Sitting in second period it was hard to focus. I mean for some strange reason, what I'd seen this morning between Jennifer and Anton didn't bother me as much as I thought that it should. And no sitting in class, it was hard to keep from glancing at him when every time I glanced up he was staring intently at me; his eyes had returned back to their beautiful bright green.
I saw him slide a folded piece of paper onto my desk as I was trying desperately to pay attention. I quickly grabbed it and quietly opened it. It read:
No one has ever been able to resist my compulsion power. How is it that you could?
I don't know how I was able to resist, but I did and if you ever try it on me again you will lose your manhood. And no I will not meet you after school.
I handed the note back to him. He quickly scribbled his reply and I could see that he was trying—and failing—to hide a smile. He handed the piece of paper back to me silently.
Please? I want to know you.
I crumpled the note up, stuffed it in my pocket and tried to concentrate, which was really hard to do when I could feel his vibrant green eyes on my face, but somehow I managed…at least until class was over.
When the bell rang to dismiss class, he cornered me at the door and wouldn't let me pass. The teacher suddenly became intensely focused on some papers he had started grading. I tried to step around him but he just stepped in front of me, blocking me.
"What do you want?" I snapped.
"I want to show you something," he said. He took my wrist and dragged me—well pulled me really—through the halls and through a side door leading outside. He didn't stop until we were in the parking lot. He released my hand and started walking toward a 1965 Shelby Mustang.
"What on earth are you doing driving that thing to school? Are you out of your freaking mind? Aren't you afraid it will get broken into or destroyed or something?"
"No," he said and slid into the driver's seat. "Are you coming?" he called out the open passenger side window.
I stared at the car a moment longer before shaking my head and turning to go back into the school. He didn't follow me. Instead, I heard him rev the engine and drive away.
Class had already started by the time I got there but the teacher went right on with his lesson and pretended as if I hadn't just interrupted class. I took my seat silently, not paying attention the twenty or so pairs of eyes following my every move. I walked home after school ended. Just before I left the school grounds Anton pulled up next to me.
"Need a lift?" he asked with a slight grin on his perfect face. I ignored him and continued walking. I would not let myself get infatuated with him. I hadn't had any dreams in months—not since my father died—and I didn't want to have any more. I pulled out my iPod and turned the volume as high as I could stand it. It was easier to ignore Anton's perfectness and handsomness with Evanescence's "Tourniquet" blaring in my ears. I could tell that he was getting frustrated with me but he just gave up and drove off leaving me to my thoughts.
Why did he keep bugging me? Was it not obvious that I wasn't interested? And what did he want to show me? I had all these questions but no answers. I knew that he wouldn't leave me alone. He didn't strike me as the type of guy who gave up easily. But I, too, didn't give in easily either.
When I got home, Greg was sitting on the couch watching TV.
"Hey," I said as I walked passed him to the kitchen. He didn't respond. I threw my back pack at him with as much force as I could.
He looked up, startled. "What is wrong with you?"
"Me? What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing," he said.
"Bullshit!" I screamed. "I know that we haven't been the same since I told you about my dreams but that's no reason for you to treat me like I don't even exist."
"But I thought that's what you wanted? To be left alone?" he said.
"You're my big brother! You are supposed to at least pretend like you care about me even if you really don't."
"I never said that I don't care," he argued.
I crossed my arms over my chest. "Really? Because you not speaking to me for the past few months, except when you absolutely had to shows how much you care?"
"What do you want from me? I'm doing the best I can with this, alright? First Mom dies, and then dad, then you reveal to me that you had these visions of them dying. How am I supposed to deal with that? I am doing the best I can!" he hollered.
I rolled my eyes and walked off. He sounded like he was the only one having problems. I mean, I was the one who had the visions of our parents dying horrible deaths, not him and he's trying to make it sound like it was my fault. I went to my room and locked my door. I threw myself on my bed and I cried. I cried and cried and cried. I was a little shocked by this sudden burst of emotion. I had never cried like this. Not at Mom's funeral, or even Dad's.
Suddenly, my head started to hurt, almost like it was on fire. I grabbed at my hair and shook my head back and forth trying to relieve the pain. I saw flashes of something behind my eyelids that I couldn't really identify. It looked like it was a garden. Everything was so green and blurry. Slowly the image became clearer. I was in a garden behind a beautiful castle-looking mansion. Greg was there and for some strange reason I was delighted to see him. I ran toward him and he threw his arms around me and gave me a brotherly hug that I had not had in a very long time. He looked happy again.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Anton smiling at me. He took my hand and pulled me into his arms. He placed his cool lips to mine and kissed me like I was the air and he couldn't get enough of me. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he pulled me even closer.
A scream pierced the perfect scene. Anton released me and I turned to see Greg on the ground, curled into the fetal position, clutching at his stomach. He began to convulse. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and blood started to ooze from them. Then, so suddenly, was he still. No more sound escaped him and he did not breathe. I reached out one dainty hand to stroke his cheek but Anton pulled my wrist back.
"We must go. They have found you," he said.
"Who has found me? Where are we going?" I asked frantically. I didn't get an answer and the vision began to fade. I was back in my room on my bed; the fire in my head was gone.
I jumped up and threw open the door. I flew down the stairs. Greg was still on the couch watching TV. Nothing seems to have changed, I thought to myself silently. But then I realized that something had changed. I hadn't been asleep when I'd had the vision. I had been wide awake.
I slowly returned upstairs and closed my door as quietly as I could. I pulled out a duffel bag from the top shelf in my closet. I then began to pack my clothes. Greg had died in my vision and I was there. Maybe, if I wasn't around, he wouldn't die. He would live the rest of his life in peace. But for him to do that, I had to disappear. I hated having to do this, but I would not lose the only other person I had left in my life. I wasn't sure I could handle it again.
So I walked down stairs and walked right out the front door with my duffel bag on my shoulder. He didn't even look up when he heard the door open. I walked down the street and turned the corner without looking back.