Page 22 of Stoney Gazes for Helpful Gorgons

"I can go with you. We can get a cab, or walk, whatever you want."

"You should stay, don't let me cut your night short."

"Rhea, I came tonight because of you, I don't actually know anyone else," I point out, though in reality, I just know there's no way I'm leaving her like this.

"Oh, right. I didn't think of that."

I shrug. "There's nothing to think about. But it does mean that I can take you back to campus."

She nods. "Okay, let's go. But you're going to have to lead me out of here again."

"I'll be your eyes," I promise, holding out my hand.

She takes it and gets to her feet, her eyes closed.

"So, walk or cab?" I ask.

"Walk. It's easier to avoid turning people into stone that way."

"We can do that." Especially because it means getting to spend more time with her. "Once we're out of here, you should message your flatmates too."

"I will." She pauses, her eyes still firmly shut but overall she seems calmer now. "Can we eat and walk, because I want snacks."

I chuckle. "There's a chicken shop a few doors down."

"Oh no, I want fish and chips."

"I'm sorry, I don't think we can be friends any more."

Her laugh sounds much more carefree than I expect it to, but it's a great sound. "Over fish and chips?"

"It's such a weird drunk food," I respond, guiding her carefully through the club. "Now pizza, that's where it's at."

"All right, we'll stop at the pizza place too. Then we can both have the drunk food we want. But you're going to have to do the ordering."

"Worry not, I've got you," I promise, realising how true that is. I don't want her to have to worry about a thing, even if that's unlikely given the fact she's a gorgon away from home without her glasses.

Chapter 10

RHEA

I pick at my chips as I walk, the cold air outside the club and the greasy food sobering me up pretty fast. Though losing my glasses did that too.

"Have you got a spare pair?" Jack asks.

"Huh?"

"Glasses," he says, gesturing to my face.

I reach up to touch where they should be, instantly regretting it when I remember how greasy my hands are. "Oh, right. Yes, a couple actually. Thankfully, I don't have to use them to be able to see so they're not that expensive."

"I never thought about what would happen for gorgons who need prescriptions too," he muses.

"How much thought have you given to gorgons in general?"

"Not much," he admits. "Obviously I knew they existed and that they can have snakes on their head and turn people into stone. Except for gargoyles, apparently."

"And golems," I add.

---