The realization that Kota had kept her at his house made Victor second guess how Kota felt about her. He must have felt personally responsible, or just liked her enough, cared about her enough, to take the risk.
Victor cast his eyes down once he realized he was staring. He should stop making assumptions. He should get to know her, after all. She seemed shy right now, but what if she was snobbish? Or rude? He really had no idea what was going on.
Erica motioned to the empty chair between Kota and Victor. “Have a seat.”
Victor leaned over an inch in an effort to make room for her, but she had plenty of space.
She sat, and focused on the table. Kota quickly reached for the bowl of scrambled eggs and quietly filled her plate with a couple of scoops.
Of course! Victor reached for the closest thing, the bacon platter, and quickly placed a few slices on the plate for her. He wanted to show her he was sorry.
Why was his heart thudding so hard? He rarely had stage fright, but he suddenly felt it strongly. Feeling jittery, he didn’t want to drop bacon in her lap, so he quickly set down the platter.
“Orange juice?” Erica asked her.
Victor’s head snapped around, looking for the juice. Kota got hold of it before he could; it was on his side of the table.
Damn it.
Kota held it over her cup. “Say when,” he said.
As he poured, Victor suddenly worried perhaps she didn’t want bacon. Or eggs. Was she a vegetarian? They hadn’t even asked. He hadn’t thought to ask. He was just trying to make sure she got something to eat.
She seemed pleased, though, and began to eat once Jessica and Erica started eating again.
With Sang beside him, he found it difficult to swallow. He picked at his food and tried to think of something to say, but nothing came except apologies and questions, things Erica probably shouldn’t hear.
If they hurried, maybe they could get outside, and he could finally find out what was going on. It was agony waiting. He just wanted to talk to her without Erica around.
Everyone was quiet as they ate, and it seemed like the longest moments of his life. He threw looks at Kota, silently trying to urge him to hurry up.
Maybe it didn’t matter. It’s not like he could ask Sang to hurry, too. He didn’t want to seem rude to Erica, either.
He stabbed at a small piece of egg, and chewed it, but his stomach was in knots. He wouldn’t be able to finish his plate.
“So, how did you meet my son? And Victor?” Erica asked as her eyes lit up coyly.
Was she laughing at them? Did she know? It was hard to tell.
Sang’s face reddened a lot. Poor thing. Didn’t Erica see she was shy? There were a lot of new people around her, watching her.
“I met her yesterday,” Kota said quickly. The slight tone and the way he glanced at Erica told Victor Kota was pleading that she not ask too many questions.
“I only bumped into her today,” Victor said, stabbing at the bacon on his plate. She’d asked about him, too; he may as well answer.
He looked up at Sang and stopped chewing the bacon as she met his eyes.
It was two seconds, two long seconds of getting lost in those green eyes. Was it a plea to not say what had happened upstairs? Did she think he’d betray her now?
“Kind of surprised me, to be honest,” he said, smiling at her, silently asking for forgiveness.
She blushed again.
Too much? He didn’t mean to embarrass her. Had he said something wrong?
“Will you be going to their school?” Erica asked.
“Yup,” Kota said. “She’s in the same grade as us.”
That’s right; she’d go to the same school. That hadn’t even crossed his mind yet.
Erica threw a look at Kota and Victor. Kota obviously knew that look and cringed, ready for a scolding. “You’ve got such a lovely voice, Sang. And that ventriloquism thing you do is amazing. A real talent.”
Victor’s small smile turned into an embarrassed grimace. This was so painful to sit through. Couldn’t Erica understand they didn’t mean to speak for her? They were just trying to help. Kota used to be the same way, shy and never speaking to anyone. Kota always said he appreciated it when Victor took the lead with things. Wasn’t it natural to want to be helpful and aware of a sensitive person’s feelings?
“You know how guys are,” Sang said. Her voice was small, but she looked to the guys in a teasing way. “Give them two minutes; they think they know everything.”
Victor’s mouth opened, and he dropped his fork. Maybe he’d assumed too much. Was she really shy? Or just nervous given the situation she was in?
Kota laughed so hard; he put his hand on his stomach. A little too much. Was he trying to ease the tension?
Victor shot him a look. Don’t laugh at her. Kota didn’t look at him, though, so he missed it.
Erica seemed pleased. “Smart girl,” she said and drummed her knuckles on the table. She stood, and picked up her empty plate. “Keep an eye on this one, Kota. She’s got your number.”
Victor was thinking of something to say when Kota spoke quietly, “Not yet, she doesn’t.”
Then, he winked at her.
She blushed again and giggled nervously.
Victor frowned. Did she like Kota?
Did he like her?
Kota had told him it wasn’t what he thought, but that look felt like there was more between them. Maybe Kota wasn't being honest or was understating their interest in each other.
Victor stared at his plate and picked at his food in silence.
Forget about her. Something was going on, but why should he get so excited about her? He thought of the conversation he’d had the night before with Luke. Girls wouldn’t understand them. Relationships were too complicated. If she dated Kota, or him, how long would it be before she got upset with them for being out late, or coming home with bruises? How long would it be before she learned they’d lied to her or thought they didn’t care, leaving her to disappear, sometimes for hours or days at a time, with no explanation?
Girls outside the Academy didn’t understand. It wouldn’t be long before Kota had to disappear on her because of some emergency and he wouldn’t be able to explain why.
Victor sighed to himself. In a few days, she’d find them too strange to even want to be friends with them. Whatever was going on, they’d help her with it, but then, she’d be gone.
Sometimes, being inside the Academy was the harder choice.
???
Erica shooed them out of the house, insisting she’d clean up, but not before she threw a few amused looks at Kota. He ignored them.
Outside, the sun was drying out the puddles. Sang shuffled behind Kota, sticking close to him.
Victor frowned and hid his hands behind his back for a second. When he realized it, he corrected himself; he didn’t want to seem unfriendly.
Max padded his way around to the drive, tongue out, happy to see them all. He sprinted over toward them.
Sang dodged out of the way, using Kota as a shield.
Did she not like dogs? He frowned, unsure how to feel about a person who might dislike a friendly, and very obedient dog like Max. Victor adored Max dearly. Or did she fear dogs? Maybe she didn’t have much experience with them?
Kota stood with his arms wide out, and then showed his palm to Max, a sign for the dog to stop. “No. Sit. You did enough damage already?”
Damage? What damage? Max froze, whined once, and then sunk into a sitting position.
Then, Victor spotted the bandage on her arm. With the way she shrank away from Max and how Kota spoke, it had him guessing. “So that was from Max?” he asked.
She nodded and then covered her bandaged hand with her good one. “It wasn’t his fault. He just surprised me, and I hit the pavement.”
Oh no. He felt ashamed he’d thought badly of her before. He needed to stop assuming, but it was difficult. His puzzle-solving brain was trying to reason out all the answer
s.
She turned her head and then focused on Victor’s car.
Okay, enough silence. He couldn’t take it anymore. “All right, out with it,” he said. He crossed his arms over his chest. He didn’t want to be mean, but he needed to know. He was dying trying to figure it out. “I’ve been playing along all morning. I’d like to know what kind of trouble I’m digging myself into.” Ugh. That was harsher than he meant. He sounded like his mother.
She looked to Kota instantly, and it was him who responded. “She was out late walking home when Max broke the lead and well... I couldn’t just let her go home bleeding.”
That was it? No. There was something more. Why wouldn’t she just go home with a bandage?
She nodded and responded before he could ask more questions. “I was out so late that sneaking back in would have meant more trouble at my house.”
“It just kind of happened,” Kota said.
Victor studied them, mostly her. He wasn’t sure what to say and suspected they weren’t saying everything. When she looked away, he was sure of it. There was more to the story. She was holding back. Kota, too.
“Give her a break, Vic,” Kota said, and then stepped in front of her like a shield.
Victor turned his head, trying to mask his dour expression. Something was wrong. He knew it. Kota knew it; he could see it in his face. Something was happening, and he didn’t know what, but if Kota was protecting her, there was way more.
Her face appeared over Kota’s shoulder, and those green eyes pleaded with him, begging for understanding.
He tried to silently ask her what was wrong. Tell me, he thought. I’ll fix it. Kota will fix it. I can’t fix anything if you don’t tell me.