't eat it?"

Teremki shrugged. "I don't know what that means. You want to go lay on the couch? You might not be as bored when we're here."

The apartment door opened again. Kwayo expected Verspri to walk in from his final class, but instead Kami entered his room. Kwayo's jaw dropped, and Teremki just smiled wanly. "Bye, guys."

Teremki silently slid into the hall. Kami stared after him, her fingers twitching. What spirit-matter-stuff was around them to make that happen?

"Um," Kwayo said.

She jolted and turned to him, hand going to the doorway. "Uh," her dark eyebrows rose. "I see you're prepared. What flavor is it?"

Kwayo blinked, then looked down at his hand. "Oh. It's triple chocolate. You're welcome." He tried sitting up, but Kami rushed forward.

"Oh, you don't--I mean, with your concussion..." she hesitantly took the cupcake from his hand. "Thanks. And, um, I just was going to say that you'd be good with Ella," she looked away.

Kwayo's head pounded. Why was she saying that?

Kami twisted the cupcake in her hands. "Thanks. For this. Yeah...see you later. I hope you get better."

"Bye Kami."

"Bye Kwayo."