I grab Janie’s trembling hand and pull her behind me until we reach our lockers. Janie’s face is pale, and she won’t stop staring at her feet. I place her books in her locker and take her into the lady’s room. I check to make sure no one else is in here with us.
‘Janie, what’s wrong? You’re so pale,’ I say to her.
‘I saw them all at a party tonight. Everyone was drinking. Afterwards, one of the guys at the party offered to drive them home. He was drunk, and they got in anyway. Imogen was in the front passenger seat. Then I saw the car swerve and slam into a tree. Imogen was dead. She had blood dripping down her face. The tree crushed her. Everyone else survived but her,’ she tells me.
‘You predicted Imogen’s death?’ I ask in disbelief.
Janie nods, ‘Grammy said my sight would get stronger. She said I’ll be able to predict events like this as my power strengthens.’
‘The main thing is you’ve told Imogen. You did the right thing telling her.’
‘But they were all laughing at me. What if Imogen doesn’t take it seriously?’ Janie asks me.
Janie’s nose suddenly bleeds. I quickly grab some toilet paper and help her hold it over her nose as she tilts back.
‘My head really hurts, Rose,’ she says quietly.
I bite my lip in thought, ‘Let me worry about Imogen.’
Janie nods, and the bleeding stops, ‘Come, we should get you something to eat and some water,’ I tell her.
We both walk out of the bathroom and head towards the cafeteria. In a blink, Xander appears beside Janie, ‘Are you okay? You’re shaking?’ he says, taking her hand and clasping his hands over hers.
‘I’m fine,’ she lies.
I can tell that Xander picked up she isn’t being truthful, as he frowns.
‘She just needs something to eat. It’s probably her sugar level. We skipped breakfast this morning so we wouldn’t be late here today,’ I explain to Xander.
‘I see,’ he says, unable to detect if I’m being truthful, and walks with us into the cafeteria.
Brad sits with his mates but moves from the table and sits with us.
‘I’ll get you some food,’ Xander says to Janie.
‘Thank you,’ she smiles at him.
‘Hey Rose, you can share my lunch with me,’ Brad smiles and pushes his tray closer my way.
‘Thanks,’ I say, picking up half a plain salad sandwich and taking a bite. I frown and chew slowly as it doesn’t taste as good as last night's steak.
Xander returns with two cold drinks and two sandwiches, handing one to Janie.
Martha enters the cafeteria with Tori, Sandra and Imogen. I smile and wave at them, to their displeasure.
‘I didn’t know you were friends with them?’ Brad says.
‘I’m not. I’m just being the bigger person and being polite,’ I tell him.
‘Oh, that’s really nice,’ he says.
‘What about you?’ I ask him, ‘Are you friends with them?’
‘I guess we are. Martha tries to talk to me at every opportunity she gets,’ he admits.
‘Oh? Do you think she might be into you?’ I ask casually.
‘No, I think she just wants to be seen around me for reputation purposes, seeing as I’m one of the most popular guys here at school,’ he says.
Xander raises his eyebrows and laughs at him.
‘What?’ Brad says, ‘It’s true,’ he adds.
‘I thought you were the cockiest, not the most popular,’ Xander replies.
I almost laugh, but then realise he’s talking about my date, ‘Xander, you’re the one who’s full of yourself.’ I snap at him.
Janie looks between us all with a worried look.
Brad smiles at me for sticking up for him and turns back to Xander, ‘Have you got some kind of problem with me? I tried organising a double date, and you were incredibly rude. Then when I tried to verify the plans yesterday, you acted like you weren’t even listening to me,’ he says.
‘That’s because I wasn’t listening to you. I already had organised a date with Janie and me alone. You used my date with Janie to get a date with Rose. Rose rejected you, Dude. You should have just accepted the rejection like a real man and left it at that.’
Brad crosses his arms and glares at Xander. I place my hand on Brad’s arm and stare at Xander.
‘Actually, I’m very much looking forward to tonight’s date, and I’m glad it’s a double date because I get to hang out with Brad and my best friend, Janie. It’s the best of both worlds. It’s just a shame you will be there,’ I tell him.
Janie pipes in, ‘So, tonight's date isn’t going to be super awkward like it is right now, is it?’ she asks.
We all soften our gaze as we stare into her innocent green eyes, and we all feel a sense of guilt.
‘No,’ we all say simultaneously.
‘It will be a night to remember, I’m sure,’ I say, smiling at her.
‘Yes, a night to remember,’ Xander assures her.
I notice Imogen leave the cafeteria by herself. Martha and the others are still eating. I stand up and smile at Brad, ‘I just remembered I have to go to the library for something. How about you sit back with your mates over there, and we can give these two love birds a few minutes together before the bell rings?’ I say to him.
‘Sure,’ he says, standing. ‘I’ll pick you up at six pm,’ he smiles back and walks away.
‘I’ll see you shortly in class,’ I say to Janie and dash out of the cafeteria.
As I sprint down the twisting hallway, my heart thumps in my chest like a bass drum. Suddenly, I spot Imogen's figure slipping into the ladies' room, and without a second thought, I charge in after her. With a decisive click, I lock the cubicle door behind me, cutting off her protestations mid-sentence.