Or do.It’s a good thing, I’m walking away.
I went from blushing at almost any encounter with him to going toe to toe with him, betting against him. I couldn’t get a read on him, whether he had a hidden agenda or not. But, I couldn’t understand the gravitation he has on me.
The hustle and bustle between the volunteers leading up to our students arriving from the school vans. It isn’t until a solid small body knocks the wind out of me that I feel grounded again. All thoughts of Keola and the uneasiness that he’s watching me and now I have to be forced to have him near here and Finn are temporarily gone. I turn to see Finn, decked out in his flannel shirt and jeans with a smile on his face.
“I take it you had a good day at school kiddo?” I hug him still knowing that he will never be this size again. The pure joy from this kid melts my icy heart.
“Normal Monday, I heard from Ms. Layla that we have new volunteers?”
The cat was going to get out of the bag sooner or later. I look at him, seeing the bit of a trickster in him. Knowing my boy, he has his wheels turning. “You want to really mess with one of the volunteers?” He nods his head excitedly. I twist him around towards where Keola is walking around the place. The curl of his grin tells me his wheels are turning, Finn has a plan or will later.
“Thought I wouldn’t see him again.”
“Appears we were both wrong.” I frown, letting out a puff of air.
“You’re not blushing. I shouldn’t worry should I?”
“You’ve been spending too much time with Brayden.” I deadpan.
“Oh, this is going to be fun. How much freedom do I have? And will I suffer consequences?” he asks, rubbing his hands together manically. My eyes grow wide in concern.
“No fires this time, and no glitter, unless it’s outside.” Recalling all the previous pranks that this evil little genius has pulled over the past couple of years. My only rule, don’t make me lose my job.
“That was one time, and how was I supposed to know that flour could make sparks?”
“Research kid. You’re a smart kid. Thought you would put two and two together from science class. Also, no consequences unless you get caught. My name stays out of it. Okay?”
“But I learn from the best.” He says, batting his eyes at me. He walks back to his friends as they gather into the homework area.
Some of the volunteers have left the area, and it is just my education volunteers that remain, looking like lost sheep, needing their shepard. I feel a shorter presence next to me, glaring at who stands beside, I see bouncy curly light brown hair and a small frame and thick glasses that question her sight. One of my promising advocates, Layla, she might appear tiny and meek, but she packs a punch and I would not want to stand in her way. The students love her and the way she advocates for these children, she seems ready for a battle and has every ambition to win the fight.
“Someone has eyes on you by the way.” She sips her coffee facing in the direction of Keola.
“A lot of people have eyes on me,”
“Mm, not those eyes. If he wasn’t sending me territorial eyes for you, I’d snatch him up. I wonder if he has a thing for short women?” She giggles a bit.
“He is all yours. Take him.” I give her the side eye, knowing well that she would.
“And miss out on the fun of how far he pushes your buttons. I’m just surprised you haven’t landed on the floor or that you’re blushing,” She snickers as she takes a sip of her coffee. But this time, she turns to me, with a solemn look upon her once bright face.
“Does everyone know that I suck at flirting and embarrass easily?” I give up sometimes.
“I need to talk with you,” she pointed with her head back to my office, and the energy drained from my face. She rarely pulls me aside, let alone needing privacy within my office. We walk back to my office as the sounds of energetic children slowly descend. Not a full silence, but enough for the sound outside not to carry itself within the room.
She shuts the door behind her, glancing back at me as I sit back at my desk. The look on her face does not seem to be the best notion that everything in the department or children is right.
“We have a problem, Lottie.” She says low, afraid to let it out into the open, as if the disbelief has more power.
“That seems to be a trend the past week or so. And judging by your face, we’re heading into unfamiliar territory.”
“Quite the opposite.”
Now my attention is peeked. “Have we been down this road?”
“Yes ma’am.”
A running list of past experiences run through my head. Asking myself if maybe I need to run through the least worst scenario. How bad am I needing to run a security on this matter.
