Cursed (23 page)

The girls fell into a single line like they’d practiced. Because she hadn’t yet mastered the first cheer, Adrienne was in charge of starting the music. She fell into the last spot, agitated energy making her bounce in place.

They ran out of the locker room into the auditorium, cheering as they went. Claps, whistles and whoops went up from the packed seating in the gym. The administrator gave up trying to call out the names of the squad and stepped back, clapping with the rest of the students.

Adrienne went to her assigned spot beside the podium to start up the music. The other girls moved into formation. She plugged in Kimmie’s iPod to the speakers and turned to watch.

The first dance went without a hitch, the girls moving in perfect rhythm to the music. Grinning, Adrienne watched, thrilled to be a part of their team. When they finished, more cheering and clapping ensued, until the administrator announced it was time to meet the football team.

Adrienne joined the other girls, who formed two lines on either side of the exit from the boys’ locker room. She smiled at Tara, who was grinning.

“Number three, our All American quarterback, Jayden Washington!” the coach announced.

A roar went up from the student body.

Jayden’s lean, muscular form trotted out. Waving and smiling at the crowd, he winked at her as he passed.

Best day of my life. Ever!

Enamored by Jayden, she barely heard the others being announced. He slapped hands with each member of the team as they reached him, joking and grinning with them.

When the last player was announced, the cheer squad took up their post near the podium. Adrienne wiped her hands on her skirt. She sang in front of a full congregation every Sunday without feeling the nervousness she felt today. She rubbed her throat. It still didn’t feel right, but she was too excited to give it too much thought.

The administrator waved her forward when the crowd had settled. She adjusted the microphone they’d set up for her and waited for his cue.

“Our newest student, Adrienne St. Croix, will be singing our National Anthem,” he said. “Please stand.”

A hush went over the students, and they rose. Adrienne drew a deep breath and rolled her shoulders back. The music started, and she closed her eyes to center herself.

“Ohhh say can you –” She choked then coughed. Adrienne stopped, startled. A ripple of laughter went through the kids. The music continued. She swallowed then picked up the music.

“… what so proudly we –”

She burst into another round of coughs that hurt her throat so badly, she couldn’t continue. When she recovered, she clenched her mouth closed.

Something was wrong. She’d never frozen up from nerves before. She knew the words by heart, and nothing was wrong with her voice. She’d had the best vocal practice ever this morning. Even when she had hay fever, she sang, albeit not as well as usual.

She opened her mouth again. More coughing came out.

Someone shut off the music, and students began laughing.

“Welcome to New Orleans, Swamp Girl!” Kimmie shouted. She held up a bottle of red water.

Everyone was laughing. The chant of
Swamp Girl
began.

For a long moment, Adrienne absorbed it all. The scene was surreal, a nightmare. She was the laughingstock of the school. A glance at Kimmie and Kayla’s smug looks hurt more than the chanting.

They set her up. But how did they take her voice, unless …?

The water. What had the cherry flavoring been covering? A spell? A drug?

Adrienne swallowed hard, afraid to try again to sing. Her eyes were watering, and the chanting grew louder, along with the laughter. She couldn’t bear to look at Jayden, afraid to see him laughing and more afraid to see him pity her.

Unable to handle the laughter, she turned and ran.

Adrienne fled into the locker room, swiping at her tears to keep from running into anything. She paused only long enough to grab her iPad and sling it over her head.

“Swamp Girl!” The chanting continued, chasing her out of the locker room and into the hallway.

She didn’t stop running until she neared the bus stop at the edge of the campus. She reached for her bus pass only to realize it was still in her locker.

I’m never going back!
She swore silently.

“Adrienne!”

Unable to face anyone from school, she bolted down the street, trying to escape her humiliation or tears. She ran until she couldn’t breathe then slowed to see where she was.

She wasn’t too far from home. Tired, she wiped her face and trudged onward. She had no misconception about not being welcome at the game tonight or the pizza party afterwards.

Kimmie wanted to humiliate her and had succeeded. The invite to the cheer squad had seemed too good to be true. Now, she understood what the cards had been trying to tell her. Not to trust Kimmie or get drawn into her game, and to heed the warning of Tara, which she didn’t.

Adrienne stopped suddenly, cold fear seizing her chest.

How long was the hex supposed to last? Only today, to embarrass her in front of everyone? Or longer to get her kicked out of school? What happened if her voice was gone forever? How did she help her family?

More tears spilled down her cheeks. They stung. She began to trot then jog, then broke out into a panicked run.

She cut through the alley neighboring her daddy’s apartment building, not caring if she was murdered by gang members. She could barely see straight through her tears. A blurry form moved away from one wall, and Adrienne smashed into him.

“Hold up,” Rene’s familiar voice said. “What mess you get in now?” He steadied her, his blue-green eyes piercing her misery.

Adrienne pushed him away, too upset to deal with anyone. She started past him. Rene caught her arm.

“I ask you a question, girl,” he growled.

“I don’t want to talk to anyone!” she cried. “I want to be alone!”

“A’ight. Whatever.” He held up his hands and walked away.

Adrienne watched him. She wiped her face, forcing herself not to cry.

Rene glanced back at her then paused, facing her once more.

“What’s up?” he asked without approaching. “Your other ear get cut off?”

“I had a bad day.”

“Cheerleaders have bad days?” His gaze swept over her doubtfully.

“I got set up. They invited me, but then they really just wanted … to … humiliate me … in front of Jayden … school.” She was sobbing again. “Kimmie … curse in my … water.”

Rene stared at her. “I didn’t understand any of that.”

Adrienne forced herself to take a shaky breath. She wiped her nose on her shoulder.

“Real classy,” Rene grunted.

“Need a … Kleenex,” she said, sniffling.

He peeled off his shirt to reveal a tight, gray tank top. He was more muscular than she expected, his frame solid and lean. Tattoos covered his chest and arms. He tossed the shirt to her.

“Thank you.” Adrienne wiped her nose on it, not caring what he thought of her. The shirt smelled of him, the musky male scent that somehow helped calm her. She blew her nose before holding out the shirt.

“I don’t want that shit back,” he said.

She giggled then hiccupped. “I’ll wash it out for you.”

He was studying her.

“Can you take me back to Candace’s?” she asked.

“You gonna tell me what happened?”

She shook her head.

“Then no.”

“Rene!” she objected. “I had a bad day. I just need to see Candace.”

“Why?” He crossed his arms.

“It’s none of your business.”

“Then find your own way there.”

“I don’t know my way around the city! Everyone is abandoning me!” she said sadly, tears forming. “I need help, Rene.”

He didn’t budge.

“I might be under a curse.” It took all her effort not to cry. “Some girl at school took away my singing.”

“You can’t sing?”

“No. It’s all I have. I have to see Candace. She can help me.”

He tossed his head to the side then turned and began walking.

Adrienne wiped her nose again and trailed him out of the alley. Her heart felt like it was breaking, but she was hopeful Candace could help her at least save her voice.

She didn’t want to think about what Jayden thought of her or how she’d ever go back to school again on Monday. Distraught, all she could think of was how much she liked Jayden and how humiliated she was that he saw what happened.

As they walked, she regained what she could of her tattered composure. Tara’s words returned to her.

Had even Jayden’s stepsister been in on the prank? Was she trying to warn her? Why not just tell her what Kimmie planned to do?

Adrienne patted her iPad absently then glanced down. She hesitated but pulled it free, wondering if Jayden had tried to email. Did she want to know if he had?

She opened it. Her email inbox had blown up with emails from students at the school. Most had subjects that made her throat tighten.

Nice work, Swamp Girl

Welcome to civilization!

Go back to the bayou

She blinked away tears and scanned through the horrifying subjects and names until she found an email from Jayden. The subject was blank.

A-

Please PLEASE let me know you’re okay. I knew Kimmie was planning to prank you, but didn’t know this would happen. I’m so sorry.

J.

He knew. Jayden
knew.
Was his affection part of the prank? Make the new girl think she was able to capture the heart of the most popular boy in school and join the cheer squad?

How could he do something so cruel?

She shoved the iPad back into its case and began crying again. She stifled the sounds with Rene’s shirt.

“I’m never going back!” she vowed in a half-sob.

“To school?” Rene asked, glancing down at her.

“Today was the worst day of my life.”

He rolled his eyes. “Did anyone die?”

“No.”

“Anyone get hurt at all?”

“No.”

“Don’t sound that bad.”

“Someone might’ve taken my voice!” she snapped.

“True. I been to church every Sunday to hear you sing.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “Like an angel. Stealin your voice … that’s a crime.”

“Thank you,” she murmured, not unaffected by his rough kindness. “My mom sent me an email about the song.”

“The one your grandmama sang?”

“Yeah.”

“Cool.”

Comforted by his presence, she fell into troubled quiet. The horrific day left her doubting herself in every way – even doubting her gift. How would she live with herself if Kimmie had taken away her ability to sing? Would her daddy be disappointed if she told him she was going back to New Orleans?

What about the mystery she’d leave in New Orleans if she went home? Would she ever know what happened to her sister or how to lift the family curse?

“You okay?” Rene asked coolly.

“Not really,” she replied. “I don’t know what to do.”

He pushed open the door to Candace’s shop. Today, the scent of incense joined that of coffee. It drifted over her when she entered.

Candace’s smile at Rene faded when she saw Adrienne’s red eyes and nose.

“What happened, Adrienne?” she asked, standing from behind the counter. “Rene?”

“Why everyone think I make her cry?” he snapped.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” Adrienne said. “I need some help.” Her eyes watered.

“Of course, child. Come on back.”

Adrienne went, followed by a moody Rene.

“Someone hexed me, Candace,” Adrienne said miserably. She sat in the same chair she’d been in the other day.

The voodoo priestess studied her. “You are fortunate. My focus is healing. My brother is the
bokor
. We are … yin and yang.”

“He sells curses and you cure people he curses?” Adrienne asked.

“Precisely.” Candace smiled. “It’s my way of making things right. Rene, my healing tea.”

“Not sure I want more tea.”

“This one will help purify you,” Candace assured her.

Rene disappeared behind the beaded curtain leading to the back room of the shop.

“The quickest way to remove a curse is to ask he who jinxed you to remove it,” Candace advised. “Is that an option?

“No,” Adrienne said softly. “I’m never going back there.”

“Very well. I’ll do my best. It will be a lengthy process.”

Adrienne nodded. “I brought the song you requested with me.”

Candace brightened. “I have never seen a curse such as this one. May I see it?”