Longshot
My eyes opened slowly as they adjusted to the bright morning light. I looked down and saw Raina curled up in front of me. I grinned to myself. She looked beautiful. Suddenly, she jerked her head up and looked at the entrance to our hut.
"Hey there." Pipsqueak leaned up against the doorway casually. "Uh, I can see you're busy so…I'll just come back later."
"No!" Raina screeched. She quickly stood up and brushed herself off. "I, uh…we were just…" She glanced at me, then back at Pipsqueak. "What do you want?"
"Food," he replied. "And I can't get it until you're down on the lower level."
"Oh, right." Raina grabbed her maroon cloth, tied it in her hair, and leaped off the balcony. Pipsqueak turned to me and arched an eyebrow. I shook my head and he just laughed.
"You're a little young for that anyway." I grinned awkwardly back at him. "Come on, then," he said. I got my shirt on, grabbed my hat, and followed the giant out the door.
I sat at the huge wooden table, barely eating. I stared at Sneers talking to Raina. He was probably insulting her. She shook her head and shooed him away, which he actually did.
"Hey, Longshot." I felt Jet's hand come down on my shoulder and I turned my head. "You're my friend, right?"
I nodded and arched an eyebrow. Sure.
"Well, can I ask you a question?" I nodded again. "What d'ya think of Raina?"
I felt my eyes widen a bit, and I pulled my hat down to cover my blushing face. Then I nodded.
"Yeah, she's different, isn't she?" I nodded again, for the fifth time. "And really pretty."
I looked at him. Why are you asking me this?
To my surprise, he seemed to understand. "Well…because…I think I like her…a little."
I felt my heart drop. Maybe because Jet just told me that he liked Raina. Or maybe it was because I knew that I couldn't compete with fourteen year old charmer like him. It was probably the latter.
"Do you think she likes me?" he asked, pulling me from the criticism I was giving myself.
"Um…" I found my voice and spoke. "Probably…but I don't know."
I heard him laugh at the fact that I spoke. "Nevermind," he said. "I just thought you of all people would know, since you spend so much time together." He punched me in the shoulder lightly and walked away.
Raina watched him with wide, interested eyes. Then she walked over to me and sat down. "What were you and Jet talking about?" she asked casually.
Nothing, I shrugged.
"Yeah, right," she said disbelievingly, shoving me lightly. I smiled at her as she hugged me with one arm. And I realized that what Jet said was right. Raina was different.