“Yes,” Ledger sighed, looking annoyed with the man once again, “she means that. You should get out of here, James. Now.”
“See you, guys.” He didn’t look me in the eye as I said goodbye but that was okay. I was already turning around and looking up at Ledger, glad to not have to share my focus anymore.
His rough fingers cupped my jaw as I stepped closer into him, his hand sliding to rest on my neck. The contact making me feel very relaxed.
“Why didn’t you tell us that you were staying out here? I was worried about you, Firefly.” He said softly, pressing his forehead with my own.
I shrugged. “It’s a surprise, but I needed some color on my locker. Are you ready?”
He grinned at my enthusiasm. The darkness gone from his eyes. I stepped back slightly.
I had to admit I was glad he was a bit worked up. It was just that they kept their dragons so pushed down and controlled, I wanted to be closer to them. I knew they wanted to be closer to me as well, so why stop it? Even now, a low soft rumble from Ledger’s chest filled my ears and vibrated my fingers from where they rested on his chest.
“Wow,” his eyebrows shot up as he looked into my locker, “you’re right, this is very colorful.”
“Do you like it?” I preened.
Ledger was an array of different colors himself. His stark skin made my fingers twitch because I wanted to touch him so badly. I could practically see his tattoos peeking out from under his hoodie and I found myself grasping the soft material a bit tighter. His bonfire scent had me relaxing as he tilted his head. His onyx curls were orange-tipped, a contrast to the deep indigo of his eyes that seemed to have small flames in them.
Ledger was always so calm and relaxed. Even when he was upset about something, he handled it differently than the others. Not that the others handled it poorly, but Ledger was just so in tune with his emotions as well as my own. I could always count on him to say the right thing. The things I needed to hear, and his constant efforts to make me smile, made me feel special. Loved. Unique.
“It’s stunning, like you.” He winked. See what I freakin’ mean?
“Peanut?” Anani’s voice had me snapping my head over to watch Ledger’s twin make his way down the quiet hallway. The man moved so easily.
I think I envied that about the twins. They both had this natural ease and comfort in their own bodies. Something I still struggled with. Mostly because I didn’t fully know myself. I wasn’t naive enough to believe that I wouldn’t change and adapt in my new life and if I had to guess probably quicker than most. Honestly, it was a bit mindblowing to consider all the new things I’d learned about even in the past week.
"Clearly Maya was keeping secrets," Ledger tapped my nose, “She was decorating her locker.”
“Oh shit,” Anani muttered as he wrapped an arm around my waist, as I pointed towards the pictures.
“Aren’t those cute? I really want one of all seven of us though,” I explained, looking back at his handsome face. The only difference between Ledger and Anani really came down to their eyes and hair. I could see Anani’s tattoos dipping under his dark polo and they were stark like his jewel stone eyes that were intensely focused down on me.
“Well, I am sure that is a possibility,” Ledger noted.
The bell sounded through the halls, echoing, as my heart sped up with excitement. Henry strode out of the classroom, both our backpacks over his shoulder, immediately focused on me. His jaw unclenched and he exhaled looking relieved. Had he been that worried? Well, now I felt bad.
“Oh,” Anani teased, “you’re in trouble.”
I felt my lips twerk up knowing that I wasn’t actually in trouble. Mind you, it didn’t stop the very little pulse of anxiety in my chest that reminded me of how much my life had changed. How much those words about being in trouble used to scare me.
Ledger, as if knowing, intertwined his hand with mine, running a thumb gently back and forth on my hand. The warmth spread from the light contact straight to my bones.
“Sweetheart,” Henry spoke, his voice rough as I launched myself at him. His chuckle warming my heart as he tossed the backpacks to the twins. I inhaled that spring rain and mint scent of his as he wrapped his arms around me completely. I had noticed that Henry had been looking a bit stressed since this weekend, the circles underneath his eyes worried me, so I made sure to put an extra squeeze into the hug.
“Come see my locker!” I waved my hand towards it as he walked us backward, keeping me close, eyebrows raised.
“That,” he sighed with a small head shake, “is about perfect for you.” My chest warmed at his appraisal as I felt all the tension melt from my body. Whenever I was surrounded by them, I felt completely at home and relaxed. I only truly felt anxious when I was left alone. Mostly because of my father.
“Lady and gentlemen,” Malloy chimed brightly. I immediately turned to smile at my friend, his height nearly matching my own. His soft eyes peered into the locker as he grinned. “Wow Maya, that looks fantastic.”
“Thank you,” I offered as Henry muttered under his breath. I grabbed my backpack and closed up my locker. My group and I headed towards the library, Malloy in tow.
Malloy was an interesting person. There was a lot of personality in the small man and I found myself feeling a bit protective over him. The same way that I felt towards Jordan, except I knew she could protect herself. Malloy, I wasn’t so sure about. Either way, it was nice to feel like I had more friends than before.
Not that the guys weren’t enough. They totally were. But it only made sense that I needed my own friends as well since they have theirs. Well, they had each other but it still counted.
Sometimes my mates got frustrated with Malloy for apparently ‘hitting on me’, but as I tried to explain, I really didn’t think that Malloy was into me. In fact, I think I had somehow got myself caught up in a situation between Seth, who had asked me on a date, and Malloy. I was pretty sure, just based on the way they looked at one another, they were mates. Well, I’m not sure what it would be for them because Malloy was human...still, I could tell they liked one another. For whatever reason, they couldn’t communicate how they felt to each other.