Artemisia High

18 | Blushing

"Wow."

That was all Kai could manage to say after everyone shared their piece of the story.

They sat in silence, everyone reeling as they saw the dots connecting.

Finally, Kai dared to break the silence.

"Uh... would anyone like some tea?" he asked.

A chorus of "yes" and "thank you" ensued.

"Uh, Cinder," Kai said, "could you help me?"

Cinder was a bit perplexed by the request, but she obliged nonetheless. "Uh, sure."

She got up and followed Kai to the kitchen, which was much more secluded from the living room than she realized.

"So, what did you need help with?" she asked.

"Uh... the, uh, ... cups."

Cinder cocked an eyebrow at this.

"Can you... get the teacups. While I boil the water. Yes. That."

"Um... sure, Kai."

Kai smiled, his face flushed. He wiped his hands on his pants, leaving faint sweat marks.

As Cinder fished through the matching teacup sets in the cabinets, Kai began to make conversation by the steaming kettle.

"So... how are you dealing? With all of this, I mean," he asked.

"I'm... fine. It doesn't really change anything," she said. "Probably would be better for everyone if I was actually dead," she muttered as she placed the teacups on the counter.

"Don't say that."

"Sorry. Just... got other things on my mind."

Kai just kept looking at her as she looked for the saucers in a lower cupboard. When she came back up, their eyes met for a bit too long, and he startled and straightened himself up.

"What... other things... if you don't mind me asking?" he said softly.

Cinder wasn't sure she was up for this conversation, but she didn't want to stare in silence as the kettle boiled either.

"Peony's sick."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I know how hard that is."

"Thanks, Kai." She meant it.

Just then, the screech of the kettle interrupted them. Kai took the kettle off the pot, and Cinder placed tea bags in each cup. He joined her to pour the water, spilling some each time.

"Here, let me help," Cinder said. She took the kettle from his hands and poured the rest.

"Thanks. I don't really make tea for myself," he said sheepishly.

"Mm. I could tell," she said with a chuckle.

A red flush returned to Kai's cheeks. That seemed to happen a lot when Cinder was around.

They brought out the cups on a tray to the others.

"Took you long enough," Jacin said.

"He's kidding," Winter said.

Jacin's sly smile that followed indicated he was only half-teasing. But he would follow whatever Winter said.

"So what exactly are we going to do?" Winter finally asked.

"Well... there's only one way to find out what Blackburn Corp. is up to," Kai said. "We need to go straight to the source."

"So, what, you want Winter to just ask Levana what she's up to?" Scarlet asked.

"No, of course not. We have to get inside."

"Like, hack into their servers?" Cinder asked.

"Mm, no... I was thinking we could sneak in, undercover."

"And how do you propose we do that?" Scarlet asked.

"We just need to figure out a non-threatening, not suspicious excuse to get in and talk to them. And while they're distracted, we can sneak around and see what we can find."

"I'll do it," Cinder said.

"What?"

"They don't know me like they know you guys. I mean, they think I'm dead, for stars' sake."

"And what if they figure out who you really are?" Scarlet asked.

"Do you trust me?"

"Of course."

"Then let me do this. It's my destiny of sorts."

"Well, then, I'll do the sneaking around," Scarlet said. "They don't really know me either. As long as I hide my hair, I'm good."

"Jacin and I will be there," Winter said, "in case something goes wrong, or you need backup."

"Thanks," Cinder said.

"Uh... I guess that means I'll be on the outside looking in," Kai said.

"And that's important," Cinder said.

Cinder placed her gloved hand on his and gave a small smile, as reassurance. He smiled back, and this time, a lot less pink entered his cheeks than usual.

"I hate to break up this little rendez-vous," Scarlet butt in, "but I should be getting home now. I have a lot of orders to fulfill."

"Take it easy, Scar. Please," Cinder said.

Scarlet smiled and nodded.

"I'll keep in touch with you guys about the details of your roles, and we can meet up again before we do the thing, if that works for everyone?" Kai asked.

Everyone murmured in agreement. They stood up and made their way back outside.

As they walked out to Kai's car, Scarlet leaned in close to her friend.

"When this is all over," Scarlet whispered to Cinder, "please take the poor man out on a date."

"What?" Cinder asked, taken aback.

Scarlet sighed. "As smart as you are, you are so bad at taking a hint. Well, more like a hundred hints."

This time, Cinder was the one with color in her cheeks. She nervously pulled on her glove as she got to the passenger seat of the car.

"I'm really happy you're doing this, Cinder," Kai told her once she sat inside.

"And why is that?"

"Because I know you're going to help us all."

"Well, I couldn't do it without you."

The two stared into each other's eyes, faint smiles upon their lips, and Cinder started to note the copper hues in his brown eyes.

Just then, Jacin cleared his throat. "We should really get going."

"Right," Kai said, and he turned his attention back to the car.

As he pulled out of the driveway, Cinder sat back in her seat, feeling more content than she had in a while. Maybe everything was going to be okay. And, to her surprise, it was all thanks to Kaito.