Bianca or the others?â
âSounds like a plan.â She smiled. âWe might nothave much to go on. But at least we have each other, right?â
I rolled my eyes. âSappy much?â I muttered.
But I couldnât help smiling back.
11
CAITLYN
âRELAX, WOULD YOU?â Cassie said as we walked into school the next morning. âItâs not going to burn you.â
âI know.â I reached up and touched the necklace, which was tucked beneath the collar of my shirt. Weâd decided I should be the one to wear it that day. So far our two scariest visions had been about Bianca, so it made sense to try to find out more from her.
A couple of seventh graders rushed past, talking excitedly about that weekendâs football game. Icringed back against the wall, not wanting them to brush against me. Remembering how powerful that vision had been when I was wearing the necklace before made me nervous. Who knew what I might see now with its help?
âChill,â Cassie ordered, peering into my face. âLet me know if you find out anything interesting, okay?â
âFor sure.â
We parted ways to head to our lockers, which were at opposite ends of the school. As I reached mine, I heard someone calling my name. It was Liamâhe and Bianca were coming toward me.
âHey, Caitlyn,â Liam greeted me in his usual cheerful way. âOnly three days âtil the party!â
I smiled weakly, looking past him at Bianca. Maybe I could get this out of the way before homeroom.
âYeah,â I said. âHey, Bianca, can you hold my books for a sec? My locker is kind of sticking.â
âIâll do it.â Liam grabbed my books.
As his hand brushed mine, the vision hit me hard.A supervivid version of Liam appeared in front of me. He was soaking wet, dressed in swim trunksâand covered in blood! All four of the B Boys were dragging him across the cement deck of what I guessed had to be Meganâs pool.
âCaitlyn!â The faded-out real Liam peered at me with concern, his voice barely breaking through the loud buzzing that filled my head. âAre you okay?â
âGive her some airâmaybe sheâs overheated.â Bianca yanked him back, abruptly breaking the connection.
I gasped, staggering forward and catching myself on my locker. âS-sorry,â I blurted out. âI think youâre right, Bianca. I mustâve walked too fast on the way here.â
âHere, drink something.â Liam pulled a water bottle out of his backpack.
âThanks.â I took a swig of the water, not meeting his eyes.
âItâs hotter than ever out there today,â Bianca said.
âYeah.â Liam grinned. âWhich is another reasonI canât wait for that pool party.â
I smiled weakly, then handed back the bottle. âThanks,â I said. âI, um, should go splash water on my face.â
âWant me to come to the restroom with you?â Bianca offered.
âThatâs okay,â I told her quickly. âIâll meet you guys in homeroom.â
I slammed my locker door shut, then hurried down the hall in the direction of the girlsâ bathroom. Glancing back, I saw my friends walking the opposite way.
Good. I changed direction, heading for the stairs instead.
Soon I was poking my head into Cassieâs homeroom. She was talking to Megan and a couple of their other friends. As soon as she saw my face, she excused herself and hurried out to meet me.
âWhat is it?â she asked, pulling me to a private spot in the hall behind a trash bin. âDid you get something from Bianca already?â
âNot Bianca.â I took a deep breath, still shakenby what Iâd seen. âI had a vision about Liam.â
âLiam?â She wrinkled her nose. âButââ
âJust listen,â I cut her off, and I told her what Iâd seen. âSo now we know whatâs going to
Michele Boldrin;David K. Levine