Chapter 36

Finally, it was 7'oclock, and time for the holiday meal. I felt rejuvenated. I had managed to get work done earlier today, and now I was going to relax. Relax and not think about Thomas, Taylor, Hauer or anyone else.

Anyone other than Josh, who was already seated at the end of a table in the middle of the room. He wore a corduroy jacket over a blue shirt, looking so amazingly handsome, I felt unworthy. Candles flickered along the length of the tables. There were three tables set this way. At the first sat a few of the faculty members, including Mrs. Lattimer. At the second was a klatch of foreign students. Josh sat at the third, with a few of the other scholarship students at the other end, their noses in books while they ignored each other.

The place smelled amazing. Roasting turkey, gravy, freshly baked bread. I glanced behind me at the buffet line, but it was empty.

"What's going on?" I asked Josh.

I folded the skirt I had borrowed from Lily under me as I sat down.

"Table service," Josh said. "Guess that's what happens when only twenty people are eating."

"Wow, it's like we're royalty."

Josh leaned across the table and glanced at the next one over "Actually, I think one of those guys is royalty."

I laughed just as the doors opened, spilling forth half a dozen cafeteria workers and their trays. Platters of food quickly filled our table. Immediately I could tell this was going to be the best thanksgiving of my life.

Josh and I weighed our plates down with tons of food. Once he had everything he wanted, I watched as he dumped a ladleful of gravy all over it, even the roll. He eyed me curiously as I covered only the meat in gravy.

"Wuss," he said

"I just like it the way I like it."

"So, what are you doing later?" Josh asked. "I don't know about you, but I was bored off my ass today."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Painted a little. Called my parents. Called my brother. Called my aunt's house and diffused an argument between Tess and Tori having to do with sleeping arrangements," he said. "They're twins. Thirteen-year-old female twins with opposite personalities. It's no fun."

"What was the argument?" I asked.

"My aunt put them in the bunk room as always," he said. "They were fighting over who got to sleep on the bottom bunk. Three years ago, they were fighting over who got to sleep on the top bunk. I don't get girls."

"We are a mysterious people." I said.

For the first time in a while, Josh really laughed, his eyes shining in the candlelight.

"You must be a really good brother," I said "Most guys wouldn't bother trying."

"Just hoping to save the world from a nuclear meltdown." Josh replied "Do you have any siblings?"

"Just my brother, Scott," I said. "He's older."

"What's he like?"

"I have no complaints," I answered.

"And where's he this weekend?" Josh asked.

The question was innocent enough, but Josh had mistakenly entered volatile territory. "He's home with my parents," I replied quietly.

"Oh, Reed I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything." Josh reached across the table and grabbed my hand gently.

"It's okay Josh, really. He's better off at home alone than I would be."

Josh looked at me sadly, and I wanted to do anything I could to keep that look out of his eyes. It pained me to see him like that for any reason, especially when I was the cause.

I resumed eating, and Jos eyed me wearily for a moment before thankfully changing the subject.

"So, you want to hang out after this?" he asked.

I glanced around to see if anyone at the faculty table had heard him. They were all too involved in their meals and their hushed conversation.

"I don't know. How would we get past Lattimer?" I asked.

"She does have certain hawklike qualities," Josh said, looking over at her. "We could go to my dorm."

"Please, Mr. Cross will totally hear us," I said. "You're the only one in the entire building. He's got nothing to distract him."

"Reed, look at the man. He's about four hundred years old. If he gets enough turkey in him, he'll be passed out before he even gets to Ketlar."

I glanced over my shoulder. Mr. Cross wiped his moustache before grabbing a second helping of turkey.

"Looks like we're good to go then," I said with a smile.

Josh smiled back. "Looks like."

Josh and I stumbled back to Ketlar, and I was feeling drunk, even though there was no alcohol in my system. I was high on this feeling, being with Josh, both of us fairly happy, and not fighting. This was rare, but I hoped that that would change.

Josh and I told childhood stories, perhaps a little too loud, but in that moment, I didn't care. It would be worth getting caught to feel this amazing, and to see that smile on Josh's face.

The door to Ketlar creaked open and I silently prayed that Mr. Cross wasn't still awake, or worse yet, standing just inside the entrance, waiting to catch us, and get us both in some serious trouble. Luckily, we made it through the common room without incident, but as we were passing by Mr. Cross' room I heard a noise that sounded suspiciously like footsteps and my heart was in my throat.

AN: Just thought I would torture you all with a little cliffy. And this is now three in one day! Can you believe it?

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