Chapter 26

She parks at the lot and stands there preparing mentally for those eyes which will soon be devouring her.

After taking a last breath, she walks to class. Because her glasses are tinted black, they seem like sunglasses which draws attention towards her.

She ignores all those looks and walks to her class. Blake, upon seeing her is overjoyed that his lips are shaped like a half moon.

He stares at Irye intently as she walks from the entrance to her seat. As soon as she sits, he nudges her.

"What's up with that?"He asks looking at Irye's glasses.

She just shrugs and looks away out of guilt for ignoring him all this time. Blake doesn't see it that way though. He thinks Irye is now ignoring him because of that same thing Evie mentions to him.

Teachers walk in and out of the class as the day goes by. Irye prays for it to end soon so she could avoid eyes and go home.

Her prayers being answered, she lets out a long breath and begins packing up. She takes long strides towards the door only to be stopped by Blake.

"Why are you avoiding me?"he asks. "You've been like this all day."

"Am sorry Blake, I can't afford talking right now."Irye tells him. "Maybe later"she says and walks away.

"Irye"Blake catches up and turns her around. "You can refrain from telling me what happened but I already know about your eye color so how about you tell me of that rather."

Irye sighs and takes off her glasses.

"There, you see it now?"she says."Now can I go?"

Her face spells frustration and anger not towards Blake but the fact that her eyes have not changed back thier color for a week is devastating.

"Why are you acting mad at me?"Blake asks, hurt by Irye's actions to get away from him.

"All I was trying to ask you is if you are okay. I know your eye not changing it's color back is making you angry but this is not it. This is not how you solve things."Blake sounds really hurt.

Not wanting to get any more angry at Irye, he leaves. Irye feels stupid, watching Blake hurt and walk away... something he has never done before.

At home, she tells Evie on phone about what happened in school with Blake. She becomes sad at the thought of her hurting Blake's feelings.

Frustratingly, she jumps out bed and stands in front of her dressing mirror. She looks at her herself, especially her eyes and still sees that same person she always sees.

She shouts desperately and throws a hairbrush she founds on the table at the mirror.

Grams and the others have gone back to their various houses that afternoon for the week. Evie and Claude have to write her exams too.

They've planned on going on a trip after vacation but now its not certain if that will come true or not.

Mirabel and her daughters who hear the shattering sound of the mirror upstairs, all look up exchanging looks.

Bethel for some reason becomes scared. Her mother notices but rules it as Bethel being scared because she is startled by the shatter sound not knowing the real reason behind.

"Who are you?"Irye yells looking into the mirror peices."Let me be...please"she squats, breathing heavily.

Mirabel warns her daughters not to dare step their foot even at Irye's door as they hear her shout and say some words they don't understand.

Irye is in class the next day and the awkwardness between her and Blake is intense. The Blake who always stares at her and try to make her talk is now quiet and doesn't even try to send a whisper her way.

She glances at Blake and inaudibly sighs sadly before getting back to her studies. They will begin taking their test for the term the next day. She has to be serious in class.

"Hey"Irye stops Blake who's walking out the door.

She doesn't get the chance to talk with Blake during break so she grabs the chance when they close.

"Look...am sorry for yesterday"she apologizes. "I guess I was too angry that I took out on you. I shouldn't have done that. Am sorry." Irye completes her apology.

Blake stares at her for a minute before talking.

"How many times are you going to say sorry?"he chuckle making Irye look at him confusedly.

"You already said sorry before giving me that whole of an explanation and you said sorry again."he jokes.

"Is this a time for you to joke?"Irye asks, a little embarrassed.

"I know right. Forgive me"Blake laughs. "Am not mad at you. I just wanted you to feel the way I felt when you ignore me. I was just a bit hurt yesterday but it's all okay now."he tells her and she smiles.

"So... we're good?"Irye asks smiling widely.

"Mmmm...I...think so."Blake grins at her.

"Whoa" Irye let out a breath she is holding. "I also wanted to tell you that well be leaving for the family trip on this vacation."

"Oh..so soon"Blake sounds disappointed. "I guess I won't be seeing you around after we are done with our tests."

Irye nods with a smile and Blake follows in motion.

"Okay so we have this exams week to ourselves yeah?"Blake says and Irye giggles.

"Alright."Blake laughs."Get home safe. Call me when you reach home...okay?"

Irye nods and enters her car.

It's now vacation but the trip they are supposed to go is cancelled. The police say the Abigail baby can't be found so has been deemed dead.

The family don't understand so they put it upon themselves to find the baby.

No matter what, that baby is Grams's grandchild and Irye baby brother. On top of it, he is innocent of what his parents have done.

They pack their things into a van and drive following a map into the woods where Abigail and Sam go and loose their lives.