What He Heard

Chapter 4

            “Well, you look like you’re still in one piece. Your mom couldn’t have been too mad,” Willow said, leaning back against her locker and tilting her head back so she could see all of Rune.

            He chuckled, dropping down beside her. “Nah, she was fine about it. I came back just before curfew. And I was with you. Not only does Mom like you, but she likes the fact that you drag me out and force me to be social. She has a thing about that.”

            Willow smiled. “Mine has a similar thing about me hanging out with the cousins. She thinks I spend too much time reading and watching TV. And hiking solo.”

            “They act like we’re anti-social misanthropists.”

            “That’s probably because we are anti-social misanthropists. Or at least, we probably look like ones to outsiders.”

            Rune snorted. “People who can’t distinguish cynicism with misanthropy are not the kind of people I want to spend time with.”

            Willow fought to keep a straight face. “Which only further proves to them that you hate everyone.”

            He sighed dramatically. “Way to bring logic into this.”

            “Logic is your friend.”

            “No, he’s a wet blanket, always interfering with my brilliant ideas, stopping me from doing fun stuff because it’s dangerous, making me make sense. Stupid logic.”

          She had to laugh at his fake muttering, drawing an answering chuckle from him. “You really are super weird.”

            His eyebrows rose. “Coming from you? That’s damn near an insult. How are things with your family? No…problems?”

            Rune’s hesitant tone and glance around before talking about her family had her shaking her head. While she was glad he was taking the secret seriously, she was going to have to mention not being so obvious about it. For someone so smart, he could be remarkably stupid at times. “Yeah. Everything’s fine.”

            His eyes bright as he watched her, Rune said “I had some questions. Just about…stuff.”

            Willow rolled her eyes. She was definitely going to have to talk to him. “Sure. You can come over after school. But we’ll talk about that then. Right now we should be focusing on stuff like our articles for the dance. How’s your costume coming, by the way?”

            Rune blinked for a moment at the sudden topic change, then smiled. “Better than I thought. I got lazy and just bought it off the internet, there are some crazy cheap places to get superhero costumes. I’m going to do some reading up on the comics just so I can stay in character the whole time. I figure it’ll be more fun that way.”

            “Why do I get the feeling we’re both going to be at the centre of complete chaos?”

            “Because you like having fun just as much as I do.”

            “You really are an awful influence on me.”

            “Ha! Your uncle said I was a good one. You’re just saying that because you’re jealous that all the best stuff we do is my idea.”

            Willow wrinkled her nose, fighting against another smile. “Your ideas are also always the stuff that gets us in the most trouble. Don’t think I’ve forgotten about the pep rally articles. I’m still surprised you haven’t gotten us detention yet.”

            Rune laughed at that. “So am I. So’s my mom. But don’t worry, we’re just barely at the end of our first month of school. I bet, if I really try, I could get us suspended before November.”

            “I really wonder about myself sometimes, that I keep hanging out with you. I really need to make some normal friends.”

            “It’s hard to do that when you’re already not normal. And don’t forget, your articles are just as bad as mine, so it’s not like you’re innocent in any of this.”

            “Fair point,” Willow said, smiling. “But you are the one who got me into doing that, so…”

            “You’re just trying to blame everything on me. Keep it up and I just might…” Rune’s sniff was both hugely fake and hugely overdramatic.

Willow chuckled. “Clearly, we need to get you on stage. You’ve got the right over-the-top personality that’d shine up there. I bet we could even sell tickets just to hear your go crazy and rant about stuff.”

“You’re just trying to profit off my genius. I won’t allow it! Besides, I suck at talking in front of large groups. Small ones are fine, and I’m good when you let me write stuff down, but just having to talk in front of a whole crowd? I’d be tongue-tied in minutes.”

“Okay, now we have to do it. I’d pay money to see you at a loss for words.”

“Thanks. I’m so glad my suffering would amuse you,” he replied dryly.

“It’s not my fault you suffer in such a fun to watch way. It’s why I stick around.”

That had him grinning. “Aha! We finally get to the truth of the matter. I’m on to you now. I will have my revenge!”

Willow chuckled as the bell rang overhead. She grabbed her books and stood, shaking her head over the wide smile Rune was wearing. Whatever else could be said about her friend, no one could say he didn’t know how to have fun.