Free Twice Shy by Patrick Freivald Page B

and about the blush. "I feel great, Mom, but I'm kind of freaking out."
    "Well, honey," her mom said, "you're not used to this anymore." She flipped on a penlight and looked into Ani's eyes, nodded to herself, and turned it off. "On the bright side the new serum seems to be working great. That means we're going in the right direction. A very positive sign."
    Ani nodded. "Yeah, it's great, Mom, but can I get a note to go home for the afternoon? So I don't do anything stupid? I'll hand in my homework before I go, get my assignments."
    Her mom spoke up for the benefit of the secretary, diagnosing Ani with a low-grade fever and signing an excuse for her to go home for the afternoon. The day had warmed up into the mid-forties, and home wasn't far, so she walked.
     
    *  *  *
     
    Ani didn't realize she was going to Dylan's house until she was halfway there. She wasn't sure what she was going to say, but they had to have a talk. Had to. The TV flickered through the living room window as she stalked up the sidewalk. She rang the doorbell, then pounded on the door.
    Dylan opened it, shirtless and surprised. "Ani!" He looked funny without his makeup, almost normal. She pushed past him into his living room, noting the cold pizza, the litter of Coke cans on the coffee table, and the paused X-box. He followed her in. "Hey." Like nothing's wrong.
    "Are you home alone?" she asked. She didn't hear anything but the bubbling of the fish tank.
    His smile was self-satisfied under his thousand-yard stare. "Mom's in Buffalo for the week, and she took my sister, so I figured a few days off school would do me some good. What's up?" This scrawny little jerk is telling people I slept with him?
    He gasped in surprise as she grabbed his chin with her left hand and forced him backward. He clutched at her wrist to dislodge it, but he didn't have the strength. The wall shuddered as his head hit it, and he groaned in pain.
    She spoke through clenched teeth. "We need to have a little conversation."
    He swallowed. "Ani, you're hurting me." He slapped at her arm.
    "I know." She lifted. His feet left the ground as he pried at her fingers, his knuckles white.
    "You going to kill me, Ani?" he said, his breath hot on her fingers. "Do it. I want you to." His voice enticed, but his eyes cowered.
    She slammed his head back, and he gasped in pain. "I'm not bluffing," she snarled. His heels banged against the wall as she schooled her voice. "You're going to go to school tomorrow. No piercings, no makeup, no black clothes. You're going to find new friends, and you're never going to talk to or about me to anyone, ever again. Because if you do..." She twisted her hand and his head bent to the side. She smelled urine, and a stain spread on his shorts. She lowered him to eye level, his legs dangling against the floor, and leaned in so that her lips touched his ear. "If you do, I am going to kill you."
    She left him sobbing in the fetal position on the floor.
     
    *  *  *
     
    Her hands shook so much that it took her four tries to get the key into the lock. I almost killed him. I really almost killed him. Once inside, she slid down against the door, held the world at bay, and sobbed without tears.
     

 
     
    Chapter 12
     
     
    Dylan came to school in a Dragonball Z shirt, his hair bleached blond. Ani didn't see him until lunch but had heard all about it from Fey. He hadn't said a word to her, or Jake, or any of the other emos. Perfect.
    "Look at him," Fey said around a mouthful of lukewarm goulash. "Sitting over there with his new friends like he's the shit." From the uncomfortable looks the other kids at the anime table gave him, Ani wasn't sure how friendly they all were. "Where the hell does he get off, thinking he's too good for us?"
    Jake blinked at Ani, then looked sidelong at Fey. "I thought you wanted him to leave you alone."
    Fey poked her fork toward him. "You don't get it. He's disrespecting us." She looked at Ani. "Am I right? It's disrespectful."
    Ani