(08) Hunter and Hidden Talent in Tessomancy

Her smile was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my entire life. She smiled and it seemed to me that the whole world became brighter, merrier, happier. When she smiled, her whole face shone and she looked like an angel.

I've never attracted to someone simply because of their smile. Usually, it was their sexy body hidden underneath layers of clothes, their air of confidence showed in their every move, or perhaps the chase, the feeling when someone turned you down and that made you want them even more.

With Mey, it wasn't any of that. She wore more layers of clothes than any girl I knew. And I could tell just by the way she walked that she was insecure; her shoulders were hunched over as if she was hiding something. Her footsteps were light and timid. I could count how many times she looked me in the eye when we were talking. It made me wish I could tell her about all the things about her that I found beautiful. But I knew telling her now would only scare her away.

Maybe it was the chase. She hadn't given me her phone number the first time we've met, but somehow, I felt that she wasn't the type to play hard to get. So what it was, really? Could this be love? Maybe.

"How long have you been friends with Tyler?" her voice interrupted my train of thoughts, pulling me back to where we were, in the cafe nearby her school. She chose the table in the back of the cafe. If I didn't know better, I would've thought she was trying to hide. "Yeah, I've known him for two years now." I smiled. "He told me you share the same Physics class with him." Something I was so envious of.

She nodded and took a sip of her chamomile tea. "How did you know him?" I frowned. Why was she keep asking about Ty? Did she like him? She seemed to notice my discomfort as she blinked and turned her attention back to the blueberry muffin on the plate in front of her. She took a bite. "This muffin is so yummy."

I felt bad for not answering her question, so I brushed off my earlier thoughts by telling myself that she probably didn't have any other topic to talk about other than Tyler, who was our mutual friend. "Well, I have this friend, Lucas, he's friended with Ty, and one day we hung out together."

"Oh, I know him. He works at Poirot, right?" Again, the jealousy showed its ugly head. She seemed to know things about him.

"Yeah." I took the cup from its saucer and held it close to my lips. I took a long sip, almost emptied the small cup of cappuccino in one go. If only I had something stronger to calm my nerves. "Do you like him?"

Her eyebrows knotted in the middle of her forehead. "Who?"

"Ty."

She blinked. Her lips stretched into a smile and for a second I thought she might say yes. "No," she giggled and shook her head. "He's with my friend, Autumn." She paused to take another sip then continued, "And I'm not a fan of someone who persuades my friend to skip class so they can make out." Well, that was literally the correct description of me. I skipped school almost every day and when Nat and I used to date, we skipped class to make out. In the gym, behind the old school building, below the bleachers, janitor's closet. Name any place at school and I was sure that we've done it there.

I knew I shouldn't ask this but I couldn't help myself as I leaned in closer and looked her in the eye. "Have you?"

Her eyes widened in surprise but she didn't pull back. "Have I what?"

I smirked. "Skip class and make out?"

She laughed nervously. "I don't have a boyfriend and I doubt there's anyone in my school that wants to make out with me." Her smile faltered a little. It was obvious how she truly believed in her words.

I shrugged. "Well, now that's a shame." I pulled away and leaned against the back of my chair, finally giving her room to breathe while waiting for her to ask the next question.

"Why?"

I smiled mischievously despite my better judgment not to tease her. "Cos I don't go to your school. Any guy would be lucky to have your attention, let alone have a chance to make out with you."