TWENTY-FOUR | MATCHMAKER

For the first time in years, I sleep like a rock. Maybe it has to do with having Mom with me again, the way I was able to actually get a quality night's rest. Or having her do the cooking for once? Probably both. And I have a thermos of coffee I intend to drink throughout the day. I don't think I could be any happier. For once, I feel like I have my life together. Kind of.

"Mornin', gorgeous." Yuri shoots me his usual flirtatious greeting as I take my seat.

"Good morning," I reply. I'm in such a good mood I don't even care about the daggers Blue sends at his cousin.

"May I say, you're looking extra beautiful today," Yuri grins at Blue unabashedly, and I know he's just trying to get a rise out of him, but I can't even get the energy to give a shit. "Dare I say, delectable?" He throws me a suggestive wink.

"Thanks," I accept his words instead of slapping him - like I'm sure I'd normally do. I even go so far as to give him my best smile. That seems to piss Blue off even more.

"Watch it, Yuri." Blue growls, literally growls at him. The playfulness between us dissolves like steam, dampening my mood.

"Yes, sir." Yuri manages to keep a light tone, but there's a level of uneasiness in his eyes and I know he knows he's gone a bit too far today. He salutes Blue and whirls around in his seat to face the front of the room.

"Hey," I nudge Blue's shoe with mine. "You know he doesn't mean anything by it."

"Why are you in such a peppy mood?" Blue's immediately suspicious, narrowing his eyes at me and leaning in to glower at me. Jealousy does not suit him.

"Why are you in such a shit-mood?" I shoot back, frowning at him. A muscle in his jaw twitches, and I know I'm pushing him just a little too much. "I thought we were in a good place. Maybe that has something to do with it." He blinks, face going blank.

"Oh." He sounds genuinely surprised for once.

"Yeah, oh," I hiss - maybe a little too snarkilly. And just like that, his mood changes. A strange smile takes over his lips and he sits back in his chair. "You okay?" I ask, a little worried at the sudden, very drastic change in his mood. He turns his grin to me and says nothing, just smiles that odd smile... The word smug comes to mind.

Ms. Lewis begins the class with her usual set of announcements and talks about the upcoming dance for a while. By the time she's done, the bell rings and I collect my stuff for my next class. Beside me, Blue doesn't move. I frown and look over to see him with that same weird smile, staring off into nothing... Yuri turns around in his chair and frowns too.

"Z, we're gonna be late." He tells his cousin. Blue doesn't even seem to notice him.

"Blue?" I gently snap my fingers in front of his face. Nothing. He doesn't even blink. "Hey," I wave my hand in front of his eyes. Nada. Fear begin to bloom in my gut.

"Scarlett, I think you broke him." Yuri stage-whispers to me. I nods slowly, waving a hand in front of Blue's face again. He blinks suddenly and frowns at me, but doesn't say anything. "Definitely broken."

"Well, uh, I'm going to get going. I'll see you in PE." I tell Yuri.

"Okay. See ya," He waves and turns his attention back to his cousin. "What's he matter with you?"

"Nothing. Not. A. Thing." I relax a little when I hear Blue actually answer. But as I make my way to my next class, I wonder if he had a vision. I wave the notion away as soon as it enter my mind, reminding myself our visions are shared. If he'd had one, I would have too... Right?

- - -

"Your boyfriend is so serious." Darine whispers to me as we stand together on the risers during Choir.

"B-boyfriend?" I stutter, my eyes widening.

"Zane Azure." She nods emphatically. "He's hot." She adds. I gape at her, a spike of jealousy flickering through me before she laughs. "And seems head-over-heels for you. And you only." She winks at me. I narrow my eyes at her and she nudges me playfully. "But seriously, Scarlett, good job."

"Darine!" Ms. Jones scolds my friend suddenly. "Pay attention!" The room falls silent. Darine's almost never called out. It's normally me or whoever screwed up a line. Darine's like the golden-child. I guess it goes to show just how tense Ms. Jones is if she's calling out her favorite.

"Yes, Ms. Jones!" Darine cowers behind her binder. Ms. Jones harumphs before getting back to her lecturing the altos about their solo number for the dance.

"When did you talk to Bl- Zane?" I ask quietly, barely remembering to correct myself.

"He's in my Intro to Psych class." She whispers, barely moving her lips or looking at me out of fear of being called out again. "Well, him and his cousin. Jerry, Terry?" Her voice goes up an octave and I raise an eyebrow at her.

"*Yuri*." I correct her with a knowing smirk. You don't forget a weird name like his. Especially when he's almost as handsome as Blue.

"Uh-huh." She mumbles, avoiding my eyes. But her whole face goes bright red. I make a mental note of talking to Yuri about my friend. Who says I can't play a little match-maker while I'm in town? "Yeah, he asked me a bunch of questions."

"Like?" I prompt, wondering if it has to do with what happened earlier.

"I dunno, like really random stuff. Like what school I want to go to for college and if I know what I want to major in." Darine says. "And what I thought about Karrie-"

"*Yuri*." I correct, grinning at her.

"Right." She mumbles, her cheeks darkening. I fight the urge to laugh. "Well, when I asked Zane if he was hitting on me, 'cause you never know, right?" She rushes out. I nod and wait for her to finish. "Well, he said it's cause he liked *you*, and just wanted to make sure you had good friends." She nudged me playfully. "Which is suuper sweet, if you ask me." She adds.

"Yeah, he's..." I murmur, blushing. "Nice." I finish, not really sure if I want to give him a different descriptive word. I have to remind myself that this life is temporary. Only two months, right? Right? But the more I think about the visions we've shared and the direction things seem to be going between us, the harder it is to convince myself that this life I'm living can't be permanent.

- - -

My emotions are all weird by the time I get out of the girl's locker room. As per usual, Blue and Yuri are waiting for me by the back door to the gym. For once, they aren't arguing or trying to kill each other but talking peacefully.

"Z, I don't need a date for the dance." Yuri frowns at his cousin, looking like a petulant child talking to his father with the way he's pouting.

"C'mon, when was the last time you went out on a date?" Blue's got his hands on his hips, looking like a disapproving father, even with his back turned to me.

"Man, if you're doing this 'cause I keep hitting on your girl: I'm sorry. You know she's not my type-" Yuri whines.

"First of all, no. It's not because you keep sweet-talking Red. And second, that's even an issue cause I know she doesn't like you anyway-"

"Hey, I'm a nice guy- tell him you'd be lucky to date me, Scar!" Yuri stamps his feet, looking more sullen than I've ever seen him. He's like a giant kid. I can see why he and Darine just might be perfect for each other.

"Uh-huh, right." I tell Yuri and roll my eyes.

"Hey!" Yuri looks genuinely hurt. I sigh and turn my full attention to him.

"You're a great guy, Yuri. I'd be lucky to date you. There, happy?" I tell him as sincerely as I can muster.

"Thrilled." Yuri gives me a smug smile and looks back at Blue pointedly. "See."

"Speaking of *thrilled*-" While he's in a good mood, I begin. "-I'd be thrilled if you could do me a favor." It's a shit-Segway, but I may as well go for it.

"What kind of favor?" Yuri asks slowly, narrowing his eyes at me cautiously.

"Yeah, Red, what kind of favor?" Even Blue's suspicious. I ignore him and continue to address his cousin.

"I've gotta friend. Who needs an escort to the dance-" *Which may not be true, but what the hell, right?*

"Not you too-" Yuri rolls his eyes, shoulder slumping dramatically.

"She's a really nice girl!" I interject again, trying to convince him, but he's not having it.

"You guys are ridiculous!" He throws his hands up in the air.

"Hey, you three bumbling-lazy-butts, get your butts on the track!" Coach Lyle yells at us.

"Yes, sir!" All three of us snap to attention and start for the door.

"This conversation's over." Yuri growls at us and moves ahead to start jogging down the path.

"Who were you going to suggest?" Blue asks once Yuri's out of earshot.

"Give you two guess, but you'll only need one." I roll my eyes at him, quirking an eyebrow.

"Darine seems like a nice girl." He grins at me.

"She is... thinks you're pretty cute too." I agree and tease.

"I have no interest in Darine." He says flatly. I laugh.

"I know. She's not interested in you either." I tell him. "But she might just be interested in a certain mountain of overly-flirtatious muscle."

"You read my mind." He grins and we pick up the pace to catch up with Yuri.