Heal Me (A Touched Trilogy Book 2) Read Free Page B

Desire. I’m thinking I can have a script together by next week and then we can schedule with one of the film students. I guess that means you’re thinking the same thing.”
    He glanced at me and I wanted to argue, if only for the sake of my pride, but my mouth simply hung open. No one had ever been so rude to me. I couldn’t even remember a single person being even a little mean to me. I wasn’t popular, but everyone liked me. It was part of my gift. I made them feel good, so they wanted to be around me even if they weren’t interested in talking to me.
    The bell rang and he sprang out of his chair, grabbed his books, and took off out of the room. Apparently, we wouldn’t be getting together to work on the project after school.
    “Hey,” Dylan said, coming up behind me.
    He placed his hands on my shoulders and I stiffened at the contact. His touch burned me from the inside out. I tried to focus on breathing normally, on finding the source of his emotions, but it passed through me so quick I couldn’t even get a glimpse of it.
    “You’re really tense. Maybe you can ask Ms. Garcia to let us switch partners. Micah’s so serious. He needs someone like Chloe to help lighten him up.” He began rubbing my arms.
    I scooted out from under his touch and shoved my binder into my backpack. “Sure, why don’t I try to talk to her alone though?”
    “Good idea. She definitely likes you more than me, especially after I blew off that Great Gatsby paper. I’ll see you at lunch.”
    “Um hmm.”
    He leaned down to give me a kiss and I shifted so his lips grazed my cheek. He left and I watched the door swing shut behind him then yawned and widened my eyes, trying to wake them up. He’d completely drained me and I still had over two hours until lunch. I had no idea how I would make it through another two classes when all I wanted to do was lie down and sleep until next week.
    “Lily, is everything all right?” Ms. Garcia said from her desk, looking up at me all concerned. “You seem a little distracted lately and it can’t only be because you don’t like Shakespeare.”
    “Yeah, I’m okay.” I tried to move, to be natural and act anxious to get the day over with like everyone else, but I couldn’t. Hiding my ability had never been that important to me, and while our close friends knew about it, most people simply didn’t believe in what I could do. Ms. Garcia was new enough to the school that she probably had never even heard the rumors about my sisters and me. I wanted to keep it that way. I liked that she treated me normally.
    She got up from her desk and came around to perch on the edge of mine. “You’ve seemed very withdrawn the past few months. If something is going on at home, or with Dylan…”
    “No, I’m just tired. Really. I’ll try to get more sleep tonight.”
    “This is more than simply being tired, Lily. Last year, you were a completely different student. You were always on top of things, eager to learn, an amazing role model for your classmates, and for your sister.” There was no need for her to call Phoebe out by name. “Are you sure there’s nothing more going on?”
    “I’m sure. Honestly, it’s lack of sleep. That’s all. I need to get to bed earlier.”
    “If you’re sure. I want you to know, though, that you can always come talk to me if you need someone to listen.”
    “Thanks.” I tried to give her a reassuring smile, but it felt disjointed and she wasn’t buying it considering the expression she wore. She glanced at her computer screen then back at me.
    “I’m glad you ended up with Micah. He’s needs someone like you in his life right now.”
    Someone like me. The healing me? Or the opinionless, messed up me?
    Dylan met me at the entrance to the cafeteria and I swung my backpack onto my shoulder between us, trying to keep him from touching me again. I needed my energy to make it through the rest of the day.
    “What did Garcia say?” he asked.
    “I tried, but she