Grasp Heart

Chapter 9: Prejudice & Pride

"Wow," I breathed in spite of myself as we viewed the outdoors from the safety of the school lobby.

The windows choked with wispy swirls of white-gray mist. Curling and undulating, the faint swath appeared as if spirits were walking through, stirring it up with their passage. Rain flecked onto the glass with the movement.

"Still getting used to Homer?" Mason inquired as a group of sophomores pressed their faces to the window.

"I like mist," I scoffed, "It smells thicker."

"It gets misty often in Los Angeles?"

"I travel," I growled, though my heart skipped a beat.

"Ah, you have a favorite place? A favorite season?"

"Do I get to ask questions?"

"You just did."

"Don't get smart with me," I muttered as we paced toward the cafeteria, "I do happen to have a favorite place, but not a favorite season. What are your hobbies? People watching and brooding over your Evanescence collectible CDs? Wait... you're more of a vinyls kind of guy, aren't you?"

"I like both mediums, but there is this thing called 'the cloud', now, that's pretty useful for storing music too," he said, raising his eyebrows conspiratorially, "So where is your favorite place?"

"The mountains," I noted vaguely, catching sight of Allie and Cat walking ahead of us to the cafeteria.

Their eyes brightened when I caught them throwing secretive glances over their shoulders and giggling.

"The mountains, huh? My father did say that you were out in them this weekend and had a bit of an incident."

"Did he?" I said with careful nonchalance.

"Something about a rabid bear."

"I'm fine."

"You should really be more careful," he said and I narrowed my eyes at the edge of darkness in his tone, "The wilderness here is very dangerous, even if you're properly estimating it."

"I know what I'm doing."

"Next time you go, I'll go with you."

I blinked, freezing mid-step through the door he held open. Someone coughed behind me and I started, trotting in the rest of the way and pausing to wait for him.

"Why?"

My tone grew suspicious as the other students walked out of hearing range.

"Because of the buddy-system."

"Are you sure I wouldn't be in more danger that way?" I insisted, shaking my head, "I mean, you look and act like a would-be school shooter; should I really be alone with you?"

His eyes narrowed and his lips formed a thin line. He betrayed himself with a twitched half-smile, then, "I'll get back to you after an FBI threat-assessment. In the meantime, you should probably fill in Alissa and Catalina on your success."

"Success?" I echoed.

"On asking me out," he prompted slowly, reaching out as if to gently wrap his knuckles on my forehead, but I cringed away.

It had been so sudden, instinctive, that it hadn't occurred to me to remain still and bear the touch. He stared, lips slightly parted and brows arched in confusion as I fumbled to recover myself.

"Er, yeah, right," I bobbed my head and turned on my heel.

By the time I approached Alissa and Catalina standing in the lunch-line, I had successfully calmed my frightful heartbeat. Alissa looked ready to burst.