Tears


The school nurse wanted to know what was wrong with me.

“I’m fine,” I said. “My sylph is crying, though, and Mr. Gorenn thought maybe it was a woman problem.”

“And he didn’t want to deal with it,” she nodded. “Okay. Do you need help?”

“I don’t think so,” I said. I held out my slip. “If you’ll sign this, I’ll just go back into the hall and talk with her.” I had no problem taking time for Electra, as long as it came out of Government. I hated that class.

“Oh, take the room,” she said, standing. “I always liked your girl, there.” She took her coffee mug and shut the door behind her.

I shook my head at just how popular my sylph had been. Then I eased her out onto the cushioned exam table. She was slowing a bit, actually taking breaths between the sobs.

I cupped a hand around her and stroked her back with a fingertip. I wasn’t thrilled that the sight of her old boyfriend had this much power over her.

But then again, I knew that owning her little body didn’t automatically make me own her heart and soul.

I tried to think of comforting things I could say when she started talking about how much she missed him. But that wasn’t the problem.

“He didn’t even ask to hold me,” she finally said. Oh. Well, no, the jerk thought that sylphing might be contagious.

But that wouldn’t make her feel any better. She'd want to remember him in a positive light. Maybe she’d be better off if I turned her to anger, and not at Chip.

“I would have said no,” I told her. She froze for a second.

“You would have?” she asked. But she didn’t sound scandalized. Or angry. She nodded. “Yeah, I can see that. You want to protect me. And Chip was never gentle…”

“What?” I nearly shouted. “Did he hurt you?”

She giggled. I mean, seriously, she just turned and started to laugh at me. “Oh, Conrad! You sound so ANGRY! What were you going to do if I said yes? Go out and punch him?”

“He’d fold me like a banana,” I said. “No, but I might put something in his gas tank. During the night. Late at night. Very late, like two or three in the morning.”

“Aw, that’s so sweet. My knight in ninja armor.” She turned around and grabbed my finger, nuzzling against it. “No, Conrad, he never hurt me. He just wasn’t… Gentle. He was always slamming doors, stuff like that.” She went on, talking about her relationship.

I don’t remember a lot of it. I was feeling her face where I touched her. I could feel the hot tears that were almost through leaking out of her eyes.

I could tell where her lips brushed my fingerprints as she spoke.

I could feel her hair as it fell across my knuckle.

I wanted so bad, right then, to pick her up and hug her. I also wanted to never, ever move or break the moment.

So, of course, that’s when the bell rang.

“We have to go, Electra,” I said. I almost said Jennifer, but the last time someone did, she cried. I didn’t like that. “In fact, we have to go get my books out of Government, then get to English.” English was clear across the building from my locker.

She wiped her face and smiled up at me. Her face was splotchy red, with puffy eyes. “I probably look like the bride of Frankenstein, don’t I?”

“No,” I said. “But we can stick your hair in a light socket when we get to Mrs. Burton’s class, if you’d like.”

“Go to Hell, Conrad.”

“Hey, you’re the one that got me OUT of Government,” I pointed out. “No backsies.” I started walking quickly.



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Index

10. Congratulations

12. Chemistry