Skyhigh (To be retitled later.)

CHAPTER 4: THE PAPER LANTERN

CHAPTER 4: The Paper Lantern

Amber had a bad headache so she canceled he session for Wednesday. But she left Thursday open for the Paper Lantern. She would get the essay from him then. If he had completed it.

Around 5:15 she found him sitting at a booth toward the back of the restaurant and out of eye sight of the front door. He had a plate of Spring rolls in front of him. "Hi Mr...Uh...Warren." She corrected herself. "You mind if I join you?"

Warren gestured for her to sit. "Miss Stiles. What brings you here?" He asked cooly.

"I was in the neighborhood and starving so I thought I'd stop in." Warren nodded his head in approval.

"Oh, I'm sorry about last week. But don't worry, I'll make it up. We can do two hours next week or one hour twice a week."

Warren rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Well, you don't have to if you don't want to Warren. The option is always open for you. But I don't want to get you into trouble with any missing time."

"You mean so you don't."

Amber bit the inside of her cheek. Direct and to the point! "Yes Warren. This is for both of us. But my boss has been informed of my absences. I can't just decide not to go whenever the mood strikes me. There are people I have to account to, including my students."

"Nice speech Miss Stiles." He said hefting a Spring roll.

"Well, consider yourself informed Mr. Warren Peace." She shot back.

She picked up the menu to change the subject. "I'm starved. What's good here?"

"I'd stay away from any of the pork dishes." Warren replied quietly. He glanced toward the kitchen to see if anyone was around to listen.

"What are you eating?"

"Spring rolls, try." He offered sliding the plate toward her.

She picked one. Warren wasn't exaggerating because he worked there. They were tasty, light and not too oily. She pushed the plate back before she raided the plate. "I got these for us." Warren replied with mild amusement and centered the plate equally between them. "I don't think that's a good idea Warren. I might eat them all." Amber helped herself to another one.

"So I see." He mused.

Amber smiled at him. "So what would you recommend for me?"

Warren gave her a squinty eyed stare as if assessing her. It was mildly comical given the fact that he was always glowering at people.

"Hmm. Orange Chicken?"

"It sounds good. I'll take it."

"Be right back. Oh, this is for you." He tossed a wrapped package onto the table.

She turned it around in her hand for a moment. The package had been hastily wrapped and she wondered if Warren had wrapped it. She opened it. It was a mini-container of mace that could be hooked onto a keychain.

"Since you insist on traveling unprotected." He replied when he returned.

She turned it over in her hand several times. It felt unfamiliar to her. Carrying a weapon, even one created for passive defense was a big responsibility. A responsibility she didn't want.

Warren noticed her hesitation. "I told you, if you insist on living in a dangerous area because the rent is cheap then you have to learn to take precautions."

Yes, he had told her. She didn't think he was serious.

"I' ve never even held a gun Warren. I don't even have a taser."

Warren rested his cheek into his fist and tapped the table in irritation.

"You need to take some self-defense classes." He finally said after a few minutes of glowering at her.

"Well, I thought about it...." She began hesitantly.

"I know some moves so I'll teach you some time." He interrupted. He didn't want to hear whatever excuses she was going to come up with.

Amber wondered what Warren saw when he looked at her that made him so protective and yet loathing it at the same time.

Despite her misgivings a feeling of warmth rippled through her that she was in his thoughts.

"I know I gave you some time but you wouldn't happen to have that essay, would you?" She quickly said before he noticed the warmth coloring her cheeks. She worked to keep it buried.

Warren pulled out a folded up piece of paper from the pocket of his leather jacket. Why couldn't he at least have put it into an envelope? She took the paper anyway and placed it into her bag. "Alright, I'll have a look and then we'll discuss it next week."

"OK, and my mother will be there as well."

That's a relief. Fuck! No it isn't! "Great, that's great. She doesn't have to stay if she doesn't want to. I will only take up 10 minutes of her time. It is strictly a formality."

Loud Chinese interrupted them. "Ah, you're dinner. Be right back."

Soon, pleasant scents of cooked chicken in sauce wafted up to her. Warren placed it expertly on the table in front of her. "What would you like to drink?

"A coke is good."

He returned a few minutes later with the soda. She got ready to open it but he waived her off. "All part of the service." He said and flipped the top. He then poured it into a glass full of ice.

Warren then took a seat and helped himself to another Spring roll. "So, about the Shining."