by C. L. Stone
Her shoulders moved back, her chest expanding as she breathed in. “It felt like a good idea at the time.”
She answered because he’d asked, but she seemed to not want to talk about it.
Then he realized she was still in wet clothes, probably freezing, and really stressed. If he was going to get her talk, she needed to be more relaxed and comfortable first. “Okay,” he said. “Here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to find you something to wear. I’m going to go downstairs to change. I’ll make some hot chocolate, too. If I come back and you’re not here, I’ll understand. If you are, you get to tell me what’s going on.” He moved closer, and slowly, until his head was near hers; he wanted her full attention.
For a moment, he stopped, because those light green eyes stole his attention. It was a delicate cut across his heart, feeling her wanting to trust him, the curiosity still as bright as ever, and then that little twinge of haunted ghosts floating around inside her. She held back because that was how she protected herself.
Take a chance, he told himself. Be honest with her about what you want. “I make a halfway decent friend, if you give me a chance.”
She didn’t say anything, but she nodded. She turned her head to look away.
He studied her for a moment. Was she just trying to appease him for now? If he went downstairs, maybe she’d take her things and go.
He couldn’t make decisions for her. He could only offer to help.
If she tried to run off, he’d have to call Nathan. He’d have to call on the others. He’d follow her, to make sure she was okay. He might not be able to push her to stay, but he wasn’t going to let her run off in the middle of the night without making sure she was safe. The Academy could send in a girl, perhaps, someone she might be more comfortable talking to.
He hoped she’d stick around. The longer he stood there, the more determined he was to figure this out.
He moved to the closet quickly, seeking out some clothes for her to change into. He supposed she might have something to wear in the book bag she carried, but he wanted to offer something.
“It’ll be big on you,” he said as he pulled out a gray T-shirt.
He found some pajama bottoms as well, some a little too small for him. They might actually have been Gabriel’s or Luke’s, but their clothes sometimes got shuffled. Gabriel sorted through them when he got a chance, but they’d all been pretty busy lately.
He folded the clothes over his arm. “These might be too big as well, but at least they have a tie.” He closed the closet and turned. She’d retreated a bit into the bathroom, and he offered them to her. She took them willingly, and he watched her expression. She seemed compliant. She’d gone deeper into the bathroom, not out further into the bedroom, toward the stairs. A good sign she wasn’t going to leave. “Just put your wet things in the bathtub for now. When they aren’t so soggy, we’ll toss them into the dryer.”
Her lips moved, and for a moment, it looked like she wanted to say something.
Then she smiled.
It was the warmest smile he’d seen from her the entire night, and perhaps since he’d noticed her at all. It lit up her eyes in a way that—in spite of the chilled, soggy outward appearance—struck him as absolutely stunning.
Kota struggled, wanting to smile, wanting to say something. Anything. Tell her she’s pretty. Tell her she’s safe. His words were lost.
What was wrong with him? He’d never felt so jumbled before.
He gently closed the bathroom door and leaned back against it, waiting, listening. If she wanted to leave, she’d turn the handle and peek out to see if he was gone.
Nothing. For a long moment, he didn’t hear anything. Maybe she was considering her options.
He waited for shuffling. When he heard her move, and it wasn’t to open the door, he blew out a breath, relieved.
At least for now, Sang was safe. If he had anything to do with it, that’s the way it’d stay.
He walked away quickly. He wanted to get downstairs to make something warm to drink and get back before she had a chance to change her mind.
As he moved, his heart was racing, pounding. His mind was zipping through ideas, one after the other. He tried counting; he was way too excited.
He shouldn’t feel like this. He was helping someone else, someone in trouble, but the deepest part of him was struggling to control a happy spark inside.
He knew, even if he didn’t want to admit it, that he did want to help Sang, but at the same time, he had a selfish desire to learn everything about her. Those green eyes of hers, that amazing smile… he wanted to see that smile again. He wanted it to stay in place and not disappear.
He swallowed, trying to pull himself together. He needed to focus.
Despite telling himself this, his thoughts settled on that smile. Those lips. Her lips. They managed to melt him in ways he hadn’t expected.
He pressed a palm against his chest, trying to calm his heart, as he hurried to do what he needed to so he could get back to her.
He’d help Sang, no matter what it took.
Thank you!
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Books by C. L. Stone
The Academy Ghost Bird Series:
Introductions
First Days
Friends vs. Family
Forgiveness and Permission
Drop of Doubt
Push and Shove
House of Korba (October 2014)
The Academy Scarab Beetle Series
Thief
Liar
Fake (December 2014)
Other C. L. Stone Books:
Spice God
Smoking Gun
ABOUT C. L. STONE
Certification
Marvelour of Wonder
Active Participant of Scary Situations
Official Member of F.A.M.E.
Experience
Spent an extraordinary number of years with absolutely no control over the capping of imagination, fun, and curiosity. Willingly takes part in impossible problems only to come up with the most ludicrous solution. Due to unfortunate circumstances, will no longer experience feeling on a small spot on my left calf.
Skills
Secret Keeper | Occasion Riser | Barefoot Walker Strange Acceptance | Magic Maker | Restless Reckless | Gravity Defiant | Fairy Tale Reader | Story Maker-Upper | Amusingly Baffled | Comprehensive Curiousness | Usually Unbelievable