Teeth »ᴄɵᴍᴘᴌᴇтᴇ«

FOURTEEN

FOURTEEN

I looked out over the forest through the window. I'd woken half an hour ago, showered, and now I was waiting for Zane to finish in the bathroom that was connected. I still felt strange. I'd felt so safe in his arms. But now, I was back to facing reality. Something Zane had helped me with even if he hadn't known it.

As Zane came out the bathroom, I looked over. Zane's usual hair-do was flopped in a wet style that said he hadn't combed it yet. I wondered if he did comb it, for all I knew, it probably dried like that. His cat-blue eyes were looking back at me in a relaxed manner.

We stood like that, just looking at each other. I wasn't sure how long had pasted until I turned away and looked back out the window, watching the birds fly. The silence wasn't awkward, just the opposite, it was relaxing, it was nice not having someone talk my ear off twenty-four seven - no offence to Archie, but sometimes, silence was appreciated.

"Do you want to go outside?" Zane asked. He was closer than he had been before, he'd moved to stand right behind me.

"It would be nice," I replied. "I haven't been outside in ages."

I felt him move away, felt his warmth leave my back. I frowned when I turned, seeing him about to press a button. "What are you doing?"

He's thumb hovered over the button as he looked at me. "Asking them if they can unlock the door." Obviously seeing my negative reaction to his words, he continued. "It's standard procedure for anyone in these rooms along this hall."

And how many rooms in the hall were being used?

Moving over to the door, I tried twisting the handle. It resisted, but with a sharp, forceful twist, the lock broke and I opened the door, gesturing for Zane to go first as a ear-piercing alarm went off throughout the corridor.

"Impressive," Zane complimented, making me feel ten-feet tall. "I tried that and it didn't work."

I shrugged. "It's another one of my quirks."

As Zane reached the door, he stopped, holding his hand out towards me. Ready for me to take. I had a feeling that if I took his hand, I wouldn't be able to deny bonding with him, that I would do anything for him. Seconds passed and I took his hand, seeing relief pass over his features.

As we walked down the corridor to the exit, hand in hand, I heard my name being shouted, and orders being given to find me. But we both ignored it and left the building.

"Can we go and get the work that I'd missed?" I asked Zane as we automatically headed for the hall.

"I've already got it for you. It was only notes so I had them photocopied for you."

"Thanks, Zane." His name felt right when I said it.

"No problem."

As we entered the hall, which was currently filled, a silence began. As did the stares. I wasn't bothered by it, but I was thankful to the squeeze Zane gave my had for encouragement.

Moving over, I sat next to Archie who had Lucas by his side and Ryan and Taylor opposite them, and then Zane sat next to me. As soon as I'd sat in the chair, I had Archie wrapped around me.

"Oh my god! I missed you so much!"

I wrapped my free arm around him in response. "Missed you too."

Releasing him, I sat back and looked at the others. Unsure what to expect. I felt a smile appear at hearing Ryan and Taylor.

"You owe me a tenner," Ryan said with a smirk.

"I do not," Taylor's voice was comical in it's denial.

"Yeah, you do."

"No, I don't."

"They were betting how long you'd be stuck in there for," Lucas told me.

"Really?" I smiled again. "What did you bet?"

"I said that you'd be in there for a few days," Ryan replied, grinning at Taylor who frowned in return. "Taylor said two or more weeks."

Grumbling, Taylor yanked out some money from his back pocket and handed Ryan a tenner.

"I've really got to start betting against you more often," Ryan's smile glowed with satisfaction. "I'd be rich in minutes."

Taylor glared at Ryan and mumbled a quiet, growling response. "Let me get a job first."

As Ryan went to respond, my name was yelled out from the entrance of the hall. Looking up showed the headmaster storming in with his shield behind. Deja vu, I thought. The only difference this time was that the doctor was following behind them, his eagle wings tight against his back.

"Valerie," the headmaster said on a sigh. "What are doing?"

Before I could answer, the doctor moved to stand next to the headmaster. "Did you have to break the door?"

When I shrugged, he continued. "I was going to let you out on the condition that you stuck with Zane. If you'd waited five-ten minutes, you would have found that out." he glared at me, then growled. "The door..."

"You were going to let her out?" the headmaster cut in.

The doctor nodded. "On the condition that she stuck with Zane as he seems to be the only one she's actually responded to. And that she sleeps in the room we give her." He turned to glare at me again. "Once the door has been fixed." He turned back to the headmaster. "I wanted to see how she'd be back out and around others, to see whether or not she could continue working within the classroom environment with the others."

"If anything happens, it's on your shoulders." With that, the headmaster turned and left with his shield giving me one last weary glance before following his blade.

Sighing, the doctor told me to behave and left the room.

   

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