Chapter 27c: Star-crossed

I groan inwardly as I see her coming down the hallway. The exit is right there, too.

Too late; I cannot turn around now. Her eyes have found mine already. And there is clearly no dodging the upcoming chat.

Damn it. As if this day wasn't bad enough already.

"Cain. There you are. Have you given any thoughts to my offer of the other day?"

My evasive smile and helplessly raised shoulders seem to embolden Miss Meadows. Seriously. Why does she care so much?

"Come on. It would be good for you. And you know you'd enjoy it."

I shake my head as I go about making an excuse.

"I don't think the theater suits me very much. Even if it is just some acting classes, it is boring and old-fashioned."

My words are intentionally a bit blunt, and they achieve the intended effect of taking the wind out of Miss Meadows' sails.

"That's just an impression. Yes, Shakespeare is a classic, but they practice and perform musicals like Fame or Chicago, too. Those aren't old fashioned at all, with energetic dances of this generation. There are a lot of cute gir.."

"Not interested."

I roll my eyes. Seriously. Why do adults always think that mentioning 'girls' will make a difference?

She frowns a bit harder, her hand coming to rest on my shoulder. Again with the familiar touching? Geez, woman.

"Think about it some more. You have talent, and I don't think it is good for you to just wander over the streets every day when school classes wrap up. There is no future in that."

I side-step to signal my unhappiness with that hand on my shoulder, my eyes trying to find some sense of understanding in that gaze of hers. Instead I find myself realizing she is pushy beyond her usual pushiness; would she usually not have passed by me already to do her thing?

Sometimes, there is that moment of crystal clear understanding where you feel as if you are looking in on the world from a distance.

"Oh. I see. That policewoman followed up again, didn't she?"

For an actor, she isn't good at hiding her thoughts at all, that eyebrow twitching uncontrollably like a pregnant grasshopper.

"She called in the other day. Apparently you were walking by the main road near the forest? She was rushing to a call at the time, or she'd have talked to you. She wanted me to tell you it isn't a very safe place to walk; there is no footpath."

I sigh audibly. Time to play so stupid that she knows I'm playing stupid. Or this conversation will never end.

"I just went on a date with her once. Why is she so fussed about me? She is pretty but her attitude stinks, always thinking she knows best and gets to admonish me."

Miss Meadows doesn't know whether to laugh or cry right now, and just snorts, shaking her head as the hand I dodged early brushes lint off my shoulder. Seriously, all those females just want to endlessly mother me. Dust won't kill me!

"You brat. So why are you leaving?"

I raise my eyebrow, feeling a bit miffed. I take a deeper breath, remembering those lessons about anger and calming down.

"Don't I always leave for a walk after school? What's your problem?"

Now she raises her eyebrow, the twitching grasshopper having made place for a gracefully arcing bridge.

"Didn't they tell you?"

"Tell me WHAT?!"

My voice isn't raised, but the frustration sounds through clearly.

"Your little sister is coming to visit. They called forty minutes ago to make sure it was convenient."

Convenient? Hah. Those foster parents of hers probably wanted an excuse not to come here. She probably whined endlessly to visit me for her birthday today, and left them no other choice.

Gradually I realize my mind is so unaccustomed to what is happening that I didn't process what was actually said.

Setsuka is here?

I turn around and sprint away. Before those stupid caretakers of hers whisk her away again because they can't find me instantly. I cannot let that happen!