Chapter 2

Twenty minutes later, Izzy and Aarushi sat at a booth inside their favorite ice cream place that was right outside of town. Snow was at the counter ordering their usual ice cream orders. The ice cream place usually was fairly quiet, but with it being summer and busloads of tourists filtering into the town, the place was almost packed. The checkered tiles on the floor were worn from the many feet trekking across it and the whir of the freezer buzzed through the hot June air.

"So," Aarushi began and cautiously asked, "You excited for tomorrow?"

Izzy rolled her eyes and leaned back on her side of the booth. She heaved a long breath before answering, "Are you referring to what is bound to be a train-wreck of a graduation or me being able to vote legally?"

Aarushi rolled her eyes, "Thanks, smartass," Her eyes softened and her face gained a seriousness that Izzy rarely saw with her, "Both since you brought it up,"

Izzy sighed, all sarcastic remarks leaving her, "Graduation is just going to be another reminder that I am not attending college next year while almost everyone else is making plans of what sorority they want to join or what majors can they take,"

Snow plopped down next to Aarushi, laden with their ice cream orders, "I'm not going to college,"

"But at least you know what you want to do with your life," Izzy countered.

Snow just shrugged and continued eating her ice cream, "There's nothing wrong with not knowing what you're destined to do. Some might find it at college and some find it in the universe,"

Izzy rolled her eyes at Snow mentioning destiny, trying to ignore the churning feeling she felt in her stomach.

The past couple of days had been rough and it wasn't just because of her graduation or her stupid eighteenth birthday. It was this overwhelming sense of wrong. Darkness seemed to be clawing at her mind, sliding one clawed talon of despair across her brain that left her unsettled each time it appeared. She wished she could describe the feeling of...other that surrounded her now, but she knew if she tried, she would be locked up someplace where the shoelaces are confiscated and all the walls are padded.

Her friends were starting to notice her strange behavior around them, and Izzy could feel that they knew something was up but she couldn't tell them. Even if they did believe her, what would she say? She didn't even fully understand what was happening to her.

"Earth to Isabel!" Aarushi snapped her fingers in Izzy's face.

Izzy glared at Aarushi at the use of her full name.

"What's been going on, Izzy?" Snow asked, her dreamy, clear blue eyes looking skeptical, "You've been zoning out a lot lately,"

Izzy shrugged, the guilt gnawing at her for keeping something from her friends, "I just got a lot on my mind, I guess. With my dad and everything else, it's just a lot to worry about,"

Aarushi and Snow shared a look as if saying, 'That's a load of bull' but they didn't question her any further.

Suddenly, her spoon of ice cream midway to her mouth, Izzy felt a sharp, stabbing pain in her head, making her ears ring. She gasped out loud as her vision started getting spotty and she could barely make out her friends' frightened faces. All of her muscles locked in place, refusing to move as her heart started to race in panic.

"What the hell!" Aarushi got up from her seat, "Izzy, are you okay?"

"Outside," Izzy gasped, "We have to g-" Another wave of pain went through her, threatening to cut off her voice, "We have to get outside,"

'I can't believe this!' Izzy thought fearfully, 'I'm going to have an episode in front of all these people!'

Snow half-carried Izzy out of the booth and passed her over to Aarushi so she could throw a couple of bills on the table. Aarushi bent down and picked Izzy up to carry her outside to her truck. Snow was frantically flitting back and forth, worry marring her angelic-like face.

"Izzy! Izzy, can you hear me?" Aarushi tried to keep her voice calm as she called out for her friend.

"Should we take her to the hospital?" Show asked.

"No!" Aarushi hissed forcefully, "If we take her to the hospital, they're going to ask questions we don't have the answer to and you remember the last time we contacted her father,"

Izzy saw flashes of light, pictures flying past her as if watching a movie in fast forward.

Then the world went dark.