I rolled over, but my eyes didn’t want to open. They felt sealed shut with dried-up tears. I rubbed them gingerly; the lids still felt puffy. My nose refused to breathe.
“Yeah, I’m up,” I muttered. My mom walked into my room at the same time I realized I might have wings. When she didn’t scream or ask why I was wearing a Halloween costume, I figured I was okay. Lucky for me, the wings seem to disappear when I fall asleep.
“Are you just getting up? I thought you’d gotten up hours ago,” she said, her eyes summing up my appearance.
I cast a glance at my vanity mirror. The night had not been kind to me at all; my face was splotchy, my eyes puffballs, and my hair a tangled bird’s nest.
Mack would love this, I thought, running my fingers through the knots. At the thought of my friend, something dawned on me. Why was Kory at Mack’s house in the first place? What did he have to do with all this? Was it just because he and Blake were good friends?
Realizing my mom was waiting for an answer, I said, “Uh… yeah, I sort of slept in, I guess. I didn’t feel too good last night.” Thank heavens it’s Saturday. Can’t imagine going to school today.
“Well, that explains all the noises in your room. I almost checked on you, sounded like you had a fitful sleep.”
I bit my lip and continued running my fingers through my hair.
“Well, are you feeling up to company?” my mom asked.
“Um, I guess.”
“Okay, why don’t you hop in the shower? I’m sure Blake won’t mind waiting ten minutes. He got home last night.”
My stomach dropped. Blake. I frowned. I should feel terror but instead, a surge of excitement coursed through me. I’d missed him so desperately for days it was like my body had conveniently forgotten about last night’s reveal.
Blake’s a dragon… a creepy, lying, jerk! And I don’t mean anything to him.
I must have nodded because my mom said, “Okay, I’ll let him know,” and left the room, shutting the door behind her.
My heart squeezed as I tried to embrace the truth. I’ve only been a game for him. Like Kory said, I’m his puppet. Something he wanted to manipulate, chase, hunt… and then catch.
As much as it killed me inside, there was a small corner of my heart that refused to believe it. I’d felt his concern over my welfare, I’d swear it was sincere. I’m a fool. Since when was I a good judge in guys? Look at Jeremy, my one real boyfriend—a total jerk.
I didn’t know how long I sat on my bed, frozen with indecision, when I finally glared at my reflection in the mirror. Blake thinks he caught me. Well, he doesn’t know that I know. And I’m not his prize. I squared my shoulders as the tears cascaded my cheeks.
I wasn’t giving him the satisfaction of knowing I’d fallen for him, that I’d fulfilled his prophecy. What was he going to do then? I tried to ignore Kory’s words about ‘bad’ dragons. I refused to believe Blake could be one of them. I couldn’t imagine him hurting anyone… then the image of the squirming kid Blake had effortlessly lifted off the ground with one arm filled my mind. Still, that’d been for me… I groaned. That’d all been a show. Oh, how he must have been laughing inside, reveling in playing the hero!
I can’t do this. The tears burst free again. I can’t face Blake. How could he do this to me? I buried myself in my covers, sobbing into my pillow. So much for telling myself I’d only cry over him last night. A few minutes later, there was a soft knock on my door.
“Samantha?” my mom’s voice called through the wood that separated us. “Are you getting in the shower?”
“No. Mom, can you tell Blake I’m too sick to see him today?” I managed to get out, choking back my tears long enough to talk.
There was a pause, and then my mom said softly, “Okay, honey. I will. Get some sleep.”