Don't Tell Mother (12 page)

“Coach Lowe said we didn’t have to listen to her,” Paige’s skin was ash while she spoke, her entire frame trembling. “She said we just had to have fun.”

I thought I saw steam shooting from Stanley’s ears. “There’s nothing
fun
about getting your butts stomped!”

“We know that now,” Paige turned her mouth down as her gaze dropped to the floor.

The rest of the team nodded in agreement before I felt their gazes on me.

A warm feeling crept into my chest and curled around my insides. Not like an uncomfortable feeling. Kind-of like Mother hugging me the other night. For the first time in a while, I felt like my team respected me.

Maybe even liked me.

They risked a lot by taking my defense. If Coach Stanley was anything like her sister, they’d all be doing laps until they puked.

At the sound of Stanley’s ear-shattering whistle, I thought I’d jump out of my skin.

“Forty laps for everyone!” she barked. “AJ, suit up and get your butt on that court, you’ve got thirty laps!”

I hastily changed into my practice uniform. Although coach had only given me thirty laps, I was determined to do forty. My team and I were in this together.

Despite Lowe’s attempts to get the team to hate me, I actually thought I saw respect reflected in their apologetic faces.

Maybe now they understood what it took to be a winning team. I made a mental note not to be so hard on them. This season, they might actually invite me to a party.

One problem down, only a few major issues left.

Chapter Twelve

Thursday night, and I still hadn’t gained any ground with my mother. I’d tried everything to convince her not to let Mike go on that trip—everything short of confessing my dream. I’d Googled the statistics on snowboarding related deaths and injuries and showed her the risks. Mother had just asked Ted to go over safety instructions with Mike.

Then I suggested we spend my break on a horrifying family trip instead of letting Mike go to Hell’s Peak. Mother and Ted took me up on the offer, promising we’d go camping after Mike came back. If they only realized he’d be dead.

Finally, I bribed Mike that I’d do all of his chores for a year if he didn’t go snowboarding. He just laughed and told Mother she needed to take me back to the therapist.

If only Grandma were here. She’d know what to do, which only brought my aggravation to a new level. She knew my dream was real, so why wasn’t she helping me? Why’d she just give up and leave her grandson’s life to chance?

Frustration mounting at every thwarted attempt to cancel the trip, I’d let my failure consume me. Concern over Mike’s imminent death was making me lose focus on my game. And forget concentrating on studying for finals this week. I’d blown my game, my grades, my life.

Only one option left; I had to make Mother realize my gift was real. That I was a psychic, but I was not a freak. She could no longer deny my gift—
or hers.

As I gnawed on a pencil at the kitchen counter, I looked down at the equations I was studying for algebra. Oh, well, I pretty much knew equations. Hopefully, I’d remember enough to pass the test tomorrow.

“Studying for finals, dear?” Mother came into the kitchen and poured a tall glass of diet lemonade.

I leveled a hard stare in her direction. “Mike’s gonna die if you let him go.” Since other methods of persuasion failed, I might as well be blunt.

She nearly choked on her drink. “Excuse me?”

“I saw it in a dream. My dreams
always
come true.” I fought to keep my voice flat, calm. No need to provoke Mother further. “It’s my gift. Just like Grandma has a gift, just like
you
have a gift.”

Mother slammed her cup on the counter. “Allison Jenette, the only gift you have is the gift of imagination.”

Rising from my chair, I pounded the counter with my fists. “Deny it and you’ll be pouring dirt on Mike’s grave this Sunday.”

“Allison!” she gasped. “How can you speak such horrible things?”

“I speak the truth, Mother.” Pointing my finger at her, rage infused my voice. “You know it.” Was she so afraid that in accepting my gift she’d ruin her normal life? Well, her perfect little world was about to come crashing down with Mike’s death. How would she cope then knowing she could have saved him but she let fear and prejudice cloud her judgment?

“Allison, go to your room.” Mother’s bottom lip trembled before she cupped her mouth with her hand.

My gaze narrowed as I watched Mother struggle to still her shaking limbs.

Was she hiding her fear from me?

Or herself?

Storming off to my room, I’d decided to give Mother a chance to cool down. Maybe she’d allow her thoughts to settle and she’d see I was right.

If not, what else could I do to save my brother’s life? I wished Grandma were here to help me.

Throwing myself onto the bed, the tension from the week washed over me and came out in dry, convulsing sobs. I’d cried too much these past few days and doubted I had any tears left.

As I closed my eyes, dark thoughts consumed me. Fear of losing my only sibling gripped my heart, squeezing my chest until I thought it would burst. If Mother wouldn’t do anything, I had to find another way to save him. But how?

Lost in a spinning vortex of despair, an ominous cloud swirled around my brain, stripping my mind of the power to think. Yawning into the pillow, I remembered I hadn’t slept much this week. Maybe I just needed some rest. Then, I could wake and think of a plan. Right now, the only thing separating my brother and a several hundred drop of unforgiving ice was me.

****

The ear-piercing squeal of skidding brakes and the thunderous sound of crashing metal filled my brain, gripped my soul, as shivers of dread raced down my spine. Sitting up in bed, a profusion of cold sweat dampened my skin. This was a dream. I could tell by the hazy feeling in my head. As I fumbled for the light switch by my bed, I noted how the smooth texture of my blanket, the glare from the overhead light, felt so real.

This was no ordinary dream. This was a powerful vision.

I choked back the rising bile in my throat, realizing that whatever I was meant to see, had something to do with the crash I’d heard outside.

Was I about to see another death? Trying to quell my shaking limbs, I didn’t know if I was prepared to see who was next. I slowly slipped on my shoes and then reached for my jacket, not really sure I wanted to go outside. But I had to go. I had to know who was in that accident. I’d never forgive myself if I denied my power to prevent a death.

As I opened my bedroom door and stepped into the darkened hallway, I marched toward the front entrance. Each step seemed to take an eternity. A nauseating feeling of dread settled in the pit of my stomach, and I felt as if I was marching to my own funeral.

By the time I opened the front door, neon red and blue lights already glowed against the night sky. Trying to still my shaking limbs, I breathed deeply. A cold, stale stench permeated my senses, leaving a dull, metallic taste on my tongue. Somehow, I knew that was the taste of death.

Someone died in that car accident.

Now I just had to walk across the street and find out who.

Sounded so easy, but icy fear clenched my muscles, making it difficult to breathe, let alone move.

Go, AJ. You need to see the future so you can save them.

Putting one foot in front of the other, I walked onward, wedging the distance between me and the tangled heap of metal wrapped around a light pole in front of my house.

Then the trickling ice which had seeped into my veins froze solid. Somehow, among the twisted wreckage I recognized the familiar Greenwood High Honor Student bumper sticker. The perfectly polished gold paint of Mother’s car was now crumpled and burned, as if a dragon had set it on fire. A large black truck had plowed into the side of Mother’s car, and now the two vehicles were an extension of each other, like a twisted tree branch.

There was no way anyone could have survived that.

My gaze shifted from the horrible site, drawn to an eerie glow beside the wreckage; a shimmery-blue dress lay surrounded by a pool of crimson.

A scream tore through my throat at the site of my mother’s lifeless body. My step-dad was lying a few feet away. Both were motionless. Their cold, blank stares gazed at the starlight.

Turning away, I vomited onto the pavement, retching so hard, I fell to the cold surface. Mindless of the pain that shot through my leg, I closed my eyes before I was swallowed up in a maelstrom of pain and depression.

****

“AJ, AJ, wake up! What’s wrong?”

Opening my eyes to the blinding light, I realized Mother was kneeling beside me, and I was lying on my bedroom floor, gagging on my own vomit.

“Sit up, darling,” she soothed while stroking my forehead. “Ted, bring me a glass of water,” she said over her shoulder to a shadowy figure standing in my doorway. As I listened to the sound of retreating footsteps, I realized Mother and Ted were still alive—for now.

I wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, but I knew a dream that powerful would come to pass unless I could prevent it.

“Mother,” I moaned.

“I’m here, baby.” She continued to stroke my hair while wiping the puke off my mouth and neck with a towel.

Her touch felt so good, so soothing. Just like a mother comforting a child. Huh, kind-of hard to believe. As I dropped my spinning head back in her lap, I wanted to soak up all her love before I broke the news. Before she turned me away for being a freak.

“Here’s the water.” Ted knelt beside us and handed Mother the glass.

“Drink this,” she said. “It will make you feel better.”

Sitting up, my head spun only slightly before my eyes were able to focus on their concerned expressions. Mother’s eyes were large and moist with dark shadows framing her brow. Ted’s mouth was set in a grim line. For a moment, they looked as if
I
had been in an accident.

I hesitantly took a sip of water. It was cool and soothing. My throat had felt on fire, probably from choking on vomit.

After finishing the entire glass, I wiped my mouth with the back of my sleeve and handed the glass to Mother.

“Feel better?” she smiled.

“No.” I said the word before I had time to think. Maybe tonight wasn’t a good time to tell them about the dream, but when was a good night to break the news? I didn’t know when the accident was going to happen and I couldn’t risk losing them and my brother. The thought of my entire family—dead—overwhelmed my emotions and I broke into a fresh wave of tears.

“What’s wrong with her?” Ted asked.

“I don’t know,” Mother said as she pulled me against her chest. “Maybe we should call a doctor.”

“No, I don’t need a doctor. I need you to listen,” Pulling away from my mother, I groaned in between sobs, knowing panic had crept into my voice. I felt like an actress in a bad horror flick, but I couldn’t help my emotions. I’d just seen the corpses of my parents.

Ted reached over and patted me on the back. “We’re listening, AJ.”

Mother tried to wipe my eyes with the towel, but I pushed it away. Our gazes locked, and I saw her fear, saw how she tried not to blink as her eyes widened. She knew I had a vision. “I had a dream you both died in an accident,” I said as flatly as possible, trying to reign in my emotions.

“Oh, is that all?” Ted laughed while squeezing my shoulder. “You’re awake now, and the dream is over.”

“No, it isn’t. Don’t you get it?” The staccato of my voice climbed higher as my panic increased. “My dreams always come true.” What if they refused to believe me?

Ted looked at me with a blank stare before turning his questioning gaze to Mother. “Margaret, what is she talking about?”

“I…I don’t know.” Her lips trembled as she looked away.

Why couldn’t she look me in the eyes?

“Yes, you do!” I shrieked.

Ted shook his head. “Margaret, I don’t think she’s fully awake. Maybe she’s having one of those waking dreams.”

“You’re right,” Mother whispered hoarsely, her voice laced with emotion.

Ted placed his arms around me and lifted me into bed. “Let’s get her back to sleep. Then I’ll help you clean up this mess.” He nodded to the pile of puke on the floor.

Mother mumbled an agreement.

My hair still reeked from the stench of vomit fumes, but I didn’t care. I laid there helplessly while I watched them wipe up the carpet. I was too exhausted to fight. Every muscle in my body burned like I’d just run five hundred laps around the court.

Closing my eyes against the glare of the overhead light, I just wanted to pretend tonight really had been a bad dream. My mother and father weren’t really going to die.

But I knew the truth.

Despite her refusal to accept my freakish power, I sensed Mother knew the truth, too.

Now she just had to accept it before it was too late.

Chapter Thirteen

School was torture. How could I sit through eight long hours of exams and lectures, knowing my family would soon be gone forever? I knew my exam scores would suck. My science and algebra teachers had scheduled exam day for today, and those were no easy subjects. I had a difficult time focusing with the image of my dead parents haunting my every thought.

Seeing Bob at school didn’t help my conflicting emotions. He was greener and cuter than ever, but something was different about him as I watched him walk slowly out of first period, eyes downcast and shoulders slumped. I noticed him several more times throughout the day. His sad face haunted me. Had my breakup really hurt him?

Why?

Bob should’ve been happy to be rid of me. My mother hated him. Everyone at school thought I was a bully. It’s not like I hung out with him that much, anyway.

Sophie and Krysta were no help. They kept nagging me about Mike. What was I going to do to stop him? Accusing me of giving up.

I hadn’t given up. I’d tried everything. Everything! How could I save him when Mother wouldn’t listen?