Kate
Though she would deny it to anyone, Kate was relieved to be stuck inside the house. Not that she enjoyed it, of course; she spent the majority of her time "stretching her legs", which translated as twisting her body into absurd and painful-looking positions, discovering new methods of surprise attacks, memorizing the pipe system that ran across most of the ceilings and inside walls, building up strength so as to one day be half as strong as Moocho, and badgering her father.
Because this new lifestyle seemed much more comfortable to her, she became a great deal more relaxed around Reynie, a relief on both ends. In a rare fit of shrewdness, she realized that she had to pull it together. Come on, Kate, she urged herself. If you're going to like Reynie, you can like Reynie, but for god's sake just accept it and act like you always have around him. And so she followed her own wisdom and found it to be quite beneficiary.
After Constance's proclamation, Reynie pulled Kate aside.
"Do you really think she's telling the truth?" he asked in an undertone.
They both looked at her. She currently had her hand in her mouth, digging around to dislodge a wad of hard candy that had gotten stuck to her teeth. When she saw that they were staring at her, she pulled her most unattractive face and stuck her nose in the air.
"I think so," answered Kate, turning back to Reynie. They were in the small antechamber to the sitting room, which did not have particularly ample space. "She's not a liar," she added, defensive of the little girl, of whom she'd grown quite fond.
"Of course not! I wasn't implying that," reassured Reynie. "I just… if what she says is true, if they know more than they let on… if McCracken is out on the loose…" They both shivered.
"I know. It could be bad."
Reynie looked at her and started to smile.
"What? Do I have something on my face?" she asked, wiping her cheek.
"No, no. It's just that, well, you sounded so eager when you said that."
"Did I? Sorry. It's not that I want things to be bad, of course. It's just that there's only so much to do, and as much as I prefer this lifestyle to public school – really, that was awful, and I hope we never have to go back, and seeing you and Sophie all…" At this, she flushed and coughed. "Anyway, don't you miss the old days? Fighting, breaking rules, sneaking around, solving puzzles…" She gazed wistfully into space. "I'm just saying, if something exciting and sinister is brewing, then I'd rather be ready and enthusiastic to face it than not."
Reynie was looking at her intently. He tactfully decided not to bring up her almost-comment on him and Sophie, but not knowing was already killing him. Was it possible that Kate was much more upset about their relationship than he had suspected? Suddenly the space between them seemed much less, and Kate's face much closer.
She was looking at him with a nervous expression. What could he be thinking now? Was he judging her? Reynie never judged, so probably not. What, then, could cause him to look at her the way he was now? Feeling herself turn even redder, she announced, "I'm, uh, going to go see what Sticky's up to." And she raced off before he could say anything else.
Okay, I know that was an abrupt chapter, but I wanted to switch to Reynie's point of view. I think the next two chapters will be his reaction to what just happened, and hers as well. But don't worry – there will be some action, or at least new developments, mixed in.
Let me know what you thought about their little moment in the reviews!