The Medallion

Nilla: A Walk Home

At the end of the day, I went to my locker to pull all of the books I needed for the pile of homework I had that night, which was all of them. Don't they know that it's next to impossible to finish that much in one night? The girls had wandered off to the mall for some last-minute back-to-school shopping, but I declined hoping to spend some time getting sunset shots at the beach. Priorities.

I closed my locker and was surprised to find Jace on the other side of the door.

"Hello," he said with a bright smile on his face. "I missed you."

I chuckled feeling silly that I let some guy turn me into some quivering, giggling, wimp of a girl.

"Hello, Jace. When did you get here?"

"Just now. I wanted to surprise you."

I noticed the chain around his neck again. I didn't remember seeing it in the morning, or maybe his eyes kept me from noticing. He caught my gaze land on the chain and adjusted his shirt so it wouldn't show anymore.

"Why were you waiting on me?" I asked.

"Because I like spending time with you. Would your parents get too angry with you if we went somewhere?"

He casually put his arm around my shoulders.

"My mother would love it." I paused for a moment. "If you don't mind, what is that interesting chain around your neck?"

I felt it in every muscle in his arm tense and then slowly release.

"Please, do not ask me about it."

"Why not? I thought you wanted to be my friend. Friends don't keep secrets."

He released me completely and I suddenly felt cold.

"Sometimes it is necessary to keep secrets, and if you were to be my friend, you would understand that."

I saw the hurt in his eyes. It matched the pain I felt when he let go.

"I'm sorry," I said quickly. "I was merely curious. I didn't mean to make you angry."

I reached out for him, but he backed away. His rejection seared in my hand just as bad as if I put it in an actual fire. What had he done to make me act so crazy, to feel so weak at his presence, and to cause me pain at his departure? I cradled the pain to my chest and looked away from him.

He let out a sigh.

"Nilla," he pulled my hand from my chest and held it gently. "Please, do not ask me about it again."

I nodded in defeat.

"Maybe someday?" I asked gingerly.

He smiled. "Someday."

He threw my backpack over his shoulders, took my hand, and led me out the front doors.

We talked about our lives up to that point as he slowly walked me home. I told him about my parents and the lifestyle they chose for me. He laughed when I told him about how Halo and I met as children. She had fallen out of a tree and landed on me. He flinched at the mention of Allison who I met only a few years ago in middle school. I could hear an unhappy increase in his breathing when I mentioned Steven.

He told me about his mother, how she was the matriarch of his family and very strict. He talked about his friends back home and his life there, but never said where 'there' was. He talked about a sister named Dani, a brother name Lance, and how his entire family was against him going to my school. He never said why they were against it and he got very defensive whenever I would ask.

When we got home, I invited him inside. I even took him back to my room even though I knew my parents would be very upset about it. He placed my books on the desk and looked at me. The look in his dark eyes became intense. I wasn't sure what to make of it. I tried to smile, but his intensity caused my heart to race. I wasn't sure if it was excitement or fear.

He bowed low taking my hand and gave it a gentle kiss.

"I apologize for her anger earlier, my lady," he said quietly. The commanding force he usually held in his voice had changed somehow like he was letting his guard down.

"N-no, please don't apologize. I shouldn't have been so forceful in trying to satiate my own curiosity."

Satiate. Halo would've had a fit with that word what with it not sounding like a word a normal girl would use.

He smiled. "I understand your curiosity. And I will tell you about it if you promise to go out with me on a date."

My heart jumped. "Are you blackmailing me, sir?"

His eyes opened wide and his cheeks flushed from embarrassment.

I laughed. "I was joking with you. Calm down. Of course, I'll go out with you, but you didn't have to bribe me with promises of secrets. I know you'll tell me when you're ready."

He smiled but then looked confused. "Why would you go out with me if I did not promise you some sort of compensation in return?"

"Because I like you. The honor of your company is the compensation you offer to me."

"Oh, believe me, my lady, the honor is entirely mine."

I leaned into him giving him a gentle kiss on his cheek. His smile was brighter than any smile I've ever seen.

"Thanks for walking me home," I said.

"I find myself with the strong need to be near you," he confessed. His honest answer surprised me and I jumped a little. He tilted his head in confusion. "Have I said something that offended you?"

"No," I shook my head. "I'm just unaccustomed to such honesty. Most guys just make up stories or some kind of pretense to try and trick me into going with them or talking to them or whatever."

"Why would one have to lie about wanting to spend time with a beautiful young woman?"

My face felt hot and I could only imagine how red I must be. "To keep from getting hurt I suppose. If the object of their desires turns them down, it's easier to play off their embarrassment if there's a lie in there somewhere."

He nodded. "I understand." He glanced down at me through thick eyelashes. "Will I see you tomorrow?"

My face hurt from all the smiling. "Yes."

"Very well." He dipped at the waist. "I will show myself out. It is improper for me to be in your chambers without parental consent."

Who was this guy?

"Until tomorrow."

For whatever confusion he caused in my head, I sure did like the way he made me feel.