In the Name of Order

Chapter 21: Results

There's a knock on my door, so I move away from the window, only giving me a view of a different wall, to find out who the person on the other side of the door is.

"Will, I'm coming in." Kane barges in before I have a chance to open the door for him.

He slowly started to talk to me a few days ago; greeting and asking about how I'm feeling. Mathea said they talked about me, but she wouldn't tell me what was mentioned. Whatever they discussed, I'm sure that's the reason for Kane's change in attitude.

I move to my bed and sit on it, leaning my back against the wall that my bed is positioned against. Kane grabs the chair by my desk and pulls it towards my bed so he is closer to me as we talk.

"I realised I haven't made it up to you, so I'm taking you out."

"Kane, I don't think they'll let us leave this compound."

"That's not what I mean. When we get back home, I'll take you out. I mean, I can set up something here, but it won't be much."

"Where are we going?"

"Your choice."

"Okay, I'll take both. You organize something here, and once we're home, you'll take me out as well."

"You're so demanding, Will. I can get used to this though. You have this look in your eye and—"

I throw my pillow in his face before he is able to continue, but Kane easily catches it and throws it back at me. He opens his mouth to continue speaking, so this time I try a different method; I use my pillow to hide my face.

I hear him laugh and feel the bed shake as he jumps onto my bed. Kane tugs the pillow away from my face and places it to the side of him.

"Stop it, Kane."

"I wish you weren't so nervous around me."

"I'm not nervous. I'm uncomfortable."

We sit in silence for a few seconds before Kane replies, "It makes me happy."

"You get happy?" I reply, assuming he is finishing off the sentence I didn't allow him to finish before.

"Yeah. You had this look on your face that makes me happy. It's like you're annoyed and happy."

"Now I know you like annoying me."

"You're focusing on the wrong thing." Kane chuckles. "Anyway, you always give me that look when I tease you."

"Doesn't it make sense to stop teasing me?" I laugh along with my friend.

"It's one of the few times I see you smile."

"That sounds sad." I stand up from my bed and hold out my hand to help Kane up, but my hand drops when Kane makes no movement to take it. "I saw pancakes at the refreshment table near the reception. You can come with me to get some."

"You know that's one of my favourite features about you. I'll admit it's a little goofy, but I like it," Kane continues to comment on my smile.

"My smile is not goofy." I tilt my head to the left and fold my arms, pretending to be angry at his truthful remark.

"Your eyes, too. I used to think they're too big for your face, but they suit you."

"Kane, what are you doing?"

"Shut up for a second, Will. I never got my chance at Isiah's place, and you got say all you wanted about me."

He looks amused before continuing, "Remember when I used to joke around with you about your family eating your portions because you're way skinnier than the rest of them? Then for some reason, you still hung around me and damn, Willow, you eat almost as much as me."