In My Blood

Episode 5 - Reconciliation

   I regretted letting those words slip out of my mouth that night, but at the same time, I didn't. Dad's face had turned red and splotchy within a matter of seconds, and he quickly excused himself and left the cabin. I was so shocked at his reaction that I didn't even bother to think about how he didn't deny my statement.

A statement that would soon lead me to learn about the numerous lies I had been told about who I was.

I left early before he and Eleven woke up, my mind jumbled with all I had seen the night prior. Steve was a mess, Billy was living in one, and the woman who I knew to be my mother had left me no clues except the necklace I wore every waking moment. To make matters worse, I had two cheerleaders who I had ditched at a party to deal with.

"I mean, I just assumed you had gotten sick or something," Diana confessed as we walked through the hallway. We had about fifteen minutes until the first bell rang, and students were already cramming the small passageways. "Everything kind of went blurry after we got there. Granted, I had my own fun experiences last night, but Charity was furious to find out you and Hargrove got to do it."

"What? No, ew," I scoffed, pulling down my cheer skirt as it started to ride up my thighs. "Where did you get that idea?"

"Um, from everyone who's come up to me asking how you achieved what they all wanted!" my friend laughed, but it gave me a sinking feeling in my gut. Diana noticed my expression and dropped it. "Shit, you really didn't. Oh, 'Chelly, I had no idea... I don't even know who-"

"I think I do," I huffed, grabbing her hand and pulling her along with me to a locker I had hung out by a year ago, not seeing the girl slowly pale the longer I kept contact with her. Sure enough, the same jackass was standing a few feet away from it with guys I had never met, chuckling to himself when he saw the two of us approaching them.

"Well, hello, ladies," Tommy smirked, his eyes scanning over me as if I had been cornered. I felt nothing of the sort; I felt the urge to break one of his fingers. He clucked his tongue amusedly. "Have fun last night, Rachel?"

"Apparently so," I replied in a fake sweet voice. His friends chuckled. Letting go of Diana's hand, I trailed mine across Tommy's arm and to his shoulder. I lifted my chin a few centimeters, feeling my powers slowly cut off his air."Apparently, you decide what I do in my free time, right?"

"Uh..." he stammered, and I could almost hear his heartbeat accelerate. He was afraid of me, and considering how I could still feel El's powers lingering in me, he had every right. "I mean..."

"I just can't wait to talk to Billy about this," I continued with a smile, batting my eyelashes at the boy. From his expression, I knew it wasn't reaching my eyes, and I let him take in my glare. "Does he know yet? He was late to first period yesterday; I know because he turned out to be in my class. I'd assume he'd do the same today... and Billy seems to get angry pretty fast." Tommy's lips were turning blue, and I removed my hand from his body and allowed him to gasp for air.