Wednesday
I witnessed the manifestation of his survival instinct, a skill developed subconsciously to defend himself from the dangers of his life. According to him, he never lost control without being in real danger, but that didn't stop him from fearing himself. I was the one who should have been frightened, but I wasn't. I stared him right in the eyes at that moment, and I couldn't feel, not even for a second, that he wanted to hurt me.
With the weekend coming up, I had time to at least try and process what had happened, and maybe; just maybe ask Rowan a few more questions, but Rowan didn't show up for the remaining of the week.
"Is there any way I could get a hold of his phone number or home address?" I asked the secretary, half-knowing the answer.
"Sorry, cheeks; but that won't be possible."
"For homework purposes," I quickly added, hoping the lie would hold. "I'd like to get the classwork to him!"
"That's kind of you, but no need to worry; he already has everything he needs."
On the way back to the class...
"Look, I get that you are worried, but maybe it's for the best..." Mara tried to help me.
"How do I even begin to explain..." I left my head fall a bit backwards, heaviness layering between my eyebrows.
"True, you haven't said much, so I can't help you." Mara continued, visibly downcast by my behaviour.
"It's not his fault..." I said, knowing it would only cause more confusion to Mara, but I couldn't hold back. "It's not his fault..." I said again, knowing he won't think the same.
"Okay, Houdini. Should we go and grab lunch, since you don't want to share anything, and I don't want to be Sherlock Holmes? ... for now..."
"Hey, stranger." Adam showed up from literally nowhere. "I sent word to meet me after school." he got closer and slipped his fingers through my belt loops.
"Sent word?" I squinted, shook my head and pulled back at the unnecessary and unasked-for display of supposed affection.
Mara had to muffle her laughter, but as the elegant princess that she is, she raised her hand to her mouth, but only a finger actually hid her snicker.
"I have a phone..." I continued, stupefied...
"That doesn't change the fact that you never showed up."
"O...kay... um... I need to go." I said, removing his hands from my body. "Let's go," I turned to Mara.
"Come over tonight," he grabbed my arm hard enough to leave fingerprints beneath my blouse.
"Um. No," I said vehemently, yanking my arm free from his grip, and walked away.
Thursday
While in the cafeteria, Adam placed himself in the empty seat next to mine and slipped his arm around my waist. Mara kept shooting daggers at him, as he ignorantly fiddled with the fabric of my blouse, his curious fingers finding its way back no matter how many times I removed them.
"We're trying to have a conversation." she said, icily.
In truth, we were trying to snoop on the beginning of the week's gossip, which was still going around with a few extra details.
"Who said, "... I strained to hear a table nearby ... "who found blood..." when cold fingers slipped beneath my top and onto the naked skin of my lower back.
"Adam!" I jumped, my voice causing the entire cafeteria to go quiet, and for few teachers to look at me disapprovingly.
"Sorry!" he raised his hands in defence. "It was a joke." But his smirk told me everything I needed to know.
"Okay! I think we're done here." Mara put her food down, her patience running thin.
"Rayna, seriously." He stood up and ran after me. "I didn't mean to. I promise it was a joke." he said, and leaned in to kiss me.
I pulled back, the unpleasant sensation still lingering where he touched, and excused myself. "Sorry, need to catch up with Mara."
Friday
Still no sign of Rowan, but the gossip about him got replaced by one about me and Adam.
"Poor young lad," I said in an attempt at a British accent; "such a promising man, to date such an unsightly woman."
"I think Miss Lena is rubbing off on you," Mara half-smiled, but she didn't seem pleased with the situation.
"I'm really not bothered, you know?"
"But I am."
"Why?"
"Because I am usually at the centre of them, and this one didn't even pass by me, it just appeared. If someone is trying to steal my spot as the source of illicit data, they are asking for it."
"I don't even know how to react to that."
Walking with my head down, I sighed.
"Still worried?"
"Yeah..."