12Treading WaterIn the wake of the confrontation between Reese and me, the living room feels like a battleground. The other girls speak in careful tones and avoid glancing in my direction. Even Jayce allows some distance, opting to claim a barstool across the room. Only Shaila treats me exactly the same, sliding into the seat across from me and promptly beginning her research as if nothing has happened.
A dull headache sets in. I press my fingers against my temples. Shaila chews on the end of her pen. The sound of her teeth gnashing the plastic cap is like nails on a chalkboard.
I clamp my hands over my ears, but it does no good. Since last night, my sense of hearing is too strong. I focus on reining my Vires instincts back in.
“So how bad was it on a scale of one to ten?” I finally ask
