Out of Breath

Chapter 21

Raven and I miss school on Monday and Tuesday. We just don't have what it takes to go back. We have been through too much. Life will never be the same.

I don't tell Raven about Desdemona. I can't. I can't even utter the words that he is not my brother.

I had tried twice to get Raven to drink the tea, but he spits it out after the first swallow. I only have enough tea for one or two more tries.

Ma said we could have the whole week off, but Terry can't handle us anymore, so we are forced to go to school on Wednesday.

...

On my school's website, I see I have all A's so far. It is amazing how one's grades will improve when they can stop time.

First period dragged by slowly. Second period I am a ball of nerves. Desdemona said Klabin was sent back to Ireland, but what if he has returned. I must check on Raven.

Raven should be safe. We are only fifteen miles away from school, so Klabin wouldn't be able to find him, plus we both have our bracelets on, but I still must go to his class and see for myself. I get permission for the hall pass. When I get to his class, I look in and see him in the back corner of the room. The kids are paired up in some kind of group assignment, but no one has included Raven. The teachers have given up trying with him. My heart hurts for my brother. Well, my adopted brother.

As I walk back to class, I see her.

Clairlion.

She walks toward me. I can't handle anything she has to give. I almost stop time and run off, but then I am curious. Curious to see if she knows it was me who broke into her home. Since we are the only ones in the hall, I decide to walk by her.

Clairlion stands in front of me and blocks my way. "I know you stole my jewels." My heart jitters. She shoves her thin body into mine.

She knows.

Have they found any video evidence for this?

"What are you talking about?" My voice sounds fake.

"My Bvlgari jewels. You stole them from me."

"I don't even know where you live."

"Everyone knows where I live." She is right on that. Her family is one of the richest in the state.

"Well, I don't."

"I will prosecute you."

"You have no evidence, so good luck." I bluff. She might have evidence.

"So, is that you confessing?" Phew. Since she doesn't mention any video surveillance, maybe they have nothing.

"No. I just know I didn't do it, so you would have no evidence."

"Well, you will be happy to learn this is my last day in this miserable swampy school. I won't ever have to associate with swamp scum again. Daddy is getting me a private tutor. I don't know why they ever sent me to such a scummy school in the first place. He wanted me to learn something from this experience. Oh, I did. I learned that poor people are horrible. I will never associate or have compassion for your type. Never!"

"So, I won!" I am elated! School without Clairlion sounds like heaven.

"No. I did. You are stuck at this hole-in-the-rock-school, while I will get top of the line education. You might have stolen my jewelry and bought yourself a good time with it, but that good time ends, while my amazing life will go on forever. Grandpappy will just buy me more jewels, and the insurance is already working on our claim. So, if you thought you hurt me, you are wrong. Meanwhile, you will always be a poor swamp rat, and I will always bathe in the lap of luxury. So, I won, Tesla. I won the day I was born."