(11) (SOMETHING I LEARNED ABOUT MY WIRELESS INTERNET; IT DOESN'T WORK WHEN IT'S SNOWING.)
Since healers now a days are used to small numerous sittings, I slept through the entire day since I wanted it done in one sitting. The first day of the weekend and I spent it curled up in my warm bed. No come called me bubbles for an entire day.
The healing process was… different.
My skin tingled when she began healing me. There were no chants, or even noises; she just hovered over my arms with her hands. It never hurt but I did see my own skin crawl back into place. That almost made me vomit.
She told me I wouldn't dream that night either since my body would be too exhausted for any serious brain waves. It didn't bother me so much since I never really dream. I'm always out cold.
My alarm went off early. I was a little surprised I heard it since I pretty much slept like the dead. I smashed down hard on the off button rolling over and slowly opening my eyes. It was a little gross seeing all the mucus in my eyes but that just meant I slept well.
I glanced down at my bare arms seeing nothing but unmarked skin.
"Wow," I said pulling my arms closer to my eyes. "Fully healed in one day."
A soft knock struck my door.
I sat up finding it a little difficult like their was a brick on my chest, "Yes?"
"Your father just wanted me to make sure you were up," Mrs. Finch said on the other side of the door.
"I'm up," I said throwing off my warm covers. "Be ready soon."
I showered quickly and dressed myself in something simple but formal before I headed down to the front door. The bandages I put around my arms were the real kind you get from the doctor, but they were just decorations at the moment; since I'm not injured anymore. I saw my father already waiting for me.
"Good morning," I said putting a smile on.
"Was it hard getting up?" father asked bending down a little to hug me.
"Not really," I answered.
"Well, ready to make an appearance?" father asked with a smile.
"Yes father," I said guiding him out the door.
We went to church every week. It was father's idea. He believed making an appearance to church every week would stop the spread of rumors. Father never really had a need to exit the house so this was just his way of appearing normal; even though he could be the farthest thing from it. Just to prove to our neighbors that we still existed and were your average father daughter family… in Bear Path.
Since the whole world seemed to know I wasn't old enough to drive and my father was blind, Mrs. Finch had to drive us to church every week. She didn't mind it and actually liked our church even though it was different from her own.
Church in my mind was alright. Wake up early to play the piano and possibly run into a few classmates. I knew for a fact that Gwen Grayson went to my church And yes, I play the piano in the church band every week.
We arrived early. Mrs. Finch took my father to his seat in the front row while I went to the grand piano to warm up a bit. The piano at the church was nice but it really needed to be tuned. Or it was just to darn old.
My bandages were a little in the way when I placed my hands on the keys. They were thick around my arms since I had to wind them around a few times. They kinda felt like sleeves but only remained on the lower half of my arm below the elbow.
I took out my sheet music and placed it ahead of me. The book was torn and very thick with songs the church selected. I knew some of them by heart but it was only the short ones.
I heard someone stand on the podium behind me. The smell of strawberries hovered over me. I rolled my eyes already tired of her presence.
"Hello, Gwen," I said meekly.
She walked forward and smiled as she stood next to the piano. I slouched a bit looking up at her with my fingers still perfectly positioned over the keys.
"How are your arms?" she asked glancing at them.
"Badly burned," I answered sounding normal to slightly irritated.
She glanced behind me, "Is that your dad?"
"The blind one in the front row?" I asked.
"He's blind?" Gwen asked shocked.
"Yeah, that's him," I answered.
She glanced from me back to my father then back to me.
"I know," I answered. "He looks very young."
I pushed my glasses farther up my nose waiting for Gwen to make a move.
"Honestly Gwen," I said after a moment. "It's like your seeing him for the first time or something."
"What?" she asked.
"I'm here every week Gwen," I explained. "And so are you."
I moved my fingers playing a few notes cutting Gwen off. I looked down at my keys and smirked when Gwen went back to her seat.
Seriously, I thought. Quit pretending like you don't stalk me.
The session went quickly; mainly because I was playing the entire time. I didn't look over my shoulder to see Gwen or my father. I knew if I saw either of them my concentration would be broken.
I stood and bowed when the priest have me credit. I waited patiently for some of the crowd to leave before I approached my father.
"Lovely, sweetheart," he said with a smile.
"As long as it continues to make you happy," I said.
"It does," he answered. "Oh, your friend Gwen said she wanted to talk after the session."
My eyebrows popped up.
Please tell me you didn't invite her over, I thought.
"She said she'd wait by the exit doors," father finished.
"Well, I should go see what she wants," I said taking my exit.
It wasn't hard to find Gwen; the slender pink thing soaking up the sun.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"You really wanna take the tone with me?" She asked slyly.
"Gwen, let me remind you that your ability is technology," I spat. "My bubbles will look like a lightning bolt compared to your fighting abilities."
This surprised her. Maybe because she didn't think I had an attitude when pushed.
"Now, what do you want?" I asked.
"Your father's The Hearing isn't he?" Gwen asked cocking her head to the side.
"Did Will tell you this?" I asked unsurprised.
Boys blinded by love will spill anything to keep the attention on them, I thought.
Gwen nodded, "I only asked because I want to meet him some day."
Keeping your words innocent because you know he's already heard us huh?
"And ask about your future?" I asked finding it a little cliché.
Gwen shrugged, "Why not? Everyone wants to know where they end up."
Dead, I thought.
"So the bullying has stopped because you know who my father is?" I asked trying not to cross my arms.
"I never really bullied you before," Gwen said sweetly. "That was mostly Penny."
Gwen turned to leave then waving as she did.
"I could soak her in carbon and ask Warren to light her up," I said out loud wishing I had laser vision to burn a piece of her hair off.
"That's awfully considerate of you," a voice said behind me.
"Does the whole fucking school stalk me now?" I asked clenching my fists at my sides.
"It's not my fault everyone knows stuff about you," he said. "It's Will's."
"Can I soak him in carbon and ask you to light him up?" I asked still glaring at Gwen.
Warren laughed, "Not your admitting the carbon was you?"
I thought for a moment and ignored it. "Why are you here?"
Warren walked to stand besides me, "If you can soak her pink sweater, I'll light that up."
"Okay!" I said excitedly.
I held up my hand with my index finger and thumb connected. I focused a little harder on carbon than just water. What was the difference anyways? Besides one was a liquid and one was a gas? How could I make carbon when I barely knew what made water?
Her pink sweaters were super bright and annoying. It almost hurt my eyes as I stared at it. She had this stupid bounce to her walk too.
I blew out seeing water come out instead of carbon. I growled in frustration.
"Hurry up, Izzy, or she'll get away," Warren said pointing.
I closed my eyes and thought for a moment. How angry was I when the carbon came out? Maybe I have to reach that level again in order for it to work. I never usually got that angry so it was a little hard to picture me getting that angry on queue. I opened my eyes and let out a wordless noise unable to see anything.
"Warren!" I whined slapping him lightly. "Cut it out, your fogging up my glasses!"
