Visible Ghosts

5

"You didn't have to be like that." I complain to Zane as soon as we're out of sight from the Toma Blackbourne teams. "I was handling them." I grumble.

He just grins at me and continues swinging our conjoined hands as we stroll through campus to the tiny student center next to the administration building. "And ruin my fun? No way, Sang. Those dogs were salivating at just one look at you. I wouldn't be doing my older brother duties if I didn't try to scare them off."

"Good luck scaring Raven away."

"Raven?"

"Yeah, Raven. You just missed him." I snatch an open table inside the student center, close to the lounge so we can try to listen in on conversations as students walk by. "He went to complain to Axel about me not taking his class." A gleeful expression takes over my face and Zane squints his eyes at me.

"Why are you looking so happy all of a sudden? I don't like when you get that look, it usually means something bad is going to happen to me."

"Nothing." I sing song, "I'm sure Raven will be happy when he finds out you're in his class. At least he'll have one of us."

"M-, me?" He stutters, a hand dragging through his already messy hair. "Raven is teaching my self-defense class isn't he? God, he's going to try to murder me. Just wait, you're going to have to scrape me off the mat."

I let out a full laugh but cut it short when Zane glares at me. With one last chuckle, I pat his arm and try to console him. "You'll be fine Zane. If I can take him down, so can you. We're already better at shooting than he is, he's just upset that we bested him when we were 16." Another chuckle escapes me. "He underestimates me because he thinks he's going to break me and it's to his detriment. You, he wants revenge for making him look bad at his own range."

Zane continues muttering under his breath about unfair favorites and how Phil loves me more than him. We sit in the student center for two hours occasionally chatting while listening to the conversation of students around us. At 12:30, I pull two sandwiches and two apples out of my bag.

"Here, take this before your next class." I hand Zane the food. "You're going to need the energy if Raven is going to be dropping you on the mat all afternoon."

"One day I'm going to repay you for all your cheeky comments and you're not going to be able to say anything about it."

"Yeah, yeah. Get moving before you're late. I'll see you after class. 2:30?" He nods his head, blows me a kiss and wanders off to the gym for his class with Raven. A giggle escapes me when I think of the Russian sparring with Zane in frustration because I won't take his class.

"Hey there sweet thang, what's your name?" A nasally voice calls to me before dropping in the seat Zane vacated. The smell of methanol and body sweat assaults my senses, making my nose want to scrunch up.

My eyes lift to meet murky brown eyes that are gleaming with a disturbing amount of malice. A scraggly brown goatee and greasy brown hair creates a picture of unhealthiness. Greg.

"I'm Sang." I say emotionless. Leaving my hand on the table as my eyes sweep the students milling around.

"Sang? That's a stupid name. I'm Greg." He says leaning over the table closer to me. My eyes water from the putrid smell emanating from him. "You wanna get out of here? That guy you were with has nothing on me. I promise to show you a good time." I roll my eyes, clearly not impressed with what he's trying to offer.

"That guy was my brother and he is expecting me to drive him home after class. So, no thanks." I reply as calmly as I can.

"Come one sing song, my buddies Rocky and Jay will be there too. It'll be one hell of a party. You can even bring your brother with you." Greg tries to sway me, his eyes undressing me.