POISONED BLOOD

Chapter 12

 In the last few months of our relationship, he started to get bothered by saying I love you so much and after a while I quit saying it. My mind is lost to the memories and present feelings as I head for the kitchen and those mouth watering tacos. Maybe, they can get me out of it.

"What was that all about?" Grandma asks as I pull down a plate from the cabinet, like she doesn't know. I hold up the ring with my other hand and slide it onto the counter, silently saying I don't want it in my room or on my body. She looks at it and the sympathy on her small face is hard to take in right now. I stuff the taco shell with seasoned hamburger meat and sit down at the table, chowing down so I don't have to talk, yet. She narrows her eyes at me, but gathers her supper and joins me just as Grandpa walks in with a huge grin on his mouth.

"Supper's ready." Grandma and I inform him together. His smile gets wider if that's possible. I eye him suspiciously and he laughs loudly.

"What?" His dirty blonde hair that we share is sticking out from under his green John Deer hat and that combined with the silly excited expression on his face, it makes my mood lighter.

"Oh, nothing. You just walked in like you're about to open Christmas presents." He lets out a grunt of laughter and sits his lunch box on the table. My eyes brighten at the Mountain Dew he places next to my plate. I open it and guzzle down nearly half of it. Oh, mmmm if I was Christian I would say it tastes like Heaven!

"Slow down girl, ain't nobody gon' take it from ya." Grandma says, probably thinking of my lack of ladylike behavior.

"I know. I'm just so thirsty. So, Grandpa why are you so happy?" He's at the oven top, filling his plate and he grins when he turns around. My curiosity is driving me nuts!

"When you're done, go look in the back of my work truck." He says this and nothing more. I eat the rest of my taco in two bites and choke it down with the sweet drink. I'm out the door before they can object. I hear yipping and start running. Past the concrete drive, I reach the truck and climb up and I'm met face to face with the world's cutest puppy! I laugh and sit down in the truck bed with the baby and pull him into my arms. He, actually she, excuse me starts licking my face all over and I'm giggling so much my stomach hurts. I'm pretty much positive it's a husky, long white hair everywhere except her ears and around one eye is black. Her eyes are a sky blue and I kiss her head. She's a beauty and I stop and decide that's her name. Beauty. She lays down in my lap and whimpers. My heart races in alarm for the little girl who's already stolen my heart, but I don't mind her stealing it because dogs are so much kinder than humans are. I think she misses her family... if she had one. She may be from the Pound. I love her anyway!

Beauty sleeps in my room and the next morning I wake up from a dreamless sleep to her licking my face all over. Giggling I roll away and cover my face with a pillow; she starts barking so I grab her and take her out, staring around at the early morning darkness. I feel like there's someone or something watching me; I just don't know where they are. Chills make me shiver and the way Beauty runs between my feet with her tail down has me plucking her up and high-tailing my butt inside! Letting her down, I fill a bowl with a bit of leftovers because we don't have dog food and give her some water. I make myself a bowl of fruity pebbles and stare at the window in front of me. It doesn't have a blind, so I see a huge black rectangle with my reflection. It doesn't take much for me to move to the couch to eat. Grandma must have already left. It's about five-thirty, so yeah, she's gone. Grandpa won't be up until around six, which means I won't get in trouble for eating on the couch. I speed-eat and head to my room to get ready for school. I walk by my mirror and pull out my favorite pair of jeans, along with a long-sleeved t-shirt. Once, I'm dressed, I turn my mirror around from the wall and do my hair and makeup, thinking about the coming day. Will Grey and I talk? What about Eddy? Damn.

"Laney! You up?" Grandpa knocks on my door.

"I'm almost ready." I assure him and he walks off towards the living room. Daylight is shining faintly through my blinds.

After getting ready, I go sit on the porch, contemplating what I will do to avoid any socialization with Eddy and more with Grey. Why with Grey? This is looking like a thrilling day. I groan as I see the bus heading towards my house from the left side of our road. Bryant isn't waving his arms around, so I'm guessing he's either asleep or not on today, probably the latter. I'm right. Since he isn't on, I sit all the way in the back and snuggle up to the wall hoping she doesn't hit too many bumps. Our bus driver is known for her terrible driving.

"Ow." Propping my head on my book bag, I try to sleep. It's not possible with all the banging around and little kids hollering. I don't understand how they have so much energy this early. A few more stops and we pull into the high school bus stop. Finally. Hurrying to escape the bus, I'm not paying attention when someone puts their foot out in front of me. I catch myself luckily on the seat in front of them and keep walking, not bothering to see who tried to trip me. It doesn't matter. I'm through with the bullying; no one is turning me back into the emo chick everyone is more than happy to pick on.

"See ya, witch." My breath catches. Biting my tongue, I hop off and head for the doors. The floor is slick. I take my time walking to mine, Daisy, Bryant, and rarely others' table near the right corner of the room. They don't let us go into the gym till around seven-thirty.

"Hey." Daisy greets me, looking as tired as I feel. I wonder how much sleep she got. We both have pretty messed up families; that helps us be closer to each other. Understanding is something everyone should attempt to have.

"Morning." She grins at my unenthusiastic reply.

"Not so good, huh?" I shake my head.

"Just a bit creeped out." Her eyes widen.

"Another vision?" I swear Daisy accepts what I am more than anyone, but it still surprises me that she doesn't call them dreams.

"Not exactly. Yesterday, when I got home... There was something or some things there inside the house. It scared me half to death and I saw it or a little of it. Whatever it was got so close to my face, I felt like I was looking through it, as if it was a mirage. I was only able to make it leave by calling on Isis. She answered, thank goodness. I don't know what would have happened if she didn't."

"What the hell? Laney, that's bad." You don't think I know that? My thoughts are rude, but I refuse to talk that way towards her.

"Yeah, I don't know what I'm supposed to do. Maybe, cleanse the house or myself." Her face registers shock.

"Yourself? Why would you do that?" I try to figure out why, but I'm not really sure.

"It's just an idea." Everyone stands up and starts heading out into the hall towards the gym, Daisy and I do the same. My legs lock when I see Grey leaning on the wall by the doors. Oh, Mother Isis. Tell me what to do. A wall appears in front of me and I am utterly confused. He stands on the other side I notice as the bricks become transparent in places. I don't understand. Is she trying to communicate with me? He holds out his hand and I reach for it but even though I see through the barrier my hand can't enter the opening.

"Laney, snap out of it!" My eyes blink rapidly, finally seeing Daisy in front of me instead of a wall. Where is he?

"Uhh.. that was new." She stares at me and I explain.

"I asked Isis to tell me what to do... I think she answered." She told me to stay away. She's warning me. But, Grey..

"Has she ever done that before?"

"Not that I recall." We walk into the gym and climb to the top corner of the ones on the right. She gets her cards out and we play quietly for a while.

"Boo." A male voice whispers near my ear causing goosebumps to rise on my arms. Already, I recognize his voice. Grey. I turn around and he smiles down at me, even crouching on a lower step, his height is much higher than mine. His eyes flip my heart over in somersaults and when he puts his arms around my waist I jump out of my skin and he laughs. Daisy watches my face, a question forming on hers. For a moment I think she'll ask but her lips remain closed. My cheeks flame feeling his chin on my shoulder. Don't allow yourself to be fooled. Is that my mind or her words?