"I was wondering what kind of girl could have botched up a rescue attempt so badly. Now that I know it was you all along, everything makes sense."
"Go away."
Rome runs his nose down the side of my face, smiling at the way I shiver. "After all thes...
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THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE WINTER BALL, I MADE THE MISTAKE OF WALKING BY ROME AND HIS FRIENDS. They were hanging out in the main courtyard, sitting under the statue of our first Headmaster. Rome had been laughing at something one of his friends said, but when I walked by, his attention turned towards me.
Our eyes met.
Rome smiled. He crossed his legs. He leaned back on his palms and turned to his friend, whose name I think was Miles. He asked, "If none of the girls say yes to being your date, would you go out Winifred Hart?"
Miles laughed. He shook his head. "Even I'm not that desperate."
And then everybody - including Rome - laughed. Ava, who had also been hanging out with them, laughed the hardest. She narrowed her eyes at me, in gleeful malice.
What Rome say to do that? What did I say to that? Did I even say anything?
I don't know. I can't remember.
But I do remember are the weeks afterwards. Rome completely forgot about the incident. To him, it was nothing but a passing joke. Ava, on the other hand, used the joke as a springboard to taunt me. Now, dating me was an insult. Now, going to Winter Ball with me was the lowest you could go.
She said remarks like "Careful what you say, Jack, or you might end up going to the ball with Winifred" and Jack laughed nervously. Other people glanced at me then, then looked quickly away.
I didn't get a date to the Winter Ball that year.
Or any year.
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In my cat form, it's easy to forget.
It's about the footsteps. Predator or prey? Predator, I need to run away. Prey, I consider catching. It's about the scents. Rusted metal. Dry paint. Dry blood? It's about instincts. Hunt and kill. But I'm too tired. And I hurt. But why?
Why do I hurt?
It feels like a hole in my chest. Narrow and tiny. Hollow. I can feel the wind going through the hole in my chest, whistling. I don't want to feel anymore. So I find a shadow, curl up, and sleep. And sleep. And sleep...
