A Locked Box

Chapter 18

   When they reached the more rundown part of the city, Devin noticed how calm she looked. "We're going to your house right?"

   She looked up at him. "Yes. Are you nervous that I'm leading you on a wild goose chase?"

   "No,"

   She chuckled. "We're almost there. Everyone is asleep anyway," she gestured to the quiet streets. Only a couple of people were on the sidewalk: the cheap owners of the few stores and shops on the block. They walked in silence again.

   When they reached the dull apartment complex, Devin was intrigued. He had never seen Kat's life outside of school. She climbed the stairs confidently and led the way to the third door on the right. Unlocking the door, she gestured extravagantly to her tiny apartment. It had one bedroom and dingy white walls. He smiled at the wooden baseball bat in the corner of the living room.

   "Oh, that?" Kat had turned around, smiling. "Well, as you have seen I don't live in the greatest neighborhood,"

   Devin chuckled. "Go change,"

   Kat snorted but left him in the living room. She was back in minutes wearing an olive green bomber jacket, plain white T-shirt, and dark jeans. She cleaned up nicely. Her hair bounced as she came over. "Let's go," her eyes narrowed as she saw Devin staring at a white envelope. "What are you looking at?"

   "Someone slid this under your door," he handed it to her.

   She took it, rolling it over in her hands. She recognized the specific weight of a decent amount of cash placed inside. Her tongue ran over her teeth bitterly. Tossing it onto the kitchen counter, she hid her inner turmoil behind a smile. "I'll look at it later. Let's go,"

   Devin was shocked when Kat took his hand and pulled him out of the apartment. Once they were outside, he quickly recovered and laced their fingers together. Kat smirked and wiggled her hand out of his grip. Her eyebrow rose in playful suspicion. It was a good distraction from the heavy envelope on her counter. "Friends hold hands?"

   The tips of Devin's ears went pink. "Yeah, some do."

   Kat laughed. "Why are you blushing?"

   "Why are you smiling?"

   Kat's grin grew. "Because I'm laughing," she met his eyes. "At you,"

   "Aish," he laughed. "To answer your question, some do. I had a girl friend who held my hand all the time,"

   Kat laughed, almost doubling over from the exertion. "Is there a space there?"

  "Of course," he smiled. She laughed again, skipping slightly as not to trip. "Don't get so frantic. It was mostly just to move me out of the way."

   "Even better!" she said on the verge of hysteria. Devin joined, laughing with her. It was weird to see her laugh; she was such a cold person that it was amazing to hear a beautiful sound break through her antisocial shell. "Devin, what are you staring at?" he hadn't noticed that they had stopped or that he had been staring at her. She was looking at him with a suspicious eyebrow raised.

   "Ah, nothing," Devin averted his eyes away. "Why did we stop?"

   Kat looked at him incredulously. "I don't know where your friends live."

   "Right..." he said still slightly dazed, he took in his surroundings before starting off in a direction. He hoped he was going the right way. Kat was snickering as she followed him.

   "You okay?"

   "Of course, why wouldn't I be?" Devin was confused by the question.

   Kat chuckled. "You are busy staring at air for one."