264
Lucy
My stomach plummeted at the thought. He smirked and approached, carrying his tray with him. The cafeteria bustled with activity as he drew closer. The glow of his watch seemed stronger, and my stomach started to turn as if my body knew that it made me sick.
"How kind of you," he said. "I'm not intruding, am I?"
"Not at all!" Sarah exclaimed, sliding over to make room beside her.
As he took a seat, I couldn't help but feel a ripple of discomfort. The glow of his watch flickered a little before starting to pulse. I didn't know what that meant. I stole a glance at Duke, who seemed unusually tense.
"So, how's everyone's day going?" Daedalus asked, his gaze lingering on me for a moment.
"Same old, same old," Sarah replied with a casual shrug. "I really appreciate how easy you made..."
Amy shook her head as Duke started to unpack his cooler and passed containers over to Amy and Sarah. Sarah fluttered her eyelashes and kept talking. Then, I felt a subtle shift in the air, a strange energy that made my skin prickle. I glanced down at my lunch, searching my mind for some way to get away from this table or at least fight off the impending sickness. Daedalus didn't seem to be focused on me, but I could feel his intent on me. I waited for the unsettling feeling in my stomach from earlier to come back, but it didn't.
"Hey," Michelle said, nudging Duke. "You seem quiet today, Duke. Something on your mind? Or are you just amazed at Sarah's lack of tact."
"Never. She could never surprise me at this point." He forced a smile. "Just thinking about some stuff. You know how it is."
I finally caught Duke's eye and saw just a glimmer of light in his eyes. Then, I noticed the subtle shimmer around our half of the table, covering me, Michelle, and Duke.
It was a barrier. Duke was shielding us from the watch somehow. Did he know what it was? I wanted to ask but now wasn't the time.
Daedalus glanced at me. Then, his gaze jumped to Duke and Michelle. The watch's light held steady and turned colors.
Duke shifted in his seat, eating slower than usual. The air hummed with an unspoken tension that seemed louder than the buzz of the conversations going on around us.
Duke clenched his jaw. I could see the color draining from his face.
Then, a voice broke through the tension.
"Duke!"
I looked up and saw Tom, to my surprise. Tom swaggered over, a charming grin on his face, and pulled up a chair next to Duke. I glanced at Michelle, whose eyes were wide open and looking intrigued.
"Hey, everyone!" he greeted, eyes lingering on Duke. "Mind if I join the party?"
"Of course not," Michelle said with a playful smirk. "The more, the merrier! I'm Michelle."
Tom shook her hand, then Amy, then Sarah's, before opening his own bag.
The glow of Daedalus' watch flickered out. Daedalus flinched for a moment, and I wondered what was going on as Tom leaned back, his gaze still fixed on Duke.
"So, Duke, what have you been up to?"
Duke blinked. The color returned to his face, and he turned to look at Tom. I couldn't see his expression, but I watched the tension bleed out of him.
"Just the usual," he said. "Why are you..."
"An assignment," Tom said, pulling out a spoon. "Short term. I volunteered. Think I could convince you to show me around?"
I smiled, watching. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Daedalus' jaw set. He turned his wrist twice, but nothing happened. It looked like he was just adjusting himself in his seat, but I could hear something crack from within the watch, a high-pitched sound.
Tom's voice broke through my thoughts.
"I was thinking we should grab a drink sometime, Duke. You and me, man. What do you say?"
Duke's eyebrows shot up, and a flicker of surprise crossed his face. "Uh, sure. Why not?"
"Sounds great. How about this weekend. We'll get something good. You don't have much of a sweet tooth, hm?"
"Uh, no."
"How do you feel about burgers?" He asked. "There's a bar downtown that has the best burgers and good drinks. Even their mocktails are good."
Michelle let out a little amused sound. I nudged Duke subtly and started eating. I caught Tom's eye for a moment. There was a question in his gaze, but I didn't know what it was. He glanced at Daedalus for a second, scanning him briefly, before his gaze went back to Duke.
It seemed like he had Daedalus under control, and based on the way that Daedalus seemed to be withdrawing from the conversation with Sarah, I wasn't wrong. Eventually, he gave us all a tight smile.
"Thank you for inviting me, but I've got some paperwork to get done. I'll leave you to copy each other's papers in peace, now."
Sarah laughed, though I simply watched him leave, watching the way he subtly kept adjusting his sleeve over his watch.
"I'm so glad that's over," Amy said. "That was almost embarrassing."
Sarah turned bright red. "Excuse you!"
"You're not excused," Amy said. "Honestly, Sarah, don't you have any shame?"
"Not even a drop," Michelle asked. "But you knew that before you asked."
Michelle took a sip of her coffee, looking at her watch. "I've got to head to work, unfortunately."
"Work waits for no one," Sarah remarked, her mouth half-full of a sandwich. "Have fun."
Michelle ruffled Sarah's hair. "Try to gain some shame while I'm gone."
She grinned at me. "Help her out?"
"There's only so much I can do."
Amy cackled as Michelle said goodbye to Duke and Tom before leaving.
Amy sighed. "Well, since your scenery is no longer distracting you, how'd your fashion class go, Sarah?"
Sarah scowled at her. "It was just fine. And your social justice class?"
"Enlightening," she said. "I've got a study group for our project and everything."
"How fun," Sarah deadpanned. "Can't wait to hear about you all fighting for the downtrodden."
"Are you making fun of me?"
Sarah beamed at her. "Only in days ending in 'Y.'"
I shook my head as Amy scowled at her. "Some of us have higher callings than their next boyfriend or outfit."
Sarah glared at her. I could almost see the wheels turning in her mind about something to say. Amy looked just as ready to fight, but I knew that this was just some other issues they had with each other bubbling up.
They used to fight like this at the orphanage, too.
I winced. "Let's not fight today, okay?"
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Forgive us mere mortals for going after more mundane and carnal pursuits."
Amy huffed and looked over at Tom. "So, how do you know Duke and Lucy?"
Tom launched into the explanation as I nudged Duke and leaned close.
"You okay?"
He nodded. "Later. You have a dance lesson tonight, right?"
I nodded. We finished lunch, and by the time the lunch hour was over, I was more than ready to get on with the rest of my day.
Especially since Tom had already made it clear that he desperately needed help getting around, and Duke had checked his schedule to note that his class would be in the same direction as Duke's.
"You two have fun, hm?" I asked, wiggling my eyebrows at Duke.
He rolled his eyes. "Later."
I walked with Sarah and Amy out of the mess hall and down the corridor until we had to split up for our afternoon classes.
As we dispersed, Amy shot me a quick smile. "Good luck with whatever exciting thing you have planned this afternoon."
"That dreamy, romantic dance lesson?" Sarah asked. "Your date, as it were."
I waved them goodbye. The thought of my date with David that night made it easier to get to class without feeling too on edge about being alone in the hallways, but I did check around every corner just to make sure that Daedalus wasn't lurking somewhere.
The rest of the day went by in a blur, and before I realized it, I was meeting up with everyone in front of the campus, getting ready to climb into an Escort car. Tom walked Duke towards us. I wanted to tease him a little, but Duke looked a little unsteady on his feet.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You're depleted," Tom said. "A good meal, some meditation, and some rest will get you in a better place."
He opened the door for Duke. "Get in and text me when you get home."
Duke hesitated, but he nodded and climbed in. Sarah climbed in behind him, still seeming a bit upset from earlier.
I stopped to look at Tom. He smiled.
"You two, princess," he said.
"Thank you... for whatever you did."
He smirked. "Just help me out, and we'll call it even."
I grinned at him. "I may be rooting for you."
He wiggled his eyebrows. "Best thing I've heard all day."
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