DogBird

Chapter 12: Roe

It was mesmerizing, watching Wolfgang sign. His hands, although rough and big, were a lethal kind of graceful as he moved and I couldn't look away. I didn't miss the fact that both Yonah and Henry were just as graceful and fluent as Wolfgang. It made sense, since he was their friend.

The class seemed to go by too quickly and by the time the bell had rung, I had learned that Yonah, Henry, Yuki, Ren, Taylen, Kyrie, and Teddy had been close since their elementary days. I didn't speak much during the class, but I didn't have to, as Yonah seemed to love hearing his voice just as much as I did. His voice was slightly higher and fruity, bordering on flirty, and it was calming, yet exhilarating to listen to.

Henry stayed almost as quiet as I did, speaking up only to correct an old memory that Yonah recalled wrong or to cut off Yonah completely. I caught the few faint blushes that decorated his high cheekbones at some of the more embarrassing recollections, and I had to physically hold back the sigh of adoration. Maybe he wasn't as much of a stick in the mud as I had originally thought.

I ended up hanging back with Yonah and Henry as the class filed out, unable to find an opening in Yonah's laid back jabber to make my exit. The worst of my judgement didn't even want to leave, revelling in the illusive mindset that I was a part of this friendship, and would continue to be so. Having so many stories confided in me made me feel as though I were part of them, as if I always had been, and it was intoxicating. But I needed to snap out of this fantasy. Quick.

I raised a hand slowly, capturing Yonah's attention and plugging the steady flow of words from his mouth for the moment. I jerked my thumb over my shoulder at the door, taking a small step back. "Sorry, I...I don't wanna be late," I said.

Yonah and Henry shared a look and I felt as though I witnessed a conversation in a foreign language, but just as quickly as it had happened, it ended and Yonah flashed an almost diabolical smile my way. He waved a hand through the air. "You don't have to worry about being late, because your chauffeur is..." He trailed off as he glanced at the watch that wasn't on his wrist. When he glanced back up, the same grin spread across his lips. "Right on time."

I felt a tap on my shoulder and peered into Taylen's clear water eyes. He beamed at me, grabbing the strap of my almost empty backpack and tossing it onto his shoulder.

With an extravagant bow, he turned back to me with a teasing grin. "Shall we depart, my liege?"

As much as I wanted to snort at his playful behavior, the unease at their amount of information on me had me casting a weary glare at him. He cocked an eyebrow at me, catching the uncertainty, then stood to his full height as concern took control of his features. He leaned down slightly to be more eye level with me as a wrinkle formed between his light eyebrows. "What's wrong Roe?"

I glanced between the four guys still in the classroom, their attention solely on me and giving me the urge to shuffle. My damn façade wouldn't let that happen though, so I was stuck staying uncomfortably still as I sucked in a breath. "How do you guys know my schedule?"

All tension seemed to leave Taylen as he breathed a laugh bordering on a sigh. "Oh, that, y'scared me fr'a second. This morning, Jasper saw your schedule and noticed you share sumuhthe same classes as the rest of us."

"He memorized my schedule?"

Taylen waved his hands through the air as if to dispel any negative thoughts I might have. "He didn't do it t'be creepy or anything! He's got ultra super good memory, so it just kinda stuck. Thought we'd help you 'round since you're new. It's always nice t'see a familiar face, y'know?" He gave a boyish grin that I couldn't return.

"But why do you care?"

Why would they care? I didn't get it. Just by looking at me, it was obvious that I was more trouble than I was worth. I wasn't a friendly or kind person, I was broken. I was dark, I was gloomy, I was quiet, I was unemotional. What about me was worth their time?