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scare me, that was all. I was already scared enough as it was and that little exchange hadn’t helped one bit.
    The rest of the day dragged until it was time for World History. When Ethan showed up he didn’t even look in my direction once, despite my trying desperately to get his attention. When the bell rang, he was gone and this time I was too slow to catch up to him.
    Peter was waiting for me at my locker when I arrived.
    “Hey, beautiful. Want a ride home?” he asked.
    This was surprising. He normally spent time with his buddies after school. Football, basketball, whatever was in season. I got the weekends. They got the weekdays.
    “You don’t need to suck up to me,” I told him. “I said I forgive you for the pool thing.”
    “I can’t just be a nice guy? Or would you rather walk?”
    I wasn’t complaining. A chauffeur would really be nice right about now.
    “Do you want to go to the mall?” I asked.
    He slid his arm around my back and directed me to the door. “Sorry, but right after I drop you off I have plans with the guys.”
    He had the grace to look guilty. He was trying to get on my good side again by offering the ride. Nice to know he cared.
    “Don’t worry about it. I’ll just keep avoiding my mother.”
    “You’ll become a pro at it.”
    “I think I already am.”
    Peter dropped me off in my driveway and I went inside. I tried to avoid my mother who was lurking in the kitchen when I got home, and I attempted to remain calm and think about things that didn’t include fire and death. I ended up watching a lot of television and going to bed early.
    In my nightmares I was running very fast, but knew the creatures chasing me would catch me and devour me. I woke up and turned on all the lights, as if that would help, and spent the rest of the night tossing and turning. What seemed bad during the day turned into a true horror movie in the middle of the night.
    A hundred years, Bree said. Whatever this Upyri was, it hadn’t been around for a hundred years.
    But it was here now.
    My fear was here to stay, and it was eating away at me like acid. I had to find out whatever I could on my own and then make my decision about what was true and what were lies.
    On Wednesday, I ate lunch with Helen and Peter and everyone else, but my mind was a million miles away. I scanned the cafeteria for Ethan, but he was nowhere to be seen. He hadn’t been in class this morning. If he was purposefully trying to avoid me, he was doing an excellent job.
    “Hello?” Peter said after last class. I leaned against my locker, staring off into the distance, lost in my thoughts. “Earth to Olivia, come in, Olivia.”
    Helen rolled her eyes. “Don’t bother. I think her brain’s gone on vacation.”
    I blinked as their voices finally got through to me. “Yeah, sign me up for Florida, please. I’ll leave tonight.”
    “Is there something wrong with you this week?” Peter asked.
    “Nothing’s wrong.” I cleared my throat and grabbed my bag out of my locker. “I’m fine.”
    “No she’s not fine,” Helen said. “But she refuses to tell me what’s bothering her.”
    “Nothing’s bothering me,” I insisted. I didn’t want to tell them anything, but I was failing miserably at acting normal.
    “We’re still okay, right?” Peter said. “You’re not thinking about ditching me on Saturday night, are you?”
    That got my attention. My gaze snapped to his and I realized he was grinning.
    Okay, he was trying to be funny, not serious. As if I’d dump him right before prom.
    “Strange,” I said, shaking my head. “I keep forgetting about Saturday.”
    Peter and Helen exchanged a glance.
    “Now I know what’s wrong with her,” Helen said. “Her brain’s been abducted by aliens and taken to another universe. Do you need a ride, Liv?”
    “No, I’m fine, thanks anyway. I need to stop at the library downtown on my way home.”
    “The library? Who goes to the library anymore?”
    I didn’t flinch. “I