Wide Awake - Academy of the Fallen Series by Daniele Lanzarotta

wouldn’t make it through the day.
     
    Hunter was waiting for me in the parking lot when I got to school.  I was exhausted, cranky, and just the sight of Hunter made me think of how badly Benjamin would be able to physically hurt him.  And did I mention I was exhausted?  My brain was definitely not working the way it should have been.
     
    I got out of the car and Hunter said we needed to talk.
     
    “No, you need to leave me alone,” I said.
     
    “You don’t mean that.”
     
    “Uh, yes.  I do mean it.”
     
    I walked away and he just stood there for a couple of seconds before he started to follow me.
     
    I turned around and snapped.  “What do you want from me?”
     
    “I want to help you.”
     
    “I don’t need your help!”
     
    At that moment, Justin walked by and put his arm around my shoulder.  He locked his gaze on Hunter’s and said.  “Is he bugging you, Kay?”
     
    Like I said, I was sort of almost brain-dead at that point.  I didn’t know what was Justin’s deal, but I played his little game.  That was a good way to get Hunter to stay away from my problems.
     
    I put my arm around Justin’s waist.  “Nah, he was just leaving.  Right, Hunter?”
     
    Hunter just shook his head and walked away.  He seemed frustrated, but definitely not as frustrated as I was.  For one thing I didn’t like feeling the way I was feeling; I hated the way I felt as he walked away…. helpless… alone…  All I really wanted was to tell Justin to get his hands off me, and to go after Hunter.
     
     
     

 
    ELEVEN
     
     
     
    “Get your hands off me.”  I warned Justin.
     
    “Oh, okay.  I see you just wanted to use me and now we are done?  Fine with me.  All I wanted was to get him back for yesterday anyway.”
     
    I walked away from Justin before I completely lost my mind.
     
    I ignored everything and everyone that day.  Jess even made some remark about me spending like three seconds with Hunter and starting to act like him…socially challenged, as she put it.  I told her I was just having a bad day and she finally left me alone.
     
    Same thing at home… I told Kelly I had too much homework and that was enough to be left alone.
     
    I was in my room watching TV when I finally started to doze off.
     
    The sudden temperature drop and his finger running through my hair were enough to startle me.
     
    I quickly got up and moved to the other side of the room,  “What do you want?”
     
    “Ah, Kayla!”  That was the first time he had ever said my name, and I hated the way he said it.  “Un-patient just like your daddy…”
     
    “Andrew is not…”
     
    He laughed.  “I’m not talking about your adoptive father.”
     
    I froze in place.
     
    He came closer to me and I took a few steps back.  He kept moving forward until I was trapped against the wall.  He stopped inches away from me… looking as if he was able to see right through me.
     
    “Don’t worry, we will talk more about your daddy....  Just when the time is right.”
     
    He vanished and I just sat on the floor and started to cry.
     
    Another night spent fully awake.  Only this time, I couldn’t even think straight.  I was just afraid of seeing him again. 
     
    I drank coffee, a lot of coffee.
     
    I didn’t go to school the next day.  I told Kelly I wasn’t feeling well and with the lack of sleep, it sure seemed believable.
     
    I wandered around the house, trying to find things to do that would keep me from sleeping. 
     
    I wasn’t sure how long exactly someone could go without sleep before they started having hallucinations, but two days and nights with no sleep were enough to convince Dr. Moulder that I needed serious help.
     
    That afternoon I had my second session.  I tried to get out of it, but Kelly insisted on me keeping that appointment.  She drove me there herself and I was too tired to fight it.
     
    I sat on the couch across from Dr. Moulder as she asked if there was anything in