Shout-out to Dallas for the idea of Marcie trying to mess with Patch- I tried, and I hope it comes to par with your expectations! I actually had this typed before you sent that idea, and I changed it and I think it works much better.

Chapter Thirteen

I stood some distance away from the front of the library, waiting to catch Nora when she walked out. I knew that she had no car, and thus no ride. I didn't want her walking on her own at night. I saw her begin to leave the library, but then she turned around and moved from the doors. Okay...?

Just as I was about to walk in, Marcie Millar sauntered out, a smarmy look on her face similar to her dad's- clearly satisfied with herself. Nora didn't immediately follow. Marcie, upon seeing me waiting in the darkness, looked me up and down. First, she looked suspicious, but smiled and approached me. Clearly, the back-off look on my face wasn't reaching her brain.

"Hi, there. I've seen you once around Coldwater High. You a, uh…new kid?" she purred.

"No." There was double meaning heavily implied. I began to turn to put on my helmet. Nora wasn't at the doors, apparently leaving out of the other side of the library, and I wanted to catch her quickly.

"Well, my name's Marcie. Marcie Millar. I'm pretty popular around the school." She tried to reach for my jacket, but I smoothly moved away from her.

"No offense, hun, but I don't talk to high school girls." Except one, but she didn't need to know that.

"I can change that."

I revved up my motorcycle, and giving her the peace sign, I pulled off. I could sense her frustration, which turned to indignity, as I left.

As soon as I reached the tunnel leading to the elevator, I heard footsteps making their way towards me. When I looked closely, I saw Nora walking- no, stomping- in the tunnel. I was glad I was here; there wasn't much that would protect her on her own in this darkness. I paused when I saw her expression. The look on her face suggested that she was torn between crying and anger. Her fists were tight, and I knew something had happened.

When she finally saw me, she stopped walking.

"What are you doing here?" she hissed, pushing her hair out of her face. She darted a look at the exit, and back at me. When I stepped forward, she suddenly dashed around a car.

I'm trying to offer you a ride…? I looked over the car, lifting my eyebrows.

"I have questions, a lot of them." She said. She looked a little feverish, and I was getting worried.

"About?"

"About everything."

Her attempt at a covert look at the exit made sense now, and I held in a smile.

"And if my answers don't make the cut, you're going to make a break for it?" I asked, nodding towards the exit. She looked sheepish, and I could tell that that was as far as her plan had gone.

All right. "Let's hear those questions."

"How'd you know I'd be at the library tonight?"

"Seemed like a good guess." I'd been watching her since she left the school.

She sighed exasperatedly, and I took my chance to move quickly around the car. Reacting quickly, she moved as well.

"Where were you Sunday afternoon? Did you follow me when I went shopping with Vee?"

"No. How did that go, by the way? Buy anything?"

"—Maybe?" she answered, thrown.

"Like?"

She began to think, and told me about what had happened. So Vee had been attacked? And Nora thought that it had been meant for her? Shit.

"Well? Do you have anything to say?" she demanded.

I'm going to have to watch you 24/7 apparently. "No."

"You have no idea what happened to Vee?"

"Again, no."

"I don't believe you."

"That's because you have trust issues." I leaned over the car, emphasizing that she was pushing me away. "We've been over this."

Her eye twitched, and I could tell she was getting angrier. I lunged again, and she moved just as quickly. I looked into her eyes, guessing where she'd move next. I needed to flush her out of the car, and into the open. To be honest, I was only doing this to humor her, and let her get her frustrations out. If I really wanted to stop her, I'd have simply mind-commanded her to.

"What happened on the Archangel? Did you save me?" she asked.

"If I'd saved you, we wouldn't be standing here, having this conversation."

"You mean if you hadn't saved me we wouldn't be here. I'd be dead."

"That's not what I said."

She looked like she was drawing a blank. "Why wouldn't we be standing here?"

"You'd still be here. I probably wouldn't." Would they assign me to Nora as her protector? Assuming the stories were true? I doubted it. Especially considering my original goals with her. Hell, considering my new goals with her. When I noticed she hadn't moved due to confusion, I moved to her right, removing her ability to evade me with the car. I kept running, and in her panic, she turned and dashed for the exit.

Catching her easily by her arm, I pulled her behind one of the cement beams, effectively blocking us from any eyes.

"So much for that plan." I teased, and she glared at me. Personally, I was turned on by the closeness between us, and by her intensity. I loved seeing her so flustered.

"What's going on?" she hissed. "How come I swear I can hear your voice in my head? And why did you say you came to school for me?"

"I was tired of admiring your legs from a distance."

"I want the truth." She must have known that she sounded like she was begging, because she changed to "I deserve full disclosure."

"Full disclosure? Does this have anything to do with the promise you made to expose me?" That'd be just fine! "What exactly are we talking about here?"

Her pupils dilated, and I knew that she was fighting between being turned on and upset. Looking down at her hands, she put them behind her back. Finally, she exhaled sharply and stopped moving.

"I have to go. I have homework."

She looked so defeated.

"What happened in there?" I asked softly.

"Nothing." Her eyes were down, and I could hear the upset getting to her. I quickly reached for her hands, and pressed our palms together. I locked our fingers together.

"Your knuckles are white, and you came out looking worked up." I brushed my mouth across her fingers, just barely kissing them. She blushed.

"Let go. And I'm not worked up. Not really. If you'll excuse me, I have homework—"

"Nora." I wasn't going to let her hide behind her work, pretending nothing was wrong. She was going to stay with me, and I was going to help.

"I had a fight with Marcie Millar." She spat. "Okay? Satisfied? Will you please let me go?" I could hear the sadness behind the exasperation.

"Marcie Millar?" To think, I'd let her walk past. No wonder she'd looked so content.

"You don't know Marcie? Hard to believe, considering you attend Coldwater High, for one. And you have a Y chromosome, for two."

My eyes are only for someone else. "Tell me about the fight." I commanded softly.

"She called Vee fat." She said, petulantly.

"And?"

"I called her an anorexic pig."

Wh-what? That doesn't even…

I was trying not to laugh, but the laughter was building in my chest. If only my 'fights' were so simple.

"That's it? No punches? No biting, clawing or hair pulling?" I knew that girl fights could get nasty. Nora's eyes narrowed. I'd bet it had never occurred to her.

"Are we going to have to teach you how to fight, Angel?"

"I can fight." She tipped her chin up, jaw twitching. I grinned. "In fact, I've had boxing lessons."

I held out my hand. "Give me a shot. Hard as you can." I challenged. Dread filled her face.

"I'm—not a fan of senseless violence."

"We're all alone down here. A guy like me could take advantage of a girl like you. Better show me what you've got."

She moved back, and I chuckled.

"Let me give you a ride." I said.

"I'll walk."

"It's late, and dark." I didn't want to make her come with me, but I wasn't letting her walk. Not now that I knew she was afraid. I sat down on the bike and held out the helmet to her.

"I'm starting to think the only reason you keep offering me a ride is because you know how not fond I am of this thing." She sighed, and sat on the bike, wrapping around me. I smiled, amused at her acceptance. It went much quicker than the first time I'd had to convince her, and this time it was under more normal circumstances.

"I can think of a couple other reasons." Like having her holding onto me for safety. I also noticed that, unlike before, she was calmer. Despite her misgivings about me, I still made her feel better.

When I pulled up her driveway, I felt disappointed. I didn't want her to let go. She had to hold on to me while she climbed off, and I resisted the urge to pull her back on. She handed me back my helmet.

"Thanks for the ride."

"What are you doing Saturday night?" I wanted to give her a glimpse into my world- I knew she'd seen Bo's already, but she'd never actually been invited. It would be better for her, and easier for me, if I just introduced her on my own terms. Slowly. I also wanted to make us official, and that would only happen if I opened up a little for her.

"I have a date with the usual."

Who? "The usual?"

"Homework."

Oh. "Cancel."

She looked down, inhaled softly, seeming at ease. Then she looked at me, and a strange look crossed her face.

"I don't go out with strangers." It sounded like she was trying to tell herself that.

"Good thing I do. I'll pick you up at five."

Looking oddly at me, she turned and slowly walked to her door. When she got inside, I drove back to Delphic to drop off my motorcycle.

I stood in her room, silently, in the shadow beside the window. I'd told myself that it was to keep watch over her; make sure she was safe. Her mother was home, but I knew that that meant nothing.

Someone had once told me that a person's true face showed when they were asleep. Sleep was supposed to wipe one's face of any sort of deceit; whatever they were feeling would show.

At the moment, Nora's face showed anxiety. Whatever she was worried about, her subconscious was pouring into her dreams. She was tossing and turning, shivering occasionally. I decided to take a risk with her- I could erase her mind if she awoke. I got into the bed with her, silently, and slowly placed my arm around her. She was facing me when I finally wrapped it around her. She yawned, her mouth forming a cute O, smiled, and continued to sleep. I smiled softly.

I couldn't do this again, not without her permission, and I wouldn't. But it felt like stealing a kiss; forbidden but satisfying. Hopefully, after this Saturday, she would feel this serene around me while she was awake.

I like the idea of Patch being around Nora when she doesn't know it; it's kind of like an unconscious drawing to him. I also like the idea of Patch being like "nah, woman, back off" when Marcie tries to hit on him. Also, 3/7 exams down! I'm so ready for break it hurts. One more week! Summer also means more frequent chapters- can I get a "whoop whoop!"?

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