I took a sip of my water then picked up my sloppy joe, the meat dripped out onto the plate. Of all days, the special had to be the sloppy joe. I always went for the specials on the days I was running late and didn’t bring a lunch. They were cheaper and I hated using my brother’s money. He’d set up an account for me, insisting that the money was partially mine anyway. That it was left to us from Urma, the old lady who had let us live in her shed when my brother and I were sixteen and living on the streets.
I knew the cottage had been hers, but the money was no doubt Ream’s.
“You good with that?”
I had no idea what he said, so I said nothing. I leaned over my plate and took a bite of my sandwich. The juices slipped from the corners of my mouth and more meat fell out of the bun and dropped onto the plate than into my mouth. I put it down and Crisis held out the napkin, a cute grin on his face.
“Never thought I’d see the day when you had juices all over your face.”
I took the cheap white paper from him and wiped my mouth. “Funny.”
Crisis’ sexual references were usual, but it was the clench between my thighs that surprised me. I’d never had that.
Crisis showing up at my school put me off balance and, regardless of our texting, I was unsettled with him sitting in front of me. Just his legs outstretched beneath the table, inches from mine, made me hyperaware of him and it was a hyperaware that overpowered the numbness.
“So, what do you think?”
Had he said something else? “Huh?”
“Am I that boring, Ice? Jesus, ego is taking a beating today.”
“I highly doubt that.”
He plucked my apple from my tray and bit into it again. A solid crunching sounded as he chewed with his perfect white teeth. His hand holding the red apple moved as he spoke. “You’re right. It’s not. But I’m thinking it’s easier to get your attention if I act hurt.” He grinned. “Is it working?”
I shook my head. “No.” Maybe. I picked up my lunch and started eating again.
It was a few minutes before either of us said anything and finally I set my sandwich down and met his eyes. “What are you doing?”
“Watching you.”
“Why? Don’t you have anything better to do?”
He shrugged. “Not really. I like sitting with you. It’s a hell of a lot better than staring at my phone screen waiting for it to light up.” It was said casually without that flirty tone and I felt the change in my heartbeat as our eyes locked for a second longer than I liked.
I leaned over and picked up my sloppy joe again and took too big of a bite because . . . well, I was unguarded by him and I’d been so accustomed to protecting myself from everyone for years that it was unnerving. I didn’t know how to take it. I was used to being cold and detached and, suddenly, I was heated and connected.
To Crisis.
My mouth overflowed with sloppy joe and I tried to chew it all, but some slipped from my mouth. I swallowed unchewed meat and it scratched my throat. My eyes watered and I wanted to cough, but couldn’t unless I sprayed half-eaten meat all over the table.
Jesus. I shoved my tray aside as I finally managed to swallow and wiped my mouth with the napkin.
“You not eating anymore?”
I shook my head. He took my water bottle off the tray and set it on the table and passed me the apple. He picked up the tray and strode over to the trash and tossed the rest of my sloppy joe.
I heard the four girls at the next table start to giggle and when I looked over they were staring at Crisis. He turned around and one girl darted to her feet and pranced over to him. The flock soon followed and surrounded him, blocking his way back to the table.
“Oh, my God, you’re Crisis.”
“ . . . so hot.”
“Can you sign . . . ?”
“Why are you here?”
“Do you want to have lunch with us?”
All I could see was the top of Crisis’ baseball cap as he bent his head saying something to the one girl on his right then took a pen from her hand. I couldn’t see anything now as they formed a tight ring around him. I guessed he was signing some body part because they sure as hell didn’t have their books with them.
I had no intention of sticking around for Crisis to work his way back to me. I hadn’t even told the few friends I had at school that my twin brother was Ream from Tear Asunder. The last thing I wanted was hordes of people around me asking questions or pretending to like me because of my famous brother and the band. And, of course, there was always the lingering fear of anyone recognizing me from the club. Naked pictures of me surfacing was only the tip of what could happen. Ream was famous and my shit would lead right into his if the reporters did any digging and I’d never let that happen.
I grabbed my water, picked up my book bag and threw it over my shoulder then quietly sneaked away.
“Haven!” Crisis shouted.
I weaved through the tables, pressed my palm to the swinging door and darted out into the hallway.
DANA CAUGHT ME just before I escaped into the safety of Professor Neale’s Creative Writing. I stopped and glanced past her to make certain Crisis hadn’t managed to follow me.
“Have, where are you going so fast? I’ve been screaming your name like a lunatic since the cafeteria. Who were you with? I was just coming over to your table when you took off.”
“I didn’t want to be late for class.”
“So who was the guy?”