Flightless Bird

Chapter 12

"What?" Jacob asked, confused at to why everyone was now staring at us.

"I think they know..." I whispered to him, and I could feel the heat coming off his cheeks as he blushed furiously.

"Oh."

"Don't worry Jacob, I would have gotten it out of her eventually!" Lexi said.

"I guess it was gonna come out sometime," I admitted.

"But it only happened a minute ago!" he cried. I laughed, as did Lexi. We all chatted for another minute while we finished eating, then Lexi stood up and said to me,

"You wanna go?" I nodded, reluctantly letting go of Jacob's hand and standing up.

"See you later," I said.

"Bye Kerri," he replied, turning back to his friends as Lexi and I walked off.

"So, that was sudden," she said as we entered the main hall.

"I know. I've only been here a day, how am I already dating one of the most popular guys in school?" I asked.

"There's something about you Kerri, all the boys love you," she said, smiling ruefully.

"That's certainly true," a deep voice said from behind us. We turned in surprise to see a young man standing in the huge doorway, tossing an apple between his hands. The shiny red skin gleamed as it flew up and landed gracefully back in the palm of his hand with a soft noise.

"Charlie," I said, inadvertently stepping closer to him.

"Kerri?" Lexi asked uncertainly.

"Lexi, Charlie helped me when I had that asthma attack before. Remember?"

"Oh, right. Um, I need to go. Kerri?"

"I'll catch up," I told her, not turning from Charlie's gaze. His green eyes pored over my face. I was so entranced I nearly missed Lexi's whisper,

"Okay, see you, I guess."

She walked away.

"That wasn't very nice," Charlie scolded, taking a bite of his apple.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"Nothing. Something. To talk, I think," he said, moving towards me.

"You think?"

"I don't know if you're interesting yet. You seem to be, but I can't be sure until I've talked to you," he told me.

"You have talked to me."

"Properly? Not yet."

"Well then, if you want to talk. I have time."

"I know you do," he said mysteriously, then he walked past me and began to ascend the stairs.

"Where are you going? I thought you wanted to talk!" I cried, upset for some reason.

"To the attic," he said bluntly, continuing, "you can come if you like."

I said nothing, but began to follow him up the stairs. We walked up many flights in silence, as I didn't dare speak until he did. And he didn't utter a word. Finally, we reached a small alcove on the fifth floor. Charlie lifted a small curtain, behind which was a wooden door set into the stone wall. He lifted the latch, swinging the door open on silent hinges, revealing a narrow wooden staircase. I thought he might say something, but he merely began to climb the stairs without a word. And for some reason, I followed.

The attic was large, but not giant. It was cool, but not too cold. A slight breeze lifted my hair, the dark brunette glinting a light brown in the afternoon sun. I looked to the large window at the end of the room to see that a few small panes were missing, which is where the breeze was coming from. Above my head were wooden beams, supporting the sloping ceiling. Dust moted spiralled down from above, only visible in the shafts of golden light. Around the room were boxes and crates, full of books, sheets, and other things for school. Further back in the corner I saw furniture and things I was sure were used when the house was residential. It was over here Charlie had seated himself in a large green armchair. I walked over to him quietly, sitting down on a love seat a little way away from him.

"Do you come here often?" I asked him, my voice quiet in the silence of the room.

"Yes. I like the peace and quiet."

I didn't say anything else, and neither did he. I just sat, watching him as he watched me. He had mid-length dark brown hair, that fall messily over his forehead. His green eyes were deep, and specked with gold and brown. The light caught his face, making his cheek bones look sharp and shadowy. The golden light sparkled in his long eyelashes, and brought honey gleams out in his hair.

"Your hair," I said, "this light brings out all the highlights." He smiled, removing his eyes from me.

"Did you know your eyes are the prettiest I've ever seen," he remarked, still not looking at me. I didn't know what to say, but my reply was probably not the best choice I had.

"I have a boyfriend," I blurted, drawing Charlie's eyes back to me.

"I know."

"Why did you ask me up here?"

"I didn't. You followed.me."

"You said you wanted to talk," I said defensively.

"Wanted to." For some reason, this upset me. I stood up from the small sofa, and walked quickly over to the door.

"Goodbye, Charlie."