Love Lines

19: Thin Skinned & Gut Feelings

"The only problem with that analogy is the boat is able to go topside. It can switch back and forth. We can't now that we're Elite. We're stuck on the outside looking in."

"More like on the outside looking out, I think." He pulled his legs up and made it so the back of my hand was resting against the top of his knees. "I missed you. All day."

I looked over at him, puzzled. "It's not like I wasn't there."

"You were there. Just out of reach. Somewhere I couldn't quite get to." He sighed. "It's frustrating and I don't like it."

"It is but then moments like this happen. Makes it bearable."

"What's bad is we can't have moments like this all the time." He started plucking at my fingers with his free hand. "Do you know how hard it was for me to stay away from you all day? I wanted to tell everyone we were together but..." He shook his head, his frustration clearly visible on his face. "I couldn't."

I turned away from him and back out at the trees. "And that's my fault."

"No," he tried to insist but instead I stood up suddenly, pulling my hand out of his, and dusted off my jeans. "Tally..."

"I have to get back to work. I'll see you tomorrow."

I left him on the roof and didn't look back.

Andrzej didn't show up again until just before I threw the lock on the door. He stood on the other side, his top hat skewed on his head. When I glared at him, he took it off and held it against his chest in a humble manner. Not wanting to fight, I pushed open the door and let him come inside.

"Merci."

"That's French," I muttered as I threw the lock. "I thought you were a gypsy."

"I am but I speak other languages as well." I continued to glare at him with my arms crossed over my chest. He rolled his eyes and bowed, his arm stretching out. "Nais Tuke."

"That's better."

He stood up straight, a rather indignant look on his face. "How much longer are you going to be?"

"Not too long. Just have to clean up." I went to the nearest table and started putting the chairs on the tabletop. I'd already wiped everything down thanks to the shop being customer free for the fifteen minutes before closing. I was able to start the close up process a little early. "I'd get done faster if you could help."

He glanced around the shop. "What happened to the girl that was here earlier?"

"Went home early." Once I finished with the table, I started on the next. Andrzej took his jacket off, hanging it up on the hooks next to the door along with his hat. "I figured one of us might as well get home on time tonight."

"You're not even tired, are you?" he asked while flipping one of the chairs over and then placing it on the table.

I figured the truth was best. "Not really."

He nodded like he understood completely. I was finding it easier to believe that maybe it all wasn't just a front with him. He had an understanding of me that even I didn't have.

"Good. You can come with me back to the Schola, do your homework, and then I'll teach you a trick or two."

"How about I just go home, do my homework, and you can leave the teaching until tomorrow?"

"Unless you want me to really bite your head off, be short tempered, and possibly call you bad names, we do this my way tonight. You don't know how many impending visions I've had to neutralize since you've been here. It's headache inducing and I would rather you just learn this shit and be done with it so I don't have to do it for you."