If We Could Make it There

The Chapter in Which Nothing Happens... For Caylie

Caylie POV

I stared at Cheryl. She got frustrated. End of story? No.

The reason I was staring at her was because I felt so bad that Grace was impersonating her. Pity. That's all that I was showing. So is that why she got mad at me? Because I showed pity? Maybe she didn't want my pity. Thought she didn't need it. Well, of course she thought that. She doesn't know what's been going on with the 'Iodine'.

Actually, I was also thinking about her not knowing. Doesn't she have the right to know? I say, as long as Alex doesn't know one of her friends is conspiring against us, it's fine to tell those we trust. Ashlyn and I should be able to tell her, right? She's good. Cheryl can keep secrets.

But she got so angry with me. No real reason, but why? That's my question. I think that's everyone's question.

We all sit in silence, not knowing what to say. I must admit, when Cheryl stormed up to me and started yelling I was terrified. I didn't know what was happening. It wasn't my fault... Right? I just showed pity, towards a problem she doesn't know about. So it was her fault. I don't want it to be, but I think it was.

Cheryl. How could Cheryl have gone from sweet to insanely wanting to know everything? Maybe it wasn't entirely her fault. She wouldn't have been like this before she got her ability. Definitely not. So is it the powers fault? She sure didn't ask for this. None of us did. Like Kate, she changed a lot after being attacked. A lot. She's obviously annoyed by the fact that she can't figure some things out. Ashlyn's changed too. She's not as self-confident, being able to see what people are thinking. I don't know if I've changed that much, I hope that the others think that too. I'm just same old Caylie. Of course, now I can heal people in the blink of an eye, but... I'm not acting differently, right?

No one really feels like talking all too much. I think we're all thinking the same thing: Cheryl's flown off of her hinges a little bit. She's never shown the faintest sign of aggression. Other than when Grace was pretending to be her, of course.

I want to break this silence so badly. But I really don't know what to say. So I say the only thing I can think of, "So... Shall we all go to bed?" The others nod, clearly glad to be doing something different than mauling on Cheryl's strange behavior.

We all grab our now usual blankets, and find places to retire for the night. I chose a spot a few feet away from Ashlyn, and looking at her feet as I try to fall asleep, think of something.

I slowly and quietly crawl to her spot, and whisper in her ear, "Ashlyn! Can I talk to you quickly?" Lazily, she nods.

Seeing as she and I took a spot closer to Cheryl, to keep an eye on her, we are a small distance away from the others. She sits up, and I use my blanket as a shall, trying to keep myself warm.

I strike off our conversation by saying, "So... Your arm feeling okay?" Even though she nods, I know that something is wrong. She avoids my gaze.

"Let me see it." I say, and although grudgingly, she lowers the sleeve of her shirt. I unwrap her bandages and gasp in shock and disgust.

Her arm is still giving off yellow puss-ish liquid, and is starting to scab. But the scab doesn't seem quite right... Do they usually look scaly, and have a greenish-tinge to them? This is bad. This is very very bad. No, for heavens sake Caylie, think! I can heal things.

"Well, thanks for lying to me." I say, sarcastically, placing my hand on her shoulder.

"This should do the trick..." I say, closing my eyes and focusing on what I want to happen.

I open my eyes, and a clean shoulder of smooth skin awaits my eyes. But only for a moment, before a scaly scab starts to grow on it, sending yellow goop sliding down her arm.