Depthless: Under The Library

Chapter Eight// Skye

Skye's POV   

It's amazing how easily people fall into schedule. As soon as I hear footsteps approaching, my lips curl up in a smile. I wait, taking my time. Finally, I glance up as David pulls to a stop.

"Alright. Where the heck is he?" He demands, a crease in his forehead.

I stifle a giggle. Nikki rolls her eyes and pulls out a mirror. To our amusement, instead of checking her reflection, she hands it to David, who accepts it with a frown. 

"For you to check your back." Nikki informs him. I can't tell whether she is kidding. Shrugging, David holds out the mirror, as I try to keep my insides put. God... when will he ever stop falling for this? Even Kale is interested enough to put his book down for a second. 

David frowns and snaps the mirror shut. "I see nothing wrong." Wrinkling up his forehead, he questions: "What are you all doing lounging around? Duty's beginning in two minutes." 

"See... he sees nothing wrong!" Nikki falls over with laughter. 

David sighs. "So is he just going to pop up like this everyday?" He spins around, almost colliding with a girl behind him. I hadn't noticed her before. I see her stumble, and David immediately reaches out to steady her, apologizing profusely, his face an abnormal shade of red.

"Hmm... that's interesting." Nikki muses in a low tone. I assume she doesn't mean the girl. 

I study her. Her skin tone would balance out Nikk's and mine perfectly. Then I feel annoyed that the first thing I notice when I meet someone new is their skin tone. I need to get over this obsession as soon as I can. So... hair. She has light gold brown hair, falling comfortable on her shoulders. Her dark chocolate eyes skip over Nikki, Holly, Theo and I, and comes to a rest on Kale. 

I follow her gaze and raise my eyebrows. I'm kind of surprised to see Kale actually studying the girl an intense look I only saw in him when he was busily absorbed in one of those horrifyingly boring book on astronomy. 

Wait a minute. I narrow my eyes, staring at first Kale, then at the new girl. Kale, with his chocolate eyes and golden hair... then I make the connection. 

"Everyone, this is Stella--- Stella Starre. She's the newest member of Group Nine..."

I couldn't help it. "Are you related to Kale?" I blurt out.

All of a sudden, I feel the temperature drop. For some reason, Stella drops her gaze. Kale freezes, and stares hard at me. Holly and Theo, as if just realized the resemblance, glances back and forth at Kale and Stella, puzzled expressions on their innocent faces. Besides me, Nikki stiffens. 

Oops. Bad idea, Skye. I mentally chide myself for being so impulsive. For all I know... I may have triggered some mental bomb. I didn't want to wait for the explosion.

"Well... uh, it's just, they look so much alike, I couldn't help wondering---"

"Save it." Kale picks up his book and pretends to read it, but I can really sense more to his actions than he lets known. For the first time that morning, Kale spoke. He hardly ever makes a sound, every time I hear his low, deep voice, I feel cold shivers down my spine. Not of excitement, but of misguided fear. That guy could walk into a sunny room and the atmosphere would immediately cloud over. 

David tries for a cheerful laugh. "Ha,ha. Well... I guess so." His gaze never leaves Stella. Stella herself stands frozen, watching Kale's every move, eyeing him without expression on her face. Well... another guarded member of the nine. 

Since I feel bad about starting the cold war, I pipe up in as breezy a voice as I could manage. "So... Stella? What brings you here?" 

I see her cringe. Now what did I say wrong? People have called me a ticking time bomb, but here's Stella herself, acting so mysterious about everything... everything I say.