Storm and Stone

by Joss Stirling

  ‘That’s interesting.’ Joe was looking at him strangely, like Kieran was an unexploded bomb he was working out how to defuse.

  ‘Cross referenced to our mission data, you’ll find that all of them connect to some recent corrupt behaviour from their parents—a contract granted when others in the field had the edge, a political decision that swayed against expectations, a promotion that seemed out of context.’

  ‘So the students start acting normally and their parents are the ones freaking out?’

  ‘I’ll have to keep digging but I don’t think anyone is acting within usual parameters.’

  ‘Agreed.’ Joe hovered beside him, trying to see his face. ‘Key, what’s up?’

  ‘Nothing.’

  ‘Now that’s just not true, bro.’

  ‘I walked out of Dance, OK? I wasn’t ill.’

  ‘Walked out? But you never give up on anything!’

  ‘Then your joke misfired.’ Kieran erased his search history and closed down the computer. ‘I’m not some dancing bear to be tormented for your kicks and giggles.’

  ‘Key, we never meant it like that. It was supposed to be … well, funny. You’re so perfect all the time, so sure of yourself, that we thought you’d stumble along and look … ’ Joe shrugged. ‘You know.’

  ‘Like a total prat. I do, so “ha-ha”. You guys just crease me up with your sense of humour.’ He’d been made to look an idiot—and in front of Raven. The corrosive power of his rage ate at his usual control. ‘I’m going out. Don’t follow me.’

  Joe held up his hands. ‘OK, OK. Where are you going?’

  ‘That is none of your business.’

  ‘When will you be back?’

  ‘Who says I’m coming back?’

  Kieran felt good slamming the door on Joe. It wasn’t rational but he enjoyed the vicious drama of the moment. He turned into the school gardens, taking rapid, even strides down the yew hedge walk. OK, OK, enough. He needed his control or he couldn’t think straight. He had to regain his grip, deny that Raven had got under his skin. He reached for his mental retreat to calm down, thinking through the collection of newly discovered mathematical equations he had read on the University of Cambridge website. He immediately felt much better. Once calm, he would work out how he had come to fail at something for the first time in his life.

  Raven tapped on the door of Kieran’s room. Rules stated that she wasn’t supposed to be in the boys’ wing this late but, feeling a complete heel for chewing him out over dancing, she didn’t want to leave matters where they were till morning. She knew too well what it felt like to be picked on and made to feel a failure—that’s how she felt most of the time outside of dance classes. She knocked again and this time the door opened.

  ‘Raven? Something the matter?’ Joe stood in the entrance, blocking a clear view of the room beyond.

  ‘Is Kieran in?’

  Joe stepped back to show her the empty chamber. ‘No. He went out and hasn’t come back yet.’

  A screen saver whirled on a computer screen, strands of DNA linking and unlinking. She guessed that was Kieran’s from the piles of worthy tomes and paperclip tower surrounding it. Was that a dance movie DVD on the top of the books? The desk next to it had Mickey Mouse ears on the monitor which suggested Joe was the owner. Every spare ledge was crammed with plants; each pot had squared sheet stuck to it, a graph wriggling its way across the grid. Was Joe doing a biology experiment in his room? Perhaps Kieran wasn’t the only one who was eccentric.

  She looked back at Joe. ‘Was Kieran OK?’

  Joe grimaced. ‘Not really.’

  Raven squeezed her hands together. ‘Look, that’s my fault. He wasn’t ill in class. I pushed him too far in Dance. Embarrassed him, I guess.’

  Glancing down the corridor, Joe took her arm and gently led her into the room. ‘That wasn’t your fault. And it was me who pissed him off, not you.’

  ‘How do you figure that? I was the one who shouted at him for screwing up his first dance move. Tell him I’m sorry, will you?’

  ‘I will. When he comes back.’

  ‘How long’s he been gone?’

  ‘Six hours.’

  ‘What!’

  ‘Kieran doesn’t often lose his temper but, when he does, it’s a while before he calms down and this was a big deal for him. I’ve never known him get anything wrong ever. I was about to go look for him.’

  ‘Can I help? I kinda feel responsible.’

  ‘Sure. I think he went outside.’ Joe grabbed a flashlight from his bag. He picked up an apple from a bowl on the table, rolled it down his forearm and flipped it from his elbow to catch it. ‘He’s missed supper so he’ll be hungry. Brain like his takes lots of calories.’

  Raven zipped up her hoodie. ‘He’s extremely clever, isn’t he?’

  ‘The most intelligent guy I know.’

  ‘So why’s he doing Dance and other arts subjects rather than advanced Maths and Science? They seem more his thing.’

  Joe closed the door behind them. ‘Because he’s already taken his A levels in them. Our godfather wanted him to broaden his focus before going to uni and he’s the one signing the cheques.’

  They jogged down the stairs to the nearest exit. ‘Hate to break it to you but he doesn’t seem very comfortable with that choice.’

  ‘Yeah, you’re right. I had hoped it would be good experience for him but I’m not so sure now.’

  Even with Joe and the flashlight for company, the garden was a spooky place after dark. The clipped hedges cast moon shadows across the path, making the familiar strange. A musty odour of old leaves stirred underfoot seemed more intense at the night, reminding Raven unhelpfully of mouldering graveyards. The castle itself had turned into something sinister—lighted windows gouging holes in the black walls, crenellations pressed against the sky. Its history of war, plague, and murder crept out from where it had been hiding all day under bright notice boards and learning goals. Raven shivered, wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible.

  ‘Any idea where he would have gone? Has he got a favourite place already?’

  ‘I’m not sure if he’s been out and about much. Your guess will be as good as mine.’

  ‘What about ringing him?’

  ‘Already have. His phone is switched off.’

  ‘OK, then we do it the old-fashioned way.’ She cupped her hands around her mouth. ‘Kieran! Where are you?’ She paused. No reply.

  Joe shouted his friend’s name. Nothing.

  ‘Do you think he’s gone “out” out? Out of school, I mean?’ Raven rubbed her arms, feeling the chill.

  ‘Anything is possible with him. But let’s look around here first. We’ll do the normal search pattern. Quarter the grounds and take each section in turn. Start at twelve o’clock.’ Joe pointed straight ahead with the torch and gestured a ninety degree sweep.

  Raven was amused by his military language. ‘Normal search pattern? You do a lot of this, then?’

  ‘Boy scout training.’ His explanation seemed a little too quick.

  ‘Can’t see you as a boy scout somehow. I thought you grew up in a dysfunctional family.’

  ‘So the scouts were my salvation.’

  ‘Are you joking?’

  ‘Could be.’

  In his own way, Joe was as annoyingly elusive as his roommate. He said more but she came away with very little, and there was nothing she disliked more than people hiding the truth from her.

  They stepped out of the yew walk on to the croquet pitch in front of the orangery. A dark shape caught her eye. ‘What’s that on the lawn there?’

  ‘He’s doing it again,’ groaned Joe, spotlighting Kieran with the torch.

  They hurried over to where Kieran was on his back by the sign for the fire muster point. He was staring straight up at the stars.

  ‘Doing what exactly? Sleeping outside?’

  ‘Nope. Counting the visible constellations. Little mental game of his. It can go on for hours. He has very good
night-sight.’

  ‘Geez, he needs to stay in more.’

  Joe chuckled. ‘Sorry but he’s one of a kind.’ He bent down and shook his friend’s shoulder. ‘Time to stop, Key.’

  Kieran rose gracefully to his feet, fluid like a bolt of silk unrolling. Now why couldn’t he move like that in class? ‘Hi.’ He took the apple Joe offered him.

  ‘Better now?’

  Kieran nodded then frowned when he noticed her. ‘Why are you out here with Raven, Joe?’

  ‘Looking for you. We were worried.’

  Kieran’s expression lightened, but he still looked puzzled. ‘Worried about what?’

  ‘About you.’

  ‘Why?’

  Joe rolled his eyes. ‘Because we argued, remember?’

  Raven felt she had better make her apology now before they got too far off the point. ‘Kieran, I just wanted to say that I apologize for pushing you in class and making you uncomfortable.’

  ‘You did?’ Kieran looked surprised by her admission. Of course, World of Kieran probably hadn’t noticed her little show of temper.

  ‘You walked out on me.’

  ‘Yes, I did. But I’ve worked it through while lying on the grass.’ Calmly, he did a backwards walkover. ‘Was that what you meant?’

  Joe laughed. ‘That’s neat, Key.’

  Raven wasn’t sure what had come over him. A little bubble of excitement expanded in her chest. Perhaps this could work after all? ‘Yes, it was. First part anyway. How did you learn to do that so quickly?’

  ‘I did the maths.’ He smiled but she wasn’t sure if he was serious or not.

  Joe passed her the flashlight. ‘Here, you two sort out your dance issues. I’ve got an essay to finish.’

  ‘We won’t be long.’ Kieran picked up his jacket and shook off the grass.

  ‘Take all the time you need. Bye, Raven. Thanks for coming over.’ Joe jogged back to the castle.

  She was suddenly very aware of being with Kieran, in the dark with little chance of being interrupted. She shivered.

  ‘Here.’ He wrapped the jacket around her shoulders, swamping her. ‘Better?’

  ‘Yes.’ It was official: she had just fallen in love with a large size leather jacket. She didn’t want to let it go: it smelt so wonderful and was as good as a hug as it settled around her.

  ‘It’s a bit big on you.’

  ‘I think it’s a perfect size for keeping me warm.’ There was a definite tension between them and she suspected it wasn’t just because they irritated the hell out of each other.

  ‘Suits you.’ He smiled at her and her heart did a ridiculous flip in her chest. Raven folded her arms, wondering if she should turn off the torch. The dark would be easier; it helped hide her dumb reactions to him at least.

  ‘So we’re good now, are we, Kieran?’

  Kieran took a step towards her. ‘Yes. We’re good.’

  ‘I’m impressed by your progress.’ She gestured to the spot where he had executed his backwards walkover. Where was her normal sassy self? She seemed to have gone back to the castle with Joe.

  ‘It wasn’t so hard once I’d broken it down to its constituent parts. Perhaps you could teach me that spin move next?’

  ‘Does that mean, as long as you have time, you can do the same thing to the routine we put together—put it together piece by piece?’

  ‘I think so. It wasn’t so hard after all.’

  ‘Doing one move is not dancing, Kieran.’ She frowned at him. It hadn’t taken him long to get his confidence back. ‘There’s far more to it than that.’

  ‘Is there now?’ He was standing very close.

  Her voice went all husky. She was ashamed of her hopeless weakness around him and decided to deal with it by just ignoring it. Remember, he hasn’t noticed you as a girl; don’t embarrass yourself. ‘So you’ll stick with Dance then?’

  ‘Yes.’

  That was a huge relief. She’d not wanted to be the only one without a partner. ‘Great. I’ll try to jettison the bad attitude and I promise not to shout at you again.’

  ‘You probably will.’ Even in this poor light, she could see that his smile was wry. ‘I seem to provoke people to do just that. Even Joe, who has the most long-suffering nature of anyone I know.’

  ‘I won’t.’ Without meaning to, Raven swayed a little towards him, near enough to scent his mixture of faded aftershave and damp fleece sweater. She found the combination very appealing. Then Kieran reached out and touched her cheek with his fingertips, like a moth coming down to rest briefly. Hardly there, this slight point of contact still felt unnervingly intimate. Warmth spread through her, a sense of peace settled inside. His touch untied some of the ugly knots in her core, ones that had twisted and tightened as anxiety mounted with every passing day of this school term. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to succumb to the magic. His fingers skated down to her neck, touching the sensitive hollow of her throat.

  Then as suddenly as the spell was cast, he broke it. Fingers lifted, taking something with it. ‘You had grass caught in your hair from my jacket. I’ll walk you back to the castle.’

  She opened her eyes, mortified that this moment had been all one sided. His face gave nothing away. ‘Oh, OK. Thanks.’

  ‘Shall I take the torch?’

  ‘Sure.’ Confused as to what had just happened, she let him lead the way back inside.

  It was close to eleven when Raven finally made it back to her room. Reliving the memory of his touch on her cheek, she took a moment to realize that something had changed. The second bed in the room was occupied.

  ‘Gina?’ She quickly switched off the main light she had turned on, so as not to dazzle her friend. She groped for her bedside lamp instead.

  Gina turned over, her dark blonde head buried under the covers. Raven couldn’t bring herself to wake her. What if Gina’s lateness had been because she had been ill? Curiosity wasn’t enough to justify disturbing Gina when she was fast asleep.

  Glancing around the room, Raven took in the other changes. Gina’s possessions were neatly lined up on her side of the dresser, jewellery already hanging from a pretty ornamental stand, nothing tangled or heaped up. Raven noticed her ankle bracelet among the gold chains—Gina must have borrowed it last term. Raven thought she’d lost it—she’d tease her about that in the morning.

  Opening the wardrobe to hang up her sweater, she saw Gina’s clothes were folded on the shelves or on hangers. Her shoes were in a regimental row under her bed. Someone else must have unpacked for her because her friend was constitutionally messy. That supported the idea that Gina was still convalescing and needed lots of TLC.

  Looking forward to a morning catch-up session, Raven kicked off her sneakers, threw the rest of her clothes on the upright chair and tugged on her favourite pyjamas decorated with faded cartoon moose; they’d been her mom’s, once-upon-a-time.

  ‘It’s so good to have you back, Gina,’ she whispered to the darkness, happy to hear the sound of regular breathing from across the room. ‘I’ve got to tell you about this gorgeous but totally dementing guy who’s joined us this term—he’s got this blue-blood air and is way too handsome for his own good so I shouldn’t really like him, should I?’ She ran her fingers over the spot he had touched. ‘I’m sure you’ll have a lot to say on the subject of Kieran Storm. I don’t know if I want to kick him or kiss him: how mixed up is that? You know me—unsure of my moves around boys. Well, he has that effect on me times ten.’

  Gina murmured something and turned over.

  ‘Speak in the morning.’ Raven pulled the duvet over her shoulders. Now things would start to go right; she was sure of it.

  Light spilt into the room from the open curtains. A bird cawed. Raven groggily opened her eyes and saw a shape moving across the sunbeams.

  ‘Gina? What time is it?’

  ‘Six-thirty.’

  ‘Geez. Is this revenge for disturbing you last night?’

  ‘Don’t be silly, Raven. It’s just time
to wake up.’

  Like hell it was. Raven pushed up from her pillow. Gina was already dressed, her hair curled up in a French twist, make-up applied. She was wearing what Raven could only call a sober suit. She looked like someone’s PA, not in the least like the normal casually-clothed Gina.

  ‘Got an interview?’ teased Raven. ‘I’ve never seen you so smart.’

  Gina gave her a cool look and bent over to make her bed.

  Raven put her hands under her head, elbows spread on the pillow, grinning at her friend. ‘Where’ve you been, Gina? I was really worried about you.’

  ‘My course overran. My absence was cleared with the head teacher.’

  So she had been fretting about nothing. ‘Why did no one tell me?’

  ‘Why should they have told you?’ Gina wasn’t meeting her eyes.

  ‘Because I’m your best friend, duh. Us screw-ups have to stick together—remember the pledge?’

  Gina stood up, back stiff. ‘I see. Well, I’m afraid we can’t be this term.’ She fiddled with the thin gold chain around her neck, running the pearl droplet to and fro.

  A heavy weight settled in Raven’s stomach. ‘Can’t be what?’

  ‘I’m sorry but I can’t be your friend again—not like we were. I’ve asked that you move rooms today.’

  Raven sat up. ‘Whoa. Gina? Are you joking? You’ve had me kicked out of our room?’

  ‘You have to understand: I can’t keep my eyes closed to your little problem, can’t live with the stress—it’s not good for me.’