The Weight of Blood (55)

Papa only stared, unblinking.

“Say something.”

His eyes narrowed as if weighing her threat.

“Papa, say something!” she shrieked, tears streaming down her face.

Nothing.

She tilted her chin up, glaring at him, blood boiling. The clock stopped ticking. She lifted her hand and snapped her fingers. Every single candle in the house lit up, flames shooting high. Papa’s eyes bulged at the scene, a fist to his mouth. His father’s church candles melted onto the green carpet. He took a staggering step back, shaking his head, mumbling prayers.

Maddy snapped her fingers again and the flames snuffed out.

Smoke swirled around the room. Breathing heavy, Papa struggled to find his tongue.

Maddy nodded, pleased with herself, and walked into the kitchen. She set the hot comb, grease, and clips on the table and turned the burner on without touching the stove.

It was time to do her hair.





Fourteen


May 28, 2014

CHRIS LEAPED IN the air and caught the ball with both hands.

“Whew! That boy good,” Kenny shouted, clapping.

Chris laughed, jogging back to the middle of the field.

The guys had wanted to have a friendly game of touch after school, but Kenny had strict orders not to engage in anything that could cause an injury before training camp. So they’d settled on tossing the ball around instead, recruiting a couple of their teammates to join them. Kenny took a moment to appreciate that it would be the last time they shared a field, and to be honest, he missed the simplicity of just throwing the rock around with his brothers. They’d been through it all the last four seasons.

Chris threw the ball across to a sulking Jason.

“Still don’t see why we can’t play touch,” Jason said, his voice hard.

Kenny shrugged with a smile. “Coach said I can’t. You know how it is.”

Jason paused, his eyes narrowing. He didn’t know. He’d probably sit out his entire first season. “Whatever,” Jason mumbled, tossing the ball to Kenny.

Kenny gripped the ball, squinting at Jason. What was his problem?

Ever the peacekeeper, Chris toggled his eyes between them. “Uhhh . . . so you guys get your tuxes yet?”

Kenny tore his eyes from Jason and flicked the ball over to Chris. “Uh . . . naw. I was waiting for Maddy to tell me what color her dress was, but I guess I should just put an all-black on hold.”

“You get her a corsage? My mom flipped when I told her I hadn’t. I mean, how am I supposed to know all these stupid rules?”

“Yeah,” Kenny chuckled. “My mom is gonna order the corsage and one of those flower things you pin on your jacket.”

“Isn’t the girl supposed to buy that?” Chris asked.

“Yeah, but Mom said she probably wouldn’t know about that ’cause of her dad, and well . . . guess I really didn’t want her spending money on me.”

Maddy still hadn’t emailed or called. Wasn’t she interested in getting to know him too? Some girls would kill for the chance to be alone with him. But Maddy isn’t like other girls, he reminded himself. She was different.

He liked different.

“Oh, that’s real cool, bro,” Chris said. “Yo, you about to give her the best night of her life!”

Kenny grinned. Why did the thought of making her happy make him feel so . . . good?

“Yo, bro, don’t you think you’re laying it on kinda thick?”

The boys turned to Jason.

“What?” Kenny barked.

Jason tossed the ball. “We get it, okay? You’re the town’s freaking golden boy. Now you’re taking the class reject to prom. It’s a little over the top, don’t you think?”

Kenny rolled his eyes. “Whatever, man. Just worry about your game and stop worrying about mine.” He chucked the ball back to Jason using his full force, knowing it would hurt his hands when he caught it.

Jason glared at him then chuckled, tossing it back. “Oh, I get it now,” Jason said, grinning. “It’s like those guys who take mercy dates like the fucking mental rejects to prom, so they look like the hero and stuff. Chicks love that shit! Guaranteed pussy.”

Kenny let the ball slip out of his hand, stepped over it, and marched across the field toward Jason. “What the fuck did you just say?”

“Oh boy,” Chris quipped, racing in between them. “Uh, guys? Hold on, wait!”

Jason laughed. “Relax, bro. I’m only kidding.”

Kenny stormed up to him, standing nose to nose. “Don’t call her that.”

Jason leaned back with an incredulous stare. “Are you serious? It was just a joke!”

“Doesn’t matter. Don’t fucking call her that,” he said, his tone deadly.

Chris shook his head. “Yeah, dude, that’s so not cool.”

Jason narrowed his eyes and flung his hand up. “You know what? I’m sick of this shit,” he spat, pointing at Kenny. “Ever since you got into Alabama, you’ve been up on your high horse, looking down at the rest of us. Now you’re using Maddy to show off. It’s bullshit. She doesn’t even deserve to go to prom.”

Kenny scoffed. “Yo, what did Maddy ever do to you?”

“What did she do? She got Jules kicked out of school and college!”