The Breath Of His

7. Wasn't ready to be called a spider girl anytime soon.

"All done, now you can ahead back to your normal life," the doctor smiled pushing away the small debris that had fallen on the floor after taking out the cast.

The dull tingling in my leg made it feel alive, though it didn't move as it was supposed to yet.

"Thanks doc," my mother replied rubbing me hair gently before completing the formalities and helping me out.

"The tests are all normal, the cast is off, the crutches gone and your uncle is throwing a celebration in your honor," mom gave me that goofy smile.

"Uncle Ted?" I asked surprised since he is a guy who could do anything but party.

"No, it's your dad's cousin, George," she explained.

Uncle George was my dad's best friend and cousin but that didn't make their children any more hospitable. Cindy Priestley hated me. Well, that was when we met at occasions like these, at school, she ignored my entire existence. I don't know how she does it but she stakes her claim for anything that I do and makes it hers... Surprisingly, no one objects it either.

And now, heading over to uncle George's house was like setting myself up for a dose of unwanted drama.

"Can we like, not go or something? I want to rest back at home."

"Snow, that would be terrible on our parts, the man is throwing a party in your honor and you not going will be so rude," mom nagged making me sigh.

"Okay, okay, at least take me back home to get ready, and FYI, I don't have anything to put on," I reminded.

"Worry not, mama's chipmunk, I've got it handled," she cupped my face while saying that with adoration. I couldn't help but sigh. Tonight would be another night to tolerate.

********

"Oh, the blizzard has come, welcome Snork," the familiar greeting came to me just as I took a seat. Why does it have to be right after I entered this damned party?

Taking a deep breath, I looked up to see Cindy standing with her black tiered dress that came up to her mid thigh and spaghetti straps for sleeves. Her sandals in accordance with her dress by being in black.

At the moment I felt a lot more simpler in a grey tunic dress with a black three-fourths and a pair of desert boots.

"What do you want, Cindy?" I huffed out without any zeal.

She snorted with a frown, "like you can even give me that if I asked."

"Then shoo," I waved my hand dismissing her, "let me breath some air that you haven't poisoned yet."

"Freak," she muttered loud enough for me to hear before taking off.

Ivan who saw her leave came to sit beside me as he asked, "all okay?"

I only hummed in reply. Ivan Priestley was dad's elder brother's son. We lost his father in a flight that went missing over the burmuda triangle. Ivan didn't give up though, he waited for official news and continued to search on his own account. He graduated the previous year and was attending a community college now-a-days.

He knew about the rift between me and Cindy. Heck! He knew about a lot of things about my life, my secrets too but except one, the accident detector. Nor was I ready to share it with anyone.

Nah, I wasn't ready to be called a spider girl anytime soon.

"Say, what if we head out for a snack?" Ivan proposed.

"We are here for a celebratory dinner, genius and I am the topic of celebration," I rolled my eyes.

"Come on little snowflake, we will be quick, a snack or two won't hurt anyone and the adults are busy with the politics discussion. And the best part is food is yet to be cooked," he leaned in to whisper the last part.

"What do you mean?" I couldn't help but frown.

"Apparently, our little Cindy here was so busy with her video blogging that she forgot to take out the turkey from the oven. So, Aunt Sherry had to make another stop to the Mart for the bird and restart the entire process," he explained.

"Must admit what a wonderful daughter she is proving to be," I shrugged listening to yet another blunder of Cindy's.

"So, now let's head for a snack while we still have time?" He offered again. Looking at the heated debate between the parents, the cliche of Cindy and her selfies and all the other munchkins playing to their selves, Ivan's offer was a breather. I didn't have to tolerate a headache called Cindy for the entire evening in this sense.

"Show the way, captain," I motioned towards the door.

*******

The store was about a fifteen minutes ride from uncle George's house and surprisingly, not many people were in the store. Most of the stock was nearing the expiry not that there were many of them first of all, the only product that was fast moving were the beverages.

I picked a few candy bars and a can of energy drink while Ivan was piling packs over packs of snacks in his arms.

"Weren't we here for a small snack?" I raised my eyebrows at him only to have he frown and reply, "this is small snack."

All I could do was stare at him. Guess girls and guys had a different definition of 'small'. I would have to remember that for next time.

He took the snacks from me and headed to the counter where there were already two people in a line to bill their items. I took a detour further inside the store looking for items in the stationary and hardware section. I needed a new flashlight. I had broken the last one I had in the lighthouse a week before my accident. And hadn't had time to get myself one until now.

I found myself a few good flashlights when the accident detector went off in my head. The goosebumps raised giving me palpitations. The intensity was high. With it becoming more sensitive, I couldn't quite figure out what level it was but once I looked up and saw the entire pallet rack coming down in my direction. And that was when I knew the magnitude, a magnitude four or perhaps even a five, because I sure was a dead meat...