Free Death Screams by Tamara Rose Blodgett

groupies and he smirked, smug. That a-hole, he knew the chicks dug him. Not that it mattered. The irony was not lost on me.
    " Whatever..." Jonesy started, scowling at Tiff, who grinned widely back at him, popping a bubble.
    " So you're a Precog and a Lock-Manipulator both?" John asked.
    Archer nodded. "I'm like Jade. I'm an LM, but I have a dash of Precog." He shrugged. "It's not that useful though. My visions come in dream form, I sketch out what I can remember and so far, until today, it hasn't meant anything."
    Until today.
    There was a swollen silence and Jonesy burst it like an errant bubble, "Okay, so... I'm diggin' on your skill set, Archer. You're in."
    " In what?" he asked, a confused look covering his face.
    " Our coolness, dude. Our group. Our posse..." Jonesy said as if he was retarded.
    " Oh," Lewis said.
    " Come on pal, you can ride in my car," Bry said.
    Archer took one look at Bry's wheels and couldn't keep the fear reined in.
    Bry looked offended but Mia giggled and said, "You can ride with me, stud."
    Archer brightened and followed Mia to her tin can. The Toaster, us guys called it.
    They squeezed in there together. Cozy.
    Bry scowled, his hands becoming fists as Mia roared out of the parking lot with Tiff and Sophie crammed in the back like sardines in a can, Lewis riding shotgun.
    " Calm your tits, Weller," Jonesy said, clapping Bry a good one. "He's gay. G. A. Y. Gay. He's not gonna move in on Mia. Not that you're making any progress ya gigolo."
    John laughed and Alex shrugged.
    " And you're one to talk?" Bry roared.
    " He's got ya there, Jones," Alex said on a smirk.
    I was silent. My mind tumbling around Jade.
    A Precognitive sketch featuring Jade.
    In the throes of death.
    Jade and I walked to Bry's car, a death-trap for sure.
    It surged to life, the engine struggling, our restraints binding us together. I looked at Jade, a warm and fragrant presence pressed up against my side.
    She kissed the side of my neck, her lips burning where they touched my flesh. "It'll be okay."
    I looked down at her, afraid for the future.
    A future without her.

CHAPTER 7
     
     
    Our bellies were full. The guys had taken down a triple batch of chili and an entire casserole dish of cornbread and half a bottle of honey. The girls looked at us as we gorged like a pulse-movie (cheap entertainment, ah-huh). A gallon sized milk carton stood empty on the kitchen table.
    Mom smirked. "Are you fellas going to need some more... sustenance?"
    I felt like I was gonna puke. That was usually my cue to stop eating. I don't know if John had that internal barometer as he was holding out for thirds.
    Jonesy said, "Thanks Ali, that whole deal at the school worked me up into a fine appetite."
    Mom gave me a significant look and I sighed. I didn't really want to go into the whole thing with the group here. Especially the uber-awkwardness of Lewis Archer. I knew Mom would be down with it (remember, everyone gets a break in her world).
    " I'm sure Caleb will fill me in on everything later. And," she smiled as she stroked my hair and I died watching my friends smirk, "my boy seems to have come out unscathed."
    Jonesy brightened. "Actually, his balls got bounced around pretty good by Brett," Jonesy expounded.
    I so didn't need my mom to know that. And, my girlfriend was all ears too.
    " Thanks, Jones," I said with menace.
    " No problemo, Romeo," he winked.
    Asshole.
    Jade looked at me with concern. Holy hell.
    John saved the day. "Where's your wheels, Caleb?"
    I sighed with relief. "Gramps has it."
    Alex and Bry perked up. "Oh yeah? What's Mac doin'?" Bry asked and Mom pursed her lips. I glossed over the details.
    " He's putting some modifications on the motor," I said as neutrally as possible.
    Of course, that tipped all my friends off that something interesting was going on. I was a slow learner.
    " Yeah, he fixed up my rig really good," Bry admitted with gratitude.
    " He welded your door on, moron," Tiff said, smacking gum.
    Mom looked at her,