Outcasts

Chapter 22

Luca looked around at the teenagers stuffing their faces, then back at his own plate. It was quite an assortment for dinner. Doctor Jones had turned out to be a marvellous cook, bringing out all manner of cuisines, and even some vegetarian and vegan options. Lia had offered a shy smile of gratitude at the bowl of beans that had been brought out along with the meat option for tacos and burritos.

Luca had noticed Juliette wasn't particularly eating, mostly pushing her buttery green beans and cut up steak around her plate. The look of sadness in her eyes made Luca's heart hurt and he made a mental promise to make her feel better, if it was the last thing he'd do.

He leaned over and whispered, "I like them."

When she didn't seem to catch on to what he was saying, courtesy of her confused expression, Luca said, "the wings. They're very beautiful."

Juliette's cheeks tinged an adorable pink and she looked down and smiled at her plate, a wave of blonde hair hiding her face.

"So, how are you liking it?" Luca said and dug into his pasta napolitana. Juliette looked around at her new companions, before back at Luca. "It's... nice. I feel a bit out of character with them, though."

"Why's that?" Luca questioned.

Juliette bit her lip and hesitated. She seemed anxious to talk to him, like a wall was slowly being built up around her. Luca put a reassuring hand on her shoulder and gave her the kindest look he could muster. "Hey," he said and she looked up at him, her eyes holding worry. "You can tell me anything."

That coaxed a smile out of her and Luca felt a warm and fuzzy feeling inside his chest, delighting in seeing her pink lips tilt into a soft smile. "When I was back in my home in Paris, my mother saw my... wings. She made me feel like a monster, a freak. She tried to kill me."

Luca remembered entering the ship to see Juliette unconscious and leaking blood onto the metal floor. He hadn't known who she was at the time, thinking she was just a random girl who needed saving. He was definitely wrong about the 'needed saving' part. Now, he could see the fierce determination and will underneath the shy and quiet exterior.

Luca studied her, taking in the large angelic wings; the mane of blonde hair that swept down her back; her blue eyes, the colour of the sky early in the morning. They sparkled under the dim light of the dining room, making them look like orbs of sea glass. When Juliette caught Luca staring at her she smiled softly and nudged him playfully with her elbow. The carefree action made him smile and he nudged her back.

For the rest of the evening it was playful banter, exchanging stories and memories from their home towns; Luca learned Daisy and Noah had grown up together, being neighbours and best friends since they were old enough to walk. Diego was an aspiring athlete, who, underneath the muscular build and cold stare, had a soft side for his family, particularly his mother. Juliette was born into a wealthy family, set to be the heir to a very successful technology company. Lia hadn't mentioned much about her home, only that she had grown up in a house full of children. Akane hadn't spoken at all during the meal, focusing on using her telekinesis to make her spoon hover and scoop mashed potatoes and gravy into her mouth. 

As the night went on, Luca gained more knowledge of everyone, delighting in hearing them talk about the wonders of their homes and how much they missed them. He was starting to feel like he could grow on this group of dysfunctional teenagers.