The Lessons of Magik

Yorklyn City

Her thumb hovered over the green button on her cell phone screen, and she clicked her tongue. Electricity buzzed overhead and she felt her skin tingle as she stared down at the name. Ryan Wilson. She had constructed a simple, yet elegant text asking for his assistance in tutoring, but she couldn’t seem to make her thumb press ‘send’. Kara sat there and stared at it as the words stared back at her from the lit-up screen. It screamed desperation. She was willing to take anyone as a companion if she texted him.

Gods help her; companion, who even said that anymore? She chastised herself with a roll of her eyes. She wasn’t desperate for a companion; she was desperate to pass her class and not end up in military school. Ryan was smart, that was no secret. He was way beyond the average intelligence of a teenage boy, but he also had an attitude problem. Her raven hair hung loose, but she tossed it over her left shoulder and readjusted the bag on her right. Her bird’s nest of hair got caught and she felt a sharp twinge run from the back of her neck down her spine. Kara scowled and pulled her hair free before turning her phone off and shoving it in her pocket. No, she was not going to text that beast for any reason.

It wasn’t like he was all that special. Sure, he had a nice body and tight biceps, but he was also one of the cruelest people she knew. She looked around the cramped sidewalks of the school as the final bell signaled their release. She could barely move without running into someone’s back or elbow. Kara scowled when one of the seniors stopped in front of her to hock a wad of spit on the concrete. Disgusting. Boys were absolute animals, just filthy beings made to make teenage girls miserable. Kara gagged and pushed past him before she could throw up.

“Fight, fight, fight, fight!” A small crowd gathered around two teenagers tussling in the street.

Ryan’s sandy blonde hair and emerald gaze found her among the excited onlookers. He shot her a wink and a dazzling smile earning a frown from her. Boys were animals. She was just going to have to become a nun until she was in her thirties. Perhaps she would find a charming prince when he stopped acting like a child. No, not a prince, a King. A strong, kind king. Still, she couldn’t stop her eyes from straying down his taut neck. He was tasty.

Kara jumped when an arm slipped around her shoulders pulling her out of her head. Alice’s smiling face shone down at her as her friend brushed wavy blonde hair out of her gray eyes. Gray, the color of the lovely concrete buildings and sidewalks below. Boring, dull, just like everything else in their small world.

“Hey Sweetie, whatcha doin?” Her eyes fell to the tussling boys in the street. “I will never understand them. What’s the point of punching each other? It gets blood everywhere. Did I tell you about that one time when Steven punched Kyle so hard, blood flew onto my new white dress. Disgusting.”

Kara wiped a bit of drool from the corner of her mouth agreeing with Alice. “I don’t understand them anymore then you do. I was just going to go home and pretend like the rest of the world doesn’t exist…like always.”

“You live such a boring life, Kara. Don’t you ever wish to do something exciting?”

Kara knew this game. If she answered positively, Alice would talk her into doing something stupid, but if she answered negatively…Alice would talk her into doing something stupid.

“I…uh, I don’t know.” Good girl, that ought to get her out of something stupid. She sounded stupid enough anyway.

“I was thinking of attending the get together downtown this evening,” Alice bumped her shoulder, “it would be weird going by myself.”

Kara frowned, “You know those are illegal. The soldiers always storm in and shoot the kids who get left behind. I’m not going to risk my life for some alcohol and watching half the school have sex.”

The girls turned away from the grunting and groaning just as Ryan straddled his prey and began punching. She had seen enough of his fights to know what happened next. The other kid would end up in the hospital, and Ryan’s ego would inflate exponentially. Because that’s exactly what he needed, even more of a reason to hurt people.

“You need to lighten up. I heard that the soldiers are going to be busy in the factories tonight. No one is going to know, and if you need to leave early because of anxiety, or something, we can go.” Alice whined.

“What are the soldiers going to be busy doing?” Kara asked. She hadn’t heard of new shipments coming in.

Alice sighed and waved her hand wiping away Kara’s words. “That’s not the point. I’m here, begging you to go to a party with me.”

Her thick, full lips puckered out in a pout making her look like a kicked puppy. Kara thought if Alice could make herself cry, she would get anything she wanted. She had large breasts, beautiful curves, and flawless porcelain skin. Men already flocked to her; it wouldn’t be long before women did as well.

“I heard Ryan’s going to be there too,” A devilish smile crossed her friend’s face, “you could mingle.”

Another ancient word that nobody used. Mingle. Plus, Kara had just decided she wanted nothing to do with the Wilson boy. Going to a party just to see him would be counter productive to that train of thought.

Kara sighed. “I haven’t mingled with Ryan since we were ten. He’s not the kind of person I associate with. And what makes you think I want to mingle?”

Alice tapped her chin in mock though. “You were just devouring him with those beautiful blue eyes of yours. I think you’re more interested than you want to believe. Plus, he could help you with math. Dawson said you’re failing.”

Kara groaned and put her face in her hands, trusting Alice not to steer them into traffic. Why did her best friend insist on making her remember all the bad things in her life? Kara was just starting to accept the fact that she wasn’t going to be doing anything big with her life. If she got sent to reform school, she wouldn’t make it past through the summer.

“A party might be good for you, sweetie. Why don’t you ever take my word on anything?” Alice sounded hurt.

Kara wanted to point out about eight different reasons she stopped taking Alice’s advice, most of them involving some sort of boy, but she knew it was pointless. Kara also knew Alice was going to convince her to go, so she might as well give up now. If she agreed, they could move onto the next conversation. Wasn’t her life exciting?

“I’ll go for an hour if it’ll shut you up.” Kara caved.

Alice squealed in her ear and Kara winced. One of the worst things about Alice was her high-pitched squeal, and just about everything made Alice squeal.

“Wear something cute! The lacey green top and those tight blue jeans! I’ll be over in a few hours to do your hair!” She ran off clapping her hands.

Kara knew she was going to regret going. She always regretted going, but for some reason she couldn’t say no. She looked down at her light blue shirt and holy jeans. They looked like something dragged out of a house fire, but they were the most comfortable clothes she owned. What was the point in looking cute if she had no intention of leaving with someone? The tight jeans weren’t comfortable, and her hair...Kara reached up and winced at the frizzy mess of black strands. Ok, she would give Alice that at least. She could use some help with her untamable mane.

The sounds of the city began to die down as Kara got further from the middle of the city. Her little brother was probably out with his friends which meant she would have the house to herself for an hour or two. It wouldn’t be hard sneaking out: her parents were hardly ever home, but she did worry about leaving Dawson alone. He was only thirteen, and she didn’t like the idea of her already risky brother being alone with a house. Who knew what he would do to the place? She would probably come home to nothing but ash.

She opened her front door and tossed her bag on the floor, kicking the door closed with a sigh. Her phone felt like a brick in her pocket with the unsent text from earlier. If Ryan had just beaten some poor kid up, he was probably in a good mood. At least taking the rejection via text felt better than doing it face-to-face. Kara pulled her phone out again and stared at the words on the screen. Her thumb hovered over the green button once more before flicking to the red and hitting delete.

She decided on sending a new text; this one simpler then the last:

Going to the party tonight?

Within a few seconds she got a reply, something quite befitting of Ryan:

Yep

She sighed and set her phone on the kitchen table. For a reason Kara couldn’t explain, she left it there and walked over to the stairwell leading up to her room. Well, now she knew Ryan would be at the party. That was all that mattered. She could ask for math help when he got drunk off cheap beer. Even if it wasn’t ideal, it was the right way to go about it. Yea, it wasn’t like she was a chicken. Kara ran a hand through her hair, wincing when her fingers caught tangles. First, she needed to look presentable. Even if tight jeans weren’t comfortable, perhaps appearing cute, as Alice put it, would make Ryan more inclined to say yes. He was a bit of a womanizer, so good looks couldn’t hurt.

Kara drew her nice clothes out of her dresser with a smile. Perhaps the party wasn’t such a bad idea. She could have a good time. Maybe.

Alice and Kara showed up at the abandoned building well after the party had started. The artificial sun was beginning to set, and the new moon was rising. Music thumped from inside making Kara’s heart race. This was such a bad idea.

The boarded-up brick house was filled with light and laughter as teenagers swarmed the inside like cockroaches. Kara could hear giggling and groaning from the other side of the door. Whatever was happening in that building was illegal in so many ways. She was not thrilled to be standing on the doorstep of a future raid. Alice shoved the front door open and threw her hands in the air, her tiny purse swaying at her side like a tiny, rectangle weapon.

Kara almost smiled at the prospect of that small brick smacking someone in the face or crotch. That would be amusing, perhaps worth the risk of being here.

“The fun is here, bitches!”

A bunch of people hooted and hollered as she scooped a drink out of the nearest person’s hand and drank from it, laughing. Kara put her face in her hands, mortified by the nearby laughter. She forgot how unbearable Alice made leaving the house. When Kara lifted her face from her hands, Alice had disappeared, and she was left in the open door. She tucked a strand of her now curled hair behind her ear and took hesitant steps further into the party. Kara had never been the picture of popularity, but, for the most part, she kept to herself and people left her alone. When Alice’s exciting entrance had been forgotten, everyone turned away and returned to dancing.

What did she really expect to happen? Given Alice’s track record, Kara was destined to have been left alone at some point. She just shut the door behind her when one of her classmates shoved a drink into her hand, gibbering incoherently. She was still trying to make sense of it when the girl doubled over and emptied the contents of her stomach at Kara’s feet. Oh, Hell no. She jumped back and slammed her elbow into the wood frame of the door. She bit her tongue and cursed mentally trying to avoid drawing attention, but for half a second, she thought of just screaming as loud as she could.

The moment passed in a few quick seconds, and she composed herself with a deep sigh. Her bruised elbow tingled as she swept through the house towards the kitchen. Ok, she left the house and was ready to go back. As soon as she found Alice, she was going home.

Kara set the drink on a broken stairwell banister on her way to the back of the house. The air was stale with sweat and alcohol, making her scrunch her nose in disgust. She could hardly hear herself think over the throbbing bass. It had a decent enough rhythm, and she wouldn’t mind dancing if she hadn’t already spent her social points on the wooden frame. Kara slipped unnoticed through the crowded, past the hot living room and into the kitchen without being hassled.

It wasn’t so bad. When the crowd was big enough, no one noticed anyone. Kara probably could have enjoyed herself if she stayed in the dark living room with all the drunk, noisy teens. She shook the thought from her head and froze when she entered the kitchen. Scott and his minions sat around the back door laughing, playing some sort of drinking game.

They were flipping an old coin into cups and drinking when the coin landed. If it gave them a reason to drink, why not? Of course, the only thing missing from her amazing night, was a cliché interaction with a bully. She wandered over to the sink for a cup of water trying to scope out the rest of the kitchen without being noticed. The faucet didn’t seem to work though, so she took a small bottle of rum from the counter and held it to her chest. At least it was something to hold onto.

“What’re you doing here, McKenzie? You weren’t invited.” Scott sneered, catching her trying to sneak into one of the back halls.

His arm was draped around the thin shoulders of some blonde. Kara couldn’t remember her name, but she knew the girl was a senior. She also remembered the nickname the girl had been given, and that was something Kara didn’t want to think about. Scott was some sort of architect major, and he thought he was the king of the world because of it. She always just assumed Scott was over-compensating for something else. Boys who acted like morons typically were trying to hide something.

“I came with Alice.” She didn’t dare say the thoughts in her head out loud. “She asked me to come with her as a friend, so I did.”

Scott laughed causing the others to follow his lead. “You got all dolled up to come out here with a girl? What’re you sweet on her or something?”

Kara tried to look stern, but she withered under their gazes. “Um no, she’s a friend, I didn’t want to be disappoint her.”

Even if she was into girls, it wasn’t his damn business. Kara wanted to punch him in his pug-like face, but she clasped her hands tighter around the bottle until her knuckles were white. That was a much better alternative than getting her ass kicked.

Scott beckoned to the bottle in her hand. “Are you actually any fun?”

Kara set it down on the counter with a small head shake. “Not the kind of fun you’re looking for.” Her gaze landed pointedly on the blonde, “I think you have more than you can handle as is.”

He spluttered something she couldn’t understand and lunged forward. Kara opened the glass door she was next to and hurried out before he could grab her. She was cursing herself for not throwing the bottle at his head or telling him to shove it up his ass when she watched him turn back to his group, laughing. She was stupid. It was bad enough to let Alice con her into a party, but it was worse when she was abandoned by said friend and left with no one. Her eyes burned a little and she sniffed to stop the tears before they started. Kara should be at home doing her homework and reading her textbook because that’s what she liked doing. She shouldn’t be trying to impress people who wouldn’t remember her name in two years.

She wasn’t some painted doll with beautiful hair and nice clothes. Kara dabbed at the purple lipstick on her lips and wiped the sticky gel on her tight black jeans. Her bangles glittered against her wrist, and she had the dumbest urge to rip them off and throw them across the concrete if only to hear them clink. Kara stopped herself from rubbing the violet eyeshadow off and busied her hands in other ways, like playing with the stupid silver bangles that once made her feel like she belonged.

“Well, you were conned into coming again.” A familiar voice made her jump. Ryan sat outside leaning against the back of the house with a cigarette dangling from his fingertips. She cursed herself for not seeing him a second sooner. Was he content to watch her meltdown, perhaps it amused him?

“Suppose I should have expected it when you texted me earlier. I just thought you were trying to make pleasant conversation after my big fight. You should have stayed for the finale.”

He wore a black shirt that read bite me and crappy jeans with black writing scrawled across the legs. She couldn’t quite make out what any of the words were in the dying light of day.

She scowled at him despite the desperate urge to cry. “Why would I want to watch you beat some poor kid senseless? I don’t find that amusing, and, for your information, I wasn’t conned. I agreed.”

Ryan crossed his arms against his chest with a smirk, “Yea, how many minutes did it take until you caved? This isn’t really your scene, you know. You should probably go home before something happens to you. Especially with your new, punk rock look. Are you wearing makeup? Who you trying to be, McKenzie?”

Her heart leapt to her throat and she clasped her hands tighter together. He looked remarkable in dark clothes. It brought out the green in his eyes. Kara put a hold on those thoughts and frowned.

She kicked at the patio and wandered over to his side with a sigh. At least he was willing to talk to her without making fun of her. “She didn’t want to come alone.”

“Alice, huh? Did she ditch you two seconds upon arriving like she always does?” Ryan took a drag off his cigarette before offering it to her with limp fingers.

Kara stared at it for a long time before taking it and inhaling deeply. Smoke coursed through her lungs and burned all the way down her throat making her cough. She wasn’t new to smoking; she just didn’t do it often. But when the nicotine washed through her system and her head spun a little from the high, she remembered why she didn’t mind it. Yes, that was all she needed to make the night a little better. Drugs. Even if it wasn’t a traditional drug, it was good enough.

“Trying to be a cool kid now?” Ryan’s voice nagged at her as he took his cigarette back. “I wouldn’t have taken you for a rule breaker.”

Kara coughed once more before the tears fell and she covered her face. “Smoking isn’t cool! But you know what, occasionally, just occasionally, it makes me feel less anxious,” her voice rose, “and if I wanted to be cool, I’d chug a few bottles in there and sleep with the first fucking guy who remembered my name. No, you know what, they don’t even have to remember my name because apparently just fucking someone is good enough for these people!” Kara wiped at her eyes realizing she just smeared black and violet makeup all over her face.

As if she needed anything else to ruin her night. It was time to pack up and go home with, or without, Alice. She tried to wipe at the streaks on her face without being able to see where they were. Kara slid to the floor and buried her face in her knees groaning. Being normal was too much to ask, wasn’t it?

Ryan slumped down next to her and cleared his throat, “I was joking, Princess. I’m sorry. I didn’t think your night was that bad.” He reached out and lifted her head with his hands and wiped at the makeup.

She felt his rough thumbs brush away black marks and wet tears as he studied her features. Even if he did manage to fix her makeup, everyone would know she had been crying. Some of the black mascara and eyeliner would be missing. She pushed his hands away groaning in reply and putting her face back on her knees.

He let it go and they sat together in silence while he finished his cigarette. It was calmer outside even if it did feel like it a hundred degrees. Her clothes had not been worn with humidity in mind, and she felt like she was drowning in a hot tub. Just when the heat began to get unbearable, Ryan elbowed her.

She peeked at him with tired eyes and he smiled. “Wanna dance?”

“You’re not funny.” She snapped.

Her throat was scratchy from yelling and her cheeks blotchy from crying. She was the picture of perfection.

He held up his hands in mock surrender. “Not joking. You shouldn’t go to a party and not get dance. That’s half the fun. You know, bumping and grinding and seeing all the booty.”

She was wary to ask what the rest of the fun would be. “That’s only half the fun?”

“Yea, kicking someone’s ass is the rest of it.”

Of course, Kara blinked at him. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting from him, of all people.

“Did you just say booty?” She asked.

He chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck, looking away from her. “I suppose I did.”

She had to be hallucinating. Ryan Wilson did not just say that with a straight face. Perhaps there was something else in that cigarette of his.

“I’m not going back in there.” She muttered, returning her face to her knees.

Ryan sighed. She hoped he was losing his patience, he deserved it for making her feel like shit. Perhaps she could con him into making her a sandwich if she kept acting depressed.

“You know, if you stay out here until Alice searches, they win. Ignore the bullshit of high school, Kara. If you want to be here, then be here.”

Well now, she couldn’t ignore something like that, could she? Kara narrowed her eyes and peeked up from behind her wall of jeans and knees. He was staring so intently it was hard to refuse.

“You seriously want to dance?”

She had two left feet, after all, and he was an accident waiting to happen. She just hoped he understood the risk of what he was taking on because there would be no going back once she broke a few of his toes.

He grinned at her. “Hell yea, come on!” He jumped up and held down a hand to help her stand.

She took it after a moment of hesitation and let him pull her to her feet. If she went in there with Ryan, there would be talking. Kara was going to be the new conquest, and everyone was going to hear about it. If she really didn’t want to be seen with him, she would need to let him go. On the other hand, who cared if she was seen with him? Kara almost laughed at how stupid she sounded when she worried about the kids inside. The kids who would never remember her name. They didn’t matter.

Her heart hammered against her rib cage even as she tightened her grip on Ryan’s hand when he opened the sliding glass door and stepped inside. Her stupid body betrayed her as her shoulders tensed, and she moved closer to him for protection. Wasn’t it only hours ago he was beating some defenseless kid into the pavement?

Scott and his minions stared open-mouthed at the pair when they passed by, making Kara squirm. She couldn’t do it. She felt every nerve in her body screaming to run. Ryan was not a knight in shining armor: he was a demon in man’s skin.

The headbanging music filled the air when Kara crashed back to Earth. The smell of alcohol was overpowering as teenagers grinded upon one another. She stopped in her tracks with wide eyes and quickened breathing, so Ryan turned to look at her. Oh no, she wasn’t capable of that. She could barely move her feet when walking let alone when doing that.

She shook her head, and, as if reading her mind, he threw his head back in a laugh that was washed away with the music. He pulled her close and set a hand on the small of her back pressing his forehead to hers. He didn’t smell like alcohol of any sort, but, instead, like smoke and ash. His skin was on fire and she tried to ignore the fever alert screaming in her head. He was probably just hot because of the humidity, even though he didn’t seem to be sticky and sweaty like herself. Oh no, she was sticky and gross. She ripped away from him like he was on fire and shook her head.

“I’m disgusting!”

A confused look crossed his calm features. “What are you talking about?”

She fiddled with her hands, trying to keep herself from grabbing at him. Maybe she was just a horny teenager too. “The humidity. It made me sweaty and sticky, you can’t touch me.”

Ryan looked around the crowd and shrugged, “Everyone is sweaty and sticky.”

He wasn’t, and he seemed to read her thoughts because he shoved his hands in his pockets and took a simple step back. “I don’t have to touch you if you don’t want.”

Oh, she wanted, momma so wanted, but he couldn’t possibly want to dance with someone gross. He studied her and seemed to sense her inner turmoil because he extended a hand to her like one would a rabbit. Slowly, cautiously, like she might run if he moved too fast. Kara stared at that dry, calloused hand for a good thirty seconds before shaking her head.

“I can’t do any of this.”

He nodded and shouted over the music once more. “We don’t have to dance like the masses. There are other dances we can do, like a slow one.”

“It’s not a slow dance kind of song!” She yelled back. A beat dropped in the sporadic music and everyone hooted and hollered while jumping up and down. This was just proving her point.

Men weren’t the only ones who acted like animals. She couldn’t believe she went to school with some of these people. He shrugged once more, telling her just how much he cared about that. That was the thing about Ryan. He didn’t care about people or what they thought. He lived his life the way he wanted without regret. Kara had always kind of admired that trait in him.

She took his hand and let him pull her close once more as he chuckled under his breath. His shoulders shook with laughter she couldn’t hear, and he placed a hand on the small of her back and took her other one and held it out to the side.

She felt eyes on them as they swayed back and forth to music that didn’t exist. He was being odd tonight; they hadn’t had a proper conversation in years, yet he acted like they were old friends. Maybe he was dying... Oh God, was he dying?

“Ignore them,” Ryan smiled, his breath hot on her ear, “you’re overthinking.”

She nodded and kept her gaze on his, determined not to look at the others. He wasn’t dying, obviously...maybe. Even if he was, she should be flattered because that meant he wanted to spend his dying moments with her.

“Are you dying?” She shouted.

Ryan frowned and pulled his head back a little, so he could study her. “Sorry?”

“You’re dying, right? Or not. I just can’t read you and I’m really confused.” She should stop talking now.

“Let’s get a drink.” Ryan suggested.

She heard the style and tempo of the music change and everyone paired up to dance slow. She was more than happy to get out of the throng of students converging in on her space. They headed back to the kitchen where Scott was still hanging out with his groupies. Kara resisted the urge to look over and Ryan poured a drink of amber liquid before offering it to her. She made a face and he chuckled lowly before turning to a cabinet and opening it revealing bottles of water.

She tried to hide the joy on her face, but Ryan was already laughing as she pushed him aside to grab at the water. Who the Hell kept water in a cupboard? That was just some insanity right there, especially with a bunch of drinking teens.

“Are you always such a drag, McKenzie?” Ryan asked, sipping from his cup.

She smirked at him, “I try really hard.”

He arched a brow but made no response as she nearly downed the bottle of water and sighed. “You’re too much like my brother.”

She cocked her head to the side curiously and pulled herself up on the kitchen counter to sit. “Where is he anyway? I don’t think I’ve ever seen one without the other.”

“Studying. He didn’t wanna come.” Ryan leaned on the same counter. “Not that I mind: he would be acting like a mom the entire time. It’s more fun when he isn’t here.”

“How is he doing anyway? It’s been a while since I’ve talked to him.”

“He’s fine. You can text him any time, you know? It’s not like he has a life, plus I think he was wounded when you texted me. He always thought you guys were close or something.”

Kara blushed, “I didn’t think about it, I guess. I kind of have a favor to ask.”

Scott shouted at them from across the room obnoxiously. He swayed on the spot and Kara wondered how much he had to drink. Knowing him, the kid probably had a few bottles to himself. Perhaps getting some water in his system would calm him down a little. Though she doubted he would take it from her willingly.

“You can’t get in her pants, you know? That bitch is no fun.” Scott waved a hand. “Might as well cut that free and move on, Wilson. It’s not like you can’t get any girl you want.” The last part he said bitterly, he must have been jealous.

Ryan looked over at the group and flipped them the bird, “Wasn’t really thinking about it, anyway. Not everything is about sex, moron.”

“Yea, fat bitch ain’t worth the effort,” Scott laughed, “what’s the point?”

Kara looked down at her feet and felt the color drain from her face. She wasn’t curvy and beautiful like Alice, but she wasn’t fat. She didn’t feel fat. Her stomach poked out a little, and she had to resist the urge to poke it. Maybe she could do with losing some weight, but she wasn’t unhealthy. She always ate her vegetables. What gave Scott the right to judge her body? Just because she didn’t have an eating disorder didn’t mean she wasn’t beautiful. Not that she thought that: she wasn’t self-centered or anything.

Ryan crossed the room in two strides and slammed his fist into Scott’s nose without a word. Kara let out a yelp and jumped off the counter running towards them before he could do anymore damage. Ryan managed to land two more punches before she grabbed his arm and tore him away. He was defending her honor. Did that make him the Prince of Demons or something? That thought depressed her even further, because if Ryan was her demon prince, she was the princess.

“Stop it,” She shouted, “he isn’t worth it.”

Scott let out a furious scream and charged at Ryan, tackling him to the floor. Kara covered her face with her hands, trying to block out the noise. She should have left when she said she was going to.

Ryan and Scott tussled on the floor for a moment before Ryan got the upper hand. He brought a knee between his chest and Scott’s before pushing the bigger male off, and then Ryan kicked him in the chest with such force it sent Scott skidding across the floor on his back.

Ryan scrambled off the floor and she grabbed his wrist, pulling him out of the kitchen before anything else could happen. She knew he was strong, but she didn’t know he was capable of that. Scott was nearly twice Ryan’s weight and had about four inches of height on him.

They paused near the front door so Kara could check Ryan’s bleeding lip, but, when Scott’s voice tore through the house over the music, they both bolted out the door and down the street. She couldn’t stop the soft giggle from slipping past her lips as they fled the house leaving it, and all the noise, behind.

By the time they were halfway down the street, they were both laughing so hard they had to stop running to catch their breaths. Kara still couldn’t believe it happened.

“I can’t believe you did that.” Kara squealed.

Ryan chuckled, “I can’t believe you asked me if I was dying.”

Kara pushed at his arm with puffed out cheeks. Hey, she was a teenage girl dancing with some dangerous demon. What did he expect? Ryan lit a cigarette and brought it to his lips shaking his head at her lack of response. She was just happy he couldn’t see how red her cheeks were. His eyes shone as he watched her jitter under his gaze. She had half a mind to punch his arm, but he finally looked away, settling her nerves.

“So, you never did say what your favor was.”

Kara had to think for a moment before she remembered what he was talking about. “Oh! I need some help with math is all. I was wondering if you’d be willing to tutor me.”

“That? I can do it. I was expecting something a lot worse.” Ryan grinned, “Trying to get some studying in before the final?”

“Something like that.” She muttered.

Ryan slid his hand into his pocket, “Something?”

She fidgeted a little under his gaze. Why did he have to stare so intently? “I’m failing. If I don’t pass this final with at least a seventy-two, I’ll fail and get sent to reform school this summer.”

His smile faded, “Oh. I know I’m good, but that’s a tall order. Wouldn’t your parents be better suited for this? Aren’t they inventors or something?”

“My parents don’t exactly know…yet.” And if she had her way, they would never know. Her mother would lose her shit if she found out Kara kept this a secret.

“And I thought you were the good kid, geeze.” Ryan ran a hand through his hair, “I can try, Kara. I really can, but I’m not a great teacher. I’m short tempered and impatient, and I know how to make people cry. You probably know all that though.”

He also knew how to make them bleed, but Kara was out of options. She smiled and batted her eyelashes at him. “You’re my only hope?”

The sound of gunfire in the distance made them both jump. Kara looked towards the party and Ryan shook his head. “We gotta get home. We are way past curfew.”

Kara nodded absently. Alice was still back there. “Yea, I’ll see you at school on Monday.”

Ryan seemed to notice her unfocused gaze. “Promise me you’ll go straight home. There’s no point in getting shot. I’m sure everyone else will escape just fine, especially Alice. You know how she is.”

Kara grinned despite the worry gnawing her stomach. “Why would I go back?”

“I know you’re worrying. Don’t go back there, Kara. She’ll be alright.”

Kara brushed his hand from her shoulder and huffed away. She wasn’t going to just leave her friend to be shot. If Alice died, she would never forgive herself. She shot one last glance back at where she left Ryan and whispered a small apology before running back towards the house. It was kind of him to worry, but she couldn’t let her friend die alone.