Chapter 17 Little Mouse, Don’t Run
My head cleared from the fog of pain. Ezra had me on his lap. Head on his chest. He was rubbing gentle circles on my back. I wanted to nestle myself deeper into his embrace. The smell of him was subtle but calming. It reminded me of the forest and coffee shops. Deep. I could easily lose myself in his embrace. At that thought, I instantly jumped up and pushed myself away.
“Whoa, little mouse, all is okay.” Ezra calmly stated, hands up.
“I… uh…” I wanted to say something, but I didn’t know what. Ezra stood up, making his way to the door.
“I will give you some space, you blacked out from the pain, I assume, from the way you screamed and didn’t answer my knocks, I’ll be out here, come out after you relax.” He didn’t seem upset; he just walked away to give me my space. I took a few deep breaths, centering myself again, and walked out of the room. Ezra was in the living room, talking on the phone. He turned when he heard my approach.
“Okay, we will be heading back now? Okay. Bye.” Ezra said whoever was on the phone and turned to face me. “Are you ready to head back?” He asked, looking me over.
“Yeah, I have my new contact in, so I can see,” I said in a way to explain why I had to come here.
“Really? That’s all we came here for?” He asked, sounding doubtful.
“Yeah.” I was exhausted, and I didn't want to fight with him to figure out what he was trying to get at. I just wanted the day to be over.
“What’s wrong?” Ezra asked, looking me over.
“Nothing, let’s just get going.” I made my way over to my door, and I went to open it. Ezra’s hand landed over it, stopping it from opening. He leaned over like he was going to kiss me again, but his expression didn’t give away his thoughts.
“Look at me and tell me it’s nothing.” Ezra looked down at me. I glared back up at him. I went to move him, but he expected it. Pinning my back against the wall. “Now, now, little mouse. I just want an answer to my question.” He smirked down at me. I let out a frustrated growl.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s go.” I pushed him, but he moved easily away from me.
“There she is.” He said as we made our way out the door.
I guess I blacked out longer than I thought. We made it back just in time for the free period. Mr. Griffen ensured the office and my last few classes were excused for a medical issue. Ezra held open the office door for me. Just to swing me around some lockers. Before I could do anything, he landed a soft kiss on my lips. Then left without saying anything as he walked away. I was in a complete daze as smaller hands landed on me.
“Omg!” Cindy grabbed me, all excited.
“What the hell? Did he force you?” Bartise angrily asked me.
“What? No,” I answered before thinking. Hurt flashed over Bartise's face. “It means nothing. I don’t know why he did it.” I replied, trying to ease the hurt on his face somehow, even though it felt wrong. That seemed to ease the pain on his face a bit, even though his normal laid back smile seemed forced now. I shouldn’t feel bad about someone else's actions, but Bartise was a friend. I looped my arm around his.
“I still need to go to my locker. Come with me?” I asked him.
“I am coming too. We have a free period now.” Cindy chimed in, looping her arm around my free side.
Once the boys left. Cindy and I reached a spot where no one was around. She asked if I was in a love triangle with the boys.
I had no idea how to feel about it. I could easily see myself liking Bartise; he was sweet and funny, always making me laugh and smile. He was also handsome. He was the one I should like.
Ezra was danger and very hot. He also had something about him. I wasn’t sure about it. I just felt a draw to him. Other than that, I hardly know either guy.
“I hardly know both guys, so I’d hardly call it a love triangle, maybe a crush triangle?” I mused.
“Oh! I forgot to ask. What was up with the thing in the nurses' bathroom?” Cindy asked without saying it out loud. I almost forgot she saw my real eye color. I have to tell her some sort of truth; there was no hiding it. But do I tell her I’m the fox in hiding, or say I’m in a witness protection program? Both may lose her as a friend. I hardly know her, how can I know for sure she can be trusted? I don’t want to put her in danger with this knowledge, but I don’t want to keep it from her either. The choice weighed heavily on me.
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I was just curious. Plus, if you do, I swear I won’t tell.” Cindy looked hopeful about possibly knowing my secret. But something like sadness crossed her face when I didn’t say anything right away. “Never mind… sorry I even asked.”
She started to walk ahead of me. Damn it, she’s been too nice to me and hasn’t outed me on anything yet. So I can try to trust her a little bit.
“No, it is not like that. I was planning to explain it to you later at my house… Not at school. I gave her a look, hoping she understood that this wasn’t the time or place to talk about it. Maybe I can tell her and Bartise together. If he wants to be with me, he should know too.
“I was thinking of telling Bartise with you.” I admitted, “if he wants anything to do with me, he should know too.”
“Oh, so you are going to choose Bartise in the triangle?” Cindy asked, a little disappointed.
“I don’t know who I want. I don’t know either,” I replied, starting to feel uncomfortable. We found a spot away from everyone. I told her what I could about Ezra coming to my house. Cindy was so giddy with excitement at my description of the kiss. She laughed at my apparent embarrassment from it.
“You really never had a kiss before?” Cindy giggled.
“Why would I lie about that?” I asked, feeling so embarrassed.
“I am just surprised, you are so pretty that I’m surprised more guys aren’t falling at your feet.”
I laughed. “Must be my winning personality.”
We both cracked up over that. It was nice to have a friend to talk to. To laugh and smile. I have always dreamed of this. I never thought it was possible. Not with the life I was living. I had to change myself and everything else to be able to have it. So far, it seemed worth it. Would it still be true if she knew the truth? I had to see what she thought about superheroes and especially “The Fox.”
“I got a random question for you. What do you think of the superheroes Lady Rose and General Storm? And what happened to their little fox?” I asked, hoping not to sound as nervous as I felt.
“Uh? What do you mean?” Cindy asked, sounding confused. She probably thought I was crazy for asking some random question like that.
BOOM
The ground shook, and smoke filled the air. People were screaming. It was chaos.
“What the hell was that?” Cindy asked. I grabbed her as the familiar smell filled my nose. It could only be one thing and it was not good.
“Mutants,” I told her.