Fate's Exchange (Twisted Fate, Book 1)

Chapter Nine

ALYSSA

The only plan I came up with over the weekend was to avoid everything that had led to the events of my death.

At least, that was my strategy. Without knowing the reason why I was sent back or what I was expected to change, the only thing I could do over the weekend was to talk myself into not asking my parents to have me committed. If the voice was more explicit, maybe I could just do as it said and forget the rest, but no. Everything I saw and heard reminded me that my life was set on repeat.

I walked into the gray halls of school Monday morning, tired and on edge like someone was watching me, knowing I could change everything. Why wouldn't I want to turn the week from hell into the best of my life? I didn't even have to do anything but avoid what I had done before. It was a solid goal, in my opinion.

Pausing as I reached my locker, I smiled and waved at Suzie, who glared in return as she lounged against her locker at the far end of the hallway, basking in the glow of being the center of her friends' attention. It's amazing what a decent herkie and a little flexibility can reward you with, though the girl could yell—we'd screamed at each other all the time over the years.

She was my best friend before Tina transferred to Royal Academy. An old tale turned sour: Suzie and I were best friends, attached at the hip since kindergarten. Then, one day, she joined the cheerleading squad and realized what it's like to be popular. When she was appointed captain, we didn't talk, and it was like I no longer existed. That was hard, but the day after, I Tina and I became friends. So really, it was like Suzie did me a favor.

That's what I tell myself to feel better, but really? I miss how it used to be.

"Hey, Aly," Tina called, her voice echoing through the hall from the main door where her mom drops her off—a one-way arrangement since it was on Mrs. Amorfati's way to work. Her feet squeaked against the floor as she ran towards me. "What was up with you Friday night and oh, I don't know, all weekend?"

My gaze turned slowly away from Suzie as Tina wiggled in beside me at my locker, shoving the gangly freshman to my right out of her way. He cast an angry glance back at her before shaking his mop of red hair and ambling down the hall for his first class of the day. How was it possible she avoided trouble she couldn't haggle her way out of? Did she even consider others?

"Are you still grounded?" She turned, resting her back against the locker, and crossed her arms so that she could watch everyone as they passed while we talked. Looking at me for a moment out of the corner of her eyes, she said, "You better be since you didn't call—and please note how I say this for the second time—all freaking weekend!"

"I was tired after arguing with my parents." Shrugging, I managed to dodge her fist as she reached out to thump me in the arm. "I'm still grounded, and my dad was home all weekend, so no, I'm sorry, but I couldn't call you." I looked up and tried to counter my tone with a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry."

"Seriously? Didn't you tell them why you cut class?" she asked, turning to wave at another student who called out her name.

Darcy? Debbie? I didn't know the girl she was waving to, but I thought her name started with a D. Tina was the social one, though I could never go as far as calling her popular. That would include parties and, more likely than not, boys. I was still waiting for the day she told me boys stopped being 'ew', or she liked girls. Either way was cool.

"It won't help, Tina. My dad is pissed."

"You didn't at least try?" Her voice raised into a squeal and I had to grit my teeth together in an effort not to try silence her. It was so close to how Sarah, the frail girl from Elixir, had sounded, and I didn't need the reminder.