Unsung

Chapter Forty-Seven

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my arms still poised in front of my face.

McKayla raised a perfectly manicured brow at my over-reaction, and I quickly let them drop to my side.

"Well, hello to you, too," she said, placing her hand on her hip in typical McKayla fashion.

"Uh, sorry," I said. "I was just...surprised to see you."

"Yeah. I could tell," she said, slowly. Then she nodded in the direction of our table. "So, what're you up to?"

I looked over at my friends, suddenly remembering they were there, too. Chuck's mouth was hanging open dramatically and Fergus' eyes were so focused on the table in front of him that you would've thought it held the answers to all of life's questions. I bit my lip as I wondered whether it would be better or worse to introduce them to McKayla. I wasn't sure I was ready for my two worlds to collide. Especially since I wasn't feeling like I particularly fit in with either one of them at the moment.

"Just hanging out," I responded. Then I made a split decision that I knew I might regret later. "McKayla, these are my friends: Chuck and Fergus. Guys, this is McKayla...My friend from the institute."

McKayla's eyes drifted to the practically catatonic guys beside me and cocked her head to the side curiously.

"Hey," she said, her expression unchanging. I had to hand it to her. McKayla didn't discriminate; she treated everyone the same. Didn't matter whether you were rich and popular or president of the geek squad. She didn't care as long as you realized that this was her world and we were all just living in it.

As she continued to stare at them, Chuck closed his mouth, then opened it again, but nothing came out.

"Gin Genie," Fergus whispered.

A strangled noise escaped Chuck's throat, but he remained frozen in place.

"They're talkative," McKayla said to me. "Never seen a girl before?"

For a second, I forgot that I'd been avoiding her, and smiled at the comment.

"They have," I responded, feeling myself slipping back into our usual flow of conversation. "Just not one that looks like you."

"Makes sense. It's all emo, all the time with you," she said, gesturing to me. Then she leaned over and placed her hands on the table, displaying the slightest hint of cleavage. "Don't worry boys, there's a girl under all that angst and black clothing. And it's my personal mission to drag it out of her."

This seemed to snap Chuck out of his trance and he burst out laughing at McKayla's comment. It continued for several seconds, and included a few unattractive snorts for good measure. McKayla blinked at the sudden outburst, but didn't move.

"Kida's not a girl!" he cackled.

McKayla reached over and poked me in the boob.

"Ow!" I yelped, covering my chest with my hands protectively. "Hey!"

"Pretty sure she is," McKayla answered.

Chuck shook his head. "Nah. She's just...Kida," he said as if this was an acceptable response.

"Right," McKayla said, sarcasm steeped in her words. She turned to me pointedly. "This is why you need to let me take you shopping. Not a good sign when guys can't tell you're a chick."