Page 56 of A Dead Man's B-Side
I narrowed my eyes, but he gave nothing away. Holding himself too straight and picking up his knife and fork with perfect table manners. I took note of the temperature in here, because it was not warm enough for him to be sweating. And yet I could spot the light sheen glistening over his hairline. It was thin, but it was there.
We watched him cut up his meat before lifting a piece to his mouth. Only then, after he properly chewed and swallowed, did he ask, “What were you guys talking about?”
I didn’t know why he was here, considering he hadn’t sat with us yesterday. When August went to open his big mouth, I kicked him under the table. He yelped, and Wolf sent him a strange look, but the former quickly covered it with a smile.
When none of us spoke, Wolf lowered his utensils and wiped his mouth, done with the stifling silence. “Alright, what’s wrong with the two of you?” But he only looked at me as he posed his question.
Behind him, something caught my eye. Well, someone. Rain Atlas Jett, after our now intertwined involvement in a possible life-long relationship, wasn’t a shocking presence when she entered the Dining Hall. The boy following close behind her was to some degree a curiosity to me, however.
I hadn’t put much weight on his presence when I’d first visited Jett’s office, but he was there. Standing along the wall with a posture I couldn’t possibly recreate or have beaten into me.
He was always holding an agenda of some sort and gave off the impression that he was much too important for those around him.
I’d only glossed my eyes over him a few times during class, but there wasn't anything of interest. And that was only because Rain Atlas Jett wouldn’t keep someone too close if they’d ever posed themselves as competition. They had to be pliant, obedient.
Somewhat naive.
However, I’d only wave him off if I truly placed my trust in someone like Rain Atlas Jett. I didn’t. I could guarantee that she had already begun her search for anything she could hold against me.
“Who’s that boy always following Rain around?”
Wolf’s jaw ticked, and he seemed to cut harder into his meat, his cutlery making unpleasant, sharp noises against his plate that had August wincing. “Who?”
“If you’re going to act clueless, at least do it well.” I moved my fork around my finger in a taunting manner, tilting my head with pursed lips.
He looked up, but only for a moment before focusing back on his food, shaking his head. “Why don’t you go ask her yourself then?”
I shrugged. “You seem to always have this… strange behaviour around her. Thought you’d know something.”
Wolf’s grip on his cutlery tightened. “Well, I don’t.”
“Know something or the strange behavior thing?”
“You–”
“Alright!” August waved his hands around mediatingly with a strained chuckle, but it also seemed to be a comical gesture. Dramatic and joking.
I didn’t understand why he’d decided to become a burst of movement until Rain Atlas Jett and her lackey moved closer to our table from the corner of my eye.
Wolf composed himself and straightened his jacket, ignoring the approaching pair and choosing to focus back on his meal. I watched him eat methodically, separating the vegetables from the meat before cutting them up into small pieces and separating those as well. It wasn’t until Rain Atlas Jett stopped in front of our table that he lifted his fork and swallowed the food pitched through it.
She turned her head, and her eyes met mine before moving along to August and then Wolf. They lingered on Wolf only a second too long.
I saw the conflict in her eyes that she hid so well. But it was gone when she looked back at me. “Gentlemen.”
Her airtight mask back in place as she surveyed the meals in front of us, a calm smile placed softly on her lips. “Anything worth trying out today?”
August took the bait, swallowing quickly to answer, “Mmm, the cheesecake looks good, but I haven’t tried it yet.”
He seemed to have forgotten the little dispute Rain had raised at his mere presence only yesterday. But it wasn't something worthfocusing on when Wolf was trying so hard to act so casual. My lip twitched in a barely-there smirk, amusement bubbling up inside me.
The slim boy standing behind her almost resembled a statue, unmoving, but he managed a minuscule sneer at August.
My eyes narrowed. “Rain, won’t you introduce us to your…”
I let her lead the conversation, but the information wasn’t of value. “Theodore, Secretary to the Student Body President, meet Alexandr Miroslav.”
Her voice was smooth. Rain was very diplomatic in the way that she handled her affairs in public. I knew she despised me, but from her calm eyes and simple smile, one would never tell.
