a position of power that very few people were in. She understood that he was afraid of losing his friends and went along with the crowd, but at what cost? Every time a student was bullied, they were paying the price Landon wasn’t willing to pay. People were suffering because he was protecting himself. She wasn’t sure if he would ever change, even though she still hoped he would. Only time would tell
Chapter 12
“I still don’t see why you were so mean to him,” Malaya said taking another lick of her ice cream cone.
“I mean, it’s not like this is the first time this has happened. His friend’s bully people all the time, and that isn’t going to change overnight. Did you think that because he was nice to us that he would all of a sudden be nice to everybody?”
“I don’t know what I thought,” Lily sighed. That wasn’t entirely true. She had hoped he would be that same person who helped her with her homework and made her smile. “Let’s just forget about it, okay?”
“Okay. So why did you want to come here anyway? The mall isn’t usually your first choice of Saturday hang out locations. If you want to see a movie, I’m short on cash until tomorrow,” Malaya warned as she watched the patrons of the Frisco Mall pass by the food court.
“I don’t like the mall because I rarely have any money to spend, but that’s not why we’re here today,” Lily summoned up all the courage she could, because this wasn’t going to be easy.
“Do you remember my first day back at school, when we were in the hallway with Landon, and I knew that he hadn’t stood up to Dean? He asked me how I knew, because obviously I was a few tables away, and wouldn’t have been near enough to hear anything they were saying,” she said shakily as she hurried along her explanation. “Well, I didn’t hear Landon, but I heard Dean.”
“Huh?”
“I heard Dean’s thoughts.” Lily said waiting for the reaction she knew was coming.
“I think you fell a little too hard on that noggin of yours,” Malaya said looking at Lily like she had just escaped an insane asylum.
“No really, I know this sounds crazy, but it’s true.” Malaya’s eyebrows were as high as the Empire State Building.
“When I was in the coma, I spoke to my mom and dad. I couldn’t see them, but I could hear their voices. They told me, well my dad told me, that I would have a special gift when I woke up. He said I would be able to hear evil thoughts.”
“So you magically woke up a mind reader and will save the world with your super powers,” Malaya said flatly.
“Not everyone’s thoughts, I can only hear bad thoughts, and I didn’t say anything about saving the world. I didn’t even want it, but the fact is that I have it, so I would appreciate if you would lay off the sarcasm and be a little more open minded,” Lily snapped back.
“Whoa there, you’re getting feisty on me Lily! Okay, I’ll try to be more open minded to your mind reading, uh, gift.”
“I know this is unbelievable, so I really think it will be best to show you.” Lily’s eyes searched the packed mall as she spoke. “I can apparently hear anyone’s thoughts if it’s a bad thought. Like when you want to do something wrong or something bad to someone else. That’s mostly what I’ve heard so far, but there are probably other situations as well.” She spotted a couple of guys who were maybe a couple years older than they were. They didn’t look any different than most teenage boys. No one would have guessed what was about to happen.
“This one is perfect,” Lily said to Malaya nodding in the direction of her chosen subjects. “That boy in the blue button up shirt, the one with the baseball cap?”
“Yes, I see him. What about him?”
“In a moment he will steal that bar of soap in the display at the doorway of that store.”
“Why would a boy steal a bar of soap? That’s dumb. If I were him, I would at least steal something good. I mean a bar of soap is what, a dollar or two?”
“I’m only repeating what I heard,” Lily said shrugging her shoulders. The two girls watched as the boys approached the display case.
“The blue one,” Lily said her eyes not moving from her target.