09/02/10

A/N: I know no one is probably reading this anyway, but if you are I'm very sorry for not updating in a long time. Therefore you get an extra-long chapter this time :)

All copyrighted to me. Please don't copy, print or steal this without my express permission.

Thanks and Enjoy!

Chapter 2 - Sarcasm

I had some time before Eva would return home so I decided to start on my homework. I climbed the stairs and was loyally followed by Meg. I was glad that the day was finally over but something was nagging at me. My thoughts returned to that strange note and I gave up trying to concentrate and got it out of my pocket.

I inspected it a little closer. Nope, still nothing. Although it struck me as odd that someone would type this out on the computer.

Unless they didn't want you to recognise the handwriting. A voice piped up inside of me. I ignored it.

Curiously I turned the paper around, and gasped.

On the back was a symbol and four numbers: 18, 8, 25, 19.

My mind puzzled over what they could mean. The symbol was the likes of a star. It was two triangles drawn over on another to make a star. Inside of both the triangles was an asterix. It looked more like something a little child had drawn.

I sat in my room wondering and puzzling over the strange poem and number combination, I wondered if Eva would be home soon. I looked at the clock on my bedside table and noticed that it would still be a while. I sighed and decided to find out about the strange poem. I returned downstairs and switched on our computer. Eva had insisted on getting a Macintosh as PCs were 'Pieces of Crap'. I didn't protest and now we had a very flashy piece of technology in our dining room.

I decided to google the first line of the poem. I typed it in and waited for the results. A surge of adrenaline flowed through my body. I wondered why.

I found out that it was an excerpt from a poem by Christina Rossetti entitled 'Goblin Market'.

I faintly remembered studying it in English a while ago. I had no idea why someone would post this through my letter box. It was probably meant as a practical joke. I was about to turn off the computer and finally get rid of the stupid note, when I remembered the numbers.

I quickly searched for them as well, but all the results were useless and often bible passages. Sighing, I gave up and finally scrunched up the annoying piece of paper, pushing it from my mind.

I shoved away from the table and made my way to the kitchen, preparing our dinner.

The door slammed and Meg jumped up in excitement. She stood expectantly in front of the front door, tail wagging. As if that would make it magically open itself. I opened the door for her and dodged out the way as she raced past me, following her more slowly down the stairs.

Eva was unloading the boot of the car when Meg 'mugged' her. Eva giggled with surprise and gave Meg a big cuddle. I came to her aid and helped her carry the things in.

"Did you go shopping?" I asked when I noticed that this was more than the average luggage Eva brought home.

"Yes, I noticed this morning that all out cupboards were empty, so I stopped by the shops on the way back."

"Good idea." I said. Eva smiled. "I made us dinner." I added.

"Oh thanks, Catrin. I really wouldn't have bothered to cook if you hadn't." She said, smiling tiredly.

"I know." I said and brought her, her plate.

We usually ate at the dinner table, but Mondays were special as our favourite TV programme was showing. On Mondays we sat in front of the telly whilst eating our dinner. This seemed to delight Meg, as her nose was now much closer to our plates.

"Gosh, I'm so full now." Eva said a while later, throwing herself back into the settee.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it." I replied, collecting her plate.

"Oh Catrin, I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'd survive." I said confidently.

"I'm not so sure." She said, giving Meg a big fuss.

I quickly rinsed off our plates in the kitchen whilst Eva tidied up the living room.

"Do you feel like watching a film?" She asked me loudly.

"It's ten o' clock, mum. I won't get out of bed tomorrow if I stay up much longer." I said emphasising my words with a yawn.

Eva smiled. "I see. Ah well, maybe tomorrow."

I had a sudden idea. "Mum." I said, to get her attention, whilst pulling the note from earlier out of my pocket. "Have you ever seen this symbol?"

I showed her the symbol on the back. She looked at it, puzzled.

"I don't think so," she mused, taking the note from my hands and holding it up against the light. "What is it?" She asked me.

I shrugged, embarrassed all of a sudden. "Just some note I got."

"A love note?" Eva asked, her eyes lighting up.

I laughed sarcastically. "Some love note. Probably just to freak me out." Immediately I thought of Percy. Anger boiled up within me. That rich bastard!

Then I remembered that Percy would be far to stupid to remember, let alone write a poem. Even if it was only an excerpt.

"Never mind." I said to Eva and took back the note.

"Catrin, are you okay?" She asked concerned.

"Sure. I'm fine." I said truthfully. I wasn't going to let some arse spoil my day, through a stupid note. Remembering Rhys I casually added: "There was a new student in our class today."

Eva looked up. "Really? What's she like?"

I smiled. "He's a boy. He's really nice. Mr. B. told me to show him around and we got along really well.

Eva grinned. "That's great. I hope I'll get to meet him soon."

Her joy made me forget the afore-mentioned paranoia and again I acquired my old spirits, remembering that it was only a few more hours until the next day of school.

I jumped up, said goodnight and went upstairs to my bedroom. I grabbed my clothes and jumped into the shower. Already longing for tomorrow.

I woke up the next morning with a smile on my face. I felt refreshed and content. I quickly dressed in my favourite clothes and shovelled down my breakfast. Today Eva was allowed a lie in. This meant that I wouldn't need to walk Meg, only quickly let her into the garden. Impatiently I waited for her to finish. Finally she came back in. I locked the door and rode off.

Rhys' house was exactly on my usual route to school. He was already waiting at the doorstep, a smile on his face when he spotted me.

"Morning Catrin." He greeted me, as I was getting off my bike.

"Hey, Rhys." I replied, admiring his bright and handsome face.

We immediately dove into a way of conversation, which seemed familiar and not new, like it really was. I felt as though I had known Rhys for a lot longer than just one day.

All my lessons went smoothly, better than smoothly. I had a great time. Rhys and I never ran out of subjects we could discuss. Our views weren't always the same, but that made it all the more exciting.

This year I had been urged to join a student group so I had decided for the Debating society. I had figured that most kids would choose the reading group, which was the main reason for my choice. So when the time came, I took Rhys to the allocated classroom with me, and went inside. Just to face the biggest regret so far. Percy had also joined the debating society. My eyes flashed with anger when I spotted him sitting there all smug and vain. He hadn't seen me yet, a fact which wouldn't last for very long.

I didn't notice any of the other people in the room. I kept my gaze steady on Rhys.

The room was set out just right for a group discussion. A big circle of chairs and tables all around the room.

"Look what the cat dragged in!" Percy shouted out suddenly. I noticed that the teacher hadn't arrived yet. Percy laughed as if he thought himself hilarious, "get it, Catrin?"

I felt almost everyone looking at me, and couldn't help staring Percy right in the face. My eyes on fire.

He smiled, triumphantly. "How you doing, Trina."

I shuddered angrily. I absolutely loathed it when he called me that.

"Fine, Callie." I replied, a glint in my eye. I had made this nickname up for him and he had never found out why or what it stood for. Making him all the more detestable. It really was a joke I had shared with Eva. We had found the word Caligynephobia, which signified 'the fear of beautiful women', and Eva really thought it applied to Percy, as he was so scared of me. So from that day on I had known him as 'Callie'.

Percy's face grew red, when he heard his most undesirable nickname. "Ha, ha so funny. I bet you don't even know what the fuck it stands for!"

I saw that he was losing his temper, but before I could retaliate, the teacher walked in.

Mrs. Browning was not a bad teacher. Known for her discipline and fairness to everyone. A fairness, which sometimes did more bad than good.

Everyone took their seats, and waited for the session to start.

The session started with bad news. Mrs. Browning had decided that to get to know each other better we would be split up into groups. She gave everyone a number and then all the people with the same number had to go in a group.

Dismayed, I looked at Rhys as I got pronounced a '2' and Rhys a '3'. I sighed, gathered my stuff and made my way to the right table.

I froze a few meters before it. Percy was sitting at the table, his face still with a hint of red in it.

Please no! I looked at the other members of the table. There was a faintly familiar girl known as Tess. She looked devotedly up to Percy, and I knew that she fancied him like mad. Rolling my eyes I cast my gaze at the last member of the trio and was extremely annoyed to find Seamus Bolide sitting there, doodling on a piece of paper.

Getting myself together I marched purposefully towards the table. Tess was trying to engage Percy in conversation, when he spotted me.

I pulled the chair away from the desk (the only one left was opposite him) and threw myself down.

Angrily, Percy rolled his eyes. "Ugh, please not, Trina." He complained.

Childishly I stuck my tongue out at him. "Feel free to leave." I commented, harshly.

"I wish I could." He replied sulkily.

Seamus was looking at me; no staring was the right word.

"What you looking at, tough guy?" I snapped.

His eyes widened for a moment, but he quickly recovered.

"Someone's in a bad mood, today." He mumbled.

Tess giggled.

Percy wasn't finished. "She's always like that." He said, to Seamus. Confident of an encouraging response.

"How would you know that?" Seamus replied harshly.

Percy blushed. I smiled satisfied.

Just then, the teacher called the class to order.

She came around and gave every group a card, with a topic on it. A topic, which we should discuss. She told us that we shouldn't agree and even try arguing the side, which we didn't agree with.

Our topic was: 'Abortion'.

Percy groaned. "Great. We get a girl's topic. Tess, Catrin." He beckoned to both of us. "Be my guest. I'm sitting this one out."

Tess was extremely eager to win his good opinion so immediately dove into conversation with me.

I rolled my eyes at Percy, who had slumped in his seat and was feigning to go to sleep. This topic did spark some interest within me. I would have loved to talk about it with Rhys. Tess was not outspoken enough to be a worthy debate partner. I looked around to find Rhys. He was in a group of four boys including him. He was busy chatting to a boy name Liam and didn't see my wandering gaze. I smiled, jealously.

Tess got my attention and unwillingly I started discussing the fact whether abortion was right, with her.

"Sure, it's not right to kill an embryo? That would be like killing a person." She said, a few minutes later.

"I see your point, but no one really knows when exactly life begins. That embryo doesn't have to be alive yet. It could just be cells, there's no way of knowing yet if the embryo is really a living being like you and me. If it was just cells then there's nothing wrong with killing it, after all thousands, maybe millions of cells in our body and on our skin die every day." I said looking at her, expectantly.

"Would you like someone to talk about your life that way? You don't have a say, but someone can decide just like that to end your life. It's just not fair."

I smiled. She was actually putting quite an effort into the conversation.

"I don't think we'll be able to agree here, Tess. I just want to say that if you are an unwanted baby and you grow up, because abortion was forbidden. And you live your life unwanted by your parents, the people who should really love you. Wouldn't you rather have been 'killed' at say 3 weeks old?" I asked her.

"You can't ask her that." Seamus chided in, suddenly.

I looked at him, surprised. That was the first thing he'd said so far.

"Why not?" I asked, challengingly.

"Because, firstly you don't know what it's like to be that person. You have no way of knowing if that person would really want what you say they want.

And secondly, everyone has the right to live. You can't say that just because a baby is unwanted that it won't be loved. There are a lot of people who in the end, really regret ever of thinking about abortion. You cannot decide that because a woman says she wants an abortion, she should get one, or her baby should just be 'killed' off anyway, because it won't be treated right. Like Tess, said; you have no idea what that baby wants. You can't control everyone's life, Catrin."

He looked at me so earnestly it made my heart flutter for a second, before I recovered myself.

"That's not what I'm saying." I said, turning to face him. "I meant that under certain circumstances abortion is the right choice." Seamus looked at me, raising an eyebrow. "Okay, if not the right choice then let me call it a 'well thought through' choice. It is after all mostly the woman's responsibility to raise and nurture her child, if she doesn't feel ready or hasn't got the means, then surely it is her choice if she would like a baby or not. Most women get an abortion because they feel the baby would not be happy in the present circumstances. A few years later though, and they have multiple children."

"Exactly!" He replied, as though I had made his point. "Women can act too rashly and then regret it for the rest of their lives."

He was about to add more, but was interrupted by Mrs. Browning: "Superb, just excellent! This is the conversation standard I'd like to see by the end of the year, from all participants." She cast a warning glance at Percy. "Well done Miss Yates, well done Mr. Bolide. And indeed Miss White."

She smiled at us and cast a glance around the classroom.

I looked up astonished. I had gotten so intrigued in the conversation that I hadn't noticed Mrs. Browning standing there. I looked at the clock and gasped. Forty-five minutes had passed. Didn't that go quick?

Seamus seemed just as surprised. I was amazed to find that I was beginning to warm to him a little. He was a very worthy debating partner.

We started packing our stuff away. Seamus was quiet again. Tess seemed a little sulky that we had left her out of the discussion, but was quickly satisfied when Percy struck up a conversation with her.

I was about to walk out and meet up with Rhys, when Seamus nudged me. I looked at him, stunned.

"Sorry about yesterday, Catrin. I didn't mean to ruin your lunch. I hope you didn't go hungry?" He asked concerned.

I was utterly baffled. He was being a gentleman? "Oh. Um, no Rhys gave me some of his lunch. Thanks."

I thought I saw his eyes narrow, but I might have imagined it. He nodded politely and walked off.

I wondered back at his term of phrase 'I didn't mean to ruin your lunch'? This was a strange thing to say. Almost as though he had meant to do something else.

I sighed at my paranoia, and shook it off.

Rhys spotted me, and walked over. He didn't look happy.

"Hey Rhys, what's up?" I asked, puzzled.

He shrugged, his face downtrodden.

I smiled. Well wasn't that a strange outcome to the lesson. Shouldn't that have been me in a bad mood? Shouldn't Rhys be sailing about being accepted by Liam and his friends? Sometimes life is full of surprises!

"So what was your debating topic?" I asked Rhys curiously as we made our way to the canteen.

"The Death Penalty." He said sullenly.

I frowned. "Ugh, cheery."

"Ha, ha." He answered sarcastically.

I tugged his arm and pulled him to a stop. "What has gotten into you?" I asked, getting annoyed at his grumpiness.

Rhys looked away. "I don't want to talk about it." He muttered, quietly.

I smiled tentatively. "It's okay, Rhys. You can talk to me." I reassured him, reaching out to pat his arm comfortingly.

He shrugged my touch off. "Please Catrin, just leave me alone." He walked off and left me standing in the corridor, dumbfounded.

Someone tapped me on the back. I rolled my eyes, annoyed at the intrusion. "What?" I snapped, turning around. I froze as I was confronted with those eerily handsome grey eyes, of Seamus Bolide.

"Jeez, are you always this moody?" He asked, eyeing me up and down.

I sighed, and shook off my irritation. "Sorry, bad day." I quipped simply.

He smiled sympathetically. "Old Callie, been getting on your case again?" He asked.

I was surprised that he had heard the nickname I had given Percy.

I shrugged, unconcerned. "That I can handle, after all I get that everyday. This," I jerked my chin in the direction Rhys had walked off, "I can't."

I swore I saw his eyes darken before he asked. "Gobel? What'd he do?"

"Don't ask me, I think something's bothering him, but then I've never understood the complicated workings of the male mind." My eyes widened in feigned surprise. "Hold on, did I just admit that men had minds?" I hit myself on my forehead with my palm, in a very duh! motion I remembered Leisha, my old best friend, doing a lot. "Sorry, take it back. Will never happen again."

Seamus arched one perfect brow at me.

"What?" I asked, innocently.

"You like sarcasm, don't you?"

"You think?" I asked sarcastically, just to emphasise his point, I flashed him a mischievous grin. "Yeah, I like sarcasm. A lot. It's like my native tongue."

He nodded, understandingly. "I guess not everyone understands your native tongue."

I smiled. "Not my problem."

Suddenly I realised what I was doing. I was bantering, with Seamus Bolide, in the corridor. What on Earth had gotten into me?

"Um, okay. I better go and…" I didn't finish my sentence, suddenly feeling awkward.

Seamus shrugged, good-naturedly. "It's fine Catrin. I'm surprised you even talked to me." He laughed.

"Why did you tap me anyway?" I asked, curiously.

"It seemed like you needed something." He said, looking to the floor for a fleeting second before he smiled again. "Anyway. See you in Biology." He said, before he turned around and walked back in the direction he'd come from.

Completely confused, I made my way slowly towards the canteen, trying to understand the events of the past two hours. Why was it that, both Rhys and now Seamus were acting weird around me all of a sudden?

I shrugged it off as I spotted Rhys sitting in a corner of the canteen. To be honest this had never been one of my favourite places in the school as it was always very noisy and bustling with people.

Rhys was sitting in a corner looking subjugated. I frowned as I saw a very slim, beautiful blonde try to talk to him. I quickly made my way, over and hoped he wasn't in any trouble.

'Hey, Rhys." I greeted him. "You feeling any better?"

He looked up at me and smiled, apologetically. "Yeah. Sorry I freaked out earlier. I've been talking to Celia here." He indicated the blonde with his hand.

She flashed me such a cover model smile that it actually made me cringe.

"Hi, Cat?" She asked holding out her hand to me.

I took her well-manicured hand in mine, before correcting her. "Catrin."

Her smile faded a little. I dropped her hand and looked at Rhys again.

"You ready to go, it's almost time for Biology?" I asked.

"Actually, Catrin, Celia just brought me my timetable and as I didn't pick Biology I don't have this next class with you." He looked at me apologetically.

Oh fine, if he'd rather hang out with Celia…

Stop it! I told myself, it's not as if he has a choice.

Still anger swept through me. Against my will I was overwhelmed by emotions. I sighed at my stupidity. I wasn't ever going to learn.

Rhys got up as he saw my face. "Catrin, you alright?" He asked concerned.

His concern touched me and reigned in my emotions. Maybe he really did want to go to Biology with me. I smiled at him. "Sure, why not?" I asked.

He smiled at me in return. "I'll see you in Chemistry, after, kay?"

I nodded. He leaned forward and hugged me. I was so surprised that I didn't think to hug him back. Before I knew it Rhys and Celia were out the door.

I thought I saw Seamus eyeing me angrily from across the room, before he, too, disappeared through a door. But I might have only imagined it.

Sighing at the prospect of another lonely Biology lesson I made my way towards our classroom. But, then maybe all Rhys would have done was distract me.

As I walked into the classroom I noticed that the tables were rearranged. I smiled, happily. Oh, good. We were doing a practical.

I really liked getting my hands dirty and physically doing an experiment, anticipating and second guessing the end-result.

Mr. B. stood at the front of the classroom and was telling everyone where to sit. Mr. B. had learned a long time ago not to sit Percy and me too close together as 'too many sparks would cause a fire'.

I smiled at another quotation Leisha used a lot. Leisha was my soul mate and best friend. Until she had to move abroad, last year, due to her mother travelling a lot with her job. Ever since then I had been completely lonely, until I met Rhys.

Mr. B. showed me my seat and I waited to see who he would put next to me. It was usually a boy, as most girls couldn't 'survive' my sharp, sarcastic comments.

Which, obviously wasn't my fault…

Almost everyone was already seated; Mr. B. was talking to Seamus in a corner of the classroom. I watched them warily, wondering why Seamus was in trouble now. Although when I looked closer it didn't seem like Mr. B. was reprimanding him, more like encouraging him. How strange.

I wondered if Mr. B. didn't know that Rhys wasn't in this class anymore. I was about to get up and tell him when Seamus came sauntering over and sat in the seat next to me.

Surprised I looked to Mr. B. who currently had his back to me writing something on the blackboard.

Seamus smiled at me. "Hey, you get any closer to working out the complicated workings of my mind?" He asked.

I couldn't hide my smile. "Wow, you are very attuned to my language, how is that, I wonder?"

He laughed. It was a beautiful sound, like water lapping at the edge of a pond. "My sister. She's very similar to you." He answered.

There was a strange note in his voice and I wondered why. "Do you get along?" I asked.

"Most of the time." He smiled. "Although she's very stubborn and has the same fire in her eyes as you do."

I smiled. "I think I like her already."

He laughed again. "I'm sure you would. But I think I would like to leave the room before you two are thrown together. What is that saying? 'Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned?' Now what would happen with two of those women?" He feigned a face of horror and playfully crossed his legs to protect his 'assets'.

I giggled. "I'm not that bad."

He raised a sceptic brow at me.

"Okay, maybe I am."

He laughed. He seemed to be doing that a lot recently. Now I thought about it, I hadn't actually seen him laugh before he'd started talking to me. It really complimented his features and showed me those perfect teeth of his.

"So, how come you're so talkative all of a sudden?" I asked curiously.

He shrugged, good-naturedly. "You're an interesting person to talk to."

I scoffed, "Yeah, for suicidal or mental patients, sure." I laughed, "Maybe I should change my career plan. Become a Mental hospital worker instead."

Seamus shook his head, smiling. "I think you'd probably drive the suicidal ones over the edge and the lunatics would most likely need electro-shock treatment to get them over their 'first encounter' with you."

I gaped at him. "Thank you, sweet boy for all your lovely compliments." I teased him, sarcastically.

"You were asking for it."

"How very gentlemanlike of you." I slapped at his arm playfully, noticing absent-mindedly the hard and muscled feel of them.

"Never said I was a gentleman." He defended.

"Well thanks for clarifying the negative."

He laughed. "Ah, you'll get over it."

"And if not, I'll just verbally shoot you down." I rubbed my hands together, while grinning evilly. My very own lunatic bad-guy impression.

"Lovin' the Mr. Burns impression." He complimented me.

I smiled. "Hey, a girl's got to have some sort of talent."

Just then Mr. B cleared his throat.

I looked up to see him standing expectantly behind some equipment on his desk.

"Welcome to your first practical this year." He started. "Today we will be doing a titration. Has anyone here ever done a titration before?"

I raised my hand and looked around to see if anyone else had, too. To my surprise not many had ever done a titration before. Only a handful of students had raised their hands, including Seamus. I looked at him arching a brow, questioningly.

"What?" he whispered.

"Nothing." I mouthed back and focused my gaze back on Mr. B.

"Hmm, okay doesn't matter if you haven't. Catrin, why don't you explain what titration is?"

I lowered my hand and opened my mouth to speak, "A titration is-" But before I could finish my sentence Percy butted in with:

"A crap way of telling us some shit about some other shit."

A few students in the back laughed.

Mr. B. cast a stern frown at Percy. He sighed disappointedly, "Percy, one more comment like that from you and I'll send you out, for good."

Percy mumbled something under his breath. Mr. B. refocused his attention on me.

I took a breath and continued: "A titration is a method of determining the concentration of a solution."

Mr. B. nodded. "Very good. Anybody want to add something to that?"

Seamus spoke up: "You find the concentration of one solution, by using another solution of which the concentration is known."

The class grew silent. Seamus had never simply spoken out before. He was silent, always.

Mr. B. nodded, as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened. "Very good, Seamus."

I looked to my left. Seamus was looking straight ahead, as if he was paying attention to the teacher, but somehow I sensed that he was watching me.

As if he felt my eyes on him, he turned his head and pierced me with his eyes. He smiled and for a moment I was so dumbfounded I couldn't breathe.

He arched on questioning brow. "Yes?"

I shrugged. "Never mind."

He smiled, mischievously almost as if he knew what his smiled had done to me. "Okay then."

The titration was quite straightforward. Seamus really knew what he was doing and I enjoyed having a lab partner that didn't need me to do all the work. Unsurprisingly, we finished first and were done clearing up when the bell rang.

I grinned when I finally left the classroom and found Rhys standing there, waiting for me. Celia was nowhere in sight.

He returned my smile. "Hey." He greeted me.

"Hi." I replied simply. Rhys' smile faltered when Seamus stepped next to me.

Seamus glared in his direction.

Suddenly I hit myself on the forehead, remembering that I hadn't noted down the homework. I turned around to walk back into the classroom, to find the door locked. I sighed, frustrated. I looked a Seamus, "Can I copy today's homework from your planner, I forgot to write it down?" I asked expectantly.

Seamus glared at me. "Ask Mr. B.. Jeez, I'm not your babysitter. Take some bloody responsibility for your life!" He marched off.

I just stood there, completely baffled by his response. I could still sense his strange anger and for reasons unknown to me, it had hurt my feelings. What had happened to upset him so? I looked at Rhys, who shrugged. "Weirdo."

I shook my head, still dazed. "That was unusual." I stated.

Rhys snorted, unbelieving. "Yeah, sure it was." He said sarcastically.

I looked at him. "It was, he was really cooperative in the lesson."

Rhys still didn't believe me. "Yeah, and my grandmother's the tooth fairy."

I followed Rhys to the parking lot, still analysing Seamus' outburst in my head.

Rhys turned around suddenly and faced me. "Look Catrin, that wasn't weird. That was Seamus." He spat the name out in disgust.

I was immediately suspicious. "And how come you know him so well?" I asked.

"I don't." He snapped. His voice softened. "But as I remember it wasn't me who ruined your lunch and refused to apologise for doing so."

I sighed, coming to my senses. "Alright I know, it's just…" I didn't finish the sentence.

"It's just what?" He asked, exasperated.

"Never mind." I didn't want to tell him that I sensed that something was off. That would sound stupid, I mean who sensed things like that, right?