Silas shook his head. He caught me looking at him and offered a grin. I shared one back, pointing the open end of my fries at him.
“You don’t want any more?”
“I’m stuffed,” I said.
He reached for the carton, his fingers brushing mine. A spark started from my fingertips and then ignited in my belly. His fingers were a little coarse, strong, but warm.
“Thanks,” he said. His voice was softer now. Had he felt the same thing I did? “What classes are you going to take?” he asked.
I gave a small glance to Kota, who was engrossed in trying to explain his desired classes that he hadn’t heard Silas. Was I now used to Kota answering for me? “I think there’s prerequisites, aren’t there? I was going to fill up on those.”
“You should take something you like,” Silas said. “It can’t be all work. Unless you’re like Kota.” He jerked his head in Kota’s direction and then stuffed his mouth with some fries.
I laughed, shrugging a little. “I don’t really know yet. I only glanced at the catalog and some of the more interesting things I can’t take yet.”
“Like what...”
“Oh my god,” Victor said, his voice rising. The fire burned, his eyes narrowing. “Okay, I’m done. Sang, are you finished? I can’t talk to him.”
Kota looked perplexed. “You were asking...”
“I’m not asking anymore!” Victor raised his hands in the air, waving in defeat. “You win. We’re good. Let’s just do something else.”
I shared another grin with Silas, even though I wasn’t totally sure I understood what was going on.
“I’m headed to the bathroom real quick. I’ll be right back.” Victor stood, pushing his chair away. He grabbed his bag and starting to walk off. He’d left his trash on the table.
Kota collected his own wrappers and Victor’s and put it all on the tray. “I’ll be right back. Maybe I should go apologize.” He walked off after Victor.
“Good luck,” Silas said. He stood up, grabbing the tray and taking my empty wrapper to add to it. “I’ll get rid of this. Wait here.”
I smiled, shaking my head. The boys were interesting. Silas looked around for a place to throw trash. He walked around groups of people waiting in line for their kids at the carousel. He disappeared behind the swirling horses.
“Hey, princess,” a voice behind me said. I turned around. The guy with the goatee sat in Silas’s seat. His oversized red shirt billowed around his lean frame. His lips curled like he was constantly kissing the air. “Your boys left you?”
His pungent cologne that mixed with menthol cigarette smoke drifted from across the table and my nose wrinkled. “They’ll be right back,” I said.
He nodded in a sharp. The way he did it made his chin angular and thin. “What’s your name, sweetie?”
I just looked at him, not sure what to say. His friends were still across the hallway, watching the two of us. Why did he care? Why did I get the feeling I shouldn’t talk to him? I mean I knew he bumped into me but should I judge a person for being careless?
“I said what’s your name?” he asked again.
“I’m Sang.”
“Sang? That’s just fucking weird. Do you sing?”
I shook my head, blushing. My heart was pounding but not in the same way it had been with Silas and the others. This was different. The bad feeling inside of me had my mind whirling echoed the negativity my mother whispered to me about what happened to girls when they went out.
“I’m Greg.” He patted a hand on his chest, and tilted his chin toward me. “We should go out. What’s your number?”
“I’m sorry. I should go.” I stood up, pushing my chair in. My hand flew up to my chest, rubbing over my thudding heart. Silas was still missing. Where did they go?
Greg stood and followed me. For a refuge, I sought out the restrooms. If the guys weren’t around, I was going to dart into the girl’s bathroom where he couldn’t follow.
I broke away from him and walked around tables, heading toward the opening to the hallway where there were signs for restrooms. As I got to the hallway, Greg continued on my heels. “Hey, I was asking you out. Why are you walking off like that?”
“I’m already out,” I said, my hands turning into fists reflexively, feeling cornered.
“Who did that to your hand?” he said, pointing at my bandages. He leapt forward and closed the distance between us. “Those guys hurt you?” His voice was grating, varying in pitch and then there was the sharp way he ended his questions. Compared to Kota’s power, Victor’s smooth baritone and Silas’s deep voices, Greg’s made me shiver cold.
I stepped away from him, forcing some distance between us. I met with a wall, smacking up against it. I gasped, trying to slip to the side to get out of his way. My heart was racing, feeling trapped.
Greg drew closer, putting his forearm over my head against the wall above me and looking down at me. He wasn’t that much taller than me, maybe only a couple of inches. “You shouldn’t let those guys do things like that to you. Unless you like pain? Is that your kink?”
My mouth dropped open. “Seriously, I’m not interested. I’m sorry.”
His mouth went up a fraction at the corner, smirking. “Is it because you’re dating one of those guys? Which one?”
I shook my head, not sure how to answer.
“It’s the tall one, isn’t it? I could tell. You fuck him yet?”
My mouth was dry and I choked out a no to respond. Why did I think I could get back here and escape him? Where was Kota?
He laughed and leaned in to me. “Come on. How about this. Kiss me, and I’ll leave you alone. I bet you’ll leave that guy and walk out of here with me.” His mouth was close to mine and nearly gagged as I could taste the menthol on his breath. My heart raced and I had my head backed up. I wanted to push him away but I didn’t want to touch him, either.
“Why are you moving away?” he demanded. His fingers wrapped around my chin, holding my face still. His fingers dug into my cheeks and I gasped because it hurt. His eyes fixed on my mouth and he lowered his head.
A hand landed on Greg’s shoulder, yanking him back. Greg flew into the air. He toppled, falling. His body hit the far wall and he slid down until he was sitting on the floor, looking dazed.
Kota stepped between us, his hands positioned in a stance I’d seen in karate movies. Holy crap, Kota knows Kung Fu.
My mouth opened to say something but I couldn’t form the words. Victor materialized next to me. He took one look at Greg and then grabbed for my good hand. He wrapped his fingers around my palm and pulled me out of the hallway without a word. Kota remained behind. Would he get hurt when Greg recovered? Could Kota defend himself?
Victor pulled me back out into the food court and we weaved our way around tables. My mind was everywhere; Greg’s bad breath lingered in my nose, reviewing Kota flipping him over, Victor’s palm pressed into mine.
Silas was leaning against our table. He took one look at Victor’s face and he stood up. “Where’s Kota?”
“In the hallway. He’s got it. We’re leaving.”
Silas’s eyes scanned the food court for the hallway. “I’m going to check. We’ll meet you at the car.”
Victor held on to me as we nearly jogged out of the mall. His thumb brushed at the crevice between my thumb and forefinger. My palm started to sweat and I was embarrassed about it but he didn’t seem fazed. The silence between us left room to worry about Kota and Silas and I wished we could go back and check on them.
Victor didn't let go of me until we got to his car so he could take his keys out. Victor handed off his plastic bag to me as he unlocked the car.
“Get in behind me,” he said. “I’m going to pull up to the curb so they can get in quickly.”
What if they got hurt? I hadn’t seen Greg’s friends around but they must have noticed he went in there and Silas going in after them. I held the plastic bag up to my chest, folding my arms over it and trying to breat
he slowly. This was my fault. I should have stuck with Silas.
Victor started the car and made a loop around the parking lot until he pulled up next to the curb in front of the department store doors. We waited. My breath caught every time the doors opened and it wasn’t the guys.
“Come on...” Victor urged under his breath, his hands twisting at the wheel.
Two minutes later, Silas and Kota both appeared at the doors and stepped out. They tried to look casual but they were walking double time and went right for the car. Silas climbed in back with me and Kota took the front seat.
I kept my eyes glued to the door of the mall as Victor pulled away. I turned, putting my knees in the seat and facing backwards to look out the rear window, watching for any sign of Greg or his friends.