Of dead and winter

Chapter Seven: Chemistry

The class was a subdued hum of activity, with most students either quietly taking notes or only half paying attention to the teacher's work on the chalkboard. Grayden sat behind Evie, observing her with a mix of curiosity and concern. She was clearly enthralled by Prince Chad, the son of Cinderella, who seemed to have captured her attention entirely. If only she knew what Chad really thought of her best friend, Mal. Doug, Dopey's son, rolled his eyes at her infatuation, and Grayden shared a knowing glance with him.

"Is there any chance he's in line for a throne somewhere?" Evie asked, her tone laced with emotions of infatuation.

"Chad, Prince Charming Jr., Cinderella's son. He inherited the charm but not a lot else, if you know what I mean," Doug replied with a smirk.

Evie's face lit up as she cooed, "Seems to be plenty there-there to me."

Grayden and Doug exchanged eye rolls as the teacher called on Evie to answer a question. She struggled briefly, making a joke about it before moving to the board. Grayden noticed her glance at her hand before writing the correct answer, realizing she was cheating. With a dainty smile, she threw the chalk at the teacher while Chad winked at her. Grayden frowned, making it his mission to catch her after class.

"Evie, wait!" he called as she walked down the hallway, clutching a note to her chest and doing a little spin. She turned around, looking surprised.

"Yes?"

"You know, I'm kind of offended," Grayden said, leaning against the locker beside her. "I'm a prince too and in line for a throne. How come you're not swooning over me?"

Evie blushed softly. "I didn't think you would be interested. Besides, Chad made the first move." She giggled. "Are you jealous?"

Grayden rolled his eyes. "Of that sleazebag? No." He paused, meeting her twinkling eyes. "To be honest, I came to warn you. Mal, Ben, and I had a run-in with Chad and Audrey. He's going to try and use you, Evie. I wouldn't be surprised if he asked you to do his homework."

Evie's expression hardened as if ready to defend herself, but Grayden continued, "You don't have to believe me. Just ask Mal."

With her final departure, Grayden headed to the tourney field to meet with Jay. He had promised the coach he'd show Jay the rulebook and then help Ben train Carlos. The sun was bright as he exited the awning and made his way out to the field. On his path, he noticed Evie heading under the bleachers with a troubled smile, keeping her gaze away from him as she slipped beneath the stands where Chad awaited. Grayden hoped she would heed his advice and ignore whatever Chad said.

He found Jay lounging in the bleachers, a good distance from where Evie and Chad were. Grayden climbed up the bleachers with ease and sat down beside Jay, placing the rulebook between them.

"We could use a strong hitter like you," Grayden said. "The teams are mostly made up of pushovers, if you know what I mean."

"Yeah, you're telling me. It's all, 'After you, old chum,' 'Oh pardon me, did I bump into you?' Where I come from, we're prepared to die," Jay grumbled, and Grayden chuckled at his rant.

"Let me explain a team to you," Grayden said. "It's like your body—you have all these different parts working together."

"Can I be the fist?" Jay asked eagerly.

Grayden laughed. "Sure." They continued their discussion until Carlos and Evie joined them. Evie's expression was sour while Carlos cheerfully carried the campus mutt in his arms.

Evie plopped down beside Grayden, laying her head on his shoulder. "You were right."

Grayden smirked. "That's something I like to hear."

He beamed. "It's like music to my ears."

Evie nudged him playfully. "It's not funny."

Jay and Carlos exchanged knowing glances but stayed silent. Instead, Carlos delved into his training with Ben and how he came to have the dog. As the sun began to set, the group prepared to leave, with Grayden promising to walk Evie to her dorm.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow across the sky, Grayden and Evie walked together toward her dorm. The evening air was cool and crisp, carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers from the gardens nearby. They strolled along the winding path, the soft crunch of gravel under their feet the only sound accompanying their quiet conversation.

Evie glanced sideways at Grayden, her earlier tension replaced by a softer, more reflective expression. "Thanks for earlier," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I really didn't know Chad was like that. I was so caught up in his charm that I didn't see past it."

Grayden nodded, his eyes scanning the peaceful surroundings. "I just didn't want to see you get hurt. I know how easy it is to get swept up in someone's charm, but sometimes it's just a façade."

They reached the entrance to her dorm, the building bathed in the soft light of the streetlamps. Evie stopped and turned to face Grayden, her eyes filled with gratitude. "You've been really kind to me. I didn't expect that from anyone, especially knowing how people feel about the Isle."

Grayden shrugged, a modest smile on his face. "Not everyone is hateful, Evie. Some of us can understand what it's like to come from an unsavory background."

Evie's smile widened, a genuine warmth radiating from her. "I'm glad we're getting to know each other. You're not what I expected at all."

He chuckled softly. "And you're not what I expected either. I guess it's good we surprise each other."

As they stood there, the distance between them seemed to shrink, replaced by a growing sense of camaraderie. Grayden shifted his weight, his voice softer. "You know, if you ever need someone to talk to or just a friend, I'm here. I get that being in a new place can be overwhelming."

Evie's eyes met his with a sincere expression. "That means a lot, Grayden. I appreciate it more than you know."

With a final, warm smile, Grayden gave a small wave as Evie opened the door to her dorm. "Goodnight, Evie. See you around."

"Goodnight, Grayden," she replied, stepping inside. As the door closed behind her, Grayden lingered for a moment, feeling a sense of contentment. The evening's walk had not only offered him a chance to protect Evie but had also strengthened the bond between them, making him feel a little more at home in this world.