Burned

Chapter Seventeen

The next day, I almost didn't get up. My bones felt hollow while my chest felt like it was filled with concrete. It was debilitating. I didn't want to ever move again. Daniel had--

I couldn't even finish the thought.

I was still in my bed when Dara knocked on the door. She didn't wait for me to answer, she pushed open the door. She was dressed and ready to go.

"Uh, are you sick?" She asked, plopping down on the edge of my bed.

"Maybe," I muttered under my breath.

"What's wrong?" I almost told her.

I didn't. I didn't want to tell anyone. I was beyond angry but more than that I was embarrassed. The rug had once again been pulled from out from under me. It was like when Levi announced he was a Demon. Everyone acted like I should have somehow known. As if, because I spent time with him I knew him. Somehow, I had found myself in the same position.

This time, it was worse. I thought Daniel was my soul mate, but apparently, I'm a psychic Witch with no intuition.

"Nothing, I'll be down in five," I told her as I pushed the covers off. I had no time, but a shower was necessary.

I lied -- I took a ten-minute shower. I needed to wash everything about yesterday's conversation with Daniel off. It still felt so unreal, but I knew better. Of course, this was my life. Once I was out of the shower, I pulled on some elastic leggings and a random t-shirt, then left. I was out of time. Thankfully, Dara didn't comment on my tardiness. I really didn't have it in me to lie to her if she asked me what was up.

Today was going to be interesting. Then again, that was every day for me.

Things were actually going fairly smooth, until English class. I couldn't exactly avoid Daniel if I sat in the same spot. But, if I sat somewhere else people would notice and the rumors would start flying from there. By lunchtime, everyone would know. I had to ask myself what mattered more? As I walked through the threshold, I still hadn't made a decision.

Daniel looked up when I came into the room. He waved me over. My throat closed up and I had flashes of our conversation. I stared at the floor and took the closest empty spot to the door. I kept my head down and didn't say anything for the whole class period. I never even took my messenger bag off my shoulder. When my second class ended I was the first person out of the classroom.

I didn't care about rumors. My friends knew better than to believe them. History was going to be hard since we all had the same class. Maybe I could fake cramps and get out of class. Sighing, I trudged to my next class. At least, it was with Addie.

"Hey Corn, can I copy your homework?" Addie asked as I sat next to her. Part of me panicked because I hadn't done it.

"I would, but I didn't do it either." I had been a little preoccupied with finding out my boyfriend was more of a monster than I realized. I shivered.

"Okay, I'll ask Jeff." She rose from the chair and walked over to the guys at the next table over. I grabbed my notebook while she was gone. As I did this, I twisted in my seat. I sat in the row closest to the door. The door had a window that looked into the hallway. I almost didn't see him, but when I did my breath stopped.

It was Daniel, looking into the classroom. He mouthed something that looked like, "Can we talk?" I shook my head and turned back around. I was ignoring him. I couldn't do this here -- ironically, that was what he had been telling me yesterday.

"Don't worry, I got all of the answers." Addie joked, finally coming back.

"Awesome," I tried to act normal. It took me ten minutes before I looked over my shoulder to see if Daniel was still there. He had left. I finally relaxed. I didn't want to admit how much I was scared of Daniel, but I was. He wasn't the person I thought he was. It was always devastating to break up with someone, especially if you loved them. I didn't even know what word to use when I tried to explain what if felt like hearing about Daniel biting girls.