Peace and Grace

13. A Step Forward

When I tell Aunt Jen about Mr. Sparks saying 'hi', she blushes and gets all flustered. It's really quite adorable.

My friends have their project presentation next week, so they're using all the available time they have to prepare.

I have only been sitting at our usual lunch table for a few minutes, nose buried in my book, and so far succeeding in ignoring Warren, when I'm interrupted. 

"Hey, Nadia-" Oh no. I may have just run into an even bigger problem... "This seat taken?" Lash appears in the seat beside me, sitting a little close for comfort. I'd rather sit with Warren and face that grump instead - I would even take that over Lash any day.

"Hey, Lash," I sigh. I don't look up from my book.

"I couldn't help but notice you sitting all the way over here all alone," he says. "And I was thinking you might like to sit with me and my friends. What d'ya say? Come join your fellow  heroes!"

For a brief moment I actually think he's being genuine and nice, but then I hear giggling and cast a quick glance over at his table to see Gwen, Speed, Julia, and Penny the cheerleader all laughing while casting glances over at us. Probably making fun of me.

Maybe Zach is right: I am too nice.  

"Thanks, but I'm good. I don't mind sitting alone." I would very much prefer it, in fact. 

"Aw, come on!"

"Really Lash, I'm fine. Besides, I don't think they like me very much."

"What makes ya say that?"

"They're laughing."

"Well, I like you."

Okay... Great... "Do you?" I cringe. 

"Yeah. I think you're pretty cute."

"Uh, well, thanks... I guess. But I don't think it's going to work out between us." That's what he had been implying - right? 

"And what makes you say that?" Yup, that's definitely what he had been implying. 

"Well, for one thing, you bully my friends." Zach may have thought this had gone unnoticed by me, and I knew he didn't like to talk about it.  But I knew, alright. We're best friends, of course I noticed.

"Oh-" Lash brushes it off. "That's just a bit of fun!"

"Hmmm. I wouldn't call picking on other people fun."

"Ah, come on, Nadia, lighten up a little!" Now he's sitting way  to close for comfort.

"Hey Nadia." 

I'm trying to form the best comeback - whether that be verbal or powers - when we both look up at the sudden third voice to see Warren standing by the table. "I saved a seat for you." He nods over to his table.

I stare, blinking back at him. It takes me a moment to process what just happened: Warren faked saving a seat for me in order to help me get out of this uncomfortable situation. He must have seen and listened in - although to be honest Lash isn't being all that quiet, and our tables are close to each other.

"Uh, uh yeah, I'm actually sitting with Warren-" I quickly scoop up my things and slide out of my seat, leaving Lash sitting there, mouth hanging open in shock. "Sorry, Lash," I say, clearly not meaning it, and go to join Warren at his table.

Everyone at Lash's table is looking equally shocked.  I can't help but smile.

Neither Warren or I say anything as we sit down across from each other at his table.

"Thanks," I finally say.

He shrugs.  "You looked pretty uncomfortable."

"He doesn't know how to take 'no' for an answer, or pick up on cues."

"What were you doing all by yourself again? Where are your friends?"

I'm tempted to ask him the same.  Instead I say, "Observant, are we?"

"Well, it's perfectly clear that you're on your own.  And it's much quieter when it's just you."

I roll my eyes.  "They're all working on some sidekick project they have coming up. And I guess I haven't made friends with any fellow heroes yet."

"Well, join the club."

"Thanks."

We share a chuckle. 

We don't say much else, and sit in silence, but a comfortable silence. He turns to his book and I open my lunch and dig in. A step forward - a small one, but progress nonetheless.

Slurp! Slurp! SLUUURRRRPPPP!  

That silence is broken a little while later by me. 

Warren looks up from his book and raises an eyebrow at me as I noisily slurp the last of my juice box.

"Ah!" I set the now crinkled and empty box before me on the table with a grin.

He shakes his head, looking back down at the book. But he's smiling a little.  "You sure are strange, Grace."

"So you've noticed."

He chuckles.

"And hey, the best of us are."

We share a smile - a genuine smile. That shared between friends. 

Yes, I think we might be making some progress.

(Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :))