Catch up on the story with Chapter One!
“I wish I had a car,” Molly said. She watched the trees go by.
“It’s OK,” Billy said. “It’s not the greatest thing in the world, especially since we can’t just hang out with people whenever we want. But it is so much better than having to take the bus. That was the worst.”
“I never had to worry,” Molly said. She spotted a deer rummaging through leaves in the middle distance of the woods. “I wasn’t… unique… before. God, I wish had never moved in.”
“You would have found out about your curse whether you moved in with us or not,” Billy said. “At least this way you have someone else who knows what’s going on with you. You have a whole house of people who understand what’s going on and want to help you.”
Molly didn’t respond. She watched the forest go by. Billy let the silence hang between them all the way to school.
Molly was surprised to see that Katy Higson was waiting for her at her locker.
“OMG, Molly,” Katy said. “You won’t believe the roomer going around, but according to the gossip mill You and Andy weren’t just looking for a lost Frisbee yesterday when you got caught in the freak rain storm. Kyle was telling Juan who told Jenna who told me that you two were rounding second base.” Katy stood between Molly and her locker, waiting for a reply.
“It wasn’t second base,” Molly said. “We were just, you know, getting to know each other.”
“That’s second base,” Katy insisted. “Just watch yourself. Allison Khole has had her eyes on Andy since second grade. So you, the little new girl, can’t just come waltzing in and start ‘getting to know’ him.”
“Allison doesn’t have to worry.” Molly said. “I think Andy is done getting to know me.” Molly stared at her shoes. “I’m too unique.”
“You’re not unique, you’re just weird,” Katy said. She walked away from Molly without another word.
Molly turned to her locker. She rested her forehead against the cool metal and closed her eyes.
“I hate my life,” Molly whispered.
“You shouldn’t.”
Molly started.
“Whoa,” Andy said. “Didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted to say good morning.” Molly wasn’t sure how to respond so she kept her mouth shut. “You don’t have to be shy,” Andy said. “It’s OK to talk to me.”
Molly wanted to back away but the lockers were behind her. “I have to go to class now,” She whispered without thinking. “Just gotta go.” Molly slipped around him and disappeared in the crowds of the hall, her face hot.
“Oh God,” Molly said to herself. “All I wanted was a boyfriend, why does that have to be so complicated?”
There was a scream from down the hall, a shriek of pain. Molly was carried forward by the surge of students scurrying to see the source of the disruption to the daily routine. There was a stench of ozone and burned meat in the air.
To Molly’s surprise a hole opened in the crowd in front of her. On the floor was a girl that Molly vaguely recognized. Her face was unevenly burned spreading out from her mouth, her hair and clothing singed. Ragged wisps of smoke curled up from her sweater. Billy stood over her. His face was a mask of horror. Tears were streaming down his cheeks. Molly ran forward.
“Someone call the damn nurse!” she called. She wrapped her arms around Billy. As her arms folded around him Billy collapsed into her arms. Sobs shook the cousins as smoke curled up from the girl’s sweater.
