The Deltas

Chapter 4

   My eyes fluttered open, as if the universe wanted me to wake up and face the truth. I got out of bed and went to the bathroom. I turned on the faucet and splashed cold water onto my face. Once. Twice. Three times. Nothing. I was still in this backwards world. I stepped out of the restroom and into the living room, my dad was sweeping the remains of the remote into the dustpan.

   I went downstairs into the kitchen. Brianna was already there, chowing down on a waffle. She looked at me and gestured to the counter where a plate of waffles, eggs, and bacon was waiting for me. I immediately got to it and ate it in what seemed like one giant gulp. I felt like I hadn't eaten in ages. 

   I started thinking about what happened. I hadn't even talked to my parents! Well they obviously knew I was alive, but still. They must have been horrified. I also started to think about my friends. Were they okay? What happened to the little girl Andy was carrying? I had so many other questions. Would I be allowed to go back to school? Who targeted the school and why? Who were those four casualties? And was anyone els experiencing what I was?

   I was munching on a piece of crunchy bacon when my mom came in, she looked like she hadn't gotten much sleep. Well I hadn't either but at least I had an excuse. 

   "Riley, Brianna. Are you okay?" She asked. I wanted to scream "NO, OF COURSE I'M NOT OKAY! I JUST EXPERIENCED A SCHOOL BOMBING AND ON TOP OF THAT, THINGS I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN HAVE BEEN HAPPENING!" But instead I simply said:

   "Yeah, why wouldn't we be?" 

   "Well I haven't talked to either of you since it happened. I was at work but luckily your father was able to pick you up from school. And I've been reading online, and kids who experience a traumatic event usually display all sorts of  side effects like depression, tiredness, anger issues, and more."

   "I don't feel sad or angry, but I am kind of tired." I said, hoping it would assure her that I was fine, but I clearly wasn't.

   "Wow, Riley. You're so much tougher than I thought! In fact, I could've sworn that you went into the living room last night and threw the remote at the ceiling. Could that possibly be a side effect?" She said sarcastically just to spite me.

   "No Brianna, that's not what happened at all. I simply turned on the TV and then...I um...sneezed."   

   "Well how's your head? The paramedic said you hit your head on a firetruck. You had no internal brain injuries but you still might have a bruise or something." She said, coming over to me.

   "Mom I'm fine. I promise." I said, avoiding her.

   "Well that's good to hear. Now go put you clothes on. For the time being, I set you up a session with a local tutor until you, and all the other students are allowed to go back to school."

   "Fine." I said walking back to my room.

   I got to my closet and looked around for something "school appropriate" until I found a plain blue t-shirt and slipped it on. I went back downstairs and Mom and Brianna were already in the car waiting for me. I ran out, locking the door behind me and got in. Mom set up the GPS and we took off for "Joshie Training Academy."