Page 70 of Finding Her
“Have you picked your classroom yet?” I wiggled my eyebrows playfully and slid him his drink. Cassius had repeatedly suggested his position wasn’t secured, although I think we both knew his charisma was more than enough to land him the job.
“Maybe,” he cheesed. “There’s a room with a large window and a great view of a little pond.”
“That sounds lovely.” I smiled, finding myself leaning against the counter so our faces were within a couple of inches. Was he the first friend I had madetrulyon my own? That felt like an important step in my self-creation journey—proving to myself that I wasn’t entirely reliant on Graysen and his connections.
“You know,” he hummed in thought for a moment. “It’s dead today. When’s your break? The school isn’t a far walk, and the fresh air might be nice.”
“It’d have to wait until my backup arrives.” I usually skipped breaks, but that was because I had nothing to do duringthem. A side quest with a friend would be a welcome change of pace.
“Even better, I can grab some ice skates from home, and we can slip around on that pond.”
“I don’t know how to skate.”
“It’s not aboutknowinghow to do it,” he chirped. “Sliding around awkwardly is half the fun.”
A rush of joy came over me. This officially confirmed friendship status. I was making a life for myself after all. “I would love that.” I tried to hold back how truly overjoyed I was by the offer, to act like a friend had asked me to join them in anything before. This is what friends did, this wasnormal.
“It’s a date!” he grinned, slapping his hand onto the counter. “When does your coverage come in? Get me some paper and I’ll write you directions.”
Time dragged until Mitus waltzed through the door. I did my best not to glower at him for leaving me high and dry this morning. The lanky, pale gray Arielna had gotten on my nerves all last week, andthiswas the cherry on top. I harbored no guilt about telling him I’d be taking my break for once. I’d earned it.
My thoughts raced as I tugged on my scarf, jacket, and gloves and hurried out the door. I considered every implication of what this simple friendship could mean for my development as a person—something to brag to Graysen about later. I wondered if he had met Cassius already during his shifts. Theo had so far avoided scheduling Graysen and I together, murmuring something about not needing his patrons afraid tolook in his staff’s direction. Admittedly the catcalling could be obnoxious, and I suspected Graysen would have a low tolerance for it. Due to the forced separation, I hardly knew who Graysen had established rapport with. He seldom talked about his shifts, instead opting to teach me about Trebianna or listen to me drone on about whatever crossed my mind.
Snow flurries started falling from the sky. The daytime stars hadn’t fully set, but were making their descent over the horizon. The buildings and trees cast long shadows along the white landscape. I saw the outline of a long, single-story building in the distance, a small pond just outside of its walls. Based on the map Cassius drew for me, that was the schoolhouse. Lights turned off one by one in the windows as the last of the construction team packed up their belongings.
Cassius waited at the bottom of the hill, waving boisterously in my direction and pointing to the skates sitting beside him. With all his plasma markings covered in warm layers, and his black tongue and reptilian ear holes too small to make out from a distance, he looked incredibly human. I made my way down a set of stone stairs quickly, holding the metal railing for support.
“You made it,” Cassius cheered, bending over to pick up two pairs of skates. “My sister lent me a couple of her old pairs for you to try.”
“Thanks.” I took both. “I didn’t realize you had a sister.”
“She’s sixteen, but pretty independent for her age,” he remarked, sitting on the edge of the ice to lace himself up. “I’m just keeping food in her stomach and a roof over her head until she can support herself.”
“Your folks?” The first pair of skates was too large, onto the second.
“Not cut out for parenthood,” he remarked casually, seeming content to leave that topic open-ended for now.
Thankfully, the other pair would work with the laces pulled tight. I double knotted my bows and planted my palms into the snow, debating the best way to stand now that my feet were tottering on blades. Rolling onto my hands and knees seemed like the only way. I took a deep breath, and prepared to rock my body over.
“Allow me.” Cassius saved me the humiliation, standing with ease and holding out an arm.
“Thanks,” I blushed, grabbing on and yanking myself onto precarious feet.
I shuffled like a child learning how to walk, gripping his elbow like my life depended on it. And it might. Within moments, I decided this was not fun at all and wondered whyanybodybothered with it. At least it was allowing me to try something new and form a connection, and that would be enough of a win… as long as I left without mortal injury.
“It’s a quick learning curve,” Cassius assured brightly. “You’ll get the hang of it, I promise.”
“How are you so sturdy?” I laughed uncertainly, impressed I hadn’t pulled us both down with my newborn fawn legs.
“Just practice.” He used his free hand to pat my knuckles in affirmation.
His cheerfulness did wonders for relaxing me. Although my movements gained no grace, we were cackling within minutes. He pulled from my grip, and I glided with both feet firmly planted before he caught my arm again, praising me excessively for the progress. Did he teach his little sister to iceskate too? He had a knack for being patient, I understood why his dream job was teaching.
During my next attempt at autonomy, I managed to push myself a couple of steps forward before my knees buckled in on themselves and I fell onto my hands with a distinct “thud”.
“Shit,” I laughed in exasperation. “That hurt. Sorry.”
He chuckled. “Why are you apologizing? You’re doing great! I didn’t invite a novice out here expecting anything other than good vibes.”
