When Butterflies Die: Chapter 6
Friday morning they decided to meet in the school library. It seemed like libraries were their hangout of choice lately. She liked to think it was because it was quieter, and the odd looks from people were not as copious. She found it odd that she was so comfortable with him. He didn't really judge her. Well he had, when they first met she assumed, just as she had judged him, but he actually gave her a chance. People tended not to do that for her. How could that not make her let down her guard a little bit. They walked to the library in silence, they shoulders brushing slightly. "I finished the packet last night, I was just hoping maybe we could go over them…?" He said as they reached the doors and he pulled them open letting her walk through as she nodded her agreement. As they sat she tried to sit as gingerly as possible without being obvious. He gave her an appraising look as she sat.
"You ok?" He asked. Maybe he didn't know exactly why but he knew something on her was hurting. This was the part she hated. After she found relief at the edge of a blade, she found discomfort the next day. Her pants would aggravate the jaggedly formed scabs and the itch was barely suppressible.
"Yes." She said simply.
"That cat again?" Cryptic, she usually didn't do cryptic but she sure as hell understood the meaning this time. He actually looked genuinely concerned. That was something her year in foster care had taught her. People don't care. That squelched any thought she had of letting him in on anything.
"My pants just don't fit properly, ok?" She said, sounding testy. He put his hand up in surrender. "Let's just look this over…" She said taking the packet from him. She looked it over thoroughly then turned to him smiling. "Out of the 52 problems that you did on your own you only got 12 wrong. That is very good. You learn fast." She praised. Was it weird she was proud?
"Yea, you know… Student, teacher. Student. Teacher." He said pointing between the both of them. Even before her parents left, she never really had any friends. She certainly had none now, but here, with him staring at her like that, the expression surely mirrored on her face, it was nice to have this facsimile.
She pulled herself out of her reverie and cleared her throat, he diverted his eyes momentarily. "So, just rework the problems and I'll take a look at them again on Monday. " She told him, Taking the worksheets back and circling the missed problems, still recovering from her slight blunder. They wouldn't see each other again until then.
"This is due 1st period Monday. We never see each other before then." He said, reminding her. Dammit. Now what. "I could come over to your house or so-"
"No!" She said cutting him off. He didn't miss the panicked look in her eyes. He knew that look, all too well. "If you want to meet over the weekend we can go to the library or somewhere, ok?"
"Ok" He said understandingly "I have a game tomorrow though. Sunday?" He asked with a foreign hopefulness in his voice. Pathetic, Seeley.
"Sunday will be fine." She hoped, anyway. You never know with these foster parents. She wrote her number on a piece of paper then tore it off clipping it to the packet and handing it back. 'Tempe' She wrote not 'Temperance'. She gathered her bag and they headed back to homeroom to check in before it was let out.
"Do you prefer Tempe?" He asked her.
"I just think 'Temperance' is a bit of a mouthful. You can call me whatever you want though." She said giving him a small smile with it.
"I like Temperance, kinda rolls off the tongue…" She gave him an odd look.
"If you say so" she said as she reached to door, determined to open it before he did. They gave the teacher their passes back went to sit down. She was surprised when he sat down next to her, instead of with his friends. He didn't seem to notice though. He didn't notice the whispers behind them gaining in intensity either.