Overworld Chronicles Books 1-2: Sweet Blood of Mine & Dark Light of Mine by John Corwin

change. Life doesn't always give us a choice."
    Much as I wanted to dispute her, I knew it was true. But nothing could ever make me hate my mom.
    I gripped her hands. Looked into the deep ocean blue of Mom's eyes and at the fall of a soft blonde lock across her face. Dad always fussed over that lock of hair, saying it couldn't behave as he pushed it behind her ear. I think he loved that rebellious strand because whenever it fell across Mom's face just so, he'd stop what he was doing and stare as though she was the only thing that existed in his universe. I'd thought my parents were one of the rare couples that had found true love. With everything that was going on now, it seemed I was wrong. The thought made me incredibly sad.
    After brunch, Mom went back to work. Dad wasn't at home when I walked in so I pilfered some money from the shoebox with their stack of rainy-day funds in it and treated myself to a day at the movies so I could ignore the loneliness crushing my heart.
    Monday, the day I'd been dreading more than any other, arrived and the anxiety in my chest was palpable: a living malevolent creature with claws in my guts, my heart, and my limbs. I couldn't think straight. Dad was asleep on the couch and Mom had already gone to work when I got up. As I opened the front door, Captain Tibbs jetted between my legs and raced into the yard.
    "Are you leaving me?" I asked.
    He gave me a curt meow. So long and thanks for all the fish. Then he trotted away into the neighbor's hedge.
    "Thanks for abandoning me in my time of need," I said.
    A faint meow from the other side of the hedge was all I received in reply. Now I really was friendless. I took in a deep breath to ward off the crushing pain in my chest and decided to take Dad's car. The school bus would be a pure nightmare.
    Every head seemed to swivel my way as I walked into school. I avoided the gymnasium like the plague. In homeroom, Jenny directed a gleeful smile my way and shook her head.
    "I'll give you this," she said. "When you screw up, you go for broke."
    Annie laughed. "Epic meltdown, dude. God, I love this drama."
    I tried to smile. "I got a little drunk."
    "A little?" Jenny smirked. "Katie hates your guts. You got a lucky punch on her boyfriend and then called her a tramp on Facebook."
    "Yeah, well I guess I won't win Mr. Popularity this year."
    "More like Mr. Infamous."
    Annie giggled. "Mr. Douchebag."
    "I was super drunk," I said, the desperation plain in my voice. "I don't even remember writing that stuff. Can you help me out with Katie?"
    Jenny gave me a "yeah, right" look. "I'm not helping you, Mr. Creep." She and Annie turned their backs to me. Fury roared like an inferno through my chest and into my head. I wanted to pick my desk up and slam it on the floor. Scream to the class that I wasn't a loser. The room wobbled and a wave of dizziness hit me. It would make perfect sense if a blood vessel decided to explode in my head right that second as the universe executed the final punch line to my joke of a life.
    My vision blurred and I winced in anticipation of another headache. Instead, the room snapped back into focus and my head only tingled for a split second. My hand hurt, however. I was clenching something painfully tight. Upon closer examination, I realized I was gripping the snapped-off corner of my desk. I hastily tossed it into my book bag before anyone noticed the vandalism.
    I must be going insane.
    The bell rang and I jetted out of there.
    At lunch, I discovered how Andy Dudowitz, the obscenely fat kid felt. He and his palpable body odor had a table in the corner all to themselves because nobody wanted to be within smelling distance of him. I couldn't find a seat. Everyone locked me out with angry glares or derisive laughs. Even Andy shook his massive head when I looked his way. Mark and Harry shot dark glares when I glanced in their direction. I was positive even the lunchroom ladies would reject me at this point.
    One of the Goth guys motioned