Chapter 24
I think she really wanted to change the subject, but I pressed on. “So what kind of work are you going to be doing?”
By now she must’ve realized I knew more than she thought I would. “It’s sort of difficult to explain and top secret.” She plastered a crooked smile on her face, which I knew was fake. “If I told ya I’d have to kill ya.” She poked me in the ribs with her elbow.
I laughed because it was meant to be funny, but on the inside, I felt my blood run cold. “Ha, yeah. Mom said it was security or something.”
“Something like that. Hey, how are Lucy and Emma?”
She had managed to change the subject. Good for her. “They’re good. We were all ready to head back to school, but I guess that’ll happen Tuesday. We are working on a science project together.”
“Cool. What’s it about?”
I spent way too long explaining our project on electromagnetic charges to her, and by the time I’d finished, I realized we were as far off of the topic I wanted to be discussing as we could possibly be. Score one for big sis.
Eventually, we got around to Cadence’s favorite question. By now, we were lying on our stomachs facing each other. “So… you gotta boyfriend?”
I felt my face flush but rolled my eyes and shook my head. “No.”
“No… but?”
She could read me like a book. I readjusted the pillow beneath my chest and let out a sigh. “There is a boy I think is cute, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t like me.”
“Oh, my goodness, Cass, I knew it! Spill! Who is he?”
“It’s not a big deal, Cadence!” I wished I hadn’t said anything, but she could always tell when I wasn’t being completely honest with her. “His name is Liam White, and he’s in my algebra class. He’s super popular, though, and lots of girls like him.”
“Awww!” my sister gushed. “What does he look like?”
Letting out another exhale, I pulled out my phone and went to a popular social media site. I silently handed over the device.
“Cass! He’s so cute! He looks like he could be in a boy band.”
“Thanks?” I said, not sure that was a compliment, though I think she meant it to be. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter. We’re not going out or anything. I’ve just helped him with his homework a few times.” I took my phone back and put it in my back pocket.
“Still… he’s dreamy.”
My eyes rolled so far back into my head, I could practically see my brain. “What about you?” I asked, turning the tables. “You seeing anyone?”
I expected her to give her usual, “I don’t have time for that answer,” but instead my sister’s face turned a slight shade of pink. “No,” she said, and I knew immediately that wasn’t the full answer.
“Do you have a crush on someone?”
“No.” Cadence is much better at keeping her lips sealed than I am. I can never force any information out of her. I wondered if it was one of the guys whose names had recently come up, although it seemed like there were so many, I didn’t even know where to begin guessing. “How’s algebra going, anyway?” she asked, successfully changing the subject to one that would not make her face look like she’d been out in the sun too long. “You have Mr. James, right?” She made a “bluck” face, and I agreed with her. He was not my favorite teacher.
“Yeah, I do. The work isn’t too hard, but he is so boring!”
“I know!” Cadence agreed, slamming her face down into the pillow. After a moment, I realized she was laughing. She lifted her head. “You should see Jack’s impression of him. It’s so funny.” In a very monotone, old-man voice, she started reciting Mr. James’s typical greeting, “Okay… class… let’s… get… out… our… textbooks….” We both started laughing hysterically because her impression was so awful, but I could still tell it was supposed to be my boring teacher. “Jack’s is so much better,” she said between gulps of air.
“I didn’t know Jack did impressions.” I couldn’t imagine mild-mannered Jack making fun of an instructor.
She shrugged, finally regaining her composure. “I mean, not like Jon does, but sometimes.” She grew more solemn, like thinking of Jack made her sad for some reason. Or maybe she was thinking of Drew, although I’m sure Drew was definitely not in Cadence’s algebra class since she was a year younger than my sister.
I decided to change the subject myself this time. “Have you seen that new superhero movie yet?” I asked, thinking it would be best to keep the topic light. Despite my suspicions that something totally weird was going on with my sister, she was still one of the most important people in the world to me, and I hated seeing her upset. Besides, this entire conversation had been so normal, I was beginning to think I’d lost my mind before, when I thought she was transforming into some creature I wouldn’t recognize.
We continued to chat for another hour or so before Cadence yawned and said she was tired. I was sure that she must be exhausted. Even if she hadn’t had any procedure that transformed her into a lightning quick being, I’m certain she had spent many hours crying about the loss of Drew and her life as she’d known it before that terrible festival. She might have still been keeping everything from me, but I loved her just the same. When she stood to go, I climbed to my feet and gave her a long hug. My big sister was the best sibling anyone could ever ask for, and I hated that she was going through all of this; I hated that I was still on the outside, and she didn’t feel like she could share it with me.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” she said quietly, and I let go of her and nodded. The funeral was the next day. I didn’t know if Cadence had ever even been to one before. I hadn’t. I thought they must be awful.
My sister left, and I heard her turning on the shower a few minutes later. I decided I was pretty tired, too, and flipped my light switch off, thinking I’d check my phone and then try to go to sleep, even though it was just a little past 9:00. I shut my laptop, turning off the music. With a sigh, I leaned back against my pillows. I didn’t think I’d really garnered any new information to jot down or share with my friends from our discussion. Cadence was very careful not to mention anything that she didn’t already know my parents had told me, which was smart on her part. I wasn’t surprised; she’s always been almost as smart as I am.
I did have several texts, though, and while they were interesting to read, my friends were mostly speculating. Milo and Wes had also sent me texts to check on me and my sister. And Milo mentioned he’d been keeping Jack’s house under surveillance to see if anyone really was spying on his neighbor, which I thought was odd since that was exactly what Jack was worried about. Was Milo’s watching him what was making him so nervous?
I heard an odd noise in my sister’s room and froze. It wasn’t loud, so I’m not even sure why it caught my attention, but I could still hear the water running in her shower, even though it was faint because the bathroom is on the other side of her room (I think a pipe runs through the ceiling over my bed or something), but I got the impression that something strange was happening again.
