Prophecy Girl (17 page)

She didn’t know why he had been there, but during their conversation, she was sure of one thing: her parents still thought she was crazy.

“Are you still…having visions?” her mom had asked.

“What do the other students think of all your crying spells?” her dad had asked immediately after.

Eva felt like crying and wanted to tell them that they just didn’t understand. That she was a Banshee, descended from a long line of Banshees, and it started when two girls lied about their friend’s death to the deceased girl’s mother, who happened to be a witch. She cursed the two girls to see visions of death and weep. Apparently, it could skip generations, so as far as Eva knew, she had been the first in her family with such visions, but if any of her ancestors were, she didn’t know about them, possibly because they had been locked up and lobotomized, as was practiced many years ago. 

Before coming to Green Clover Academy, Eva thought about being lobotomized, desiring anything to ease her sorrow. 

Now she was surrounded by others like her, who understood her, and surprisingly, a Leprechaun was the only one who could extinguish her pain. It was remarkable, since a Banshee’s mind is the last place a Leprechaun would want to go, and even if he wanted to, a barrier around her mind kept him out. And as Mr. Quinn stated, has never happened, according to his knowledge. 

But Lucas could penetrate her mind, breaking through that cursed barrier. He could go inside other people’s minds as well, regular people, those not under a curse, and make them believe anything. He could also transform into a black fog, vanish, teleport, and reappear wherever he wished. Anyone on the outside looking in would say he was dangerous, but he didn’t seem malicious. He really liked her, unlike a certain lead rock singer that Eva was desperately trying to forget about.

“No. I’m not having visions, and I only cried once, when I read the letter you left me,” she half-lied. “Thank you for it. It’s good to know you care about me.”

There were more tears then, by all. They said their goodbyes and lots of “I love you” and “I love you too.” Eva could never tell her parents who she was. They wouldn’t believe her. She knew they truly did care for her, but they would rather believe Dr. Quincy Lang, with all his dozens of degrees than Headmaster Quinn, who could disappear and reappear right in front of their eyes.

She wished the headmaster would, but that still wouldn’t help her. No one, besides the other Banshees, knew what it was like to have such horrific visions. It was a nightmare kind of life.

12

A Secret, Exposed

It was Friday and Eva had all new classes: Spanish, Art, and then P.E. Therapy time wasn’t on the schedule unless a student needed it. Actually, she felt glad to have a break from the sessions. To just hear about everyone else’s visions, their horrors, made Eva feel like that something was wrong with the world. Why were they going through all of this? All because of a curse? Could it be undone? Hasn’t anyone even tried? Eva thought it wasn’t fair that she and the rest of the girls were being punished for something their ancestors did.

On her way to class, she happened to cross paths with Devin, who surprise, surprise, vanished. Frustrated, she was glad when she got to Spanish with Professor John McManus, a handsome man, in his early thirties, with chestnut brown hair. All the students suspected that he and the flirtatious English professor, Rosanna Darcy, were seeing each other. Suspicions were confirmed when Liam said he saw the two professors kissing.

“It was just before breakfast,” he recounted, as they sat in a group, working on Spanish introductions. Eva had no trouble with this assignment given her time in Miami. But she was used to more slang. “They were pretty hot and heavy,” he continued. “Makin’ out near the public restrooms.”

Meg raised her eyebrow. “Right near the cafeteria? But anyone could’ve seen them.”

Liam shrugged, smiling. “I guess when you need a kiss, you need a kiss.”

“I need a kiss,” Corrine muttered.

“Well, darlin’, ya should’ve said somethin’ before.”

Liam reached over and planted a sweet and slow kiss on her lips. When they pulled apart, Corrine’s mouth hung open in shock, and Liam’s eyelids hung low, very pleased with the encounter. They went back to kissing until Professor McManus had to break them up.

“That’s not the kind of
introduction
I had in mind for this lesson,” said the professor, resting his hands on his green belt. But he smiled as if it wasn’t a terrible way that Liam had “introduced” himself to Corrine.

Liam threw his hands out, smiling. “What? This ain’t French class?”

Professor McManus shook his head, but smiled too, and said, “Kiss on your own time, Liam.” Then he walked back to the front of the classroom and wrote their homework assignment on the board.

Since it was only an hour class, the time flew quickly, and soon the bell rang for dismissal.

Liam smirked at Corrine. “Whaddya say Corrine? Should we continue our
introductions
on our own time?”

“Sí,” she responded, smiling.

Liam smiled back, grabbed her hand, and they walked out of the classroom, not even acknowledging their friends or saying, “See ya next in Art.” They were occupied in each other.

Meg smiled at the two new lovebirds. “They look so cute together.” She turned to Finn, who had been able to stay visible, while he and Meg sat right next to each other. “Don’t they look cute together?” she asked him.

“Uh…yeah, I guess,” he said, shrugging.

“You don’t mind him seeing your ex?” she asked.

Eva could tell that Meg was up to something. 

He furrowed his brow. “No. I don’t think about her that way anymore.”

Eva watched them, holding the straps of their satchels against their chests, nervous.

“Oh…well, who do you think about?” Meg asked in quiet voice.

Finn opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Lucas, who barreled in with the third and fourth years, scheduled for the second block of Spanish, which was the more advanced class.

“Hey, baby!” He grabbed Eva, holding her in his arms.

But Eva kept her focus on Finn and Meg. Finn left first, slowly walking out, eyeing Meg, who was following close behind him. Then they were out in the hallway, and she couldn’t see them anymore. She had to follow them to Art and spy in on their conversation. She just knew that a spark was ready to ignite—a spark of love, maybe just like Liam and Corrine. 

She was really happy for them, and it made her hopeful that Devin might come around, ditch Bree, and proclaim his love for her. But she knew that probably wouldn’t happen. Devin couldn’t even stand to be near her, instead twirling the tip of his tongue in circles against Bree’s neck, or so Eva imagined. She had Lucas, but she wanted more. She wanted Devin, even though he didn’t want her. 

Just then, Devin walked into the classroom. He looked at her as if he just saw a ghost, but he didn’t disappear. Instead he quickly walked to the other side of the room and to his desk. Bree followed behind like a lost puppy, sat on his lap, and folded her arms around his neck.

Eva was on the verge of tears, but held back, and decided to play a little game. 

“Hey,” she said to Lucas, grinning. 

She wrapped her arms around his neck, met his lips in a hard clash, and gave it her all, kissing him like never before. She heard a few whistles and an “Ahem” cough from Professor McManus. 

“What’s with everyone today?” asked the professor.

But he didn’t wait for a response, as Professor Rosanna Darcy approached the door frame, and gave him a sweet smile and a wave. The Spanish professor waved back, in a trance, at the object of his affection, and then watched her walk away.

Lucas kept his attention on Eva. “We should kiss like that more often,” he said, holding her tighter against his body.

“Anytime.” She said it loud enough for the whole room to hear, aiming it straight at Devin.

“Better get to class, Eva,” Professor McManus urged softly. 

Eva snuck a peek at Devin, who was ignoring Bree’s desperate attempts for his attention. When their eyes locked, green to green like glistening emeralds, Devin quickly turned away first, but she saw just how sad his eyes looked, with his brow furrowed, and his jaw clenched. 

She felt horrible for using Lucas just to get Devin’s reaction. She felt ashamed. She wanted to plead for Devin to forgive her.

But if Devin truly liked her, he wouldn’t be able to turn away from her. He wouldn’t flee from her. Not like Lucas, who seemed to hold her like an ensnaring vine.

“Got to go,” she told him sweetly.

“Bye, baby.” He gave her another sweet, but quick kiss, and let her go.

When she left the room, and went down the stairs to Art class, she was flushed with excitement and worry. Lucas made her feel like a million bucks, whereas Devin made her feel like a dirty penny on the street that no one cared about, walking on it, over and over, all day. 

Of course, she wouldn’t have minded if Devin did acknowledge her by walking in her path, even knocking against her shoulder, mindlessly going about his day. That would mean that she was worth colliding with, not fleeing from. 

Even though the kiss with Lucas wasn’t bad, great even, she worried that her actions would lead him to get the wrong idea—that Lucas would expect more and more was something she wasn’t ready for. And it didn’t give her any more insight into Devin. Yes, he looked angry and sad, but he often looked like that. If he really liked her, he would’ve thrown Bree off his lap, run over to Lucas, tore him off of Eva, and gave him a good punch in the face. And when Lucas fell and submitted, Devin would hold Eva in his arms, proclaiming, “You’re mine, Eva. You’re mine.” And she would say, “I’m yours.” 

She imagined the scene would look like the cover of a romance novel with Devin bare-chested, and Eva wearing a corset that pushed her breasts up to her neck. They would be standing on the bow of a ship with fluttering sails from gentle winds, and the hot orb of the sun descending below the horizon.

But that was just fantasy. This was real life. And real life sucked.

When she made it to Art class, everyone was already seated. Posters of paintings were plastered along the green walls. A classical one of a demure woman, wearing a bonnet, and sitting in a rocking chair, was next to a modern one, with a bunch of haphazard lines going every which way. Student works of past years were on exhibit: paintings, pencil drawings, clay figurines. They were actually quite good, but Eva was no artist. She could do a mean stick figure man, but that was about it. No work of hers would ever grace the walls of this room.

Professor Gemma Clarke was married to the cook, James Clarke. Both were nice, young, and seemed to be a perfect fit. He liked to create new dishes, and she liked to create new works of art. James made a mess with condiments, and Gemma made a mess with acrylic paints. 

Eva sat down and observed the professor, who was using quick and chaotic brush strokes of different colors on a tall canvas that seemed to be without focus. Her long frizzy brown hair shook as she danced around the canvas in a sleeveless green dress. She had a lone braid at the side of her head that got lost in the thick of her hair, but Eva could spot a green feather tucked in the band at the end.   

Eva sat next to Liam and Corrine, kissing, while the professor’s back was turned to the class. At the table in front of her, sat Meg and Finn, whispering back and forth. Professor Clarke seemed to be in a trance with her masterpiece, so Eva took the opportunity to listen in on their conversation. 

“Do you like me or not?” Meg demanded in a low voice

“Do we have to talk about this now?” Finn asked, uncomfortable.

“Yes!”

“All right. I like you, okay? I like you a lot.”

Meg smiled. “I like you too,” she admitted.

About time!

Eva started clapping, excited. The whole class turned to look at her. Even Liam and Corrine pried their lips from one another, staring at her in confusion. She let her hands fall to her lap, embarrassed.

“Thank you my dear, but I’m not finished,” Professor Clarke said.

The professor smiled at her sweetly. Eva just smiled back, and then stared at her hands, hoping everyone would forget what she had done. 

Liam leaned in front of Corrine, and said to Eva, “Teacher’s pet.”

Eva turned to him, smiling. “Shut up.”

Corrine laughed, and then she and Liam smashed their lips against each other again. Eva glanced at Meg and Finn. Thankfully, they were ignoring her, too busy with each other, smiling, blushing. 

It was so sweet, Eva wanted to cry, but not for sorrow, for joy. Corrine and Liam were together. Meg and Finn were together. Her roommates had found love.   

But as she thought about Bree and Devin, she felt sorrow. She liked Lucas, but he wasn’t Devin. Now Bree had him, and he had her, in more ways than one, if the rumors were true.