She crossed her arms. “If it wasn’t someone from school, then who was it?”
Perfect. She thought I was trying to lie to her. “Dastien,” I whispered. Saying his name felt equal parts relief and betrayal.
“Madre Santa. The teacher from St. Ailbe’s?” She sucked in her breath. “Teresa Elizabeth McCaide!”
And now she’d used my full name. Only I could manage to get in trouble for being hurt.
“I hope this doesn’t mean…” She paused for a second, and my heart started to pound. “We’re going to have to talk to Michael Dawson when we get back from the emergency room. This could be really bad, Tess.”
That was so not cool. “Mom. Seriously. It’s fine.”
“No. It’s really not. You’re a minor.”
“Only for like a few more weeks! And he’s only two years older than me. That’s like nothing. Let’s not make a national disaster out of this. He was really nice. I’m not even sure how it happened. He seemed pretty shocked. He apologized and everything.” I don’t know why I was defending him.
Mom sat there quietly, waiting for me to continue.
It wasn’t embarrassment anymore. I was mad. Furious even. Those people at the party had been flat out rude to me. For no reason. It wasn’t even something I could blame on my weirdness. I was physically hurt, bleeding, and they kicked me out. Not even an “are you okay” or “do you need some ice for that” before they shoved me out the door.
I willed myself not to cry. “I wanted to have friends and go to parties like everyone else. Not be Freaky Tessa who sits at home on the weekends reading books and watching TV with her parents. Begging her brother to hang out with her.”
Mom sat down next to me, holding my good side. “I know it’s hard, but you’re here for a reason. You have to have faith in God and in yourself. If there is anything I’m sure of, it’s that you’re meant to do something great with your gifts.”
I snorted. “Right. Because these ‘gifts’ are so useful for oh, I don’t know, nothing.”
She kissed my forehead, and her guilt surged through me before she could block it.
I felt like a real jerk for not being nicer about what she said. But I couldn’t get my hopes up that one day I’d find my curse was useful.
“This is my fault. I’ve kept you away from my side of the family for too long. You are meant for something.”
What the hell was she talking about?
“I have something to tell you later. First, let’s get you to the hospital.” She started for the door.
“Mom,” I called after her. “I’m sorry. Thank you for taking care of me.”
“Anything for my baby.”
I’d make it up to her. Tomorrow. When my shoulder wasn’t hurting so bad. Sliding on my sweatpants and flip-flops took all the energy I could muster.
I was so out of it that I nearly forgot my gloves. Number one place I didn’t want to have a vision: the emergency room. Talk about a minefield of pain and drama. I grabbed a pair of white cotton ones that stopped halfway to my elbow.
Axel was waiting with my parents at the door by the time I got down the stairs.
“Ready?” Dad’s arms were still folded in front of his chest. No hint of a smile on his face.
“Yeah, but I’m feeling a little—” Gray dots filled my vision. Then, there was nothing.
Chapter Ten
The car bounced over the gravel road, but I couldn’t muster the energy to lift my head. It took a second to make my eyes open. “What happened?” I was lying across the backseat in Dad’s SUV.
“You fainted, sweetheart.” Mom brushed my hair out of my face. “We’re almost to the hospital.”
“That’s good, I guess.” A cold drop of sweat rolled down my forehead. My mom’s face spun in my vision, and I had to close my eyes to keep from throwing up.
When the car jerked to a stop, I nearly rolled off the seat.