Chapter 7
1343 Words
Hannah
On Friday, I discovered Damien Cross had more patience for a spider than he did for our English teacher.
“Phone on the desk,” Mr. Hensley said.
Damien sat two rows behind me, his chair tilted back.
“It’s in my pocket.”
“Because you put it there when I looked up.”
“Excellent eyesight, sir.”
A few people laughed.
Mr. Hensley held out his hand.
Damien’s chair landed on all four legs. He took out his phone, crossed the classroom, and placed it on the desk.
Then he picked up his bag.
“Where are you going?”
“Somewhere I’m less distracting.”
“The seat is not optional.”
Damien paused beside the door.
For a second, I thought he might sit down.
He smiled instead.
“Keep it warm.”
The door closed behind him.
Nobody laughed this time.
Mr. Hensley stood very still, then reached for the classroom telephone.
I looked down at my notebook, where I’d written the date and almost nothing else.
A boy who could spend five minutes reassuring me about a spider couldn’t manage one lesson without getting himself into trouble.
I didn’t understand him.
I was beginning to suspect that was part of the problem.
⸻
At lunch, I took the long route past the gym.
There was no reason to.
The cafeteria was in the opposite direction, and my sandwich was getting warm inside my bag.
Perhaps admit you’re looking for him, Fern suggested.
I’m going outside.
Convenient place for him to be.
Damien stood beside the gym wall, smoking with Justin, the Alpha’s son. Justin held a detention slip and appeared to be enjoying reading it aloud.
“‘Deliberate defiance.’ Strong opening.”
“Keep going. There’s a flattering section about my attitude.”
Justin saw me first.
“Hannah. Opinion required.”
“No,” Damien said.
“I haven’t asked anything.”
“And yet.”
I stopped a few feet away.
“Did you get your phone back?”
Damien lifted the cigarette.
“Negotiations continue.”
Justin folded the slip.
“Collect it after detention. Provided he stays in the building.”
I glanced at Damien.
He smiled.
I immediately suspected a window.
Justin’s phone rang. He checked it, swore beneath his breath, and straightened.
“My father. Suddenly, I’m elsewhere.”
He walked away before answering.
Damien watched him go.
“Remarkable survival instinct.”
“Perhaps you should borrow some.”
He took another drag.
“Wouldn’t fit.”
⸻
I stayed.
He noticed.
“Something you wanted, Ellis?”
I thought about the note inside my bag.
“Mrs. Bell was pleased with the cupboard.”
“Must’ve missed the parade.”
“She wasn’t pleased with what you said.”
“Recovered from that.”
I adjusted my bag.
“You didn’t have to leave without saying goodbye.”
His gaze settled on me.
“You were working.”
“That hasn’t stopped you talking before.”
He smiled slowly.
“Missed me?”
I should have left then.
Instead, I said, “I had nobody to criticize the rabbits.”
His smile widened.
“Serious loss.”
A door opened behind us. Two girls came out of the gym, and one waved at Damien.
“Leah’s tonight. You’re coming, right?”
“Depends who’s asking.”
“Leah.”
“Disappointing.”
She laughed and pushed his shoulder before walking away.
I looked down at the cigarette in his hand.
He watched my face.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Very expressive nothing.”
“Must be convenient.”
“What?”
“Knowing everybody wants you at their party.”
For once, the answer came out before I could make it polite.
He lowered the cigarette.
“Not everybody.”
My face warmed.
I looked toward the cafeteria.
“I should eat.”
“Come tonight.”
I turned back.
His expression was still teasing, but he was watching me closely.
“No, thank you.”
“Thought you might say that.”
“Then why ask?”
“Wanted to see whether you’d surprise me.”
That annoyed me enough to stop being embarrassed.
“I don’t have to prove anything to you.”
“No.”
He said it simply.
Then added, “You could come because you want to.”
⸻
“I don’t even know Leah.”
“You share chemistry.”
“We share a room while somebody explains chemistry.”
“Strong foundation.”
I laughed despite myself.
Damien put the cigarette out in his little tin.
“Music. Food. People doing things they’ll explain badly on Monday. Your standard party.”
“Will there be drinking?”
“Yes.”
At least he didn’t pretend.
“And what happens if I want to leave?”
“You leave.”
“Without everybody making a thing of it?”
His gaze moved over my face.
“I’ll walk you out.”
The bell rang inside.
I glanced toward the doors.
He stayed against the wall.
“Aren’t you coming?”
“Eventually.”
“You’re already in trouble.”
“Then I’ve saved everyone the suspense.”
I shook my head and started toward class.
“Hannah.”
I looked back.
“Seven thirty. If you want.”
He didn’t ask for an answer.
Somehow, that made the invitation harder to dismiss.
⸻
By the time I got home, I’d decided not to go.
Then I opened my wardrobe.
That complicated matters.
Mum found me holding a black top against myself.
“Going somewhere?”
“No.”
She looked at the clothes on my bed.
“Thorough preparation.”
I lowered the top.
“There’s a party.”
“Whose?”
“A girl from school. Leah.”
“Who are you going with?”
I hesitated.
Mum sat on the edge of the bed.
“Ah.”
“He asked. That doesn’t mean I said yes.”
“Do you want to?”
I looked at the mirror.
That was the question I’d spent the afternoon avoiding.
“Yes.”
She nodded.
“Then let’s discuss the actual evening.”
⸻
Dad objected to Damien before I finished explaining.
“Absolutely not.”
“I haven’t asked to go on his motorcycle.”
“I’m pleased you’ve retained some judgment.”
The words stung.
Mum set down her cup.
“Let her finish.”
“I’m asking to go to a party,” I said. “You can drive me.”
Dad leaned back.
“Why the sudden interest?”
I could have said friends. Music. Something harmless.
Instead, I looked at my hands.
“Because he invited me.”
Dad was quiet.
That felt worse than shouting.
“Hannah, you’ve just turned eighteen. You wanted to find your mate. What changed?”
“Nothing.”
“Then be careful where you put your feelings.”
Mum touched his arm.
“One evening,” she said. “We’ll collect her.”
He looked at her, then at me.
“An hour.”
I opened my mouth.
“An hour, Hannah.”
I nodded before he could change his mind.
⸻
At seven twenty-five, I stood outside Leah’s house wondering whether I’d made a terrible mistake.
Music rattled the windows. People gathered on the front lawn, laughing beneath strings of lights.
Then Damien came through the side gate.
He stopped when he saw me.
For once, he didn’t speak immediately.
His gaze traveled from my loose hair to the black top I’d finally chosen, then returned to my face.
I waited.
“Surprised?” I asked.
He smiled.
“Very.”
“Try not to ruin it.”
He opened the gate wider.
“I’ll make an effort.”
As I stepped past him, his hand touched the small of my back.
Briefly.
Enough.
I’d spent all afternoon imagining whether he’d look pleased to see me.
I hadn’t prepared for how pleased I’d be to find out.
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