The Thousand Year Curse (The Curse Books) (34 page)

So now I am going to take fate in my own hands. I am choosing what I want and I can guarantee that's never happened before. I am being alone. Of course, they will be around but for now I want to focus on myself.

Finding my mom and learning about myself are one and two on my priority list. Love is falling to spot number three.
 

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

homeward bound

We all make it home in one piece surprisingly enough. It's relatively quiet which is expected after the big fight last night. I fell asleep alone after the boys ditched me and went their separate ways.
 

I wake up alone while Ari gets the tickets and Ollie checks us out. I think the boys definitely got my message loud and clear.

Almost a little too clear. They are barely paying any attention to me. I am actually feeling left out. Neither one is holding my hand or sneaking peeks at me. They are acting like I don't exist at all. I guess it's my fault, though. I told them I didn't want to be with them last night. I deserve this.

Ari's car is at La Guardia so we all cram in. Instead of Ollie offering me the front seat, he hops in shafting me to the back. I must have a shocked look on my face because Ari snickers a little to himself. At least he gives me a reaction. I pout and slam the door as I get in the back.
 

It's then that I realize this must be another one of their games. I decide to play it right back. My car is the first stop. It's been at school all weekend so we have to get it so I can drive myself home. Ari pulls up in front and I don't wait for anyone to say goodbye. I jump out, get my luggage which is only one bag and walk to my door.
 

I am so tempted to look back and see if they are watching me but I resist the urge hoping they suffer like me. I open the door and slam it behind me. The drive home is quick and when I finally pull in, I let out a huge sigh of relief. I kick off my shoes and hang my coat up the second I get in the front door.
 

"Welcome home!" Dad exclaims, jumping up from his spot on the couch and enveloping me in a big hug. He kisses the top of my head and then goes back to his spot on the couch. "Go put your bags upstairs and watch with me." He commands, shooing me away.

I know how dad is. Monday night football is the highlight of his week. It's really the only thing he does for himself. Sunday and Monday football, classic guy. I know his invitation for me to watch with him is his way of bonding.
 

I'm not sure what I should say to him anyway. He thinks I was on the ski trip and I don't even know the first thing about skiing.
 

I go into the fridge, grab a carton of ice cream and plop down next to dad after dropping my bag upstairs. He puts his arm over my shoulders and we watch the game together. It is Patriots versus Texans so he is highly engulfed in the game—we are from New England after all.
 

Around ten o'clock, the game ends and dad is ready to pass out. He turns the TV off and we clean up the living room together, mostly keeping the conversation on the game. We both make our way up the stairs next to each other. My door is first so when I get there I pause.

"I love you sweetie." He kisses my cheek and then walks down to his bedroom.
 

I get ready for sleep and then finally sit down on my bed, letting out a sigh of relief that I'm finally alone. So much has happened in the past three days. Three days—that's it. It feels so much longer like I was gone for weeks on end. It's good but bad at the same time.
 

I grab my diary from my hiding spot and write an entry. It basically just describes the weekend. I read back what I wrote letting the thoughts wash over me again and shut the book. After that I grab my laptop and hop back into bed. I lean against the head board pulling the covers over my lap. There's nothing better than being in your own bed.
 

I turn the lights off and bring up pages on my MacBook. I start typing away wanting to get my plan in action as fast as possible. Thanksgiving and Christmas break are coming up and I need to get ready to leave. To be honest, I'm actually excited to go. On the other hand, I'm extremely nervous.
 

When I'm satisfied with my letter, I print it out before shutting my laptop off. I just shove it next to me and fall asleep.

I don't dream which is a let down but I'm okay with it. I don't think I can handle waking up crying again. It's nice to just get a good nights sleep. My body certainly needs it.
 

"Why the hell didn't you tell me you were back!?" Junior asks me in government the next day.

"I got back last night. I knew I'd see you today." I tell him as he looks at me with a disappointed face.

He has so many questions that I can barely process them all to answer. Instead of answering them individually, I just give him a play by play of the whole weekend, telling him everything except for the whole kissing Ari thing. He is close to Ollie so I know he won't appreciate that.
 

I have to say that when I am done with the story, I let out a huge breath. It feels so good to get it all out. It's nice to tell someone about it, too. I am interested to see what he has to say. It is the first time Junior's ever been speechless. The kid can talk. That's for damn sure.

"Wow." He gets out, grabbing me by the shoulders and pulling me into his chest. "I'm so glad you're okay." He says, holding onto me as if I might slip away at any moment. We pull back after the teacher scolds us but talk in whispers all class long.

The rest of the day is torture. In lunch it is back to just Junior and me. Ollie used to skip and come sit in the student center but not today. Apparently he is still into the whole ignore me thing which I totally get, don't get me wrong. It just sucks because my head is so jumbled up.
 

In class Ollie ignores me, too. He still sits behind me which is distracting but I don't think he's there for me. More like to protect me. Becca is unusually bitchy today, sending me glares when Ollie isn't looking or mouthing nasty things over to me.

The same thing happens in my last class of the day with Ari. He sits literally on the opposite side of the classroom. The class is full so he must have asked someone to switch which makes it that much better. I'm sure a rumor will be spread by morning that I'm a leper.
 

I go to the library to tutor Ollie but after fifteen minutes of him not showing, I bail. I will just take my car home and veg out alone. Plus today I am going through with my plan for school.
 

I ask Mary for an envelope and she gives me one gladly. After asking what's wrong, I explain I feel sick so she sends me off, telling me to feel better.
 

When I get in my car, I grab the fake acceptance letter out of my backpack and stick it in the envelope. I write down our address on it and put a stamp on it. I was going to put a fake one on it but decided against it, not wanting to cut corners.
 

When I get home, I stick it in the mailbox. Thankfully the mail from the day is still in there which means dad isn't home and he'll get the mail. This has to go perfectly. I can't screw this up or else it will all be ruined. Dad needs to think I got accepted.

An hour later, I hear a car pull into the driveway and the car door shut. Listening as hard as I can, I recognize the front door opening and shutting and dad's loud footsteps through the house.
 

I wait a couple minutes and am not sure what he is doing down there. He usually calls up when I have mail. A second after my thought, he yells for me. Thank God—so far, so good.

I look in the mirror and take a deep breath pausing to compose myself. I have to put on the best acting of my life. I have to pretend I am so excited to be accepted, on a full scholarship I might add. My dad is great but I know he won't look into the letter. He won't even look into the school. He has enough on his plate right now at work. On top of that, he trusts me. He should be happy for me and buy the whole act.
 

"You got some mail here." He says, handing me the envelope and my monthly subscription to People magazine. I got the subscription last year for Christmas—best present my dad ever got me. I love reading about celebrities sucky lives. It makes myself feel better I guess.

I open the envelope and hold my breath while I read it, at least I pretend to. Then I put on my little play. Here goes nothing...
 

"Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god!" I start squealing while jumping up and down. I start to wave the letter around in the air. "I got in. I really got in!" I scream again gaining dads full attention as he looks at me as if I have three heads.
 

"Got in where?" He asks me, snatching the letter from my hands. I keep jumping and celebrating while he reads the letter. He reads it a couple more times and then looks at me with wide eyes, almost in disbelief.

"Spring semester? As in like three months away?" He asks me.

"Yeah, so soon! I can't wait!" I exclaim flinging myself towards him and wrapping my arms around him in a tight hug.
 

"Honey, I didn't even know you applied." He states, still grasping the situation. His voice is quiet and I can tell he's shocked.
 

"I honestly didn't think I would get in. But a full scholarship. This can't be real!" I scream. I keep celebrating and I can see him thinking hard. He reads the paper another time and then a smile spreads over his face.

"This calls for celebration! Let's go out to eat this weekend!" He joins in celebrating with me for a couple more minutes. "I'm so proud of you."
 

I smile the biggest smile ever at him. A pang of guilt creeps into my head but I push it aside. This is a big moment even if it is partially fake. I still should be able to feel like this is a big deal. I want to tell him everything. I really do. But I can't risk loosing my dad.
 

i told my dad about school. were good. when do i leave?
 

I text Ari making the it very business-like. I text Junior next telling him went over okay. I sell it well.
 

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

time goes by

Sept 27

This sucks—nobody will talk to me.

I dug my own grave.
 

Junior is picking sides—obviously with Ollie.

Ari ignores me unless I bring up something about Nephilim school.

My powers are becoming unbearable.

I break everything, I can barely walk without sprinting.

I hate where my life is going.

I deserve this though.

September 30

I've been researching the Gods.

Ollie and Ari aren't making progress on my mom so I'm taking it into my own hands.

I want to learn about her more and more each day.

I want to understand why she left.

My powers strengthen each day.

I still have no friends.

Oct 1

Becca literally shoved me down a set of stairs.

Nobody else was around.

I left school and am now grounded since they called my dad.

My anger is getting bad—

I'm taking it out on everyone.

Junior can barely look at me anymore.

Oct 20

Things are better

Ollie has clues on my mom

I think he convinced Junior to give me a break

We're mending our relationship

At least I'm back to one friend

Bad news—the dreams are getting darker and more complicated

I dreamt of a dark jail cell but was unable to see anything clearly.

Am I headed to jail?

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

slap this

October 31

My car door now has a nice dent in it from when I locked the keys in it.
 

I can now bend metal.

I feel like a freaking avatar.

"Please, can't we skip it." I plead to Junior. He wants to go shopping for our outfits before the dance tonight. He thinks going to the dance is a great idea for us. He says it will take my mind off Ollie and give us time to hang out. Little does he know—he's completely wrong. If anything it will make me think of how I should be here with Ollie, or even Ari.