True Colors (The Masks #1)(34)
I loved my best friend. She was fun and lively. Hanging out with her was always an adventure, but I was starting to see sides of Stella I really didn’t like. This new eyesight was a trip with some really bad repercussions, but there were some good things about it too. As I walked to Algebra, I thought of Libby and what I’d done for her, which then made me think of Indie...and how badly I wanted to save her too.
*****
I decided to start my “Save Indie” campaign in Biology. The cafeteria could have worked, but there were always so many people around and Liam was there. I figured Indie wouldn’t let a soul in if she knew Liam was watching. I still wanted what I saw to be a figment of my imagination, but Indie’s face this morning told me otherwise and made my heart sink. I didn’t just feel duty bound to help her. I wanted to.
I spotted her auburn hair as I walked into the lab. Her head was down as she read over today’s experiment. Class didn’t officially start for another couple of minutes so I paused by her desk.
“Hiya.”
She glanced up, her blue eyes wide and gentle. I noticed how long her straight bangs were getting. They nearly touched her eyelashes now. That would drive me insane, but they looked so good on Indie. She really was gorgeous in a waif like way.
“What’s up?” Her top lip perched over her bottom one and I could see how much she didn’t feel like talking. I didn’t want to hassle her, but I had to know.
“I was just wondering if you wanted to hang out after school today.”
I pulled her mask free as I said the words, wanting to know the truth. A flash of panic scuttled across her features before settling into the ever present fear.
“I’m busy after school. What do you need?”
“Nothing particularly. I just thought it’d be cool to hang out.”
She was trying to figure out what I was up to. Her suspicion was strong and she didn’t trust me at all. “Are you trying to get back at Stella or something? I don’t want to come between you guys.”
“Oh no.” I touched her arm. A tendon in her neck flinched as I did it. I moved my hand away. “It’s not that at all. I...” Licking my lips, I willed my courage not to fail me. “I thought you looked a little worried about something on Friday night and I wanted you to know that if you need to talk to anybody about it, I’m here for you.”
The flash of panic turned into full blown terror. It was an effort not to show her how much I could see. I put her mask back in place to compare and was astounded by her calm chuckle.
“I’m fine, Caitlyn. I’m not sure what you saw, but I’m not worried about anything.” As she shook her head, I whipped the mask away and she looked ready to burst into tears. Her nostrils were flaring and her lips were quivering.
With a gentle hand I patted her back. “Okay, my mistake. Sorry.”
Relief washed over her, but only briefly. I was about to pull another layer off when Libby arrived looking subdued. I gave her a friendly smile, but she just dipped her head and slumped into her chair, totally confusing me.
As I slid into my seat beside Micah, I caught Indie looking at me. As soon as our eyes connected, she spun back in her chair and I couldn’t help wondering if I’d had the chance to talk to Indie for a little longer what I would have seen. The idea that maybe she desperately wanted help wouldn’t leave me alone.
I turned my attention back to Libby wondering how she was coping with her day. She was obviously nervous. Had Carter done something already? He would no doubt be lurking the halls ready to do serious damage. I'd have to keep my eye on that one. I kept my gaze on Libby until she peeked over her shoulder and I smiled again. This time her grin was jittery, but there. Friday night had been good. I’d really enjoyed our chat. I think I’d helped calm Libby down, but it still felt like there was something she wasn’t telling me. She was pretty scared, but she wouldn’t say why. I knew I could crack her more easily than Indie, but Indie’s fear seemed so much more palpable; and therefore more important to me.
I couldn't take my eyes off the back of her long, russet curls as I sighed. This was going to be hard work.
“Hey.” Micah nudged my elbow. “Don’t worry about it. She’s never let me in either.”
Glancing at Micah’s strong, dark face I watched his mask drop away and was surprised by what I saw. Micah Wilson was a tall, muscly African-American kid. He came to the school last year having already been expelled from other schools in the area. Kids were kind of scared of him, but he joined the basketball team and quickly became a super star. I mean he was potential NBA good. His adopted parents were working on getting him a really awesome scholarship and I knew he was studying his ass off. He was in head down, good behavior mode. In spite of this, people still seemed to avoid him. He was pretty quiet and didn’t smile much. Sometimes he just looked plain mean. I wondered if it was a protection thing. He’d always been super nice to me. Maybe he played mean to avoid being pulled into anything that could take him off track.
Maybe I wasn’t that surprised by what I saw on his exposed face. His gaze was on Indie, his dark eyes drinking in every little move she made. He was in love with her. It was so obvious. Not a lusty love, but a real, genuine, I want to protect that girl and cherish her kind of love.
My heart melted to putty as I smiled at him.
“What?” He scowled, pulling the experiment sheet towards us. His mask fell back into place and I let it. I felt a little bad for reading him and discovering his secret. Man, I wished people knew what a marshmallow he was. He would be the perfect boyfriend for Indie...a strong knight for a fragile princess.