Gym on Fridays was - as always - the best time to clown around with sports and not get in trouble. Everyone could play what they liked and still get credit for it. Basketball was the thing for the trio, since the rest of the gym was always crowded to do anything else. They still had fun...well Ryo and Kento still had fun. Sage refused half the time unless it was necessary not to flunk. Basketball really wasn't his thing, but that didn't mean he WOULDN'T play. Just not in front of so many people.
"Come ON Ryo...this shot isn't THAT hard..."
"Shut UP Kento!"
"Stop goading Ryo, Kento...you only make him mess up."
"That's the POINT Sage!"
"SHUT UP Kento!"
Kento snickered and stood a few feet off to the side, just in case Ryo decided to shoot the ball in his direction. Not like he couldn't catch it, and Ryo wouldn't dare in front of the teacher...but he knew the thought WOULD cross his friend's mind.
Seconds before Ryo's ball went into the air, another came lazily bouncing in their direction, making Ryo lose his focus and offset his shot. It hit the backboard with a clang, getting a grimace from Ryo as he caught the wayward ball. He looked to Kento as the larger youth hurried to catch theirs. When blue met blue, Ryo's playfully narrowed. "That doesn't COUNT." He stated, giving a look.
Kento grinned and walked back as a familiar person jogged over. "For technical reasons ONLY." He agreed, facing Kevin as the youth stopped.
"Hey guys." Kevin grinned. "Sorry about that. Didn't interrupt your game did we?"
"Nope...Ryo can just do that shot over again." Kento kidded, giving an evil grin. Ryo gave a playful glare back. "And it'll probably still give you 'W' 'H' 'I' and 'T' ANYWAY."
Ryo's glare deepened, but an evil smile appeared. One hand lightly bounced the ball in his hand as he looked at Kento. "You keep it UP buddy and we'll see just how much your stomach can take."
"You wouldn't get by the teachers with that."
"So what game were you playing?" Kevin interceded, trying not to laugh. Both turned and looked with wide eyes to find the youth spinning the basketball on his middle finger.
After mentally shaking himself at how EASY Kevin made it look, Kento idly dribbled the ball. "Well...I think it's the American equivalent to 'horse' or 'pig'."
Kevin gave a nod, knowing of the game. "Sounds fun. Well...see you guys at lunch." He lightly butted the ball into the air and caught it with a hand, giving a wave with the other.
As he turned and took a few steps toward the net they were playing at, Ryo grabbed an arm. "Hey...you two...wanna play?" He offered, giving a grin.
Kevin turned and then to Epi, who was waiting with a tapping foot across the way. He grinned and looked back. "Epi sucks, quid pro quo. She was the one who made that last shot." His grinned widened. "Still want us to play?"
"Why NOT?" Kento added, taking a few idle shots. "The more the merrier. And it'll get her to have some fun."
"Yea...she looked pretty tense today in gym." Ryo added, casting a mild, wondering glance.
"And in English."
Kevin nodded in agreement, knowing something the two didn't. "Well I can go ask." He conceded, giving a small shrug. After turning to his cousin, the ball went right back on his finger. Kevin KNEW he was showing off because walking with a spinning ball was hard and took a lot of skill. But he was a major sports nut, had been ever since he got to the U.S., and practiced whenever he could. Too bad fancy hotels didn't have courts.
She walked a few paces to him and grabbed the ball off Kevin's finger, giving it a few bounces. "So what was THAT all about?" She asked, taking a shot. It bounced off the back, nearly missing, before going in.
Kevin grinned. "They're inviting us to play." He announced, lazily walking for the ball when it bounced under the net.
She blinked. "WHAT?" She asked, looking across the way. She felt her cheeks burn upon finding the two looking over. Her gaze whipped around and found Kevin spinning theball again. She gave a small glare and walked over, snatching the blur off his finger.
"Will you stop showing off? I don't care if you DID practice that for two years...KNOCK IT OFF." She playfully swatted an arm and looked to the ball. Teeth nibbled her lower lip before her logical side reminded she wasn't being cold to these people anymore. To do so now was pointless...since she was in deeper than she ever expected. Before her muddled and anxiety-filled mind could throw anymore thoughts out, she slowly strode over, dodging some people.
She stopped short of the two and walked to the wall, setting the ball by Sage. She felt those accursed butterflies flutter on low, but swallowed and gave a small smile. He remained against that wall, brow minutely twitching upward in response. Fighting a sigh that maybe Sage would NEVER forgive and talk to her, she forcefully lengthened the smile and turned. "So what's the game?"
"We play the American equivalent of 'horse'." Ryo explained, giving the ball a shot. It went in and she caught it, being close to the net. She shot it back to Ryo who took another quick shot and looked to Kento. "We clearing the slate?"
Kento gave an grin. "So you can get rid of your 'Whi'? Sorry Ryo." Kento looked to the others and walked to the spot they played the 'T' at. His arms extended and caught the ball she tossed over. "You know how it goes?"
She grinned and jerked a thumb to Kevin. "He's a sport's nut. I know the basics."
Kento grinned and looked to the rim. "Good, then I don't have to explain. This was the 'T' line up." With calculating eyes, Kento tossed the ball and made the shot. "And that makes mine still 'W' 'H' and 'I'. Ryo has a 'T' to his, and you can jump in."
"What are we playing to?" Kevin asked, giving a curious look.
Ryo grinned. "We don't have time to play the full name...but it's White Blaze."
She blinked and waited as Kevin lined the shot up. "White Blaze?? What's a White Blaze?"
The three gave each other a knowing glance, accompanied by a small smile. "Someone Ryo knows." Sage announced. She looked to Sage with questioning eyes, but looked away when a swish was heard.
"Well it doesn't matter to me because I don't get ANY of it." Kevin announced.
With a grin, Ryo tossed the ball and she took Kevin's 'spot' with a small grimace. She was NOT a good basketball player. Though she liked sports and watched them, that's really as far as it went. Dancing was her thing...playing sports was Kevin's.
With a deep breath, carefully lining up the shot through frazzled nerves, her eyes narrowed in calculation and threw the ball. It hit the backboard with a clang and she grimaced as Kento went after the ball.
"This does not bode WELL." She muttered, getting a humorous snort. With a sigh, she gave a mock cheerful look to Kento who picked the next spot. "Well...that gives me a 'W'."
~*~*~
Lunch was for people to take time out of their busy mornings and either eat what they made or trade what their PARENTS made. Talk - of course - was key to fill the silence and rustling of lunch bags. But for many others, it was a time to cram food into your mouth as you packed knowledge into your brain. It was a free study period...one where you could study, eat, and talk to your friends at will. Most often many studied for tests in remaining periods, or get a head start for later.
The five walked to the table they were quickly calling 'theirs'. No one else kept sitting at it except the two Hispanics, and it was fine with tehm. The Ronins were all guaranteed a table at lunch. It was like the two were holding it for them in some way. Instead of sitting at the outcast table, it was slowly becoming reserved only for their compiled group.
Taking the lead, and also the seat closest to the girl at the table, Ryo set his bag down and smiled a hello. The others took suit a lot less hesitant than the beginning. It was a good feeling to be on a more pleasant level with someone, even if you didn't know them all that well.
"Hey Epiphany. What're you working on?" He asked, tiger eyes looking to her book. The girl was hunched over it with a deep look of concentration, but it almost looked as if she were glaring at the pages. One hand rapidly tapped a pencil on the tabletop, the other resting on top her head to hold it up.
The pencil halted. "Nothing personal, but can't talk right now." She rambled, not looking up. As if nothing happened, she resumed tapping that pencil on the table.
With an utterly confused look, Ryo looked to Kevin, finding an amused grin. Kevin only shook his head and took a bite of his sandwich, eyes going to his cousin. Raising a brow, Ryo gave the others a curious, confused look. A few mirrored it before shrugging and going to their lunches. Whatever was going on, she wasn't as tense in the shoulders now. It appeared she was either doing homework or trying to figure something out.
Rowen pulled out one of the books he normally read if lunch was boring and cast a look to it, then to the girl. His eyes jerked to Kevin before going back his book. SHOULD he ask? Rowen's position gave him a frontal view of her face, the short curtain of hair blocking a good portion of her features to the others. He quickly put the book away and went for his lunch upon spying what she was looking at. "What're you working on?" He asked, craning his head inches forward. It didn't take someone of HIS genius to read Algebra equations upside down.
She looked up and locked eyes, nose quickly wrinkling. "STUDYING." She muttered, casting a withering glance to her book.
Rowen grinned. She really DID hate math! "Oh? Do you have a test next hour?"
She sighed and propped her head up with a palm. "No...stupid teacher announced we've got it on Monday." As if it was the end of the world, which it probably WAS, she groaned and plopped her head on top of the book with a quiet thunk. "I am SO going to FLUNK." She moaned.
Rowen couldn't help but snicker at how dramatic she was being. "It's only MATH." He said, taking a bite out of an apple. Slowly, her head rose with a raised brow and pointed look, as if telling him to watch it. "Geez...I thought last time I went over your homework with you, you would've RETAINED something." He kidded.
She playfully scowled, feeling her cheeks burn. Their normal routine - tossing sarcastic remarks - was getting to be more than routine...it was fun. She gained more satisfaction than having to be pleasant around Rowen...since he always seemed to make her feel like a moron with his IQ. "YOU know how hard it was to teach me. I don't DO math." She retorted, casting a distained look to the book. An eye narrowed, as expecting it to jump up and paper cut her. "Math SUCKS."
Rowen gasped and clutched his chest, like she wounded him. "That's HARSH. How can you hate MATH?"
She looked at him with a smirk at and finally went for her lunch. "I don't get it. All those stupid words and definitions to know! I mean, what do I care if I have to know what Polynomial Long Division means? What is THAT going to accomplish??"
Rowen gave her an odd look. "Is THAT what you've been studying for? The DEFINITIONS?" He gave a stupid blink, looking at her like she was crazy. She returned his look, wondering what he was getting at, before giving a small nod. A hand slapped his forehead. "Gods help me."
Cye grinned and gave him a quick nudge. "Oh quit with the dramatics." Cye looked across the table, eyes scanning the book. "Who do you have and what period?"
She heaved a sigh, scowling. "Kijata. First."
Ryo's head shot over. "Really? I have him sixth." His face scrunched up. "I guess that means I should expect the quiz announcement." With a long face, knowing he'd be doing more studying this weekend, Ryo propped a hand up and gave a small stare to her book. "Geez...and I was hoping to have an easy weekend!"
"I know...it sucks." With a small put out look, she reached into the bag and grabbed a sandwich, carefully peeling her mother's handiwork open and taking a bite. "I just hope you're better at math than I am."
"Hey Epiphany..." Kento called. She leaned back to see over Ryo and raised brows in question. "You going to eat that apple?"
"Kento!" Cye shot out, giving an astonished look.
Kento only looked with a widening grin and shrugged. "What? There's only twenty minutes left to lunch...she won't eat ALL of it."
With a grin, she leaned forward and snatched the uneaten prize from the table. "No I won't, I'm too nervous about this stupid test." She leaned back and handed it over who snatched it up and immediately bit into it. "You're welcome." She kidded, grinning.
"Doomo." Kento happily replied. Thanks.
She looked to her book. "Doo itashimashite." She muttered. It's okay. After a second, she looked up to find a few wondering eyes. She grinned. "I said do know SOME Japanese."
What she WASN'T going to say was - just for formal and curiosity sake - she secretly rented a book from the school library and was going through the dictionary...just to go over some words. None in her family knew. She didn't want anyone to wonder, when she never bothered to learn more than what was humanely possible. With a sigh, she picked the pencil up and continued tapping it against the table, vision regrettably locking the words.
After a small pause, a decision in Rowen's head won out. She looked so frustrated at that book and had the whole weekend to stress on it. He knew tutoring for would be the polite thing to do, and would help her pass, but he didn't want to be too forward. He didn't know what kind of terms they were on, and being presumptuous was overblown. But...Kevin was teaching her already...and if THAT was the case, he needed lessons TOO.
"Would you like some HELP?" He asked, talking as if to a child who didn't get the basic concepts of addition and subtraction.
She looked up, blinking. What made him say THAT? Her gaze narrowed. "Why would I want help?" What was he insinuating?
"Because you're sitting in front of me, basically cursing arithmetic." He wryly retorted. "And you KNOW I know what I'm talking about. If you like, I can review with you exactly what you're having problems on, and you might be able to pass that test."
She stared, holding his gaze. He was utterly serious, even though there was a good-humored smile on his face. His offer was generous, since she knew basic arithmetic and that was really all she WANTED to know... It would be like pulling teeth, but he was still willing.
She had to wonder why. Were they on THAT good of terms that he was ready to sacrifice his private time after school just to help HER?
Then there was Kevin...what did he think? When they got home, she intended on hitting the books with Kevin until dinner. Her eyes broke the stare and looked to her beloved cousin. Those doe-like eyes were unable to be read, even though he was always more expressive than she. That wasn't a good sign. Teeth grabbed her lip as she gave him a questioning and uncertain glance. What did he want to do??
Kevin returned the stare with an even expression, though he was trying to keep irritation and hurt down. He could tell in those dark eyes that she was uncertain...that meant she was considering Rowen's offer.
He ALWAYS helped her study, for anything she needed. It was always him who helped her out. Though there were the hard subjects like math and English that needed more work...he was the one to help. Not being needed for the first time when Rowen helped her with Algebra was a small vacation, like getting out of something you wanted and didn't want to do.
He got past the initial reaction to Rowen helping out, but it being a repeated process was giving him more free time with nothing to fill it with. With Rowen being nice, the youth was taking more of HIS responsibilities. But he couldn't let her flunk. Maybe Rowen would be able to get something understood where he failed. "How do you intend on studying?"
She gave a smile. She was asking to let someone else step in and teach, when he always used to. It was like she was breaking away. "What do you mean?"
"We leave at the end of sixth remember?" He reminded, going for his books.
"You DO?" She looked over to Rowen and nodded with a small smile. "Why?"
She gave a grin. "Father and my 'councilor' talked, and both agreed on - what father stipulated - was that I be home early enough to help take care of Willow." Her lips pursed as she crumpled the empty wrapper and started putting her books away. The bell was bound to ring any minute and she didn't want to get swept in the crowd. "Kevin's right...how DO you propose we do this? What do you have last period?"
"Astronomy."
As she finished putting everything away, a thoughtful pose rested on her face. She WAS taking Rowen's offer...but details were sketchy at best. She wasn't hanging around and staying here to study, and she wasn't going to invade his home for this. Hers seemed most logical, since Rowen knew the location. Him heading after class seemed the best. "Would you mind coming over and meeting at the hotel after class? We can decide if you want to stay there or go somewhere else."
The bell rang and the pandemonium raised a few decibels as everyone stood and started cracking final jokes and making comments. The seven stood and grabbed their things.
"We can do that. I'll catch the first bus after seventh and meet you at the front door." Rowen agreed, giving a small nod.
~*~*~
A little after four, Rowen walked into the lobby with his backpack over a shoulder, eyes darting around the area. The place never failed to amaze him with the pillar and color construction. He felt a little out of place in his jeans, t-shirt, and sweater...even though he was smarter than probably HALF of the people here. It would be good to get out of their eyes and to a private setting where he could concentrate.
Rowen stopped in the middle of the lobby with a raised brow, a little perplexed at seeing Epiphany sitting on one of the loveseats, a book in her lap and pencil in her ear. She was looking out of place in a pair of comfy sweats and tank. Such normal clothes for a rich girl. No one seemed to notice her, and visa versa, even as he walked over and stopped above her hunched form. With a hand gripping the strap on his shoulder, the other rested on his hip in an inquiring gesture. "What are you doing down HERE?"
Her gaze shot up, body jerking in shock. She blinked and looked to the round, glass clock acting as a coffee table for her books. She figured getting a little extra homework done would be a good thing...but she didn't know time flew like that! During HOMEWORK? Didn't seem POSSIBLE...
"I...figured we could study down HERE." She offered, giving a smile.
Rowen's brow went up even higher and he blinked. "Why?" His gaze shot around to the masses of people in suits. "Personally...I'd rather we go into your suite and study. It's quieter, with less to distract you, and some of these people are staring at me."
She looked around and found a few eyes, mostly from the female population. A small grin sprouted as she tried to fight it. Rowen was apparently not very women-orientated...talking must not be his strong suit. That and he evidently didn't know how good-looking he was. She wasn't going to say anything, even if she DID notice when they first laid eyes on each other.
She looked back and met his eyes with a wry grin. "Perhaps it's those clothes you wore." She shot out, eyeing his attire. Catching a playful scowl, she cleared her throat, a little torn on how to tell him this. "I'd rather stay down here." She denied, pressing lips together. Her head ducked and she played with the pencil in her ear, unconsciously fidgeting. Oh lord...if they went upstairs...
Rowen's brow furrowed in wonder and confusion. Now he definitely knew there was something she wasn't saying. "Come on...I didn't come miles out of my way to help you just to sit in this noise. It's not going to help and if I try to concentrate over it, I'm liable to get a headache." Rowen plopped down on the loveseat and stared at her. "Why can't we go up to your suite? Is there something wrong?"
She started at the floor and refused to meet his eyes. A small blush stained her face. The hands fiddling with the pencil kept up their movements and, if anything, increased in personal tension. God...couldn't something happen to break this awkward moment? She didn't want to answer, since she knew it would be insulting. Least...SHE thought it would be...
She hadn't planned on her mother being home...figuring she'd take Willow out for the afternoon and return in enough time to make dinner...like Consuela did the past few days.
She felt guilty for making them wait down here, using up precious study time, when they should be out of this noise. The low hum was fine for doing Biology homework, but studying demanded quiet. And she was bound to be asking a lot of questions and wasn't a scene maker. She was one of those observing people who kept quiet to keep attention OFF. Teeth momentarily nibbled her lower lip.
"Well...I...we probably won't be any better off upstairs than here." She side-stepped, meekly meeting his eyes.
Rowen's gave a confused look, feeling his patience wear. What he wanted was to get out of this noise, the eyes, and into quiet solitude. He was itching to get started with her math. "So what's the difference then? What's so wrong with going upstairs? And answer me. Stop trying to dodge my question." Rowen blurted out. Coddling this girl with gentle questions and time wasn't going to work, because she took it in stride as a way of thinking of ways to get out of it. Putting her on the spot forced her to answer a question in a shorter amount of time. He was quickly finding that out.
She looked over with a guilty look and stopped fidgeting. Slowly, a hand deposited it on the top of her ear as she twisted to face him. "Mom's upstairs." She quietly answered, feeling like a chastised child. Lips pressed together as she looked to the cushions, unable to meet his eyes. Would he be insulted now? She didn't know, but already had an apology on the tip of her tongue.
Rowen blinked and stared at the top of her head. Why did he always feel like the bad guy around her? Because she was shyer than he was around people? It wasn't hard to escape into books and leave the world behind, but she left into her mind. It seemed like she felt the entire world was mad at her for some reason, even if he WAS a little confused about staying down here. What was the problem?? Did her mother not WANT visitors?
"So...you don't want me meeting your mother?" He queried, mind whirling to find an answer.
Her head jerked up, quickly shaking. "No! It's not that! It's just...um...well-" Teeth nibbled her lip to quiet stupid ramblings. Any way she put this was liable to offend. She didn't want to lose the small bridge they were building. This study thing was another way to gain his friendship. But...taking the chance and letting Rowen upstairs wasn't going to be any better. Introducing him to her mother was going to let him peek even more into her private life...which she NEVER intended on letting ANYONE see. Other than Kevin - who was always around - Willow was the exception she never thought of.
"I mean...it's not like we CAN'T go upstairs...I just don't know if you'd WANT to..." She rambled again, fidgeting with her nails. Her head remained down, unable to see if he was angry. Which she figured might happen since she was making accusations about someone she didn't know. She would be if the tables were turned.
Rowen had to grin at how nervous she was. So fidgety...like she was a scared animal that could jump at a single touch. Rowen fought the mischievous urge to poke her. "I'd rather sit upstairs and not waste anymore time down here actually." He answered, casting another look around. Some time passed, because more suits walked in through the main doors. Now almost all the chairs were used, save for those directly by the loveseat. "It's bound to get noisier in here the later it gets."
She automatically nodded. "The worst rush is at five thirty." She mumbled, looking.
"Then I DEFINITELY think I'll take the chance and meet your mom." Rowen answered. He cast a look to her, watching as she gathered up notebooks and school books. A grin slowly appeared. "She's not WEIRD or anything, is she?"
She huffed and cast Rowen a mildly astonished look, seeing the twinkle in his eye. She relaxed when she found he wasn't really serious. But his brow rose through the amused face and she had to wonder. One never COULD tell if Rowen was serious or not.
She went out on a limb and smiled. "You'll have to judge for yourself." Consuela WAS a little strange...but so was she. It was the small quirks to a person that made up their personality. She didn't notice, being Consuela's daughter. She wouldn't be surprised if she had some of those quirks... "Alright then." She mumbled, standing and cradling everything. Rowen stood and the two weaved through people to the elevators.
They rode in silence, even though Rowen's mind was filled with questions on this newest turn. He didn't foresee this, and from the thoughtful, pensive look on his companion's face, she didn't either. But it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. He was more comfortable around adults than people his own age. Aside from his fellow Ronins, he found seventeen year olds to be utterly immature and had no futuristic goals in life. He seemed the exception.
They stepped off in the plush hallway and Rowen waited as she provided the key stuck inside a book. Soon as they entered, Rowen took his shoes off and slowly followed. This was new territory, and he was hesitant to be this far out on a limb. Entering her temporary home by himself to meet the mother? That was a little scary for just studying. The whole study idea wasn't looking too good right now... The lobby almost seemed more appropriate, if not more strenuous on his nerves.
"Mom?" She called, stopping just short of the hallway wall. Her eyes scanned for the kitchen, finding it empty. Deep brown swung left when her bedroom door opened, Kevin walking out. Willow followed him soon later and widely smiled upon seeing Rowen.
"Hiya!" Willow called, nearly running to him. The youth stopped and gave his leg a hug, as if she missed him. She only blinked, knowing Willow didn't hold a memory span long enough to remember Rowen those few weeks ago. A small smile tilted her lips when Rowen's hand rustled Willow's hair, grin on his face.
Her gaze turned to Kevin, watching as he leaned against the doorway with a small grin, arms comfortably crossed. "Mom here?" She wondered, brow furrowing. Kevin's attention turned to her, before his head turned to the other bedroom door, now open from the commotion Willow made. She fought a grimace at Consuela's wondering, almost ecstatic look that she finally had company. It almost looked like those elder eyes were on her, but she KNEW they were on Rowen. Slowly, her head turned and looked, seeing him looking to her mother.
The almost awkward - well she thought it was awkward - silence was broken when Consuela crossed the room with an extended hand. "Why HELLO there mister. And who might YOU be?" She asked, a smile on her face.
Rowen smiled back and extended his hand in return, shaking it. "Hashiba Rowen, Marzellos-san. I'm here to help Epiphany study for an Algebra test she's got Monday."
Her wide-eyed gaze swung to Rowen upon hearing how formal and polite he was being. She blinked, casting a quick look to his person. Did she switch Rowens in the HALL? Rowen wasn't this polite to her in SCHOOL. Where was the sarcasm and dry humor??
Consuela nodded. "Please...call me Consuela. That's very nice of you Rowen. My daughter DOES have a tendency to dislike that subject with a passion. I hope you can help her out. Maybe you'll be able to teach her something." She blushed and looked down. "Do you already take Algebra?" Consuela inquired, inclining a friendly head.
Rowen had to smirk. Her mother was pretty nice for a first impression, even though that astonished face said the girl didn't have company. The mother seemed clueless though. Consuela must've been wondering what he was doing here. Rowen wondered if she told Consuela about the original trip out, and knew she had to because she brought Willow along.
"I passed that freshman year. I'm in Trig now, and I helped Epiphany with her homework a little while back. I offered because she was frustrated and I have a head for numbers."
Consuela almost beamed. "Aren't you sweet! You should talk to my husband." The elder winked. "He's got a degree in computer programming don't you know. He's in Toyama on business with a few of the companies in your city." The elder looked to her daughter, seeing a beet red face and utterly mortified about the simple conversation. "Well...I'll leave you alone and let you get to your work." A hand waved in between the small group as she headed back to her room. "If you need me, I'll be in my room, minding my own business."
The embarrassment ended when the door clicked shut. She fought a groan and turned to Rowen. "I SWEAR she's not always like that!"
Rowen just grinned and shrugged. "I'm not offended. I deal better with adults than people my own age anyway." Rowen's hand took the strap off his shoulder and held it in the air. "Shall we get going now?"
She nodded. "Um...you wanna study in my room, the kitchen, or the living room?" The kitchen was a little out of the way than the living room and they weren't in the middle of everything. Her room was shaky territory, even though she didn't even own it. Everything was already in there and it was like he WAS in her room. Her tongue darted out over her lips.
Rowen eyed the balcony with a wistful look. They were on the eighth floor and he was DYING to take another look down! "How bout the balcony?" His gaze strayed to hers. "You afraid of heights?"
That grin of his bristled her pride. "Of COURSE not! You think my father would let the company put us so high up if I was? I wouldn't stand for it and my father wouldn't do that to me." The hand clutching her books tightened. "Let's go."
Kevin eyed the two in total amusement, if not a little longingly, as they made their way outside and closed the glass doors. He heard Rowen mutter something about 'privacy' before the doors blocked the rest and looked to the carpet.
Willow stopped next to him and tugged on his khakis, an inquiring look on her face. "Why are you sad Kevvie??" She inquired, wide eyes pinpointing his mood.
Kevin pasted on a quick smile and kneeled down. He didn't want Willow saying anything to Consuela, because the woman would make the two include him as well. Which he wouldn't really mind...but he wasn't going to say anything. He could use help, same as Epi and didn't mind getting to know Rowen as well.
Why did it feel like Epiphany was singling him out from those five? The initial Algebra help, the trip, and now this? Was he doing something wrong? Did he say something to Epi? He knew that she was very good at making friends when she wasn't brushing everyone off as she did. He wasn't as lucky. Being a small bookworm in his younger years kept him from seeing a lot of the outside world. He could identify with Rowen a little more than Epi could on that aspect...but he stood here instead.
Still in that smile, he patted Willow's head. "Why would you think I'm sad Will?"
"Because they didn't ask for YOUR help."
Kevin couldn't help but give a more genuine smile. "You think I'm some kind of genius?" Willow blinked and nodded. That smile widened as he ruffled Willow's hair and stood. "Then how about I read to you? I don't think Epi's done that this afternoon." With a cheer, Willow grabbed his hand and drug him back into the room toward her bookcase.