Third Wing

Chapter Nine

McKell's Perspective: 

The women's hall is quiet as I dress for the morning, as I'm one of the first to wake up. Elise is sleeping soundlessly in her bed. I consider waking her up for a brief moment before deciding against it. She's not the most pleasant person to be around in the mornings. I grin as I imagine her grumbling in stubborn defiance over having to wake up for breakfast. 

When I walk out of the room, the first thing I notice is Deign. He's leaning against the wall, smiling brightly at me and I lose a breath. Deign has always been there when I need someone the most. Reliable and consistent. 

"Morning, sunshine." He smirks up at me as he kicks off the wall. 

"Are you stalking me?" I dramatically gasp, throwing my hand over my heart. 

"Maybe," he admits with a shrug that makes me laugh. 

"At least he's honest." I dramatically roll my eyes as I start walking through the empty hallway. As much as I'd rather be in the Healers Quadrant, I do love the mornings. The peace is so alluring. It feels like the world has come to a pause and I'm left here to enjoy it all. 

"You know me, always one to tell the truth." I catch his sarcastic wink as I turn to face him, confident in my abilities to walk backwards. 

"Except that one time when we—" 

"Don't finish that sentence. That was a one time thing." A muscle in his jaw jumps. 

"Was it?" I tilt my head to the side and await his answer. 

"Yes." He pauses. "Mostly." 

I break into a fit of giggles. Deign Aetos. So above breaking the rules until I flash him my puppy dog eyes. There hasn't been a single time in our long friendship that I haven't been able to get him to do exactly what I want. I am his weakness, and I'm not ashamed to use that against him. I bite my lip, meeting his gaze. 

"You know, I'm a big girl now. I don't need you to escort me everywhere." I turn back around and start heading for the kitchen. I signed up to help with breakfast in the morning. All first years have to sign up for a job because it's not enough that we're training to fight in the school with the most deaths and have to share a room with hundreds of other people. 

"You might be surprised at what threats can come out of nowhere," he says in a matter-of-fact kind of tone.  

"Well, I'll call for you if I run into any ferocious looking rocks." I laugh, shaking my head. 

"That was one time," he snaps, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. 

"Well, we're here, so unless you're planning on putting on a hair net and helping..." 

"Tempting, truly, but, uh—I kind of have some leadership things, so I'll have to take a raincheck, but I truly appreciate the offer." I watch Deign walk back to his dorm for a moment before turning around and finding someone who can help me figure out what I'm supposed to be doing. 

Kitchen staff sounded like a good idea when I signed up for it, but now that I'm here, I have no idea what could have been going through my head. I'm a disaster in the kitchen. The last time I tried to make soup I somehow managed to set it on fire. Once, Mya wanted to make a guy she fancied cupcakes and asked me to whip the frosting, and by the time I was done, it had turned to a disgusting chunky paste. Even chocolate covered strawberries I messed up, and there's one step. Dip the strawberries in the pot. I groan internally as I make my way to the other first years on kitchen duty. 

"I hate mornings," Elise groans, laying her head in between her folded arms on the table.  

"Come on, it's not so bad." I laugh, looking around the dining room, trying to find Deign. I wonder if he really had things to do for leadership this morning, or if that was just an excuse to get out of here quicker. 

"Who are you looking for?" Rhiya asks. 

"What? No one," I say as cooly as I can manage. Elise pops her head up and gives me a funny look. 

"Are you looking for our squad leader?" Rhiya asks suggestively while bouncing her eyebrows up and down. 

"Deign?" Elise gasps, looking between me and Rhiya. 

"No!" I quickly blurt, feeling a blush creep it's way up my neck. I do not like Deign Aetos. I can't like him. Right...? I mean, I can't deny that he's absolutely gorgeous and funny and smart and talented. But he's my best friend. He's always been my best friend. Nothing more. 

"Oh my crinkle nuggets! You like him!" 

I shoot Elise a confused look, "what are crinkle nuggets?" 

"Don't change the subject!" 

"Please never say that again," I plead, drowning in secondhand embarrassment.  Elise says the most random things sometimes. 

"Deign!? Our Deign!? Sorry, sorry. Your Deign!" I hide behind my hands as my twin vocalizes her confusion. 

"No... I don't think. Look, now is definitely not the best time to get romantically involved with anyone. Especially the squad leader. Plus, I need to train in hand-to-hand combat more. Maybe study," I point out, taking a large bite of the omelet I didn't help make. I warned both Rhiya and Elise to stay away from that one, too, when they came in for breakfast this morning.

"I bet our squad leader can teach you how to use hand-to-hand combat," Rhiya sings. 

"And you know he'd be into it." Elise laughs as her and Rhiya high five. "Maybe the wedding's for more than just cake." 

"Will you shut up!" I only half joke. 

"We can go pick out your white dress tomorrow." 

I roll my eyes at Rhiya as her and Elise both fall into a fit of laughter. At least this got her out the grumpy mood she was in just a moment ago.