White Fur

Chapter 4

Skyler’s POV

“So Skyler,” Kanto tilted his head a bit and gave me a small smirk. “What do you do, work wise?”

We took a couple steps down the street. I took a deep breath in attempts to calm my nerves but I don’t think it did any good. My stomach was still fluttering like this was my first crush. Was I back in high school or was it just because I still couldn’t believe that this man was talking to me.

“Oh I teach math at the high school a couple blocks away from here. Franklin Jones High School. This was my third year teaching there.” And probably my last.

He let out a small chuckle. Did he read my mind or something. Im pretty sure I didn’t say that last part out loud. But then again why would he be laughing at my possible termination from my job. The confusion must have been written all over my face, because he answered my question without me having to ask.

“Oh I just think it’s funny that we’ve be in the same city, so close for so long and are just now meeting.” Oh good, he wasn’t laughing at my potential professional failures.

“I mean it is a big city, lots of people live and work here. There are also a lot of people who visit, even though I don’t exactly know why, there isn’t much to draw people here. So unless if you have a kid, and that kid is old enough to be a high schooler, I wouldn’t think you’d have any business with the high school.” I didn’t think before saying that last sentence. Maybe he does have a kid who’s in high school. But he looks too young, but then again you never know. Maybe he’s older than he looks. Or many he had a baby when he was really young. I don’t know if I could date him if he has a kid. Nothing against kids, obviously I like them, I just don’t think I’m ready for that responsibility of being a step-parent. Get a grip Skyler, this is still only the first date, why are you thinking like that?

“True, I don’t have any kids so it makes sense but I’ve been working in the city for a long time. It’s just weird we haven’t crossed paths.” A pained expression quickly spread across his face, like it hurt him that we haven’t met sooner. But why?

“Why did you become a teacher?” His expression vanishing as soon as he finished his question. I shouldn’t pry, maybe he had a difficult memory cross his mind.

“Oh it’s a weird story and it makes me sound petty. I’ll just stick with I really like working with kids.”

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but I won’t judge you or think you’re petty. Whatever the reason it obviously made you a great person.”

How can he talk about me like he knows me so well? I only met him a couple hours ago and he’s already so comfortable saying such things. But it’s weird because I oddly feel comfortable with him too. I can’t explain why, he makes me nervous but in a good way. Maybe it’s ok to feel this comfortable. Well, I guess it’s story time then.

“Ok I’ll tell you but you have to answer my questions next. Deal?” Yes like questions on how a man can look so damn good, it should be illegal. Focus Skyler, he hasn’t even agreed yet.

“I’d answer your questions anyways but it’s a deal.” He had a big grin on his beautiful face. Like this was his biggest victory, how strange. I took a deep breath, again to calm my nerves and again it was useless, as we continued walking down the sidewalk.

“Alright then. When I was in 8th grade I had a math teacher, Mr. Reed. It was very clear that he didn’t want to be there and that teaching was just a back up career for him. He had very little patience for our class. Now we were 8th graders and middle schoolers are no picnic but still he should have been a little nicer or more understanding. Anyways, I’ve always been really good at math and since he didn’t do a great job at teaching the concepts to the class, other student would always ask me for help. Eventually I had a huge group of classmates around me all the time during class asking for help.”

“Wow, you were a role model even in the 8th grade. That’s impressive.” I looked away from the sidewalk to give him a small smirk of my own and raising my eyebrows. I swear I saw Kanto blush at my expression, embarrassed for speaking during story time. “Sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt, continue.”

I let out a small laugh at his embarrassment. “Anyways before I was so rudely interrupted.” Kanto blushed even more at my sarcasm, which made me erupt with laughter. I could get use to teasing him, it’s just too easy. Kanto shook his head and smiled a bit, acknowledging that I’m teasing him. We both take a small sigh and I continue my story as we walk.

“Well one day Mr. Reed got very mad at the group surrounding my desk and decided to yell at me in front of everyone. Since I was the one helping everyone, it meant I was obviously the ringleader of the gathering. I apologized but in my mind all I could think was how I could do his job one day and do it better. So that’s exactly what I did. I went to college, got a degree in mathematics, went through the teaching credential program and have been a teacher ever since.” I smiled at my weird teaching background but I’ve never been too ashamed of it. “I know the story comes off a little ridiculous and I have no clue if I’m truly doing a better job than Mr. Reed, but honestly I don’t think I would have become a teacher without that experience. I do really like helping the students and I’m very much a math nerd, so it’s a perfect fit.”

“I don’t think it’s a bad story about you, if fact I think it’s inspiring.”

“Inspiring?” I started looking around at the top of his head looking for something. I make sure to walk on his other side to get a good look at his beautiful face and dark brown hair.

“What?” Concern and a little confusion swept across Kanto’s face.

“I’m just checking for a bump or a bruise.”

Now Kanto was thoroughly puzzled, enough that we both stopped walking.

“Yea, the spot where you hit your head, making you think that that story was inspiring.”

Kanto let out a deep, rich laugh that was so infectious that I started laughing equally loudly. When Kanto finally caught his breath again I knew he was about to explain himself.

“It was inspiring. You saw a problem, something that needed to be changed. You worked hard and became that change. Not many people can say they’d dedicate their life to making sure others had a better experience in life.” He gave me another heart stopping smile. I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks, I probably look like a tomato right now but hopefully he can’t tell since it’s night time.

I looked away and decided to continue walking. I never thought of my story like that. I always thought that I was just being childish and was just going to be a person who got their job for immature reasons. Everyone I’ve told about that story thought I was a judgmental, self-centered person or just someone who lacked empathy and vision. That’s why I stopped telling people that story, even though it’s how I came to be a teacher other people didn’t appreciate its effect as much as I did. Kanto provided me with a new way to look at it. It’s kind of nice to know he doesn’t think of me or see me as a selfish person.

“Skyler, are you ok?” Kanto snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Yea I’m fine. I’ve just never thought about that story that way. But enough about me, it’s your turn.” I made sure Kanto could see the evil look that was now one my face. I wasn’t going to do anything too mischievous but I do think I heard Kanto gulp when he saw my face. “You said you’ve been in the city a while, what do you do?”

“I’m an architect.” He answered with a straight face.

“Oh wow, that’s amazing! What do you specialize in?”

Kanto shrugged a little “We work mostly on mansions with top of the line home security. We’ve done some other projects but our specialty is having the home security system added in.”

Ok Mr. Big shot architect acting like that’s not super impressive or intimidating. Here I am telling him about my goofy middle school life while he has multi-millionaires calling him to build expensive, fancy homes that I probably couldn’t even afford to look at. I wonder if I know the company, I bet it’s famous. “What architect company do you work for? It must be pretty famous to have such a specific specialty.”

“I work for Boterea & Buildings.” Kanto is way too causal about this. If I’m not losing my mind he just said Boterea, like the skyscraper that I always pass to and from work. “You might know the Boterea building, it’s not far from the school if I’m correct.”

Is he a mind reader or something? But I definitely know that building. Maybe that’s why he was upset earlier because he knew our places of work were so close.

“I pass by that building all the time.” I made sure to regain my composure before Kanto could catch my shock. “It’s such a tall building, I bet the view is amazing. Especially with that many windows you could easily admire the skyline of the city. Have you always wanted to be an architect?”

“Not really, my dad was an architect.”His expression changed to one so sad, if we didn’t just walk by a street light I would have missed it. But I could hear pain in his voice, I instantly regret asking. “I was more into the technology part, so for a while I focused on the security aspect. But when my dad died I took up the building part too.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up such a painful memory.” Stupid Skyler, just had to go asking questions that brought up painful memories. You purposely avoided asking him why he was sad earlier so you wouldn’t make things awkward. I wouldn’t be shocked if he ended the date now and never talked to you again.

“It’s ok, it happened a long time ago. I really looked up to my father and I do still miss him but it’s not as painful as it used to be.”

We kept walking but I could see Kanto tense up a bit. I don’t know what is going through my mind but it’s like my body is fighting against my logic. Because next think I know I was reaching out and grabbing Kanto’s hand. Kanto was clearly shocked at this action as he took a sharp inhale, stopped walking and wiped his head towards me. I swear I also saw his eyes quickly change color from hazel, to a darker hazel and back to their original hazel color. Must have been the streetlights messing with my mind.

“I’m sorry, I know it’s hard to lose a parent. Especially when they made such an impact on your life. I know I just met you and I still don’t know much about you. But I have a feeling that your dad would be very proud of you.” I hope my words didn’t make him feel worse or come off as too cliqué. I’m trying to give him a warm smile but I know from experience that this pain never really goes away, it just becomes less intense.

Kanto then inhaled and let’s out a deep sigh. Then he gently squeezes my hand and I could feel his tension relieving a bit. His hand is so much bigger than mine but it felt nice, like my hand belonged in his. Wooooow how cheesy I am with this guy. We continue walking, but he didn’t let go of my hand. And for some reason I didn’t want him to. It really was strange, this weird feeling but it was nice.

It was about another block before one of us spoke, and it was Kanto who broke the silence.

“Thank you for saying that and sorry if I made this awkward. I don’t usually talk about my dad, especially not on a first date. But you’re…” he trailed off a bit like he wanted to say something but couldn’t. “You were really honest with me about your past so I thought it would be fair. So I shared without thinking. Sorry.”

I could tell that wasn’t what he wanted to say but I let it slide. I didn’t want to keep digging in unpleasant memories. “I’m sorry for bringing it up. It’s like that with my mom. But the best way through is to keep moving forward. That and a delicious amount of pizza!” We were finally at the pizza place.

“What do you mean—“

“Oh no!!!”

We both started to talk at the same time.

“They’re closed. I totally forgot that it’s a Thursday. I thought they would have switched to their summer hours already.” That and it was well past 10 o’clock. “I’m sorry I should have known.”

Damn it, I really wanted to go on this date. It’s not everyday a gorgeous man walks up to you while you’re making arts and crafts and asks you out. Also I was weirdly comfortable with Kanto and I didn’t want that to end either. But if the pizza place is closed then there probably aren’t many other places open right now. I could feel gloom and doom set in and I know it was showing. Kanto studied my face for a bit before speaking again.

“Do you still want to continue our date?” Kanto asked tilting his head and bending down a bit to search my eyes for the answer.

Um, of course I want to keep being in the presence of the hottest man on Earth. But it wasn’t just that anymore, I wanted to keep getting to know him. I just felt drawn to him. I’ve only felt that once before but even then it was never this strong. “I would like to, but only if you want to.”

Here I was worried he would want to continue our date when that same evil look I gave Kanto earlier appear across his face. I now instantly regret giving him that look. “Then I have a plan.”

Kanto straightened his back with a mischievous grin, readjusted his hold on my hand and started walking in another direction with me trailing behind. What was going through his head? What did I just get myself into?