us.
"How long have you
been waiting for me?" Lenora asks.
"A few minutes."
"Sorry. Turns out
I'm not so good at parallel parking."
He raises a perfectly
black eyebrow. "Really." He doesn't sound surprised.
"Don't you dare
say 'I told you so'," she warns gently. "You know I've
always wanted to drive a car! It's so much more interesting than
pressing a button."
"You're really
loving this, aren't you?" He looks amused.
"Yes." She
turns to me. "Rhys, this is Kenna Parker. Kenna, this is Rhys
Doe." Her words are careful and precise. She's still learning
the language, and her accent is thicker than his. I can't help
noticing the little smile that's appeared on his face.
In my head I say: I'm
the girl you noticed yesterday. I hope this doesn't sound creepy, but
would you mind noticing me everyday? Out loud I say, "Of all
the sidewalks in all the cities in all of Minnesota, you walk into
this one…"
"Ready for that
probe when you are."
It's official. We're
flirting. Even in my wildest dreams I couldn't imagine myself doing
this, but I am. I'm giddy inside.
Lenora looks between
us, confused. "Is that a new human greeting?"
We exchange a secret
smile, each daring the other not to laugh. I bite my lips to keep it
in. "No." Just ours.
"Oh."
Turning to Rhys before
my laughter can burst out, I ask, "How was work yesterday?"
His smile vanishes.
"Fine." His voice is curt.
Did I say something
wrong? He takes a step back from me. He did this yesterday too,
and I'm trapped between calling him out or watching him slip away
again.
Another step back.
Another inch away.
Suddenly angry, I lift
my chin up. What's his problem?
"We should get
going Lenora."
"Come on,"
she says, tugging at my elbow. "We're taking the back route.
Reporters are in full swing today."
I try not to notice the
way Rhys's shoulder stiffens at her suggestion, and shake my head.
"No, you guys go
ahead. I've got to make a stop in the office," I lie. His
shoulders seem to relax a little with my refusal. Annoyed, I look
away. If I didn't, he'd see the daggers in my eyes.
Lenora hesitates. "Are
you sure?"
"Very," I
answer truthfully. Rhys doesn't wait for more conversation, and
gestures without turning for Lenora to catch up. She looks at him
then back to me.
"Hmm," she
says.
I don't ask what she
means by that and she doesn't tell me.
"See you at
school," she says. "We're going to be naughty and sneak in.
Shhh." She puts a finger to her lips. "Don't tell the
reporters."
"I won't," I
promise, but her back is to me. I watch them walk away, wondering how
two space aliens could look so beautifully normal . I think
they belong here more than I do.
Rhys bends his head to
her, and whispers. Even from half a block away, I notice they're very
close. His lips are next to her ear and if he moved a millimeter
more, he'd touch her. An uncomfortable sensation settles in the pit
of my stomach.
Turning, I stomp off
with my usual clatter, listening to my footsteps and the wind. Out of
the corner of my eye, I see Rhys look up.
His gaze is a pool of
light; sharp and focused. Behind the surface of his eyes something
flashes.
Longing.
I freeze mid stride.
Something hard and fast
comes by. It's tires jump over the curb. The truck's so close, I
smell the diesel before a gust of wind rushes past, blowing my hat
up. It's going to hit me. I open my mouth to scream.
Suddenly a pair of
strong arms circle my waist, pulling me hard. I'm pushed away, and I
fall to the ground on my back. Rhys is hovering over me, his grip
steel tight. Everything happens so fast his nose is touching mine
before either of us is aware of our bodies intertwined on the ground.
How did he--?
I can hear Lenora
shriek but my focus is on Rhys. For a moment everything stops. I'm
tingly all over. His eyes drop to my mouth, and my eyes drop to his.
I'm breathing hard, and he hears it because his breath catches in his
throat, too. My arms move to circle his neck. Yes, I think,
and I pull him to me.
We
"How long have you
been waiting for me?" Lenora asks.
"A few minutes."
"Sorry. Turns out
I'm not so good at parallel parking."
He raises a perfectly
black eyebrow. "Really." He doesn't sound surprised.
"Don't you dare
say 'I told you so'," she warns gently. "You know I've
always wanted to drive a car! It's so much more interesting than
pressing a button."
"You're really
loving this, aren't you?" He looks amused.
"Yes." She
turns to me. "Rhys, this is Kenna Parker. Kenna, this is Rhys
Doe." Her words are careful and precise. She's still learning
the language, and her accent is thicker than his. I can't help
noticing the little smile that's appeared on his face.
In my head I say: I'm
the girl you noticed yesterday. I hope this doesn't sound creepy, but
would you mind noticing me everyday? Out loud I say, "Of all
the sidewalks in all the cities in all of Minnesota, you walk into
this one…"
"Ready for that
probe when you are."
It's official. We're
flirting. Even in my wildest dreams I couldn't imagine myself doing
this, but I am. I'm giddy inside.
Lenora looks between
us, confused. "Is that a new human greeting?"
We exchange a secret
smile, each daring the other not to laugh. I bite my lips to keep it
in. "No." Just ours.
"Oh."
Turning to Rhys before
my laughter can burst out, I ask, "How was work yesterday?"
His smile vanishes.
"Fine." His voice is curt.
Did I say something
wrong? He takes a step back from me. He did this yesterday too,
and I'm trapped between calling him out or watching him slip away
again.
Another step back.
Another inch away.
Suddenly angry, I lift
my chin up. What's his problem?
"We should get
going Lenora."
"Come on,"
she says, tugging at my elbow. "We're taking the back route.
Reporters are in full swing today."
I try not to notice the
way Rhys's shoulder stiffens at her suggestion, and shake my head.
"No, you guys go
ahead. I've got to make a stop in the office," I lie. His
shoulders seem to relax a little with my refusal. Annoyed, I look
away. If I didn't, he'd see the daggers in my eyes.
Lenora hesitates. "Are
you sure?"
"Very," I
answer truthfully. Rhys doesn't wait for more conversation, and
gestures without turning for Lenora to catch up. She looks at him
then back to me.
"Hmm," she
says.
I don't ask what she
means by that and she doesn't tell me.
"See you at
school," she says. "We're going to be naughty and sneak in.
Shhh." She puts a finger to her lips. "Don't tell the
reporters."
"I won't," I
promise, but her back is to me. I watch them walk away, wondering how
two space aliens could look so beautifully normal . I think
they belong here more than I do.
Rhys bends his head to
her, and whispers. Even from half a block away, I notice they're very
close. His lips are next to her ear and if he moved a millimeter
more, he'd touch her. An uncomfortable sensation settles in the pit
of my stomach.
Turning, I stomp off
with my usual clatter, listening to my footsteps and the wind. Out of
the corner of my eye, I see Rhys look up.
His gaze is a pool of
light; sharp and focused. Behind the surface of his eyes something
flashes.
Longing.
I freeze mid stride.
Something hard and fast
comes by. It's tires jump over the curb. The truck's so close, I
smell the diesel before a gust of wind rushes past, blowing my hat
up. It's going to hit me. I open my mouth to scream.
Suddenly a pair of
strong arms circle my waist, pulling me hard. I'm pushed away, and I
fall to the ground on my back. Rhys is hovering over me, his grip
steel tight. Everything happens so fast his nose is touching mine
before either of us is aware of our bodies intertwined on the ground.
How did he--?
I can hear Lenora
shriek but my focus is on Rhys. For a moment everything stops. I'm
tingly all over. His eyes drop to my mouth, and my eyes drop to his.
I'm breathing hard, and he hears it because his breath catches in his
throat, too. My arms move to circle his neck. Yes, I think,
and I pull him to me.
We
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