Significance (Significance #1)(67)

“No idea.” He opened my car door and then quickly went to his before slumping roughly into the drivers’ seat of his rented Ford Taurus from the airport. This was so not a Bish car. He leaned his head back on the seat. “I hadn’t thought about it. I just couldn’t sit up there and wait for news from Dad anymore. So I spent my savings on a plane ticket.”
“Ah, Bish. I wish you hadn’t. I miss you and I love you but I hate that you have to struggle so much. Your boss is such a jerk.”
“It’s ok. It was worth it. I just don’t know what I’m gonna do now. New York is like a different universe, Mags. Everything is so expensive I barely have any money left over after my bills. I’ve been working for this guy for almost three years thinking he’d promote me but I’m still his intern.”
He looked over at me. I was trying to keep my face neutral so he wouldn’t know but his thoughts were desperate.He hadn’t been telling Dad and I what a hard time he was having. Apparently, it was really bad. His apartment was crap and he was behind on rent. His job was tedious and his boss always had him doing extra errands and things for no extra pay and on his time, threatening to fire him if he didn’t do them without complaint. He had to do odd jobs, give blood and walk dogs on weekends just to have money for food. He was thinking about quitting but there was nothing else to do. He’d looked. He wanted to come home but didn’t want to ask. He felt like a failure.
“I’m sorry. Maybe you should just come home? Dad would let you move back for a while until you get settled into another job.”
He brightened a little.
“I’ve actually been thinking about that. I even looked at the classifieds in the city so I could commute from Dad’s. I don’t know,” he shook his head, “I’m not sure what I want.”
I leaned over and kissed his cheek and he smiled in surprise at me.
“You should do what makes you happy,” I chimed sweetly. “So, how about girls?” I said conspiratorially.
“Girls?” he scoffed. “I’ve got no time for girls,” he laughed and cranked the car, “unless she worked at my boss’ coffee shop, I’d never see her.”
I laughed and he did, too. It was a sad truth and I didn’t blame him but it still sucked. I wanted him to be happy. He wasn’t. I hated it.
“I can’t believe you’re dating that guy. He’s strange.”
“What?” I asked, puzzled by why he was bringing it up again.
“I didn’t say anything.” Crap. I’d read his thoughts. I’d have to watch it around him more carefully. “Where are we headed?”
I spouted the directions and he pulled out.
“So, how’s Beck?” he asked.
“Crap!” I yelled. “I completely forgot about Beck. Can I borrow your cell?”
“Sure.”
He tossed it to me and I dialed her number. She picked up and I could hear her thoughts. Ralph was there and she was irritated about being interrupted.
“Beck?”
“Maggie! Maggie, where are you?”
“I’m fine. I was brought home last night.”
“OMGosh. I can’t believe this. You’re like a celebrity around here!”
“I am?”
Oh, man I hoped not.
“Yes! Of course! Everyone knew about it. Are you ok? Where were you? What happened?”
“Beck, I’m sorry, I can’t talk right now what with the police and family and all. I just wanted to call and tell you I was home safe.”
“Ok,” she said and I could tell she was perturbed but she let it go. “Call me later, Mags, I’ve been so worried about you.” 
“I know,” I muttered. “I’m sorry. I’ll call you, k?”
“K. Love you, Mags. I’m glad you’re ok.”
“Love you, too.”
I hung up just as we pulled onto Kyle’s street and...oh, boy. The street looked like a parking lot. There were cars everywhere.
“What’s going on? Is the fair in town?” he grumbled as he pulled into a spot way away from Kyle’s.
“It’s kind of for me,” I admitted softly.
“What? What do you mean? Oh, because you were rescued and all, but...this is his parent’s right? They’re making a big deal over you, huh? They must like you.”
“You have no idea.”
We made our way down the sidewalk and I was grabbed sideways and lifted as we passed the hedges on the edge of Kyle’s yard.
“Holy crap, Mags! I’ve been worried sick about you.”
“Kyle, hey.”
He put me down and kissed my cheek, especially close to my lips and beamed at me. His hand still held mine and I glanced over to see a confused Bish.
Now who is this Joker?
I pulled away quickly and was hit with Kyle’s thoughts and…wow. I had no idea before how he really felt about me. This was not some crush. He was in love with me, seriously in love with me. And I felt nauseous.
“Wow, Mags. You look awesome.”
I wanted to take it all back. To block him from the start and not have listened to his thoughts about me, but it was too late.
He had been so worried he’d barely slept while I was away. He was angry at his family for not thinking it was important to keep him updated, because he was my friend. He hadn’t even been told that I’d been found until this morning, by his mom. He was mad at me and Caleb for not telling him ourselves. He thought I looked hotter than I ever had and wanted nothing more right that second than to kiss me, like he’s wanted to kiss me for two years straight.
I wanted to hurl.
I felt terrible and horrible inside. I hated hurting people and I was hurting Kyle, though I never meant to. “Bish, you remember Kyle?”
“Oh, yeah, man. How are you?”
“Good, man. How’s New York treating you?”
“Awesome,” Bish muttered sarcastically and was thinking about finding Dad and what the heck I was doing with this boy if I was with Caleb.
“All right, well everyone’s waiting for you, may as well get it over with. Come on,” Kyle said and tried to take my hand again.
“I need a second with Bish,” I stalled.
“All right.” He smiled. “I’m so glad you’re all right, Maggie.”
“Thanks, Kyle.” He left and I turned to Bish to see his what-the face.
“I know, ok. I know. He’s Caleb’s cousin. I went to school with him. He was friends with Chad and me before all this. It’s all very complex.”
He grinned. “Look at my little sister. A player,” he laughed.
“Shut up!” I smacked his arm and he laughed louder. “I can’t help it if someone has a crush on me.”
“Well, you are pretty great.”
“Oh, please,” I rolled my eyes. “Can we go in now?”
“I’m ready if you are.”
It was my turn to grin. “You have no idea what you’re getting into.”
I pulled him through the yard to the porch and as the door opened it exploded with light and laughter, blaring thoughts, my name called on lips in minds. Add their concern and relief to that and I was overloaded.
I fainted, right there on the porch in front of everyone.Chapter Twenty Nine
Well, fainted was a strong word. Pre-faint was better. I could hear them. It was like I wasn’t completely conscious but not completely asleep either. Bish steadied me as I swayed and sat in the rocker on the porch with me in his lap. My head pounded as I rubbed my temple.
“Maggie!”
“Someone get Caleb!” I heard Gran yell. “Back up everyone. She’s fine, just got a little overwhelmed.”
“Overwhelmed?” Bish said angrily. “Why are you calling Caleb? Call 911!”
“She’ll be ok, son. I’m Caleb’s grandmother. You must be Bish.”
“This is not the time for introductions. Why are you all just standing there? Call an ambulance.”
“I’m fine, just dizzy,” I insisted.
“Maggie,” Bish breathed and then I felt Caleb pushing through the throng of people gathered around me as I heard his thoughts blaring to me before I even saw him.
He was angry.
“Guys, I told you before she got here to turn it off,” he growled and went to take me from Bish, but Bish held tight.
“What are you talking about, turn it off? What?”
“Nothing,” Caleb muttered and knelt down beside me to brush my cheek with his fingers and my headache instantly went away. “You ok?”
“Yeah. Just, uh…” I looked up at Bish and back to Caleb with Gran and the others watching me. “I’m sorry. I just can’t seem to…”
Crap. I couldn’t even explain myself with Bish here.
It’s ok. They know what’s going on. My dad and I told them to keep their thoughts quiet when you got here, but they were so excited... It’s too easy to get overloaded in the beginning. It takes a while to control it, but Dad said that it’s easy once you get the hang of it.
Ok. Will you please take me inside so everyone will stop staring at me.
He smiled and held out his hand to me. I took it, but Bish grabbed my other one.
“You need to go to the hospital, Maggie. You don’t just pass out for no reason.”
“I’m fine, just haven’t eaten anything today. Really, let’s go find Dad.”
“Whatever,” he said and threw his hands up like he was giving up.
I turned to see Gran still waiting.