Rene glanced back at her then paused, facing her once more.
“What’s up?” he asked without approaching. “Your other ear get cut off?”
“I had a bad day.”
“Cheerleaders have bad days?” His gaze swept over her doubtfully.
“I got set up. They invited me, but then they really just wanted … to … humiliate me … in front of Jayden … school.” She was sobbing again. “Kimmie … curse in my … water.”
Rene stared at her. “I didn’t understand any of that.”
Adrienne forced herself to take a shaky breath. She wiped her nose on her shoulder.
“Real classy,” Rene grunted.
“Need a … Kleenex,” she said, sniffling.
He peeled off his shirt to reveal a tight, gray tank top. He was more muscular than she expected, his frame solid and lean. Tattoos covered his chest and arms. He tossed the shirt to her.
“Thank you.” Adrienne wiped her nose on it, not caring what he thought of her. The shirt smelled of him, the musky male scent that somehow helped calm her. She blew her nose before holding out the shirt.
“I don’t want that shit back,” he said.
She giggled then hiccupped. “I’ll wash it out for you.”
He was studying her.
“Can you take me back to Candace’s?” she asked.
“You gonna tell me what happened?”
She shook her head.
“Then no.”
“Rene!” she objected. “I had a bad day. I just need to see Candace.”
“Why?” He crossed his arms.
“It’s none of your business.”
“Then find your own way there.”
“I don’t know my way around the city! Everyone is abandoning me!” she said sadly, tears forming. “I need help, Rene.”
He didn’t budge.
“I might be under a curse.” It took all her effort not to cry. “Some girl at school took away my singing.”
“You can’t sing?”
“No. It’s all I have. I have to see Candace. She can help me.”
He tossed his head to the side then turned and began walking.
Adrienne wiped her nose again and trailed him out of the alley. Her heart felt like it was breaking, but she was hopeful Candace could help her at least save her voice.
She didn’t want to think about what Jayden thought of her or how she’d ever go back to school again on Monday. Distraught, all she could think of was how much she liked Jayden and how humiliated she was that he saw what happened.
As they walked, she regained what she could of her tattered composure. Tara’s words returned to her.
Had even Jayden’s stepsister been in on the prank? Was she trying to warn her? Why not just tell her what Kimmie planned to do?
Adrienne patted her iPad absently then glanced down. She hesitated but pulled it free, wondering if Jayden had tried to email. Did she want to know if he had?
She opened it. Her email inbox had blown up with emails from students at the school. Most had subjects that made her throat tighten.
Nice work, Swamp Girl
Welcome to civilization!
Go back to the bayou
She blinked away tears and scanned through the horrifying subjects and names until she found an email from Jayden. The subject was blank.
A-
Please PLEASE let me know you’re okay. I knew Kimmie was planning to prank you, but didn’t know this would happen. I’m so sorry.
J.
He knew. Jayden knew. Was his affection part of the prank? Make the new girl think she was able to capture the heart of the most popular boy in school and join the cheer squad?
How could he do something so cruel?
She shoved the iPad back into its case and began crying again. She stifled the sounds with Rene’s shirt.
“I’m never going back!” she vowed in a half-sob.
“To school?” Rene asked, glancing down at her.
“Today was the worst day of my life.”
He rolled his eyes. “Did anyone die?”
“No.”
“Anyone get hurt at all?”
“No.”
“Don’t sound that bad.”
“Someone might’ve taken my voice!” she snapped.
“True. I been to church every Sunday to hear you sing.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Like an angel. Stealin your voice … that’s a crime.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, not unaffected by his rough kindness. “My mom sent me an email about the song.”
“The one your grandmama sang?”
“Yeah.”
“Cool.”
Comforted by his presence, she fell into troubled quiet. The horrific day left her doubting herself in every way – even doubting her gift. How would she live with herself if Kimmie had taken away her ability to sing? Would her daddy be disappointed if she told him she was going back to New Orleans?
What about the mystery she’d leave in New Orleans if she went home? Would she ever know what happened to her sister or how to lift the family curse?
“You okay?” Rene asked coolly.
“Not really,” she replied. “I don’t know what to do.”
He pushed open the door to Candace’s shop. Today, the scent of incense joined that of coffee. It drifted over her when she entered.
Candace’s smile at Rene faded when she saw Adrienne’s red eyes and nose.
“What happened, Adrienne?” she asked, standing from behind the counter. “Rene?”
“Why everyone think I make her cry?” he snapped.
“I’m sorry to bother you,” Adrienne said. “I need some help.” Her eyes watered.
“Of course, child. Come on back.”
Adrienne went, followed by a moody Rene.
“Someone hexed me, Candace,” Adrienne said miserably. She sat in the same chair she’d been in the other day.
The voodoo priestess studied her. “You are fortunate. My focus is healing. My brother is the bokor. We are … yin and yang.”
“He sells curses and you cure people he curses?” Adrienne asked.
“Precisely.” Candace smiled. “It’s my way of making things right. Rene, my healing tea.”
“Not sure I want more tea.”
“This one will help purify you,” Candace assured her.
Rene disappeared behind the beaded curtain leading to the back room of the shop.
“The quickest way to remove a curse is to ask he who jinxed you to remove it,” Candace advised. “Is that an option?
“No,” Adrienne said softly. “I’m never going back there.”
“Very well. I’ll do my best. It will be a lengthy process.”
Adrienne nodded. “I brought the song you requested with me.”
Candace brightened. “I have never seen a curse such as this one. May I see it?”
Adrienne tugged her iPad free and turned it on. Tears formed at the additional emails that had stacked up in her inbox. She scrolled down to find her mother’s message then pushed the device to Candace and rested her forehead on the table.
Candace was quiet for a long moment before speaking. “Can I email this to myself?”
“Sure.”
Rene placed the tea set down on the table.
Adrienne lifted her head. She stretched forward to pour tea, but her hand shook.
Rene rolled his eyes, but did it for her.
“Thank you,” she murmured, clutching the warm cup close to her.
“My goodness.” Candace was staring at the iPad. “I’ve never seen this level of cyber bullying.”
Adrienne nodded blandly.
“Curses tend to go in three waves. I’d say your voice was the first stage, these emails the second. I think we can at least stop this one before the third.”
“I need my voice, Candace. Please.”
“Drink your tea, sweetie.” Candace closed the iPad and pushed it across the table.