Gifted

Chapter Twenty-Four

I let myself sleep in on Monday. No school for me. My knee was huge, purple, stiff and of course, painful. I concentrated on it as hard as I could and didn't stop until I felt the tingles fade. My knee felt warm and comforted. The pressure seemed to ease, and it wasn't nearly as swollen. It still ached and was an unrecognizable palette of blues, purples, and reds. In some spots, it was already the yellow of a fading bruise. I hobbled to the bathroom and took a long hot relaxing shower.

I spent most of the morning downloading new music and just being lazy. I went to the cafeteria after lunch was over so I could fill up on a late lunch. I grabbed something to go for dinner. With my knee so sore and stiff it took me a while to limp there and back. By the time I got back I heard my phone ringing inside. I fumbled to put my key in the lock and get the door open. Tossing my food on the desk I grabbed for my phone and answered.

I heard Chase's voice on the other end. "Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah, I was just coming back from the cafeteria. I didn't want to explain my knee to everyone," I explained.

"I just wanted to see how it was," he said.

"Much better," I told him. "I heal quickly," I joked.

"Yeah, but last night you said you couldn't."

"I think I was just too tired. I didn't have a problem this morning."

"Do you mind if I come over?" he asked.

I hesitated a moment remembering the feelings I had last night and how easy it was for me to pretend that he felt the same.

"Chase I don't know if that's a good idea," I said. And convinced myself it had nothing to do with my latest nightmare.

"Morgan," he said exasperated. "We're going to have to be around each other."

"Yeah, I know," I said slowly thinking of Mr. Dawson's request to have Chase teach me more about being Gifted.

"I'll be right over." I could imagine he was rolling his eyes at me.

I unlocked the window and flopped on the bed. Was it such a bad idea that the Council was trying to fix us up? No, what was bad; I reminded myself, was that Chase lied and led me on. Did I really want to waste time with someone who didn't respect me enough to tell me the truth and let me make my own decision?

Chase was standing in my room in no time.

I sat up and looked at him. "What's up?"

He didn't answer, just walked over and sat on the bed next to me. "I wanted to see how your knee was for myself," he said. Something in his face told me he was lying; there was more to it than that. However, I humored him and rolled my pant leg up. He gently touched the bruise and ran his hand over my knee. I ignored the butterflies and waited for him to tell me what he was hiding. I searched his face while he kept his eyes on my knee. The baby blue t-shirt he wore made his eyes stand out even more. I felt like he could see right through me.