Kai Ravencroft's Arc

Chapter 2 of 3

The note was gone from the returns cart by morning. Kai told himself that was good. But he had also handed Yuki proof the writer was real and close. Now she was hunting harder, and he still hadn't managed one plain conversation. Every time he tried, his own crowd ruined it. He decided today would be different. He would catch her alone in the hallway before the swarm found him. He spotted her at the lockers, digging through a grey plaid bag. The mirror on her locker door caught her yellow eyes. Kai walked toward her, slow, hands empty, nothing to scare her. He got four steps. Then a group of juniors saw the raven crest and called his name. Two more peeled off from a doorway. Within seconds a knot of students pressed around him, laughing, asking about the club, about his next blend. Yuki's head came up. She saw the crowd form. She zipped her bag and slid away down the hall. "Kai. Kai, over here." Yuna Starling squeezed to the front, cheeks pink. She was a first-year who had joined his club just to be near him. She started talking fast the way she did when nervous. "Your hair does the thing again. I mean—the club thing. Are we mixing lavender today, or—" "Yuna," Kai said. "I need a favor. Now." She blinked. "Yes. Anything. What." "Keep them here. Just for a minute." He nodded at the crowd. "Tell them I'm buying drinks. Point them at the machine." Yuna's face lit up. She spun around and threw both arms wide. "Kai's buying! Refresh machine, everybody, go!" The crowd turned toward the bright drink machine like fish following bait. Yuna herded them, still talking, blocking the hall behind her. Kai broke free and moved fast. Yuki had ducked near the garden door, where the apothecary club kept its plants. Someone stood with her already. Raven Nightshade, black hair, purple plaid, arms crossed. Raven had helped Yuki treat the notes like a case to crack. Kai's stomach tightened. If anyone could name him, it was her. Raven looked at Kai. Then at Yuki. "It’s him again," Raven said, flat. Looking at Yuki as Kai approached. Kai stopped. No crowd behind him now. Just the three of them and the quiet. "Hi," he said. He kept his voice low. He decided not to tell her just yet, but he asked her hinting, “I heard you like cats…you remind me of one.” Yuki studied him. Her eyes went to his raven crest, then to Raven, then back. She didn't run. "I love cats," Yuki smiled. Kai's breath caught watching them look at each other on the mention of cats. Maybe She knew. Then Yuna came back holding a soda, “hey where were you. I promised them all sodas for you and I ended up having to buy.” Yuki slipped off and Kai sighed and handed Yuna $5.00.