At First Touch by Mattie Dunman Read Free Book Online

been since I had willingly allowed someone other than my Dad to hold me.
    “Jeez, are you ok? I’ve been trying to wake you for over a minute. You were really out of it.”  Carey asked, his eyes intent on mine.
    “Her eyes…they’re amazing… It’s like she’s seeing straight through me…so pretty, with her hair all messed up like that…she feels so good…”
    I gently disengaged and sat up straight, shutting off the switch that had opened my mind to his while I slept. Once again, he gave me a startled look that told me he had noticed something and I felt a wild urge to tell him everything, sure that he, of all people, would understand. Instead I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to restore order. The bag of ice had long since melted and lay like a water balloon on the table next to me; my shoulder was damp from the leakage.
    “Yeah, I guess I fell asleep. Aw hell, what time is it?” I pressed the heels of my hands against my eyes, trying to drive out the lingering fatigue.
    “It’s after 3:30. You missed the bus.” His voice held a trace of amusement.
    “Damn it.” I muttered, trying to think how I would get home now. I really didn’t want to walk; Dad and I lived ten minutes away, and that was travelling by car.
    “Yeah, Preston was looking all over for you. He was supposed to help you at the end of the day. I figured you must have fallen asleep so I came to get you.”
    “Thanks.” Somehow I wasn’t surprised that he failed to enlighten Preston about my whereabouts.
    “Look, I can give you a ride home. It’s no trouble.”
    I thought about it a moment and then decided I could hardly get into more trouble than I already had today. “Ok. Thanks. If you’re sure you don’t mind.”
    “No problem. Do you need to go to your locker?” Carey stepped back so I could stand up. I got to my feet and found that I was feeling a lot better. The dizziness had faded and my head was hardly hurting. Apparently my zonked out sleep had done wonders.
    “No, I’ll just do it in the morning. Let’s go.” Carey let me precede him out the door into the brightly lit hall. I could hear the sounds of students on their way to after-school activities, planning their weekends, slamming their locker doors and laughing. I walked beside Carey in silence; he was doing some pretty heavy thinking and I repressed the urge to tune in. Apart from it being dangerous to know too much, it was just rude to listen in to other people’s thoughts.
    We were at the double doors leading out to the student parking lot when I heard my named shouted angrily.
    “LIZ! Where were you? I’ve been looking all over!” I sighed as Preston came huffing up behind us. “Oh. Carey. What are you still doing here?” He swung around in front of us, barring our way to the doors, his floppy blond hair windblown and eyebrows furrowed like little blond caterpillars.
    “I’m giving Liz a ride home. She’s not feeling well,” Carey answered, his voice pleasant and light.
    “What happened earlier? Were you hurt?” Preston returned his attention to me, belatedly noticing the way the left side of my face was swollen and puffy.
    I just recalled that I had been with Preston when I was drawn into the altercation in the hallway. I had completely forgotten about him, and now wondered where he had been, why he hadn’t come to my aid.
    “Well, yes, I was. I got knocked down twice and hit in the face.” I was rewarded by his stunned expression.
    “Oh man, I didn’t know. The teachers made us all go on to class. I figured you were just lost or something and didn’t make it.” I relented as his cheeks burned red with embarrassment.
    “It’s ok. Carey helped me out. By the time I was done in the nurse’s office, I just wanted to take a nap.  I overslept and missed the bus.” I was proud of my tactful and succinct description of events, and it was evidently enough for Preston. He shook himself and gave Carey a mistrustful look.
    “Well, I’m